CALLING ALL 2003 - 2005 OWNERS who want better lighting...

[JKloppe]

Hella HID ff200 in the fog lamp spot. This is the beam pattern.





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[seafish]

JKloppe, if your high beams are in the factory bumper fog light position, what are you running as the low beam in the factory headlight--it looks awful pretty, does it shine brightly too??

 

[JKloppe]

I'm using projectors out of an Lexus LS430, If you look under the lense you will also see a reflector it uses this to project light to the extream sides. The light output is considerd to be one of the best.

 

[seafish]

Thanks for the info; Please do keep us all informed after you get them installed and how you like them and maybe even how you did it--it looks like its going to be a great mod; I am curious if the beams will still adjust with the factory adjusting screws or if you had to rig something up??

 

[Matt400]

I'm using projectors out of an Lexus LS430

Thats an interesting idea for the low beam, did you have trouble fitting the Hella's in the bumper? Based on the size I am guessing you removed the plastic trim ring??



I mounted 100W Xenon Hella Projector High Beams in my fog position that work real well, so well I dont think I would change to the hids but would like better lows too.

 

[JKloppe]

Matt400- I wouldn't reccomend one set of Hid let alone 2 sets. You will be addicted and have to spend alot of money. :-laf :-laf

 

[Matt400]

Maybe so but the projectors are so bright I have to make sure they are off in time for any traffic.



Since so many around our parts run with their fogs on all the time I am thinking a better idea might have been to put low beams in the bumper and just add a pair of driving lamps to supplement the highs.

I don't want to intentionally blind traffic but if they are always blinding me I might as well have a little better vision in the direction I am going.

 

[mymtnhauler]

These are mine, they are not completed yet. I got 30 hrs in what you see.

Ok! I may be very dense or something but, please tell us how the hi beams and the lows work? And were are the lights going to be on your truck? Are they both in the same headlight?

 

[JKloppe]

post #121 is the pic of the high beam pattern, The high beam lights are in the bumper in the fog hole. Stock total lumens 4000 my high and low = 13600

 

[p-Bar]

Here's my set up. I bought those Chinese imports off of ebay and ripped out the reflector assembly with the HI bulb and replaced it with a BMW E46 projector made by Bosch this is the "Bi" with Hi and lo built in by means of a solenoid that drops down the metal guard that shapes the light coming out. the other "projector has a H! bulb in it that is used for high beams which has a 100watt bulb. I had Joel at Brite box custom make a unit that keep the fogs on with the highbeams,power to the incadescent projectors and no loss of power to the HID . The unit works flawlessly as stated in my sig 15,000 lumens

 

[rbattelle]

Wow, P-bar, nice lights! Did you custom fabricate the plastic shroud the lights are sitting in (the black plastic part, not the housing)?

Ryan

 

[p-Bar]

Actually worked within all the plastic that came with the lights. The hardest part was pulling the lens cover away from the backing. It was very tight fit as my family says "a German fit".

 

[Matt400]

Hey p-Bar. . got a few questions,

Looks like you worked with this one correct?



Was the lens glued on?

How do they adjust?

Any concern melting plastic with the high beams?

 

[p-Bar]

Hey p-Bar. . got a few questions,

Looks like you worked with this one correct?



Was the lens glued on?

How do they adjust?

Any concern melting plastic with the high beams?

Yes mine are the !st generation but same basic design.



not sure what kind of glue but it was tough to pull it , they also had small snap clips to also hold it on



That was the tough part , I used 3 points to adjust which has to be done from the rear, so to adjust I would just hold them in the truck and them pull them out to adjust.

 

[seafish]

On another forum I had read that one can heat the entire headlight assembly in a lo temperature oven (not greater then 140 *F) for 10 minutes or so and the glue loosens up and then all you have to do is slip a flat blade under each of the snap clips; I tried it on a stock 2005 headlight that I have been experimenting onand it works GREAT to separate the clear lense from the backing. Be careful though, the glue gets stringy and very sticky--don't get it on any of the inside of the clear plastic or reflectors if you are reusing them. Of course, you might want to try this when your wife is NOT home. Also, of course, NO microwaves,

 

[JKloppe]

cfish- ya the oven works great, I set the oven at 250 for 5 to ten minutes. What projectors are you using for you retro?

 

[JHardwick]

Hella HID ff200 in the fog lamp spot. This is the beam pattern.

I just added the FF200's to my Ute Bull Bar and tapped the high beam wire to excite the relay. That leaves me with the factory Hella fogs in the stock location. I always have 4 foreward facing lamps burning this way.

 

[seafish]

JKloppe, I have been experimenting with changing the depth and inside reflectivity of the little cap that covers the stock bulb--so far no great results; I have been mostly dinking around until moparBob lets us know what his friend has come up with; If, however, I don't like what his looks like, I am seriously thinking about using something like your idea--I really like the stock look, with chrome reflectors; VERY nice!!! In my experiment, I even took out the amber reflector and replaced the turn bulb with an amber bulb--it looks even better in my opinion. I have put the project on hold somewhat also because I purchased an Ute Bull Bar, which has tabs and plenty of room for whatever beams I want to mount on it; STILL, I am very interested in improving the stock headlights for improved low beams, and using auxiliaries for even more. I can't quite decide if I want to place driving lights in the stock position because I live on the coast where we get plenty of fog; I could always mount really good foggers below the Ute, highs (the ff200 or some PIAA's) where the Ute places the stock fogs, and then maybe some pencil beams or hi output drving lights on the tabs of the bumper. Really, right now I have TOO many options and I am waiting to see what all of you guys come up with before I move forward. :-laf Definitely, a really nice job on your headlights--the Lexus beam sounds great. Where did you get it and how much is it, if you don't mind my asking?? Also. will you be able to adjust your modified headlights from the stock adjusters, or something that you rigged up?? TIA

 

[seafish]

I just added the FF200's to my Ute Bull Bar and tapped the high beam wire to excite the relay. That leaves me with the factory Hella fogs in the stock location. I always have 4 foreward facing lamps burning this way.

JHardwick, as mentioned in my last post, I also have an Ute Bull bar which I have not yet installed. Your ff200's really seem to put out the light for high beams--any chance of getting a pic of the front of your truck so I can see how it all looks. TIA!!

 

[JHardwick]

Ask and you shall receive. It's a little dirty right now, I just finished a 10,000 miles trip and it could use a quick polish ... ... ..... in fact, it's got over 30,000 miles on it I guess, and I haven't polished it since I installed it. Anyway, I can see into the next county with this setup.