Started my Retrofit project...
05-14-2011, 05:58 PM
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FINISHED my retrofit project [Final Update]
So I was at the junkyard this morning looking for a few things and I came across a Cadillac CTS that had a fair amount of front end damage. I know that the newer caddies have projectors so I take a peak and they are in perfect shape!
I talked the guy into letting me take them for $15 each ($30 for both) because he was replacing the front end of the one I pulled them from anyway.
The question I have for everyone is how is the quality on these projectors? I know the e46 / e55's are one of the best quality projectors out there for a retrofit, I'm just curious how these will stack up as far as quality/spread/directional light?
I have Gen 1's on the car and I'm not super pleased with the beam distance that they have even with 6000k HIDs. I plan on fabbing all the mounting hardware for the projectors to fit into my stockers but before I started work, I was just curious about the quality of the projector?
I talked the guy into letting me take them for $15 each ($30 for both) because he was replacing the front end of the one I pulled them from anyway.
The question I have for everyone is how is the quality on these projectors? I know the e46 / e55's are one of the best quality projectors out there for a retrofit, I'm just curious how these will stack up as far as quality/spread/directional light?
I have Gen 1's on the car and I'm not super pleased with the beam distance that they have even with 6000k HIDs. I plan on fabbing all the mounting hardware for the projectors to fit into my stockers but before I started work, I was just curious about the quality of the projector?
Last edited by Hammbones; 06-11-2011 at 10:02 PM.
05-14-2011, 09:22 PM
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I actually just found out that the projectors I pulled are factory HID projectors... Holy **** did I luck out?
I guess its time I just went back to the HID Stickies =) Just need to figure out what type of HID Bulb these things will take. Thanks Tommy, I was about to call you =)
I guess its time I just went back to the HID Stickies =) Just need to figure out what type of HID Bulb these things will take. Thanks Tommy, I was about to call you =)
05-14-2011, 09:49 PM
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I meant like H1, H2, etc.
I know the ebay craptastic ones offer different bulb sizes, but to make things a little easier as far as wiring is concerned, I think I'm just going to order the HID Kit with the bulb that these projectors are made for.
The Halogen Bulb I pulled out from it was a Sylvania 9006X and rated at 51W so I may be going to get a 55W 8000k Kit (Power will wash the color out. I've got 6000k on my 35W system and its just not bright enough at night so I want to go to the 5000k temp range for lumens)
I've been google searching for the HID Replacement for the 9006 socket type (Cobalts have the 9007) but I can't seem to find it.
I know the ebay craptastic ones offer different bulb sizes, but to make things a little easier as far as wiring is concerned, I think I'm just going to order the HID Kit with the bulb that these projectors are made for.
The Halogen Bulb I pulled out from it was a Sylvania 9006X and rated at 51W so I may be going to get a 55W 8000k Kit (Power will wash the color out. I've got 6000k on my 35W system and its just not bright enough at night so I want to go to the 5000k temp range for lumens)
I've been google searching for the HID Replacement for the 9006 socket type (Cobalts have the 9007) but I can't seem to find it.
05-15-2011, 12:01 AM
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A Small update. A bit of further research into the projectors has caused a shift in direction for this retro. Because of my bottom line being extremely limited, I've decided to simply upgrade my Gen 1s from the ebay crap projectors and color match.
Otherwise I wouldn't have HIGH beams. Also, Unless I can find a wiring adapter that turns our 9007 socket plug into a 9006 socket plug, I'm going to have to risk running a 55W HID Kit on the factory wiring.
Also, by using a Relay Harness (To avoid running 55w through the factory wiring) I would have to run it through the battery / fuse box with the kit from DDM as well as the error cancelling kit (Because I won't have lights plugged into the 9007 sockets.
Because of the additional cost of these 2 things, I wanted to install CCFL Halo's but at 70 for a set of 90mm and 100mm CCFL's, I may have to avoid that added cost because I need to earn the cash I spend on these projects to avoid dirty looks / being cut off from the wife.
If I could find someone with a set of CCFL Halos for this project for cheap, I'd be happy to pay 30-40 for them with shipping.
Otherwise I wouldn't have HIGH beams. Also, Unless I can find a wiring adapter that turns our 9007 socket plug into a 9006 socket plug, I'm going to have to risk running a 55W HID Kit on the factory wiring.
Also, by using a Relay Harness (To avoid running 55w through the factory wiring) I would have to run it through the battery / fuse box with the kit from DDM as well as the error cancelling kit (Because I won't have lights plugged into the 9007 sockets.
Because of the additional cost of these 2 things, I wanted to install CCFL Halo's but at 70 for a set of 90mm and 100mm CCFL's, I may have to avoid that added cost because I need to earn the cash I spend on these projects to avoid dirty looks / being cut off from the wife.
If I could find someone with a set of CCFL Halos for this project for cheap, I'd be happy to pay 30-40 for them with shipping.
05-28-2011, 08:13 PM
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Update:
Going to be ordering the 55W kit from DDM if I can get a straight answer from them about the wiring harness since the Valeo's are 9006 and the wiring for the car is 9007. Ill be getting E46 R Extended shrouds and painting those to match my car (White). The project is about 40% done at this point and will basically go on hold until I get the HID kit. Ill keep updating this thread when I have made some progress.
Going to be ordering the 55W kit from DDM if I can get a straight answer from them about the wiring harness since the Valeo's are 9006 and the wiring for the car is 9007. Ill be getting E46 R Extended shrouds and painting those to match my car (White). The project is about 40% done at this point and will basically go on hold until I get the HID kit. Ill keep updating this thread when I have made some progress.
