So I think I want to do a projector retrofit and would like some feedback.

I have a sedan so the 06' lights are not an option for me.

Right now I don't have the money for a quad projector set-up so it would only be the low beams like the 06' coupe headlights. I would love to have the quad set-up but it is so much more money.

I have someone willing to do it for $500 with TSX projectors including painting the housing.

Do you think it is worth the money?
Should I save up the other $1k for the quad?
Or should I just be happy with what I have now?

 

save it up.........either go big or go home

 

IMO there isn't much benefit to having quad projectors. Yeah there is more output when you need it, but who needs that much light? Just put in some TL bi-xenons in the lowbeam area if you're on a budget. It will probably look less "bug-eyed" than a quad projector setup on a sedan anyway. Check hidplanet.com for ideas.

 

pointless to me

 

I voted for the last choice.

Seriously though, let me answer your question with another question (a trick people learn to do often in grad school).

When you think of headlight modification, do you think:

A: You're trying to replace that clearance strip bulb with a blue LED bulb, and you're having trouble getting past the fenderliner.

If so, then you probably won't understand why people with spend a few hundred to thousands modifying lights. So no, retrofit is not worth it here.

B: It's time to replace the HID bulbs. Simple logic says 4100K < 5000K < 6000K < 8000K < 12000K in terms of blueness, brightness, coolness, energy consumption, etc.

If so, retrofit is not worth it. Buy some 6000K bulbs on ebay, install them, and you're done. Blue lights.

C: You're tired of the fuzzy cutoff of reflectors, and you want a sharper cutoff. You also understand that the blue from stock projectors is not from the bulb, because OEM is always 4100 or 5000K, but rather from the prism effect from the cutoff sheild.

If so, then you have two choices here. Easiest is to buy the 06 coupe lights, if you have a coupe, or the other choice is to retrofit some projectors.

D: You not only want projectors, you want the brightest, widest, sharpest, bluest cutoff projectors out there. There's no such thing as TOO bright. You want to see your cutoff line reflecting off white vans a quarter mile ahead of you. You understand washer modding, custom cutoff shields, the value of clear lenses, why Stanley projectors are more expensive, modding ballasts to put out higher watts. If you could fit LS430 with clear lenses, you would. You're not just modifying the headlight, you're modifying the projector and ballasts.

If so, then save up for a quad projector setup. You'll be more willing to spend the extra money on stuff as silly as clear lenses to fit TL bixenons.

BTW, you're going to have a very, very hard time fitting TLs in the stock low beam section.

Here's a comparison of stock vs lights that I modded. For those who don't know, I have TSX's in the low beam section, and TL's in the fog/high beam.

 

^^^^ i wish my projectors would of been that sharp!

and since you own a sedan, i say DEFINATELY do a retro! i would personally just go with low-beam since a nice sharp projector till be giving you a very good lighting far away. then again, i don't know if you live in the country or whatever. but here in L.A. i NEVER have to use my high beams!

go for a retro, no doubt!

 

+1
I started doing these things because I wanted them myself, so believe me when I say go big or go home, that's just how I roll, not because I make them for people.

 

Yes, If he does a good job, it's well worth the money. My retro cost was lot more than that, actually costed more than your quad quote excluding the the cost of getting a pair of OEM headlight from ebay.

I did the low beam projector only, for the reasons below:

1, Cost is half compare to quad retro
2, I want to justify the retro as for function, not just for looks.
I never use High Beam, for the few time I used it, it's adequate.

Low beam is used a lot, more light from projector would centainly benefit the most.

I maybe selling the 05 OEM Sedan headlights, $295 each or $495 for the pair
if anyone interested to start a retro on 05 sedan. You can then sell it after finishing retrofit. They are different from 03/04 sedan headlight. PM me if interested.

I will swap on my projectors this weekend.

 

for 500 just get the low beams done. There is no need for the quad projectors especially for that price. I'm trying to do a retro for the low beams but i gotta research a little more and collect the necessary items. Good luck and tell us how it goes.

 

Depends. Also ,that's an insanely good price. Do you know how good of quality he does? Does that include the ballasts out of the TSX, or what brand ballasts? And does that include color mod as well?

www.customlightz.com < my friends company, check them out as well.

I personally would go quad... just make sure if you do quad, that the high-beam projectors are done upside down. You know the reasoning for this?

 

BTW, make sure to stay between 4K and 5K lighting... above 5K and you get bluer but less light output... below that it gets yellow and it's pointless for xenon/HID.

Also, bixenon's are alright, but wont give you as good of lighting/color/cutoff quality that the TSX or S2K projectors will.

 

I know what you mean about the 4-5k. I have the 6000k phillips bulbs and have been very happy with them. They are much brighter than my off-brand 6000k bulbs. I would say they are just as bright as the oem 4300k or very close. The color is a very nice white with a slight hint of purple.

 

ttrank, i might be interested in this too if you can arrange for more than just one set... my night time lighting sucks, esp with my sedan sitting low....

 

if your friend is willing to do the fogs too i would be insterested. i dont ever use the high beams so i dont care about them.

pm me if he'll do a group buy ..hehe
thanks

 

I spoke to him a little while back. I just sent him another email to see if this price was still good. I might need to be the test mule for everyone...