Questions about headlights (hid/projectors)

xHVGx · 09-14-2009, 10:27 PM

Ok, I've done some research on this site about the projector headlights and the coolest ones are the retros that some have made. But in my situation I cant afford a retro right now, so Im looking at some ebay setups, can anyone recommend one in particular?? At least that they have a decent cut-off and light output. Also Im wondering which color temp for hids, what I really want is a pure white light (it doesnt matter if it has a very slight hint of blue), maybe 6000k would do the trick???.

Im still wondering if its worth getting an ebay projector setup or just installing hids in the stock housing. Can anyone help?? Thanks.

Crystalis · 09-14-2009, 10:41 PM

I would just save up to do your own retros. I have ebay halo projectors that I retrofitted, but I'm getting bored with them. They look nice, but the oem look is the way to go.

xHVGx · 09-14-2009, 11:07 PM

Thanks for the idea, yeah im starting to think on saving, but wouldnt it too hard to do it myself?? Although I might look into some of the shops members have used for their retros. Still open for suggestions though...

Crystalis · 09-14-2009, 11:17 PM

I'm not gonna lie, it's a lot of work, and you have to be precise. But, The retros I have now are the first and only ones I've ever done, and they came out pretty sweet IMO. If you don't feel like you can do them, then you can go to one of the sponsors on the site or look at the for sale section. I think there's 3 retrofits f/s right now.

Bandit_Kaine · 09-15-2009, 12:29 AM

Invest on a retro! You will not be disappointed, eBay lights are junk and not worth it at all.

Crystalis · 09-15-2009, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit_Kaine

Invest on a retro! You will not be disappointed, eBay lights are junk and not worth it at all.

Have you bought/used ebay lights? I can tell you from personal experience that though they are not oem, they aren't junk. I've had mine going on 6 months now, and they work perfect. No fogging up, and no lights burning out.

I'm sure some of them out there are junk, but not all of them. People who have never used them should try them before talking smack about them.

joon joon · 09-15-2009, 11:47 AM

aftermarket is usually a hit or miss on fitment... i've seen some that dont fit right and some do fit good... its a hit or miss on wether they leak or not... just save up for a retro... if u dont want to do it urself then have someone else do it... ive done a few myself and yes its pretty hard to do to get everything aimed right...

as for color temps for hids, 4300k is stock for acuras, bmws, mercedes... its the brightest white but has a hint of yellow in it... if u want more blue, then 5000k is still bright with a hint of blue..

xHVGx · 09-16-2009, 01:15 AM

Does anyone recommend just getting hids and use them on the stock housing?? What results has anyone obtained from doing this??

joon joon · 09-16-2009, 01:24 AM

Lots of people do it... it will glare... there's gonna be some people that say its fine if u aim them low but that doesn't reduce the glare... just save for a retrofit

The Norng Storm · 09-16-2009, 02:06 AM

Go for a retrofit, if you can buy all the parts on your own.

xHVGx · 09-16-2009, 02:09 AM

Yeah Im thinking on retrofitting them... I just asked for a quote on customlightz.com I have to wait for their response. Have to check other shops as well... Any recomendations?? Maybe some place where is not AS expensive??

joon joon · 09-16-2009, 02:14 AM

pming u right now

d0nutd0n · 09-20-2009, 03:06 AM

Retrofits are the way to go but it can be awfully expensive. You can probably find some in the marketplace but they will easily range over $600... whether it's worth the money, that's entirely up to you. I would if I had the money, they look sweeet!

scrappydue · 09-22-2009, 09:34 PM

why are retrofits so expensive? do the projector housings really cost that much? or is it a labor thing?

joon joon · 09-22-2009, 10:00 PM

The whole setup could get expensive... projector range from 150+, ballasts range from 60+, bulbs 45+, if u wanna drive ur car then ur gonna have to get other headlights which could cost 150+, then labor... but I think its worth it

StupidPig · 09-22-2009, 10:18 PM

I would say parts and labor are about half and half. If you are willing to try a DIY retrofit and not looking for the best parts, you probably can cut the cost down to around $300.

Ronin-CT · 09-23-2009, 01:33 AM

Retrofits are not expensive if you are a smart shopper. There are plenty of people on this site who could probably provide you with the parts for under $300, as well as some online Retro forums. Then you just need to find someone in the area who can get the job done for a fair price.

I got mine done for $470, just had to do alot of driving down in NYC.
Cheap Retro

Ultimately, you can pay ~150-200 for HIDs or you can spend ~500-600 on a retrofit. Its up to you whether you are content with the HIDs or want to just go all the way and get the retro done.

xHVGx · 09-23-2009, 01:43 AM

Yeah im going for retrofits, im just saving money for em right now. Might get them done in two weeks if everything goes as planned.... I want to get like a true white with probably very small hints of blue. Should I get 5000k or 6000k??? Because 4300k even though it has better output (based on info in this forum) i think still looks a bit like other cars in color so idk. Any recommendations???

xHVGx · 09-23-2009, 01:47 AM

And yes Im not an expert on cars so if Im mistaken please correct me, lol

***mix*** · 09-23-2009, 01:51 AM

Get just hids, ebay projectors is a waste of money.

