Official Retrofit Review Thread
01-07-2012, 04:18 PM
#1
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Official Retrofit Review Thread
Please note: this thread is not intended to bash or degrade anyone or any of the products posted here. This thread is simply to review positive points and any negative things noticed to help users of this website help through visuals, and reading on which company they would like to do buisness with. Everything can be posted here that way its all in one thread and users dont have to switch through between vendor areas. KEEP IT CIVIL. There is a way to explain a negative situation about a product while still acting grown up. Any bashing from here out will earn you a free vacation! That being said...
I recently purchased a set of retrofits from a vendor on another site we will call Maven
Specs are:
Morimoto 3Five 35w ballasts
Morimoto 3Five bulbs in color choice (5000)
Morimoto MH1 projectors
Color matched mini gatling projectors
Hand built OEM quality single relay GMSCL harness
Complete retrofit assemblies include new aftermarket housings painted black
Pics:
Inner housings with side markers epoxied in place
Bowls with projector mounted, visible are the protected shutter wires and epoxy fastened mounting cups
Back of light in progress, no wires through seal, cleanly modified reflector bowl, etc
M stayed in constant quick replaying contact on the forums, and then i ran into an issue mounting them into the car ( I wasnt pushing hard enough ) and m texted me and helped me out. Very quick turn around on the products, and constant update while getting built.
My previous retros from BuyHids. These I bought used, and I knew when I bought them I was told they would leak occasionally. Occasionally turned into dumping water out of them once a week. I msged Mike about them, and free of charge he sent me two tubes of sealant, although after applying sealant ( my last job I used sealant every day on water tighting items so I know how to properly prep and apply ) and they still leaked. The back of the housing where the mounting of the bulb etc is was not as clean as Maven units. There was dabs of sealant along where the light mounts. There were wires run out through the gasket on the back of the headlight preventing it from properly seating. Also my passenger side high/low wouldnt work. It would stay on highs if they were applied until the car was turned off. Also the passenger side bulb was a different temp than the drivers side. AGAIN being used im not sure what was from BuyHids and what was error from previous owner if there was any.
Pics:
Remember this is not a bash or degrading thread so keep it clean or youll be on the way out.
It is encouraged for others to post up their positive AND negative experiences to help others have an organized thread to educate themselves with before making a purchase.
Enjoy. Contribute. Go.
I recently purchased a set of retrofits from a vendor on another site we will call Maven
Specs are:
Morimoto 3Five 35w ballasts
Morimoto 3Five bulbs in color choice (5000)
Morimoto MH1 projectors
Color matched mini gatling projectors
Hand built OEM quality single relay GMSCL harness
Complete retrofit assemblies include new aftermarket housings painted black
Pics:
Inner housings with side markers epoxied in place
Bowls with projector mounted, visible are the protected shutter wires and epoxy fastened mounting cups
Back of light in progress, no wires through seal, cleanly modified reflector bowl, etc
M stayed in constant quick replaying contact on the forums, and then i ran into an issue mounting them into the car ( I wasnt pushing hard enough ) and m texted me and helped me out. Very quick turn around on the products, and constant update while getting built.
My previous retros from BuyHids. These I bought used, and I knew when I bought them I was told they would leak occasionally. Occasionally turned into dumping water out of them once a week. I msged Mike about them, and free of charge he sent me two tubes of sealant, although after applying sealant ( my last job I used sealant every day on water tighting items so I know how to properly prep and apply ) and they still leaked. The back of the housing where the mounting of the bulb etc is was not as clean as Maven units. There was dabs of sealant along where the light mounts. There were wires run out through the gasket on the back of the headlight preventing it from properly seating. Also my passenger side high/low wouldnt work. It would stay on highs if they were applied until the car was turned off. Also the passenger side bulb was a different temp than the drivers side. AGAIN being used im not sure what was from BuyHids and what was error from previous owner if there was any.
Pics:
Remember this is not a bash or degrading thread so keep it clean or youll be on the way out.
It is encouraged for others to post up their positive AND negative experiences to help others have an organized thread to educate themselves with before making a purchase.
Enjoy. Contribute. Go.
Last edited by 07MetallicSC; 01-21-2012 at 07:40 PM.
01-07-2012, 04:18 PM
#2
lol for a second I thought, "Free vacation? What are you gonna do about it"? Oh ya, mod now 
Well I can explain 2/3 buyhids.com issues you had. The sticking high beam is a known issue with the mini h1s, there are a few different ways to fix it, probably something mike just didn't do, didn't work. And the mismatched bulbs was simply a set of mismatched bulbs. That's why I tell people to buy the morimotos because they are matched sets from the factory.
