Another retrofit started. RX350!!!

[gixer2000]

I'll update this thread as I make progress and not really going to be a write up but pictures may help someone else looking to do the same.

Parts used:
RX350 Projectors with STi-R clear lens, tuned and secondary shield cut down
Osram CBB D2s bulbs
Hella Gen 3 D2s ballasts
EBay blacked out housing with clear lens.

Pictures below are not final and are just a mockup so I can see what adjustments need to be made.

 

[edizzle]

you should heavily consider getting the proper crimping tools for your electrical connections!!! Flat crimping is a very poor choice and is not how it is designed to work. Especially for HEADLIGHTS!!!!!

 

[gixer2000]

you should heavily consider getting the proper crimping tools for your electrical connections!!! Flat crimping is a very poor choice and is not how it is designed to work. Especially for HEADLIGHTS!!!!!

I own proper crimping tools but forgot them in my work truck and wasn't going out in the pouring rain. So a flat crimp for the night allowed me to check rotation before I drilled my mounting holes. Also that's a 9006 female plug so once it went into the truck it would be the proper connector.

 

[07xln]

you should heavily consider getting the proper crimping tools for your electrical connections!!! Flat crimping is a very poor choice and is not how it is designed to work. Especially for HEADLIGHTS!!!!!

How dare you question his workmanship. Do you know who youre talking to!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gixer2000]

How dare you question his workmanship. Do you know who youre talking to!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you have questions? Have something to add? I'd be more than happy to answer all of your questions so you can tell me I'm wrong.

 

[Flexpedition]

I know nothing about this stuff, but is the cylindrical metal housing from a Lexus RX350 SUV, then the domed lens from a Subaru WRX? I assume each has a distinct advantage over the other - surely there is a reason you sourced out these specific items? Is the Lexus housing used just to get a certain bulb size, but its domed lens not great?

Hoping to see a cool solution to the turn signal, especially since its reflector panels are black, which is unexpected.

I'll be watching this thread and appreciate your contributions.

 

[gixer2000]

I know nothing about this stuff, but is the cylindrical metal housing from a Lexus RX350 SUV, then the domed lens from a Subaru WRX? I assume each has a distinct advantage over the other - surely there is a reason you sourced out these specific items? Is the Lexus housing used just to get a certain bulb size, but its domed lens not great?

Hoping to see a cool solution to the turn signal, especially since its reflector panels are black, which is unexpected.

I'll be watching this thread and appreciate your contributions.

The STi-R clear lens is an aftermarket solution designed to meet the same optics as the original STi lens except it's clear. The oem STi lens is a Fresnel, frosted or dimpled lens and have a negative effect on output but is done so the lights aren't as harsh on your(oncoming traffic) eyes. A good portion of oem come with clear lenses but Subaru chose not to use them.

The rear section is from a Lexus RX 350 SUV and just the glass is from the STI. The swap is made because the RX350 lens is a fresnel lens and severely affects how it performs. The STI lens meets the same Optics except it's clear so it makes the RX350 perform that much better. I'll link a video about the lens swap below

As far as all the black reflectors I'm using all LEDs and they distribute plenty of light even without the reflector. I'll attach a picture of what I'm using now with the reflector not painted

 

[deweysmith]

Is that amber strip a DRL? Does it flash with the turn signal?

Uuuugggghhhhh I'm gonna need more pictures and/or a walkthrough cuz I need to do this.

 

[gixer2000]

Is that amber strip a DRL? Does it flash with the turn signal?

Uuuugggghhhhh I'm gonna need more pictures and/or a walkthrough cuz I need to do this.

That is a switchback strip. White for the parking light, flashes Amber for the blinker.

 

[AllBoostNoEco]

Nice to see you doing some new retrofits, pretty solid combo you have going there. Output should be incredible.
Are the Hella ballasts 35W? And what made you choose the CBB over the CBI?

 

[gixer2000]

Nice to see you doing some new retrofits, pretty solid combo you have going there. Output should be incredible.
Are the Hella ballasts 35W? And what made you choose the CBB over the CBI?

Yes the Hella ballast are 35 watt and I have Parts here to boost them but I haven't decided if I'm going to do that yet or not.

I went with the CBB because I like the pure white color. The CBI still have some yellow to them and the CBB actually got better numbers on the lux meter.

 

[gixer2000]

Both projectors are fully recessed and solenoid is through. Time to clean up the holes, set permanent alignment on the car and JB weld the gaps/mounting hardware.

 

[edizzle]

This is negligent at best!! Opening yourself up to litigation. Hope you don’t ever get in an accident and your insurance company finds out you have Frankenstein’d headlights!!! Better yet you better hope the other party doesn’t find out!!!!!! Murphy’s Law, if it can happen, it will.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Deleted for lack of maturity.

 

[edizzle]

What makes them legal? Have they been tested and approved by the NHTSA?

 

[gixer2000]

Wow, what is with the immature comments from people lately? Sorry gixer. I had to deal with a guy in another thread who is convinced it’s illegal to go 5mph under the posted speed limit in the U.S. You can’t make this stuff up. Dizzle, I would stop now before you make yourself look even more clueless. You have absolutely no idea whatsoever what you are talking about. His headlamps will be fully legal and actually a proper projector HID setup is safer than a normal incandescent reflector setup because the cutoff is much cleaner thus preventing blinding oncoming drivers. I can’t believe the ignorance I’ve seen the past two days on this forum. Makes me want to go back to my toyota forum. Unreal.


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I do my best to ignore the ignorant comments and this case unfortunately he is technically correct but that's not based on the performance Factor it's just that I've altered OEM equipment. However if you actually read dot Rules technically LEDs in any exterior light that was not originally equipped is considered illegal, adding a brush guard to the front of your car is technically illegal because it Alters how the vehicle handles a crash and I can continue for days. He needs to keep in mind that the people that set these rules and regulations are the same people that allow these manufacturers to equip vehicles with lighting that pretty much do nothing at night and make drivers more susceptible to crashes.

For the record this is my second retrofit on this truck and forth retrofit I've ever done . two of the three vehicles had an inspection done at my local state police barracks and passed with the retrofit installed. It was mandatory that they went to the state police barracks because the Expedition failed for an e brake twice because the inspection station was trying to hold it at 3500 RPMs instead of 1300 because he was confused about the new inspection law. So the vehicle was looked at by a DOT officer at the barracks and there were no issues.

I also add all of my retrofitting Parts into my insurance. I give my agent a complete breakdown and he compiles them as if they were one housing to figure cost.

I appreciate his concern but I will no longer deal with crappy OEM lighting and put myself at risk!

FYI this was done with voice to text so if it's a little scattered I apologized. I'm at work and don't really have the time to proofread

 

[gixer2000]

@Muddy Bean
I need your opinion. Should I black out the reflector or leave it chrome for some contrast?

Nothing has been cleaned or JB'd into place. Just trying to fine tune alignment on the car

 

[edizzle]

is the reflector for reflecting? is it just for style?

 

[gixer2000]

is the reflector for reflecting? is it just for style?

It's style in a projector housing! All the light is projected through the projector thus making the reflector just a mount for the projector

 

[Muddy Bean]

So on our land cruiser forum, the guys that retrofit are split down the middle between blackout reflectors or leaving them mirrored. My opinion (which doesn’t count for much as of late on here) is that leaving them mirrored does make it look much more stock. See mine for example:



Blacking then out looks custom and could be awesome if you’re going for the murdered look which BTW some f150s come stock with this look:



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