Converting factory HIDs to 55 watt HIDs

[shibbs]

Is this possible with our cars? I really miss the light output of my 55 watt ballasts that I've had in previous cars. The 35 watts our cars use from the factory is almost half of what a 55 watt HID produces.

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

Dont think it will work for long, here is why, the mounting/reflector is plastic that is chromed, we have seen the reflector peal off some of the chrome, when only using the 35 watt bulbs, more watt's = more heat, that will melt the mounting/reflector faster and kill the life span.

[Maiden69]

As stated above, the reflector on our car is junk... And it is a D1S bulb, which means the igniter is IN the bulb. I asked around trying to get a set of lights, broken, whatever... to see the feasibility to do a bolt on retrofit using a better projector. Second, the lens is a fresnel lens, which disperses light better, but at the cost or lumens. They are not bright at all. Heck, my wife's Honda Odyssey projectors at 10 times better than ours (Honda makes one of, if not the best projectors on the market).

I have a set of EvoxR projectors (upgraded copies of a Hella E55) that I will be retrofitting into the Camaro. Don't know when, as I am trying to get some OEM projectors, to see if I can make a jig to just swap them instead of the tedious JB weld or window weld method.

[shibbs]

Originally Posted by 2SSRS@Gen5diy

Dont think it will work for long, here is why, the mounting/reflector is plastic that is chromed, we have seen the reflector peal off some of the chrome, when only using the 35 watt bulbs, more watt's = more heat, that will melt the mounting/reflector faster and kill the life span.

This is what I was afraid of. Should have figured Chevy would use the cheapest option possible.

Originally Posted by Maiden69

As stated above, the reflector on our car is junk... And it is a D1S bulb, which means the igniter is IN the bulb.

Yeah, hence my asking. It would be really nice if there was a plug-and-play 55 watt D1S HID capsule, as I was really hoping I'd be able to get more lumens on the road. Our lights are pretty okay, but by no means great.

[pnyklr]

Any other thoughts on this?

[xc_SS/RS]

Does anyone have any pictures of some RS headlights opened up? Wouldn't mind seeing if a retrofit is possible. More light, D2S bulbs and clearer output would be nice to have

[Maiden69]

Retrofit are possible on anything. And the fact that this is a single light set up makes it even easier. I looked at one of the Oracle installation videos, and it seems as if the entire projector is plastic. I am hoping to get a chance next weekend to open them up, but with all my workload lately, I think it will have to wait till Thanksgiving or Christmas break for me to do it.

I have a Evo-Xr set from the retrofit source just waiting to be installed, this projector sucks... my el cheapo Sentra lighted the road better than this, and it had reflectors.

[shibbs]

Originally Posted by Maiden69

Retrofit are possible on anything. And the fact that this is a single light set up makes it even easier. I looked at one of the Oracle installation videos, and it seems as if the entire projector is plastic. I am hoping to get a chance next weekend to open them up, but with all my workload lately, I think it will have to wait till Thanksgiving or Christmas break for me to do it.

I have a Evo-Xr set from the retrofit source just waiting to be installed, this projector sucks... my el cheapo Sentra lighted the road better than this, and it had reflectors.

I really think that for the first two years it was much better than it is now. My light output seems to have lessened as of late.

Let me know what you do! I'm curious and it's always nice to have more light on the road!

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

we have lots of the inner parts will be happy to post pics, pm me what you need posted, and have the 14-15 lights open to to show

[Maiden69]

Originally Posted by shibbs

I really think that for the first two years it was much better than it is now. My light output seems to have lessened as of late.

Let me know what you do! I'm curious and it's always nice to have more light on the road!

My car is a 2011. I hate the low beam, hi's are a bit better...

Originally Posted by 2SSRS@Gen5diy

we have lots of the inner parts will be happy to post pics, pm me what you need posted, and have the 14-15 lights open to to show

I need pics (would love the insides of a 2010-13 RS headlights) of just the projector housing with mounting points. I did a retrofit for a GTO a while back, but the projector was cast aluminum, so I was able to "machine it" and bolt a set of FX-Rs in it. Also, did a custom mount set on a set on a GTO Spyder aftermarket headlights. After doing this and driving a few Honda cars with HIDs I must say I refuse to keep this car with the stock lights. They suck, especially on back roads.

If you could post some close-ups of the projector mounting points, including the adjusting screw point will be awesome. If you happen to come by a set of broken lights, PM me and I will get them off your hands. By broken I mean that the housing is cracked and can't be repaired, but lens is cracked, etc... the only thing I need is the projector.

Here is a few retrofits I have done on my cars

Suzuki SX4 with FX-R


SX4 replaced fog lights with a set of Blazer projectors


OEM headlights with FX-Rs and painted shields


From this, puny halogen H1 projector


To this, OEM FX45 projector with clear lens upgrade.


