Problem with my 1st Gens
03-20-2009, 05:46 PM
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Problem with my 1st Gens
Long story... input please Guess I should have put this in the problems section, sorry mods, but really I'm looking for info/experience
so i bought a pair of first gen projector headlights off of a website and they had a smoked out lens. I never saw anyone else on here with them or around so I got them, and when they came in and I installed them they looked BAD ASS.
Well the problem is the lens itself is tinted (impregnated kinda), its not an overlay or anything, and from the bulb that came with the headlight, not but a few seconds after I turned it on the lens in front of the projector part started getting tiny bubbles and then got deformed (like a dimple) on both headlights.
Well... I know that isn't normal of course. People put HIDs and brighter bulbs in the regular first gens all the time and it doesn't melt or deform, and these were the regular ones that came with it!
So my question... has anyone tinted their projectors with any kind of tint, etc? The only thing I can think is that since it is tinted it is retaining more light and heat inside the housing causing it to heat up beyond the lens's ability. I am getting a new set shipped to me to replace them, but I have a feeling the same thing might happen.
They look so bad ass I want to keep them. I ended up driving around for about an hour last night with them on and the dimple didn't seem to get worse... but I don't think I can really rely on it not getting any worse if it initially couldn't handle the heat.
Oh yeah, and after being on for only a few seconds the f*ckers get HOT, i mean I touched where the dimple was with my hand and it felt like I just touched an exhaust pipe that had been on a while. Input...
so i bought a pair of first gen projector headlights off of a website and they had a smoked out lens. I never saw anyone else on here with them or around so I got them, and when they came in and I installed them they looked BAD ASS.
Well the problem is the lens itself is tinted (impregnated kinda), its not an overlay or anything, and from the bulb that came with the headlight, not but a few seconds after I turned it on the lens in front of the projector part started getting tiny bubbles and then got deformed (like a dimple) on both headlights.
Well... I know that isn't normal of course. People put HIDs and brighter bulbs in the regular first gens all the time and it doesn't melt or deform, and these were the regular ones that came with it!
So my question... has anyone tinted their projectors with any kind of tint, etc? The only thing I can think is that since it is tinted it is retaining more light and heat inside the housing causing it to heat up beyond the lens's ability. I am getting a new set shipped to me to replace them, but I have a feeling the same thing might happen.
They look so bad ass I want to keep them. I ended up driving around for about an hour last night with them on and the dimple didn't seem to get worse... but I don't think I can really rely on it not getting any worse if it initially couldn't handle the heat.
Oh yeah, and after being on for only a few seconds the f*ckers get HOT, i mean I touched where the dimple was with my hand and it felt like I just touched an exhaust pipe that had been on a while. Input...
Last edited by c0ld29; 03-20-2009 at 05:47 PM. Reason: wrong section
03-20-2009, 07:20 PM
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holy **** man I thought I was the only one the same happend to me but I took mine out now they are just sitting their and I dont know what to do.
(I will put pics up latter tonight)
(I will put pics up latter tonight)
03-21-2009, 12:12 AM
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I thought about getting regular 1st gens and doing that, but I dont think it will come out as good looking as they do now, minus the whole deformed part...
And if I F it up, how would I get off the niteshade to redo it? Plus, once again, would the niteshade cause more heat to stay inside the housing causing the lens to melt again?
did you buy the ones I'm talking about or tint your own?
And if I F it up, how would I get off the niteshade to redo it? Plus, once again, would the niteshade cause more heat to stay inside the housing causing the lens to melt again?
did you buy the ones I'm talking about or tint your own?
Last edited by c0ld29; 03-21-2009 at 12:12 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
03-21-2009, 12:26 AM
#5
Halogens put out a ton of heat. Darker lens + heat + projector = melting. If you get an HID kit you'll lessen the likelihood of the lens melting since HIDs run cooler than halogens.
03-21-2009, 12:28 AM
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they actually run cooler? I was under the impression they run hotter as there is a lot more light output. Maybe I'll wait till i get some HIDs and then try out the new lights when they come in...
03-21-2009, 12:35 AM
#7
HIDs don't produce light by lighting a filament, which is where most of the heat comes from. They ignite gas inside the bulb with an electrical current, so they will produce a lot more light using less power thus producing less heat.
03-21-2009, 12:57 AM
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awesome, I guess that makes sense. I wonder if I should try out the new ones with the regular bulbs first and see if they mess up, or just buy the HIDs and use those first and not risk it, but risk spending money on HIDs... decisions decisions
still curious to see if JLAudio tinted his own or bought them
still curious to see if JLAudio tinted his own or bought them
Last edited by c0ld29; 03-21-2009 at 12:57 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
03-21-2009, 03:34 AM
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They came tinted i bought them off ebay I only had mine on 4 a day and their was like 1/2 inch melt marks on each
Some Iphone pics of the lights before they went to **** LOL!!!!!
Some Iphone pics of the lights before they went to **** LOL!!!!!
Last edited by jlaudiog5gt; 03-21-2009 at 03:50 AM.
03-21-2009, 02:29 PM
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yep... that what mine look like i see your dimple in front of the halo in the pic...
hopefully HIDs fix it.
did you keep them on if so how have hte held up, or did you return them for a new pair? gave up on em?
hopefully HIDs fix it.
did you keep them on if so how have hte held up, or did you return them for a new pair? gave up on em?
03-21-2009, 06:24 PM
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Well I ordered the HIDs already and the new headlights should be in in hopefully a week to week and a half, so if you want me to play guinea pig I'll keep it updated
03-24-2009, 12:24 PM
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Hids will look so much better than the stock halogens, and if you do night shade the lens and mess up you can always take it off with some laquer paint thinner. I had messed up on my tails at first and used paint thinner, very easy fix
04-03-2009, 01:01 PM
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OK guys just an update, HIDs even start melting the lens, although it does take a lot longer than the halogens did. (by that I mean 2-3 minutes on as opposed to 10 seconds on to start deforming). I guess I will just have to go with the regular 1st gens and maybe tint em myself.
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