I bought a set of retrofits way back when buyhids.com FIRST started making them. Used the G1 projectors at the time. Never had any problems with them other than blowing a relay which was my fault because I let it get wet.
Made a set myself the second time, was much happier doing it myself, never could get the to stop leaking though.
Well I can explain 2/3 buyhids.com issues you had. The sticking high beam is a known issue with the mini h1s, there are a few different ways to fix it, probably something mike just didn't do, didn't work. And the mismatched bulbs was simply a set of mismatched bulbs. That's why I tell people to buy the morimotos because they are matched sets from the factory.
I bought a set of retrofits way back when buyhids.com FIRST started making them. Used the G1 projectors at the time. Never had any problems with them other than blowing a relay which was my fault because I let it get wet.
Made a set myself the second time, was much happier doing it myself, never could get the to stop leaking though.
Last edited by TommyP; 01-07-2012 at 04:24 PM.
01-07-2012, 05:04 PM
#8
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Yes im hoping Francis and Mike stop in to showcase their work and More Retro purchasers share their experiences in here.
Hoping it helps the community in a small way.
It was brought to my attention that exsoccer thought it might be considered advertisingbfor the Guy I purchased my lights through, and since he's not a supporting vendor ex said it wouldn't work. So to keep him and everyone happy, I edited out the name. Trying to work with everyone and keep this thread fair to everyone.
Hoping it helps the community in a small way.
It was brought to my attention that exsoccer thought it might be considered advertisingbfor the Guy I purchased my lights through, and since he's not a supporting vendor ex said it wouldn't work. So to keep him and everyone happy, I edited out the name. Trying to work with everyone and keep this thread fair to everyone.
01-07-2012, 05:08 PM
#11
The artist otherwise known as Maven made your lights, for those that want to know.
Blown06ss made my retros, he's just a member like Maven who made good lights.
Let's me ***** out my painted hood too
Blown06ss made my retros, he's just a member like Maven who made good lights.
Let's me ***** out my painted hood too
Last edited by EXsoccer1921; 01-07-2012 at 06:36 PM.
01-07-2012, 05:12 PM
#13
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theres no advertising. this is a comparion.
if thats advertising find anyone thats reviewed my gauge pods and tail lights and lock the threads. theres only ONE vendor here that makes them from what i know but none of the rest here do so find their threads to and lock them.
if thats advertising find anyone thats reviewed my gauge pods and tail lights and lock the threads. theres only ONE vendor here that makes them from what i know but none of the rest here do so find their threads to and lock them.
01-07-2012, 05:14 PM
#15
No
First dude to do it on this forum was Mercury...yeah...showing how long I've been around
True story how Maven's LSJ that almost no one knows he owned was sold to Mercury's then(and still maybe) girlfriend
Small world.
Saw said retros in person too...not too shabby
First dude to do it on this forum was Mercury...yeah...showing how long I've been around
True story how Maven's LSJ that almost no one knows he owned was sold to Mercury's then(and still maybe) girlfriend
Small world.
Saw said retros in person too...not too shabby
01-07-2012, 05:15 PM
#17
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Keep it civil guys, I understand your frustrations.
Also glad to see some future buyers are glad to see this thread. Hoping by tonite to see more reviews
Also glad to see some future buyers are glad to see this thread. Hoping by tonite to see more reviews
01-07-2012, 05:18 PM
#18
I had a set of his lights too, and they looked pretty. I was the end of them though when I fubarred the wiring closing the hood.
He used quality internal parts, the housings, as most A/M Cobalt ones are crap.
01-07-2012, 05:21 PM
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Ah, he wasn't so much a hack, more of he didn't really know any better.
I had a set of his lights too, and they looked pretty. I was the end of them though when I fubarred the wiring closing the hood.
He used quality internal parts, the housings, as most A/M Cobalt ones are crap.
I had a set of his lights too, and they looked pretty. I was the end of them though when I fubarred the wiring closing the hood.
He used quality internal parts, the housings, as most A/M Cobalt ones are crap.
01-07-2012, 05:29 PM
#25
The end of the day, most people don't care that the wiring looks like a squirrel's nest because they don't look for it.
Most people want some rings around their lights, and pay the bottom line price to get that.
Most Cobalt owners don't own their cars for 3-4 years, or think of painting their leet carbon, or actually get retrofits for the light output
It's about the cred dawg
Most people want some rings around their lights, and pay the bottom line price to get that.
Most Cobalt owners don't own their cars for 3-4 years, or think of painting their leet carbon, or actually get retrofits for the light output
It's about the cred dawg