05-28-2011, 11:00 PM
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I wanna see how these'll turn out, my stuff FINALLY came in today, an I snapped a halo 
so I'm waiting again to start em plus I got some other stuff comin in 2 
so I'm waiting again to start em plus I got some other stuff comin in 2
05-30-2011, 01:51 AM
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Well this is frustrating. DDM Tuning and TRS website ordering systems aren't working for some reason. Not to mention TRS sells the harnesses I need individually (I need 2) so just for a harness, Ill spend more than I would for the HID Kit. Then there's the shroud costs + shipping.
I need to keep my bottom line as low as possible so... Anyone know that gauge wire typical 55W kits use?
I need to keep my bottom line as low as possible so... Anyone know that gauge wire typical 55W kits use?
05-30-2011, 02:27 AM
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Eventually I would yes (As per our discussion earlier about the foglights).
$55 55W HID Kit (Plus Shipping) [DDM Tuning]
$15 E-46 Shrouds (Plus Shipping) [TRS]
$30 55W Wiring Harness [TRS]
I figure Ill be paying approx 30 for shipping (Unless they offer a free shipping for military).
Originally I thought the retrofit would cost about 75-85 but I was pretty naive but hindsight is always 20/20.
$55 55W HID Kit (Plus Shipping) [DDM Tuning]
$15 E-46 Shrouds (Plus Shipping) [TRS]
$30 55W Wiring Harness [TRS]
I figure Ill be paying approx 30 for shipping (Unless they offer a free shipping for military).
Originally I thought the retrofit would cost about 75-85 but I was pretty naive but hindsight is always 20/20.
05-30-2011, 01:29 PM
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HID Kit has been ordered as well.
Costs (Including Shipping): $148.46
This price is including the Projectors, Shrouds, Wiring Harness, 55W HID Kit, Paint, and Sealer.
Costs (Including Shipping): $148.46
This price is including the Projectors, Shrouds, Wiring Harness, 55W HID Kit, Paint, and Sealer.
06-01-2011, 09:23 PM
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Here's the latest update:
Finally got the reflector bowls modified to fit the projectors. Also took the time and cleaned the projectors and the bowls inside the projectors. I also fitted my current 35W 6000K HID bulb into the projector to see if I needed to modify the shield. The cutoff was pretty fuzzy at about 10-15 feet away. Once I get the project complete, Ill be making sure the cutoff is good @ 25 feet. I "dry fitted" the projectors into the bowls and the bowls into the chrome assembly to see how it would look before I put the shrouds on. Here's the latest pictures:
Just need to repaint everything again. I'm just curious if Acrylic Enamel will be able to handle the heat from the HIDs I plan on installing.
The last picture is what the seat/breach of the projector looks like. Will update again when I have more to update =)
Finally got the reflector bowls modified to fit the projectors. Also took the time and cleaned the projectors and the bowls inside the projectors. I also fitted my current 35W 6000K HID bulb into the projector to see if I needed to modify the shield. The cutoff was pretty fuzzy at about 10-15 feet away. Once I get the project complete, Ill be making sure the cutoff is good @ 25 feet. I "dry fitted" the projectors into the bowls and the bowls into the chrome assembly to see how it would look before I put the shrouds on. Here's the latest pictures:
Just need to repaint everything again. I'm just curious if Acrylic Enamel will be able to handle the heat from the HIDs I plan on installing.
The last picture is what the seat/breach of the projector looks like. Will update again when I have more to update =)
06-02-2011, 06:28 PM
#21
as long as its fully cured it should be fine, youll probably see 300F inside the shrouds if your using 55w DDM ballasts and 35w bulbs, but as long as the paint is cured there shouldnt be a huge issue. The E46 shrouds arent as tight fitting as say the Gatlings so there will be a bit more airspace.
06-03-2011, 10:11 AM
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Yea, After I painted the lights, they sat in my garage all week with 95+ temperatures outside the garage. I will probably hit it with another coat this weekend so when all the parts come in, they will have cured long enough.
06-03-2011, 10:32 AM
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awww man, Ima show you some pics of mine so far when I get back to my dude crib uughhh...
Opened the first headlight in like 5-7 minutes.. no problems, no nuthin...
2nd headlight... 45-50 minutes wit my buddy helping me
apparently there was some(very little) regular sealant on top of some rubber cement type sealing the lens w/ the housing.. I'm sittin there tryin to melt the **** an the housing AND the glass started melting an gettin sloppy/breakin before the rubber stuff did
I was all types of heated..
Ima show you, jus so you don't do it 2... 
pics to follow...
o an anybody has an extra headlight housing(minus lens) send it my way
/threadjack
I jus had to vent lol
Opened the first headlight in like 5-7 minutes.. no problems, no nuthin...
2nd headlight... 45-50 minutes wit my buddy helping me
apparently there was some(very little) regular sealant on top of some rubber cement type sealing the lens w/ the housing.. I'm sittin there tryin to melt the **** an the housing AND the glass started melting an gettin sloppy/breakin before the rubber stuff did
I was all types of heated..
Ima show you, jus so you don't do it 2...
pics to follow...
o an anybody has an extra headlight housing(minus lens) send it my way
/threadjack
I jus had to vent lol
Last edited by MastaShaKe_88; 06-03-2011 at 10:32 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost