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Actual LED projector retrofit. NHK V Bi-LED + 9011 HIR
It's doable. Stock halogen projectors are RX350 bolt pattern, lightwerkz sells the brackets here: https://lightwerkz.net/products/rx350-to-g5
I won't go into the detail of baking the headlight to open, but they do come apart easily. You can made a pseudo oven with a heat gun and a cardboard box.
I used an NHK gen V Bi-LED projector but you can use any G5 pattern projector. The NHK is short and seals up nicely with an extended rear cap, I believe it was a 90mm from LW. You can use an HID projector but it will stick out more in the back. Minor trimming is needed in the projector bracket for the NHK but not much, pretty much straight bolt in. Other projectors may be different. https://lightwerkz.net/products/rubber-housing-caps
Wiring was easy, two power wires go to H11 + and - (solder & heatshrink or watertight heatshrink crimps) , two high beam wires go to 9005 + and - . I bought a 9005 splitter as well for quad high beams.
I did 9011 HIR bulbs in the high beams (2300 lumens vs 1700 on stock wattage), they fit with minor trimming. Sprayed the reflector with some yellow Krylon stained glass. If your headlight lens is oxidized, you can polish it up with a kit, or sand and respray with 2k clear. I just did a quick polish and will ceramic it at some point.
This was a quick and "dirty" retrofit, the car has 180k and is my daily commuter. Has been a a few minor accidents, which explains the slightly crooked beam pattern and missing paint on the bumper lmao.
Full high beams are now in the 14k lumens range before optical losses (I do a lot of night driving). In a few pics you can see the stock halogen projectors burnt bowls.
Minimal trimming
Bracket and bolts
Yellow high beam reflector
almost straight cutoff lmao. car has been in an accident hence the crooked mounting.
Output photos are AE/AF locked low to highbeam
Lowered exposure of the NHK led projector vs a 55w h11 HID kit
Rear weather cap
Rx350 bolt pattern
burnt bowl (ran on a 55w h11 HID kit)
zip ties are holding most of the bumper together lol
YES!!! awesome for doing it right! Too many people dropping in plug in leds thinking they are great. THIS is how you do it! Nice job!
I went the bi-xenon route of OEM rx350 projectors since I didn't want to do brackets and still enjoy a full HID setup. I find that the newer LEDs are too white for me. I like around 4300k for light output.
I think if they ever drop the temp down slightly that's going to be my next retrofit. The instant on/off is always nice, plus less wiring ...etc.
I was debating going HID over LED - I like the CRI and warmer color temp better. The LED units are indeed nice since everything is self contained.
If I were to do it again, I'd definitely give a look at either an OEM RX350 bi-x or a G5-BRT, running osram XNB's and the 35/50w powerhouse ballasts. I know reliablity on them isn't as good as a hylux or OEM ballast but I use the high beam enough to justify it.
I find that as I get older I like a warmer color temperature and that the the harsher whiter color temp leaves a lot to be desired. I LOVE XNB's it's what I put in every one of cars that still takes HIDs that aren't factory LED from the factory.
G5 projectors are good. LOTS of people have nothing but great reviews on them at HID planet and other FB lighting pages. There's something about OEM stuff that I am drawn to. In my CT200h project I'm doing in a month I am using pretty much all OEM stuff including denso slim ballasts. I just potted them a couple weeks ago so they won't act funky in weather elements. But I'm aiming for as OEMish look and mounting locations as possible. The only thing I'm changing on the headlight is replacing the orange side reflector to clear. They are being made now by a company but I had to order 10 sets before they would een consider it...lol. The CT platform not many people do stuff to it, so it's shame, i'll probably be sitting on 9 sets of these for a while... Then I am taking the chrome projector shroud which is more like a trim ring and painting it with blue metalcast anodized paint. To give it a nice chomish/blue look that will tie in with the hybrid theme.
This is the stuff I have for the project:
This is the output from the one rx350 bi-xenon projector after some slight tweaking. The glare above it is because I am holding the projector and there is no shroud or anything blocking the light.
I'm also changing out the crappy halogen fog lights to Diode Dynamics Elite series select yellow which are leaps and bounds better than OEM. The quality, fit, and finish are phenomenal. This is the output of just one foglight in my back yard.
Does the NHK LED projector sits up against the headlight pretty well or does it need to be spaced forward for a better fitment?
The adapter plate is all you need, it puts the projector in a good spot front to back. All you need is to trim the bottom to make room for the bi-led solenoid, and the rear weathercap.
02-02-23, 12:25 PM
Actual LED projector retrofit. NHK V Bi-LED + 9011 HIR
