I didn't read this whole thread but I'm going to add my 0.02 anyways, HID's w/o projectors are a dumb idea unless the cars projectors were originally designed to use them. (Like the IS300 or WRX STI). I hope anyone and everyone who puts these lights in gets pulled over quickly.

HID retrofits should ONLY be done w/ projectors.

If you really want to do retro's, don't pay someone else... find an extra set of 4Runner headlights so you don't have to use your know good ones and a set of E46, E55, or TSX projectors.

The question is, although Bi-Xenon will work, how are you lot addressing flash to pass functionality? It's not good to flash the high beam on the projector, hence the reason BMW and the rest flash a halogen light when the stalk is used for flashing, and a high beam HID reflector when the high beams are actually turned on.

 

interesting ... the seller claims to be US based but the english on his sales page is terrible... sounds like someone trying to fake a US base.

As for purchasing HID kits our member "Camnub" just had a GB for a complete kit and is planning another one in the very near future, look up his thread for more info on the whole conversion process.

 

FYI: Those kits he was selling are the conversion kits not the Retro kits.

 

So which projectors are the easiest to retro into a 99-02 headlight? So far I've heard of the fx, tl, tsx, e46, or e55... The FX projectors are pretty cheap, any drawbacks to using them?

 

there are a few "top" bi-xenon projectors, TL, Porsche, murano. Fx are alright they lack intensity compared to the others, e55, e46, rs6 are all entry level projectors they are good for a first retro but of you want real performance there are better choices

The TL has its drawbacks when using it in a high vehicle, it has a large foreground limiter that you WILL see from the drivers seat, you can modify it some to get more foreground, some on here will say that you loose intensity but i trimmed mine slightly and noticed no reduction in output

BTW the ls430 is a low beam only projector, so if you have some other ways of attaining a high beam they would be a great choice, but are expensive ~$350

 

Ask Iceman about it, he has projectors. I'm sure he can help a lot.

 

Alright everyone, after lots of reading up on HIDs and projectors, I bought some Porsche projectors today and I am freakin excited to do the retro! At first I was pretty unsure about the whole thing, but now that I've researched a bit it seems to be pretty straightforward.

Come Christmas break time I'll be bustin out the dremel...

 

i bought some hella lenses and a bi xenon kit and i havent been flashed once. You just gotta aim them right. I followed two cops for a couple miles tonight with no problems. To answer the question earlier on in this thread. you want 3k in the fog lights because it puts out a yellowish color similar to normal fog lights.4300k is the best for light output. I personally have 6k and wish i have 4k but i couldnt pass up the deal.

 

That's a good question about flashing the high beam,

and here is a sarcastic answer:
don't flash people with them, just turn the high beams on when you need them, and if you want to flash people then buy some hella 500's or something,

and I would assume that most people on this side of the pond don't flash people when they are about to pass them? (is that why they call them "passing lights" or do you just flash the guy in front of you until he pulls over, and you pass him )

but, yes that is a good question, I wonder what part is prone to failure or increased wear when you flash the hid lights? I would assume that part failure was the reason behind having a halogen light for flashing (or maybe it was because bmw's have had four round headlights on almost every car they have made for the last 50 or so years) anybody on this forum work for bmw?

 

About flashing, I recently had a new Mercedes C240 (i think it was a 240) as a rental. The alarm went off and it was flashing the headlights with the HIDs. I thought this was bad for them.

 

its not good for them, flashing shortens the life of the bulb

 

I've notuced that people don't flash to pass over here like they do in europe but they (at least the professional drivers) do flash to tell someone to pull in to the lane when passing or merging... It would cause a lot of added wear on the HID because of the way it works but realistically unless you were flashing a lot, particularly with a "hot" lamp you really would'nt notice it too much IMO...

 

OMG those lights are beamin I would HATE to have you behind me and the cops where I live would be all over that !
he he where do I get me some ???

 

I have seen a few cars doing this (flashing the merging car) mostly see this being done by truckers (semi truck drivers) because they have a harder time telling if they have cleared the vehicle behind them?

i think that "technically" it is illegal to ever flash your highbeams at another car, esp at night, this probably depends on what state/province you live in,

I've personally been pulled over twice for flashing my highbeams at an oncoming car that had left the highbeams on,

once the cop was three or four cars behind the oncoming car, and when I asked him why he didn't pull over the guy who was leaving his highbeams on, he said that it was way more dangerous for me to be flashing people, and that I should have just let the guy go by (and on to blind the other people behind me)

both times I only "flashed" the highbeams once, so I wasn't doing anything stupid like trying to strobe the other guy, I only got warnings too

 

Ridiculous cop.

 

I know that in Utah it is perfectly legal to "flash to pass." Last time I went to driving school the guy actually talked about it quite a bit, and he was ex-cop. I think cops get pissed though because a lot of drivers flash their high beams at oncoming traffic to warn them about speed traps.

Hey Superjoe, or anyone who knows, what type of bezel and/or shroud should I use w/ the porsche projectors in order to get the most OEM look?

 

Hey it's 004Runner from HIDPlanet.com, just saying hi. Good luck with the project, we'll have to compare pics after break.

 

Deal! Question for you... What type of setup do you have (projectors, ballasts, etc.)? I'll be running Porsche bixenons w/ Hella Gen 3's. As you've already started yours, do you have any hints/suggestions for me?

 

hahaha this thread is a whos who of those of us who frequent both forums! lol

 

Careful with the reflectors, I wasn't and ended up cutting too much and not all is covered by shroud/bezel. I'm using Matsua Gen 3 ballasts and 85122+ bulbs. Good luck with yours and way to upgrade your headlights the proper way, no PnP kit