Headlight retrofits and restoration

[Lynton]

Thanks

I can appreciate that. Retrofitting HID projectors doesn't solve all the issues around blinding people, but it's a massive step in the right direction compared to just whacking a HID bulb in a normal headlight.
On top of it, it not only benefits everyone around you, but increases the performance of your lights as well. (wider, brighter and further)
As long as they're adjusted properly, for the most part, you will not annoy anyone. (It's not a totally accurate measurement, but I have never been flashed in the 2.5 years I've been driving with my headlights done.)

Self levelling doesn't completely solve the blinding issue either.
It covers you when you are carrying a load in the back. It only adjusts the lights based on suspension movement. (Retrofit or not, we should always adjust our lights if there is a heavy load in the rear. Many AU's have blinded me)
You can still be blinded by a car with all the whizz bang stuff (levelling, AFS, smart high beam, etc) depending on road slope, height difference, and many other factors.

Thanks again.

Some really good points there. You are definitely right about the quality of light and shape of the beam with HID, they do a much better job of lighting up the road and it would be nice to have more people with that advantage at night. I love the headlights on my car, it is the side spread that amazes me the most which is very useful when it comes to spotting furry long tailed giant grass hoppers on the side of the road.

[MAD]

I have recently received my first retrofit job through this post/forum.

Funnily enough though, it's not for a Ford. It's for a Mazda 6 MPS.
The guy had purchased all the equipment, just needed someone to do the leg work, and just by chance this post popped up in his search.


So I just wanted to say thanks for letting me put this info up.

Does this forum have, or planning on having a donation system in place?

[Franco Cozzo]

If you're up for doing a set of EL ones again I'd pay for it lol.

[MAD]

I was involved in an FB discussion just the other night and I estimated the price I'd need to sell just the headlight lenses and I came up with a figure of around $800. (Based on $30/hr to do it)
Then you've got parts and fitting on top of that.

Even then I'm not sure I'm willing to have another crack at it.

That's why I just say 'no' when anyone asks. haha.

[Franco Cozzo]

I was involved in an FB discussion just the other night and I estimated the price I'd need to sell just the headlight lenses and I came up with a figure of around $800. (Based on $30/hr to do it)
Then you've got parts and fitting on top of that.

Even then I'm not sure I'm willing to have another crack at it.

That's why I just say 'no' when anyone asks. haha.

Thats not too bad I paid $1000 for a set of the new Morimoto Sealed7s all up for a mate's bday present recently and my Focus genuine HID assembly setup cost me just under $2500.

The reason I CBF doing it is getting the flutes out of the plastic.

Have you thought about approaching someone who does plastics? Maybe they could make you a new clear lens?

The only problem with E series gear is that the majority of people who own them generally don't want to spend decent coin on anything lol.

[GavL]

Thats not too bad I paid $1000 for a set of the new Morimoto Sealed7s all up for a mate's bday present recently and my Focus genuine HID assembly setup cost me just under $2500.

The reason I CBF doing it is getting the flutes out of the plastic.

Have you thought about approaching someone who does plastics? Maybe they could make you a new clear lens?

The only problem with E series gear is that the majority of people who own them generally don't want to spend decent coin on anything lol.

If you consider that $800 is the cost of an E-Series then its not worth it for some cars :P

[MAD]

Thats not too bad I paid $1000 for a set of the new Morimoto Sealed7s all up for a mate's bday present recently and my Focus genuine HID assembly setup cost me just under $2500.

The reason I CBF doing it is getting the flutes out of the plastic.

Have you thought about approaching someone who does plastics? Maybe they could make you a new clear lens?

The only problem with E series gear is that the majority of people who own them generally don't want to spend decent coin on anything lol.

Holy crap.
I didn't realise the Sealed7's were that much.

Maybe I should revise my pricing. haha.

That CBF is why I'm 99% sure I have the only EL with retro'd headlights.

I started working on forming my own lenses, but motivation has dropped away. My workspace is tiny and uninviting.
I have an almost finished mould sitting on the workbench, but that's all.

When a decent retrofit will give you a bill of up to $2000 for an E-series, it's no wonder people won't spend the money. Totally understandable.

I'll be finishing a set of EL XR headlights in the next couple of weeks.
It's having MiniH1's swapped in for the main beams, and a special feature for the high beams. (But I won't show that off until the customer has them installed)
I will keep updating this thread with jobs as I complete them.

[Franco Cozzo]

Yeah it was an extra $175 for them to put them together + $70 for 140mm LED halo as parkers.

Then once you add in ballasts, relay/wiring kit plus I got him Osram SVS globes so another $170 on globes alone + $100 or so on shipping.

That was with 20% discount as they had a sale on so they're expensive.

But If I had a car with 7" sealed beams that would be the first mod I would do, the lights are great and they don't blind people as they have the proper cut off:



Thats them in his Cruiser.

Plus I'd rather drop a thousand or so on lights before having to fix up the front of the car because I didn't see a Roo because of my 7" sealed beam tea candles or E series turds (which might as well as be a sealed beam they're that hopeless).

[dwade23]

Just a shout out to MAD for his professional and high quality projector headlight adjustment services.

I have a Mitsubishi 380 with retrofit projector headlights that were a bit wonky:


MAD was able to remove front bar from the car and access the headlights (with impressive speed and accuracy I might add, especially with the amount of annoying plastic scrivets that needed removing!)
and adjusting them:


In the process we also resealed one of the headlights (which had a condensation issue).

Overall, I am very happy with the results and MAD's professionalism during the whole process.

I would definitely recommend him to others for similar headlight work!

Cheers

[dwade23]

Just a shout out to MAD for his professional and high quality projector headlight adjustment services.

I have a Mitsubishi 380 with retrofit projector headlights that were a bit wonky:


MAD was able to remove front bar from the car and access the headlights (with impressive speed and accuracy I might add, especially with the amount of annoying plastic scrivets that needed removing!)
and adjusting them:


In the process we also resealed one of the headlights (which had a condensation issue).

Overall, I am very happy with the results and MAD's professionalism during the whole process.

I would definitely recommend him to others for similar headlight work!

Cheers