my new retro: how many lumens? OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!
07-16-2009, 12:16 PM
#41
I was thinking of painting the chrome part around the projectors black, and adding silver or grey rings around the projectors, similar to my old retro
07-16-2009, 02:05 PM
#43
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4300k D2S bulbs are rated at 3200 lm each. 65w non-tinted H9s are about 2100.
As much as I'd like to have a Stillen kit, a minor drop, and some SE-R 18s, I don't have much of a car modding budget. I just try to keep it clean.
Next mod is going to be to make the emblems darker - going to try VHT nightshades on them for a "black pearl" look.
Then, doing spark plugs and valve cover gaskets. I was going to degrease the valve covers and IM, then sand them down, and spray with silver, grey, or black engine enamel.
It's a relief to finally finish this retro. First started learning about retros in May/June 2008. I originally bought some cheap halogen projectors in Oct/Nov 2008, just to fool with and get an idea of what a retro is like, not planning on actually doing one. Once I discovered that the MDX projectors I bought were decent, and I saw a pair of 95-96 headlights for sale cheap, I bought them and did a retro in my stockers. The performance was nice, but I missed having high beams. Listing them for sale managed to get me off my *** and add real shrouds (not coolsaber57 monstrosity shrouds) and fix the aiming, and I sold them to Snypa in florida. February I bought the M35 projectors, then in March I got the R34s, and things kept building. It's nice to see the end result of the hours of hard work I built into making these. I fully intend to keep them for as long as I have the car. It's a great setup, and I impress people with them at car meets.
07-16-2009, 05:31 PM
#44
Haha I am sure everytime you get into you car and turn on those lights you get that "fuzzy" feeling inside and the knowledge that you didn't pay some guy to do it for you, or simply buy and install it. But you worked on it yourself!
And your car looks good already without the body kit and all that haha. Its a accomplishment to make a stock car look even better without major modifications. Nice! haha
And your car looks good already without the body kit and all that haha. Its a accomplishment to make a stock car look even better without major modifications. Nice! haha
07-25-2009, 11:32 PM
#50
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Did some cosmetic changes to them, really happy with how they turned out. Excuse the blurry pix. Looks better in person then there isn't as much glare off the lens.
Chrome rings are from the $2.96 Walmart travel mug. You get two rings, and it's a great deal. They're shiny chromed metal.
Chrome rings are from the $2.96 Walmart travel mug. You get two rings, and it's a great deal. They're shiny chromed metal.
07-26-2009, 07:29 AM
#51
It's official.. your garage looks better than mine.. Grr.. in fact, i like the way your lights turned out.. i just wish i did a better job on mine...... oh hey.. btw.. how much would you charge me to redo my projectors? they are a complete mess.. they aren't aimed.. o.O
but nice job though.
07-26-2009, 02:33 PM
#53
Dont use PVC pipe reducer. The problem is that when the light is on for a while sepecially in summer etc. the PVC pipe will start to soften and if left on long enough the circl ewill cave on it self. You cant even notice it once the glass is on until it caves in.
This happened to me unless your using some sort of highheat PVC.. is there such a thing?
This happened to me unless your using some sort of highheat PVC.. is there such a thing?
Last edited by HomerMAC; 07-26-2009 at 02:35 PM.
07-26-2009, 08:38 PM
#54
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I have aluminum tape wrapped around the lens holders under the PVC. Hopefully that will reflect enough heat that the PVC won't melt. On my test bench, having the tape their really reduced the heat output to the sides of the lens.
07-29-2009, 08:59 PM
#55
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The evolution:
First mounting of MDX projectors in OEM '97 housings - December 2008
Retro as it was when it went into my car - January 2009
Original R34 design - was going to retain 9005 highs, using Lexus capsules - March 2009
First quad projector test fit - May 2009
First mounting of MDX projectors in OEM '97 housings - December 2008
Retro as it was when it went into my car - January 2009
Original R34 design - was going to retain 9005 highs, using Lexus capsules - March 2009
First quad projector test fit - May 2009
07-29-2009, 09:00 PM
#56
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The old retrofit, cleaned up with Hella shrouds from an Audi before being sold - May 2009
My car at Maxus. E60 shrouds on the insides, Shoprite cole slaw container shrouds with aluminum flashing on the outsides.
Today (just finished installing chrome rings on the other side)
I love the way it came out. I think quad projectors look so clean. Reminds me a little bit of BMW E39 headlights.
My car at Maxus. E60 shrouds on the insides, Shoprite cole slaw container shrouds with aluminum flashing on the outsides.
Today (just finished installing chrome rings on the other side)
I love the way it came out. I think quad projectors look so clean. Reminds me a little bit of BMW E39 headlights.
08-01-2009, 10:36 AM
#62
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Yeah it's a good HDR for being taken with a 2-year-old $150 Point-n-Shoot Canon that can't shoot RAW, just JPG
I'll try to take the cutoff pics tonight. The m35s have a big slope, because the clear lenses aren't quite right. I need to get another set of 2.5" clear lenses that work right, then open the damn things up and swap the lenses. The cutoff pics I took in my basement are on page 1 of this thread IIRC
Bulbs are 85122+ in the lows and Osram 65w H9s in the highs. They don't actually look green like that.
