My '98 ES Stock HID Mod!!!!!!
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Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: pa
My '98 ES Stock HID Mod!!!!!!
Here is a few pictures of my '98 ES with HID's out of a '00 ES. I had been holding out posting this thread until the auto-leveling system was complete, but I am still working on that project.
Anyway, here is my car so far!
Anyway, here is my car so far!
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: pa
this is an under-hood shot showing the notch that had to be cut out of the core support. A small amount also had to be taken off of the bottom of the headlight hole, but the main thing I had to do under there was detach the wiring harness that runs under it and slide it out of the way, this isn't required but it helps alot in fitting the headlight.
Also I should point out that the extra metal that is showing where I made the cut will be removed and sanded smooth and painted. I am waiting to get the OEM plugs for the back of the headlight so I can get rid of my cheap wire-terminal/electrical tape connections.
people have been asking me for pix, so here they are!! not quite the format I wanted but still shows the potential of the retrofit. Questions/comments welcome!!
later,
-c
Also I should point out that the extra metal that is showing where I made the cut will be removed and sanded smooth and painted. I am waiting to get the OEM plugs for the back of the headlight so I can get rid of my cheap wire-terminal/electrical tape connections.
people have been asking me for pix, so here they are!! not quite the format I wanted but still shows the potential of the retrofit. Questions/comments welcome!!
later,
-c
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,379
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From: Florida
Nice pics and congrats with the '00-'01 ES retrofit onto your '98 
You may be the first I know who has done that (the ES certainly looks more modern and cleaner-looking with the distinct-bowled headlight assemblies), and from your description, it doesn't look like a nightmare project 
Can we see a couple pictures of the ES lighted up at night, particularly in front of a white wall or garage so the cutoff can be clearly seen?
You may be the first I know who has done that (the ES certainly looks more modern and cleaner-looking with the distinct-bowled headlight assemblies), and from your description, it doesn't look like a nightmare project Can we see a couple pictures of the ES lighted up at night, particularly in front of a white wall or garage so the cutoff can be clearly seen?
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Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Chicago, IL
Yeah pics would be awesome. Also, if you can post whether or not you would do the tails from 00+ year (or if you have done it already). Reason being, I'm actually upgrading my ES to your year and color yet, I'll be doing the 00 tails with Valeo ECE Xenon retrofit. Thanks....
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Thread Starter
Driver
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From: pa
Originally posted by siniquezu
Question: since you've got reflectors, why is it purplish? Do you have 6000K bulbs?
Question: since you've got reflectors, why is it purplish? Do you have 6000K bulbs?
-chris
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From: pa
Originally posted by tiguy99
Yeah pics would be awesome. Also, if you can post whether or not you would do the tails from 00+ year (or if you have done it already). Reason being, I'm actually upgrading my ES to your year and color yet, I'll be doing the 00 tails with Valeo ECE Xenon retrofit. Thanks....
Yeah pics would be awesome. Also, if you can post whether or not you would do the tails from 00+ year (or if you have done it already). Reason being, I'm actually upgrading my ES to your year and color yet, I'll be doing the 00 tails with Valeo ECE Xenon retrofit. Thanks....
I WOULD like to do the '00 tail upgrade, also maybe go to 16" wheels for a fresher appearance. The new ES 330's really caught my eye, but after doing a few update mods to my car I think I can live with it a little longer!!!
will post night pix ASAP. Just adjusted my drivers side light down a hair to match pass. side tonight. Made the cutoff a little more distinct....not as sharp as a proj. but pretty good for freeform.
-chris
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From: pa
[QUOTE]Originally posted by lexusk8
[B]Nice pics and congrats with the '00-'01 ES retrofit onto your '98 You may be the first I know who has done that (the ES certainly looks more modern and cleaner-looking with the distinct-bowled headlight assemblies), and from your description, it doesn't look like a nightmare project
THANKS!!
Project was not as hard as I thought it was going to be, granted I still have a few cosmetic things to do to the retrofit to make it more professional looking.
The HARD part is going to be the auto level system that includes the computer under the steering column and the vehicle hight sensor at the rear of the car... I am almost knee deep in schematics and wiring diagrams, at night I have dreams about junction boxes, splice points and vehicle ground locations!!
One thing I will say about this retro is, because the leveling motors on the headlights aren't connected to anything, the beam pattern on the ground tends to flutter a little bit when you hit any bumps in the road.....not really problematic, just a quirky thing you notice.
-chris
[B]Nice pics and congrats with the '00-'01 ES retrofit onto your '98
You may be the first I know who has done that (the ES certainly looks more modern and cleaner-looking with the distinct-bowled headlight assemblies), and from your description, it doesn't look like a nightmare project THANKS!!
Project was not as hard as I thought it was going to be, granted I still have a few cosmetic things to do to the retrofit to make it more professional looking.
The HARD part is going to be the auto level system that includes the computer under the steering column and the vehicle hight sensor at the rear of the car... I am almost knee deep in schematics and wiring diagrams, at night I have dreams about junction boxes, splice points and vehicle ground locations!!
One thing I will say about this retro is, because the leveling motors on the headlights aren't connected to anything, the beam pattern on the ground tends to flutter a little bit when you hit any bumps in the road.....not really problematic, just a quirky thing you notice.
-chris
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2002
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From: Ohio, USA
Looks great! I've been waiting for somebody to do this on a 97-99! I wouldn't lose any sleep over the lack of auto-levelling, the Acuras of the same vintage didn't even have it to begin with. Sorry to hear about the "flutter" of the hinged reflector bowl caused by the disconnected motors-there's got to be a way to freeze them in place.
Now I've seen both lighting mods I wanted to see done on a 97-99--the 00-01 tails and the 00-01 HID housings. Now we need somebody to TRD supercharge a pre-VVT-i 97-98!
Now I've seen both lighting mods I wanted to see done on a 97-99--the 00-01 tails and the 00-01 HID housings. Now we need somebody to TRD supercharge a pre-VVT-i 97-98!
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From: pa
Originally posted by squarehat
Looks great! I've been waiting for somebody to do this on a 97-99! I wouldn't lose any sleep over the lack of auto-levelling, the Acuras of the same vintage didn't even have it to begin with. Sorry to hear about the "flutter" of the hinged reflector bowl caused by the disconnected motors-there's got to be a way to freeze them in place.
Looks great! I've been waiting for somebody to do this on a 97-99! I wouldn't lose any sleep over the lack of auto-levelling, the Acuras of the same vintage didn't even have it to begin with. Sorry to hear about the "flutter" of the hinged reflector bowl caused by the disconnected motors-there's got to be a way to freeze them in place.
thanks!
the flutter is strange, the leveling motores are connected to the back of the reflector bowl, but there is no current to the motors. My guess is that the leveling motors compensate for this flutter on stock systems so you don't notice it.. seems like a really solid connection but I guess it only takes a slight movement of the bowl to make a difference on the ground... I wonder if any other stock mods have this problem.
-chris
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