Im trying to find some HID headlights or HID kits that are considered really good quality. I keep striking out with the HID kits ive tried over the years.

I know the popular choice around here is to retro fit the OEM headlights, but I just dont like how they look.

 

They are all from China and suck, no matter what anyone tells you.

Retrofit is really the only way to properly improve light output and keep OEM reliability.

And you can take that all the way to the bank

 

Do people customize the OEMs at all? I Hate how they look.

Also what HIDs do they use?

 

Hello,

I read the post and I felt I should put my knowledge in. I went to Amazon.com and ordered my 8000k HID Kit from Kensun. I installed them in the beginning February of 2011. they are still bright and fit perfectly into my stock housing plus their customer support is pretty good for questions relating to the product. I just took a photo of my car last night for an install I did here is what their kit is like hooked up and running:



I have had no problems with the kit at all I gave them 5 stars for a rating would have done 10 but there wasn't enough stars... I hope this helps you out!

 

Best place to get OEM quality HID bulbs and ballast is here

Theretrofitsource.com

Their bulbs have precise alignment and produce some of the best light output.
I never go higher than 5,000k. I like the most light output on the road
With projector headlights you don't need color bulbs because the projector lens
already creates a color flicker even with 4,300 and 5,000k bulbs.

 

In the past I've had VVME ballasts with D2S bulbs, and was excellent output. That wasn't in a tc though

 

I second this. I've got 2 pairs of Kensun's on my car right now and have had no problem with them whatsoever. I've had the pair in my headlights for about 8 months and my foglights for about 2. They aren't as bright as some of the 55W kits (they don't offer any options on wattage, they are only 35W I think). The customer service and shipping was also good.

 

This.

And you don't have to do a full retro. I have modified OEMs I bought from DigitalPro, a member on here. I'm running the 4300k Morimoto 3Five Kit from TRS. The cutoff shields have been widened, sharpened, painted flat black, and curved. Lenses have been swapped to clear TSX-R. The turn signals also have lenses on them from the Mini H1s I think.









I don't have any pics of the output on the ground, but they can light up a 6 lane highway wall to wall. And they have plenty of color at the cutoff. It's hard to capture with my iPhone.

 

Great info guys!

Would any of the users around here be willing to customize a retro set? I guess the overall design isnt bad I just hate the tacky orange.

 

I have a guy here in Miami who did my Custom headlights for my MK5 GTI






This is with D2S 4300K HID bulbs, modified projector shield, and Clear lenses


I can spaek to him and ask him how much would he charge you. He has a shop and thats all he does all day

 

That would be awesome man, let me know!

 

PM sent. We can work something out. On a TC1 I would smoke the inner housing and color match the projector shroud with the same color of your car.

 

That sounds amazing, man.

 

Too funny coming across this thread since I'm not on SL to often, Jon's headlights are my finished retrofit product, the blinker has a amber bulb but you could change to a VLED.com switchback bulb (white/Amber)(on Backorder now) shows clear when it's not on, but the side marker is a DOT standard, though with the right person to build a mold and use clear resin the replicate the orange side marker to clear would be really sweet.

Here's my point...I'm just about to reseal my fully retrofitted OEM's and thought I would pickup a set of Depo replica's and do a few mods on the OEM's but decided against doing so. So I will be retrofitting the Depo's with RX330 projectors, installing a clear lens over the blinker and selling them on SL soon. Here's a thread about the depo retrofit https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=209175

 

I would be very interested. Im tired of these sh*tty ebay HID headlights.

 

Coincidentally I haven't been on here in a few months and came back to find that thread since after a year and a half I'm finally doing my retrofit. Ran a search for RX330 and this thread came up too lol.

 

I wouldn't say they are ALL from china. All the cheap ones are for sure.

But I spent good money on McCullochs for my old xB1. Never had an issue from them in 2 years, and never had glare. Super top quality. They are basically OEM quality.

 

Great to hear your going through with your retrofit, PM me if you have any questions.

Here's a LINK to a new headlight build gallery.

 

Side Marker Mod - Some Amber



Blinker Mod - No Amber



Bulb fix

 

Side Marker Mod - Some Amber


Blinker Mod - No Amber


Bulb fix to remove black plastic