I'll try to take the cutoff pics tonight. The m35s have a big slope, because the clear lenses aren't quite right. I need to get another set of 2.5" clear lenses that work right, then open the damn things up and swap the lenses. The cutoff pics I took in my basement are on page 1 of this thread IIRC
Bulbs are 85122+ in the lows and Osram 65w H9s in the highs. They don't actually look green like that.
01-17-2010, 05:58 PM
#67
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I replaced my lowbeams with Catera H1 projectors and Powerbulbs +50% H1s.
I still have to seal them up a bit better and play with the aim, but they are in and operational - and they look almost the same lol since the Cateras are also 2.5" and I'm using the same shrouds.
I still have to seal them up a bit better and play with the aim, but they are in and operational - and they look almost the same lol since the Cateras are also 2.5" and I'm using the same shrouds.
01-17-2010, 11:22 PM
#70
01-17-2010, 11:23 PM
#71
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autozone, i think. thin waterproof black strip, self-adhesive, with a SMD cool white LED every inch or so.
Note that these pics are in the dark - theyre not as bright in the daytime. use the parking lights as a reference.
Note that these pics are in the dark - theyre not as bright in the daytime. use the parking lights as a reference.
05-26-2010, 07:34 PM
#74
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I am not planning on picking up any new orders (I am swamped with work and classes for the whole summer, and I need to make my own new retrofit before Maxus 2010).
Try kzooshoo or maxgtr2000. There are plenty of orgers who do retrofits too.
Another excellent option is the Morimoto Mini projectors from theretrofitsource.com - they're a really good Plug-and-play retrofit that can be done in one afternoon by someone with zero prior experience. No cutting required.
Try kzooshoo or maxgtr2000. There are plenty of orgers who do retrofits too.
Another excellent option is the Morimoto Mini projectors from theretrofitsource.com - they're a really good Plug-and-play retrofit that can be done in one afternoon by someone with zero prior experience. No cutting required.
05-26-2010, 07:39 PM
#75
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And, just a teaser pic of what's in the pipeline for my own car.
Any guesses? And, there is a lot of other equipment not in that picture that you can expect to see.
Any guesses? And, there is a lot of other equipment not in that picture that you can expect to see.
05-27-2010, 04:11 PM
#76
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I am not planning on picking up any new orders (I am swamped with work and classes for the whole summer, and I need to make my own new retrofit before Maxus 2010).
Try kzooshoo or maxgtr2000. There are plenty of orgers who do retrofits too.
Another excellent option is the Morimoto Mini projectors from theretrofitsource.com - they're a really good Plug-and-play retrofit that can be done in one afternoon by someone with zero prior experience. No cutting required.
Try kzooshoo or maxgtr2000. There are plenty of orgers who do retrofits too.
Another excellent option is the Morimoto Mini projectors from theretrofitsource.com - they're a really good Plug-and-play retrofit that can be done in one afternoon by someone with zero prior experience. No cutting required.
Thanks, how much you think they would try to make those for me though?!?
05-28-2010, 05:11 PM
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05-28-2010, 05:39 PM
#79
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Huh? What do you mean "those specific lights"
Do you mean an R34 quad retrofit? Or the specific combination in those pics (MDX H11 highs with removed shields and H9 bulbs, and M35 D2S lows)?
Let me give you a price breakdown of what this cost me.
The R34 housings were $120.
The high beam projectors and bulbs were about $100
The low beam projectors and bulbs were about $120
The ballasts were about $80
The harness and wiring was about $30
The mounting brackets and hardware were about $25
The shrouds were about $25
= $500 just in parts, not counting labor (which is very time consuming for a quad retrofit)
I have taken a break from doing other people's retrofits simply because it wasn't economical - the amount of money I was making, compared to the time I spent making them, was a ridiculously cheap labor rate.
I don't think any of the Maxima retrofitters would do a quad setup for $300-$400.
It's not excessively difficult to DIY, it is just time consuming. If I were you, I'd consider trying it on your own. That $400 price point becomes reasonable if you're not paying for any labor. I do my best to help answer retrofitting questions, as do several other members here. However, the time commitments I have now mean I can't spare any time to take on any additional projects, since I am still trying to complete my personal retrofit before Maxus.
Do you mean an R34 quad retrofit? Or the specific combination in those pics (MDX H11 highs with removed shields and H9 bulbs, and M35 D2S lows)?
Let me give you a price breakdown of what this cost me.
The R34 housings were $120.
The high beam projectors and bulbs were about $100
The low beam projectors and bulbs were about $120
The ballasts were about $80
The harness and wiring was about $30
The mounting brackets and hardware were about $25
The shrouds were about $25
= $500 just in parts, not counting labor (which is very time consuming for a quad retrofit)
I have taken a break from doing other people's retrofits simply because it wasn't economical - the amount of money I was making, compared to the time I spent making them, was a ridiculously cheap labor rate.
I don't think any of the Maxima retrofitters would do a quad setup for $300-$400.
It's not excessively difficult to DIY, it is just time consuming. If I were you, I'd consider trying it on your own. That $400 price point becomes reasonable if you're not paying for any labor. I do my best to help answer retrofitting questions, as do several other members here. However, the time commitments I have now mean I can't spare any time to take on any additional projects, since I am still trying to complete my personal retrofit before Maxus.
Last edited by nalc; 05-28-2010 at 05:42 PM.
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