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Old 10-16-2009, 10:52 PM   #1
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clear headlight asssembly + HID = blinding people

okay, it's been two years since I've have had an ebay crystal clear headlight set with HID kit and too many people are complaining that I'm blinding them. The funny thing was my HID kit don't even come with a high beam and I've already aimed at the lowest possible angle the screws allowed me to go down. Unfortunately, the crystal clear housings also allow light beams to go all over the place so I can see why people are p issed at me. My question is are there any clear tape-like material where I can stick them over the glass housing to cause the light to exit evenly? I don't even know if such thing exists or what they're called but our stock headlight housing have them built in that allows the light to disperse evenly when it beams off.
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Old 10-16-2009, 10:59 PM   #2
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okay, it's been two years since I've have had an ebay crystal clear headlight set with HID kit and too many people are complaining that I'm blinding them. The funny thing was my HID kit don't even come with a high beam and I've already aimed at the lowest possible angle the screws allowed me to go down. Unfortunately, the crystal clear housings also allow light beams to go all over the place so I can see why people are p issed at me. My question is are there any clear tape-like material where I can stick them over the glass housing to cause the light to exit evenly? I don't even know if such thing exists or what they're called but our stock headlight housing have them built in that allows the light to disperse evenly when it beams off.
no.

stock headlights have diffusers(ribbed glass which deflects light onto appropriate areas on the road) as far as i know there is no practical way to replicate this.

you MUST do a projector retrofit if you want to use HID's in those ebay headlights.
search the forum on projector retrofits. there is all the info you should need to do it yourself.

warning: people may start bashing you for having HID's in those housings now.
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Old 10-16-2009, 11:06 PM   #3
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you know where can I find those retrofits you're talking about? any keywords specific to look for? man, I have no ideas people were going to get mad at my white lightning ...I didn't expect it to be that bright before I purchased it two years ago. I just need small upgrade over stock so I can get even with those SUV drivers but now I'm no longer the victim.
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Old 10-16-2009, 11:08 PM   #4
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okay, I see what you mean. I've found them on ebay but do they require end user to open up the glass housing to install them?
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Old 10-16-2009, 11:13 PM   #5
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okay, I see what you mean. I've found them on ebay but do they require end user to open up the glass housing to install them?
yeah, do a search on projector retrofits here on the org read lots. you have to dismantle your headlights, and do some cutting and gluing etc.

or if you're feeling fancy check out the e36 retro' with wade covers.
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Old 10-16-2009, 11:16 PM   #6
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hah, this is the closest one I've found:
Hey Look What i Did!!

but he didn't specified what was that retrofit model or where I can get them. Ebay has it but I need exact model otherwise, I don't think any will fit. So you think any e36 retro fit kit will fit euro glass housing? Do you know the specific year for those e36 retro kit?

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Old 10-16-2009, 11:18 PM   #7
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hey, just a quick question if I get OEM-like housing with proper diffuser, would you recommend continuing using them with HID or no?
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Old 10-16-2009, 11:22 PM   #8
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hey, just a quick question if I get OEM-like housing with proper diffuser, would you recommend continuing using them with HID or no?
please reread post #2 of this thread.

the word in capital letters being must.

must as in you have to.

as in you have to use a projector if you want to use HID's without blinding people, and you yourself not being able to see properly.

please search and read more about this topic it has been discussed many times on this forum, you will find lots of good info.
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Old 10-16-2009, 11:26 PM   #9
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hey, just a quick question if I get OEM-like housing with proper diffuser, would you recommend continuing using them with HID or no?
no such "proper diffuser" exists. the absolute only way to get it to work is by using a projector. everything else is all fail, all the time.

yea it's alot of custom work, since nobody cares about 3rd gens enough to make aftermarket parts for them... but just get a few spare headlight housings and tinker with where to make cuts until you get it set in there the way you like it, then swap the clear euro covers onto those lights and call it a day.
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Horsepower, torque and speed are all known by The State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive disorders.
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how much would it cost to resleeve?

how does an aluminum motor form rust on the cylinder walls???
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Old 10-16-2009, 11:34 PM   #10
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hey, just a quick question if I get OEM-like housing with proper diffuser, would you recommend continuing using them with HID or no?
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no.

stock headlights
have diffusers(ribbed glass which deflects light onto appropriate areas on the road) as far as i know there is no practical way to replicate this.