OEM GTO


FX45 with clear lens in Spyder housing,

[Snoman]

Not possible for a number of reasons without designing a completely new lighting assembly.

If you replace the bulb, the cheap projector will melt
If you replace the bulb and projector, the clear lens on our vehicles will melt or discolor.
And most (if not all) vendors claiming to offer a 55w bulb are scamming you, most are 35-40w.

Actually surprised DiodeElectronics hasn't replied yet.

If you need greater light that badly, replace DRLs and add switchbacks (if you can even find a shop to do them properly, most have NFC) or install a light bar in the lower grill.

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

Originally Posted by Snoman

Not possible for a number of reasons without designing a completely new lighting assembly.

If you replace the bulb, the cheap projector will melt
If you replace the bulb and projector, the clear lens on our vehicles will melt or discolor.
And most (if not all) vendors claiming to offer a 55w bulb are scamming you, most are 35-40w.

Actually surprised DiodeElectronics hasn't replied yet.

If you need greater light that badly, replace DRLs and add switchbacks (if you can even find a shop to do them properly, most have NFC) or install a light bar in the lower grill.

I don't believe in it cant be done, its only how much it will cast, and there it can cost a lot.

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

Originally Posted by Maiden69

My car is a 2011. I hate the low beam, hi's are a bit better...


I need pics (would love the insides of a 2010-13 RS headlights) of just the projector housing with mounting points. I did a retrofit for a GTO a while back, but the projector was cast aluminum, so I was able to "machine it" and bolt a set of FX-Rs in it. Also, did a custom mount set on a set on a GTO Spyder aftermarket headlights. After doing this and driving a few Honda cars with HIDs I must say I refuse to keep this car with the stock lights. They suck, especially on back roads.

If you could post some close-ups of the projector mounting points, including the adjusting screw point will be awesome. If you happen to come by a set of broken lights, PM me and I will get them off your hands. By broken I mean that the housing is cracked and can't be repaired, but lens is cracked, etc... the only thing I need is the projector.

Hope this helps.















Let me know is you need any more pics.

[Maiden69]

Originally Posted by Snoman

Not possible for a number of reasons without designing a completely new lighting assembly.

If you replace the bulb, the cheap projector will melt
If you replace the bulb and projector, the clear lens on our vehicles will melt or discolor.
And most (if not all) vendors claiming to offer a 55w bulb are scamming you, most are 35-40w.

Actually surprised DiodeElectronics hasn't replied yet.

If you need greater light that badly, replace DRLs and add switchbacks (if you can even find a shop to do them properly, most have NFC) or install a light bar in the lower grill.

I guess you don't know much about lighting...
1st. If you replace the HID bulb, you achieved nothing... other than a color change if you choose a different kelvin rating... this is not a halogen set up we are talking about.

2nd. HID don't heat us as much as halogen. A 55w ballast will not make the lens melt, the sun will make it discolor at a faster rate than the HID could ever do. As a matter of fact, you couldn't even tell the difference by placing the hand on the plastic. The reflector bowl on the other hand, will bubble up within a few weeks of use.

3rd. Morimoto ballast have been proven to perform to what they are rated to, this are not cheap Chinese amp ballast sold on ebay.

4th. By getting a higher wattage buld (LED/HID) all you are doing is lighting the crap out of the foreground blinding every on-coming driver and limiting your far-distance view. This have been a complain on the people using 55w ballasts, as it lights up too much up front, which prompted retrofitters into installing fore-ground limiters on the cut-off shield.

Add up a light bar, and you are achieving the same as brighter DRLs... just lighting up the front of the car.

Here is a proper set up. Took out the DRL/Fog lights and actually replaced with fog light projectors.


Light output low/fogs


fogs with parking lights on


off-road/back road lights w/ low beams on


LED lights are still a bad choice when it comes to replacement of HID or halogen bulbs. Their "throw" of light is not placed in the right spot, and produced light that is sub-par when compared to what they are replacing.

Just because it looks brighter IN the reflector, doesn't mean that the light is making it where it needs to go for better night vision.

LED vs. Halogen

little reading material

http://www.gmt400.com/threads/furthe...dlights.29222/

Originally Posted by 2SSRS@Gen5diy

Hope this helps.


Let me know is you need any more pics.

That helps! Is this from a 10-13? That's good news, because I thought the front piece was molded into the plate like the OEM GTO. This will make it a lot easier to retrofit.

Whats the distance of the plastic housing? Is the lens a 2.5? I thought it was bigger. The one I am wanting to use is a 3".

When that projector assembly is in the housing, how much space do you have around it? I cam make an aluminum ring plate to hold the projector, and epoxy it to the plastic piece so I can hollow the center.