09-14-2009, 10:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
xHVGx Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 254	Questions about headlights (hid/projectors) Ok, I've done some research on this site about the projector headlights and the coolest ones are the retros that some have made. But in my situation I cant afford a retro right now, so Im looking at some ebay setups, can anyone recommend one in particular?? At least that they have a decent cut-off and light output. Also Im wondering which color temp for hids, what I really want is a pure white light (it doesnt matter if it has a very slight hint of blue), maybe 6000k would do the trick???. Im still wondering if its worth getting an ebay projector setup or just installing hids in the stock housing. Can anyone help?? Thanks.
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09-14-2009, 10:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Crystalis Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Palm Harlem, FL Age: 24 Posts: 658 Ashley	I would just save up to do your own retros. I have ebay halo projectors that I retrofitted, but I'm getting bored with them. They look nice, but the oem look is the way to go.

09-14-2009, 11:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
xHVGx Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 254	Thanks for the idea, yeah im starting to think on saving, but wouldnt it too hard to do it myself?? Although I might look into some of the shops members have used for their retros. Still open for suggestions though...

09-14-2009, 11:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Crystalis Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Palm Harlem, FL Age: 24 Posts: 658 Ashley	I'm not gonna lie, it's a lot of work, and you have to be precise. But, The retros I have now are the first and only ones I've ever done, and they came out pretty sweet IMO. If you don't feel like you can do them, then you can go to one of the sponsors on the site or look at the for sale section. I think there's 3 retrofits f/s right now.

09-15-2009, 12:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bandit_Kaine Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 334 Carlos	Invest on a retro! You will not be disappointed, eBay lights are junk and not worth it at all.

09-15-2009, 11:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
joon joon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,979	aftermarket is usually a hit or miss on fitment... i've seen some that dont fit right and some do fit good... its a hit or miss on wether they leak or not... just save up for a retro... if u dont want to do it urself then have someone else do it... ive done a few myself and yes its pretty hard to do to get everything aimed right... as for color temps for hids, 4300k is stock for acuras, bmws, mercedes... its the brightest white but has a hint of yellow in it... if u want more blue, then 5000k is still bright with a hint of blue..

09-16-2009, 01:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
xHVGx Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 254	Does anyone recommend just getting hids and use them on the stock housing?? What results has anyone obtained from doing this??

09-16-2009, 01:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
joon joon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,979	Lots of people do it... it will glare... there's gonna be some people that say its fine if u aim them low but that doesn't reduce the glare... just save for a retrofit

09-16-2009, 02:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
The Norng Storm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lowell, MA Age: 23 Posts: 1,091	Go for a retrofit, if you can buy all the parts on your own.

09-16-2009, 02:09 AM	#11 (permalink)
xHVGx Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 254	Yeah Im thinking on retrofitting them... I just asked for a quote on customlightz.com I have to wait for their response. Have to check other shops as well... Any recomendations?? Maybe some place where is not AS expensive??

09-16-2009, 02:14 AM	#12 (permalink)
joon joon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,979	pming u right now

09-20-2009, 03:06 AM	#13 (permalink)
d0nutd0n Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 59	Retrofits are the way to go but it can be awfully expensive. You can probably find some in the marketplace but they will easily range over $600... whether it's worth the money, that's entirely up to you. I would if I had the money, they look sweeet!

09-22-2009, 09:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
scrappydue Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Diego Age: 26 Posts: 37 steven	why are retrofits so expensive? do the projector housings really cost that much? or is it a labor thing?

09-22-2009, 10:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
joon joon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,979	The whole setup could get expensive... projector range from 150+, ballasts range from 60+, bulbs 45+, if u wanna drive ur car then ur gonna have to get other headlights which could cost 150+, then labor... but I think its worth it

09-22-2009, 10:18 PM	#16 (permalink)
StupidPig Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,239	I would say parts and labor are about half and half. If you are willing to try a DIY retrofit and not looking for the best parts, you probably can cut the cost down to around $300.

09-23-2009, 01:33 AM	#17 (permalink)
Ronin-CT Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bristol, CT Age: 25 Posts: 121 Mark	Retrofits are not expensive if you are a smart shopper. There are plenty of people on this site who could probably provide you with the parts for under $300, as well as some online Retro forums. Then you just need to find someone in the area who can get the job done for a fair price. I got mine done for $470, just had to do alot of driving down in NYC. Cheap Retro Ultimately, you can pay ~150-200 for HIDs or you can spend ~500-600 on a retrofit. Its up to you whether you are content with the HIDs or want to just go all the way and get the retro done.

09-23-2009, 01:43 AM	#18 (permalink)
xHVGx Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 254	Yeah im going for retrofits, im just saving money for em right now. Might get them done in two weeks if everything goes as planned.... I want to get like a true white with probably very small hints of blue. Should I get 5000k or 6000k??? Because 4300k even though it has better output (based on info in this forum) i think still looks a bit like other cars in color so idk. Any recommendations???

09-23-2009, 01:47 AM	#19 (permalink)
xHVGx Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 254	And yes Im not an expert on cars so if Im mistaken please correct me, lol

09-23-2009, 01:51 AM	#20 (permalink)
*mix* VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,440 Chris	Get just hids, ebay projectors is a waste of money.

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