you MUST do a projector retrofit if you want to use HID's in those ebay headlights.
search the forum on projector retrofits. there is all the info you should need to do it yourself.
To clarify- you can't effectively use HID style bulbs without some type of projector housing to guide the light through. Standard halogen headlight housings (both stock and ebay) essentially disperse light in the same way- but the stock housings use diffusers (see above)- while the clear lenses will just give you big pie shaped beams on the road like a flashlight.
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Old 10-17-2009, 01:19 AM   #11
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Diffusers would scatter the light more creating a worse glare.
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Old 10-17-2009, 08:59 AM   #12
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I'm at surprised how much they're charging for a retrofit projector. They're priced at around $170 avg, at that price you might as well getting an entire e36 headlight assembly with halo already built-in. The installation time is probably the same for both options. e36 will probably look a whole better. All I wanted was a little brighter beam than stock but it looks like I'm stuck with this clear glass. Yeah, it does put out pie shape. That's annoying.

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Old 10-17-2009, 09:33 AM   #13
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I'm at surprised how much they're charging for a retrofit projector. They're priced at around $170 avg, at that price you might as well getting an entire e36 headlight assembly with halo already built-in. The installation time is probably the same for both options. e36 will probably look a whole better. All I wanted was a little brighter beam than stock but it looks like I'm stuck with this clear glass. Yeah, it does put out pie shape. That's annoying.
so go work some overtime and buy legitimate headlights instead of the crap you have now or sell your maxima and buy a car that already comes with legitimate headlights.

nothing like getting blinded by another car around a corner and not being able to see where the edge of the road is.... esp if your window fogged up in the dark w/o you noticing.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonOksa View Post
Horsepower, torque and speed are all known by The State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive disorders.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigleman View Post
how much would it cost to resleeve?

how does an aluminum motor form rust on the cylinder walls???
DO NOT PM ME ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH YOUR CAR UNLESS I TELL YOU TO. THAT'S WHAT THE FORUM IS FOR
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Old 10-17-2009, 09:55 AM   #14
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I'm at surprised how much they're charging for a retrofit projector. They're priced at around $170 avg, at that price you might as well getting an entire e36 headlight assembly with halo already built-in. The installation time is probably the same for both options. e36 will probably look a whole better. All I wanted was a little brighter beam than stock but it looks like I'm stuck with this clear glass. Yeah, it does put out pie shape. That's annoying.
your first mistake was to spend money on HID's instead of spending money on the parts for a proper projector retro.

if all you wanted was a little brighter beam than stock, then you should have gone here: 9007 bulb upgrade**With Pics** and done the 9007 bulb upgrade, it's the best bang for your buck for our headlights.
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Old 10-17-2009, 09:56 AM   #15
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To Cape:

hah, I have some little money on the side but I'm not going to blow off into another car. I don't see the reasons for it, there was time I was running on two cylinders and it still ran. I know most cars will just simply die but our max are diehard! I'll look for some used projectors. I'm sure there are people out there know who needs the money will sell them cheap. I just gotta look for them on ebay and wait.
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Old 10-17-2009, 09:58 AM   #16
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To Cape:

hah, I money but I'm not going to blow off into another car. I don't see the reasons for it, there was time I was running on two cylinders and it still ran. I know most cars will just simply die but our max are diehard! I'll look for some used projectors. I'm sure there are people out there know who needs the money will sell them cheap. I just gotta look for them on ebay and wait.
or hit up a jy and look for a crashed bimmer or audi or other car that uses projectors.
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Old 10-17-2009, 10:02 AM   #17
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Garf,

My old headlight was due for a change, it had broken glasses all the place. The angle adjustment screws were all rusted. Water kept getting in so I had to change the light housing and back then clear glasses were the only thing I can purchase at a reasonable price. I think I paid around $135 shipped for both 2 years ago. That was no mistake, just didn't bought the whole nine yards. The missing piece now is a projector kit (thanks everyone). That I can come up with. It doesn't look too bad to do either.

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Old 10-17-2009, 10:05 AM   #18
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To Cape:

hah, I have some little money on the side but I'm not going to blow off into another car. I don't see the reasons for it, there was time I was running on two cylinders and it still ran. I know most cars will just simply die but our max are diehard! I'll look for some used projectors. I'm sure there are people out there know who needs the money will sell them cheap. I just gotta look for them on ebay and wait.
look for some FX35 projectors or another kind of "bixenon" projector. Those have an electronically controlled flip-shield to expose the full beam for highbeams (actually the 6th gen Maxima has these) so that you just need 1 projector for both high and low beams... meaning you have HID highs instead of halogen highs like the IS350. plus if you use a normal ebay maxima housing, it's easier to cut out the stock bulb socket and drop a bixenon projector in, than it is to try and make a side-by-side setup work. I attempted a side-by-side setup but never finished them before i stopped driving the car.

http://s164.photobucket.com/albums/u...-%20phase%201/

those are halogen only tho.. not HID-spec projectors. but it gives you an idea of why it would be much easier to use bixenon than side-by-side.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonOksa View Post
Horsepower, torque and speed are all known by The State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive disorders.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigleman View Post
how much would it cost to resleeve?

how does an aluminum motor form rust on the cylinder walls???
DO NOT PM ME ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH YOUR CAR UNLESS I TELL YOU TO. THAT'S WHAT THE FORUM IS FOR
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Old 10-17-2009, 03:43 PM   #19
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no such "proper diffuser" exists. the absolute only way to get it to work is by using a projector. everything else is all fail, all the time.

yea it's alot of custom work, since nobody cares about 3rd gens enough to make aftermarket parts for them... but just get a few spare headlight housings and tinker with where to make cuts until you get it set in there the way you like it, then swap the clear euro covers onto those lights and call it a day.

kzoosho cares
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Old 10-17-2009, 04:19 PM   #20
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kzoosho cares
My fx35 with fx shrouds.


DOnt mind the food in the pic


This is before i sealed them up


I do retro's as well. Let me know what you need done.
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Old 10-17-2009, 04:21 PM   #21
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Old 10-17-2009, 05:09 PM   #22
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i love kzoosho ........ no homo tho
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Quote:
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Horsepower, torque and speed are all known by The State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive disorders.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigleman View Post
how much would it cost to resleeve?

how does an aluminum motor form rust on the cylinder walls???
DO NOT PM ME ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH YOUR CAR UNLESS I TELL YOU TO. THAT'S WHAT THE FORUM IS FOR
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Old 10-17-2009, 05:56 PM   #23
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i love kzoosho ........ no homo tho
Love u too, No homo.......
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Old 10-17-2009, 06:56 PM   #24
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Kz is the man, that looks frigging awesome!
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Old 10-17-2009, 09:32 PM   #25
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What role did the hamburger buns play in your project? Damping material for a sub box or body fill.
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Old 10-17-2009, 09:39 PM   #26
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What role did the hamburger buns play in your project? Damping material for a sub box or body fill.
O wait was this suppose to be funny?

404 error funny not found
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Old 10-18-2009, 08:56 PM   #27
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Whoa. Take it easy. Project looks great kz.
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Old 10-18-2009, 09:03 PM   #28
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O wait was this suppose to be funny?

404 error funny not found
sooo nerdy. haha
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Old 10-18-2009, 09:11 PM   #29
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Just out of curiosity kzoo, how much would you charge for a retro-fit job; labor and materials.
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Old 10-18-2009, 09:32 PM   #30
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Just out of curiosity kzoo, how much would you charge for a retro-fit job; labor and materials.
Labor is 100-250 depending on what projectors you run. Projectors range from 80-400 a set and then hid kits 60-300 . Materials is totaly up to the end user. i will retro whatever you want.
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Old 10-19-2009, 06:26 AM   #31
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Kzoo will be doing mine in the next week or so, as soon as I can get the parts in and forwarded on. Going TL projectors I believe w/halos.
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Old 10-19-2009, 03:04 PM   #32
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Labor is 100-250 depending on what projectors you run. Projectors range from 80-400 a set and then hid kits 60-300 . Materials is totaly up to the end user. i will retro whatever you want.
So on the high end you could conceivably be looking at $950 for a headlight retro on a $1500 car?

Having never priced this specific type of headlight retro, I was completely unaware that it could be that costly. Please don't get me wrong, that's not a dis - your high quality workmanship more than speaks for itself and the prices reflect that. Pics of your installation show what our headlights should look like!
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Old 10-19-2009, 03:25 PM   #33
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It's just a price range, as with any mod. You want to get your car low. You can cut springs and have a terrible ride (HID kit ~$50), or you can buy ebay springs and use your stock struts (barebones retrofit - e46 or another cheap projector, and kit bulbs and ballasts ~$150 in parts) and have some issues still. You can get like Illumina struts and Tein springs, and have a very good bang-for-the-buck setup (FX-R projectors, 85122, and kit ballasts ~$300 in parts). Or, you can do the full coilover setup, which is the best, but costs the most (MDX H9 or Valeo H7 highbeams , S2000 or LS430 or RX330/E30 or TL/ZKW, 85122 and Matsu****a Gen3, or DL50 and 55w ballasts ~$500 in parts).

So a $1000+ retrofit will usually mean quad projectors, all OEM equipment, color mods, custom shields, lens swaps, and the best and rarest projectors, with excellent workmanship.

However, if you browse the classifieds, it's not uncommon to see a retrofit sell for $500. That's with good "bang for the buck" components, that will have 80% of the performance of the best, for 50% or less of the price.
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Old 10-19-2009, 07:51 PM   #34
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Labor is 100-250 depending on what projectors you run. Projectors range from 80-400 a set and then hid kits 60-300 . Materials is totaly up to the end user. i will retro whatever you want.
Well say I wanted a set of headlights just like yours, with materials included, how much would that be? I love the way your headlights came out.
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Old 10-19-2009, 08:00 PM   #35
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It isn't cheap, looking at $175-ish for projectors - $50-75 for HID kit - $80-100 for Euro lights - if you want rings or clear lenses add another $130-150 - then angel eyes. More than I planned, but it is going to look way better than E36s and fit flush.
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Old 10-19-2009, 09:55 PM   #36
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Quote:
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So on the high end you could conceivably be looking at $950 for a headlight retro on a $1500 car?

Having never priced this specific type of headlight retro, I was completely unaware that it could be that costly. Please don't get me wrong, that's not a dis - your high quality workmanship more than speaks for itself and the prices reflect that. Pics of your installation show what our headlights should look like!
my retro on my 4th gen is well over 1000 in parts sir lol. you have to pay to play.


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Well say I wanted a set of headlights just like yours, with materials included, how much would that be? I love the way your headlights came out.

my retro was 300 bucks for parts and no labor since i did it myself. For someone else it would be 500 for the same setup sereing you would needa shroud, projectors,headlights and a hid kit.
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Old 10-20-2009, 08:18 AM   #37
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my retro on my 4th gen is well over 1000 in parts sir lol. you have to pay to play.


my retro was 300 bucks for parts and no labor since i did it myself. For someone else it would be 500 for the same setup sereing you would needa shroud, projectors,headlights and a hid kit.
QFMFT
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Horsepower, torque and speed are all known by The State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive disorders.
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how much would it cost to resleeve?

how does an aluminum motor form rust on the cylinder walls???
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Old 10-20-2009, 09:53 AM   #38
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Garf,

My old headlight was due for a change, it had broken glasses all the place. The angle adjustment screws were all rusted. Water kept getting in so I had to change the light housing and back then clear glasses were the only thing I can purchase at a reasonable price. I think I paid around $135 shipped for both 2 years ago. That was no mistake, just didn't bought the whole nine yards. The missing piece now is a projector kit (thanks everyone). That I can come up with. It doesn't look too bad to do either.
If your trying to save time and money, I suggest just going back to nicer halogen bulbs. I had Sylvania Silverstar Ultras in the Clear Ebay Glass Housings. It was the closest match to HID with out being rice blue.

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Old 10-20-2009, 10:19 AM   #39
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If your trying to save time and money, I suggest just going back to nicer halogen bulbs. I had Sylvania Silverstar Ultras in the Clear Ebay Glass Housings. It was the closest match to HID with out being rice blue.

the only problem is that those housings are crap in terms of beam pattern...
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Originally Posted by JasonOksa View Post
Horsepower, torque and speed are all known by The State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and reproductive disorders.
Quote:
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how much would it cost to resleeve?

how does an aluminum motor form rust on the cylinder walls???
DO NOT PM ME ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH YOUR CAR UNLESS I TELL YOU TO. THAT'S WHAT THE FORUM IS FOR
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Old 10-20-2009, 10:39 AM   #40
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the only problem is that those housings are crap in terms of beam pattern...
I had black euro's with 9007's for the summer, decided the beam pattern sucked, and switched back to stock housings with 9007, until i can afford and find the parts to do a proper retrofit. until then my euro's are staying put in the garage.
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