The Great Quest for Headlights

[RAAMaudio]

I decided to do just that so went and looked for a picture of one

My lights are not together yet so no pics installed but it is a perfect fit and clears everything in the car just fine.

( I used a sanding drum and removed the inner lip on the light housing to give more clearance to tune the projectors but you would not have to do this if you do not want to)

 

[CanadianGuy]

I get what you mean. Clamp it (if friction is not good enought)

Using [MENTION=658]Etyrnus[/MENTION] picture here

Slip this (Sorry [MENTION=636]RAAMaudio[/MENTION] better picture)

Tighten the hose clamp. I like it.
$6 bucks online sure homedepot has them to
http://www.prestonhardware.com/TEST_CAP_3IN_p/4679528.htm

Another option I was thinking is cutting a line int he gasket and fish the aluminum heatsink out of the headlight enclosure. Use some silicon to seal it back up. Problem with that idea is time to replace the light will be a chore.

I love these types of mods that are using something not exactly like it was meant to but making it look like it was always meant to be.

 

[RAAMaudio]

Better picture is cool

I bought mine at the local Ace Hardware for around $5 each, they come with SS hose clamps.

You are right about the cut, slip through and silicone being harder to change bulbs later on but also you would not be able to get a total seal due to the mesh so I would advise against it, good idea, just not likely the best solution.

Have a great day
Rick

 

[Etyrnus]

Possibly a good idea, though a tight fit. That piece you can see near the cap in my pic made it almost impossible to put the cap back on without taking the headlight out again. Think next payday I'm gonna get an infrared thermometer, and check it after a 30 minute or longer drive.

 

[RAAMaudio]

As mentioned it takes about 2 minutes to take out the headlights, both of them, then having the caps makes it easier to fit the heat sinks or tune or even fit some projectors

I have had my headlights out of the car dozens of times, it is easier to do any bulb change, mod, etc, out of the car than in.

 

[Etyrnus]

As mentioned it takes about 2 minutes to take out the headlights, both of them, then having the caps makes it easier to fit the heat sinks or tune or even fit some projectors

I have had my headlights out of the car dozens of times, it is easier to do any bulb change, mod, etc, out of the car than in.

I agree completely, just had tried to do the lazy route last night. Lazy route turned into more effort than just taking it out in the first place. The FiST is remarkably easy o take the headlights out, much easier than the Cobalt was. And you can just reach down to do the fog lights with the headlights out.

 

[parapraxis24]

Got mine installed today, and I agree taking the head lights out is really simple; three screws and it's out.

No pictures yet, as it's still daylight out but even turning them on when in my garage they are considerably brighter than the halogens.

 

[parapraxis24]

After getting to drive around at night and make a few adjustments (they were aimed pretty high), I have to say that I'm not that thrilled with these XenonDepot bulbs.
The factory halogens were decent in regards to controlled light output, whereas these aren't nearly as controlled, they feel more scattered and that's annoying.

Of course the picture doesn't show it that great, but I feel that the halogens were pretty well focused (for reflectors anyway), there are definitely hot spots with the XD LED bulbs.

Plus, there's this awesome side glare:

Guess I should reach out to XD and see what they say.

 

[Chris G]

Bummer. You aren't the first person that has mentioned this.

 

[Etyrnus]

Maybe my eyes aren't as good as they used to be. I see some of the hot spot you point out, but the light output is better for me.

 

[jproy12]

After getting to drive around at night and make a few adjustments (they were aimed pretty high), I have to say that I'm not that thrilled with these XenonDepot bulbs.
The factory halogens were decent in regards to controlled light output, whereas these aren't nearly as controlled, they feel more scattered and that's annoying.

Of course the picture doesn't show it that great, but I feel that the halogens were pretty well focused (for reflectors anyway), there are definitely hot spots with the XD LED bulbs.

Guess I should reach out to XD and see what they say.

I'm in the same boat, at first they seem fine, needed lots of adjustments, as they did seem aimed high, once aimed properly, they had lots of hot spots.

Bummer. You aren't the first person that has mentioned this.

Yea, that was me, still waiting on XenonDepot to get back to me, if they don't want to do anything, I may end up selling my kit for cheap.

 

[Boro]

What kind of headlights do you have RAAMaudio? Did you custom install projectors?

 

[RAAMaudio]

I am doing a projector install, bought the Mini H1 Mirimoto kit for the ST and a 3" D2S kit for the dually truck but decided to do the bigger kit in the ST for the challenge, bigger lights, etc...and it has been quite the task, I need to get back to it! (I have the mini kit for sale

 

[parapraxis24]

Maybe my eyes aren't as good as they used to be. I see some of the hot spot you point out, but the light output is better for me.

It didn't show up that well in the picture, but trust me there is a lot of scatter there. I'll try to take a better picture this evening and see if I can get a better representation of what's going on.

I'm in the same boat, at first they seem fine, needed lots of adjustments, as they did seem aimed high, once aimed properly, they had lots of hot spots.


Yea, that was me, still waiting on XenonDepot to get back to me, if they don't want to do anything, I may end up selling my kit for cheap.

I hope they'll let us exchange them at least. I like the color and the light output is nice, but I don't like being that guy that has headlights that interfere with other drivers on the road, I try to be respectful.

 

[Etyrnus]

It didn't show up that well in the picture, but trust me there is a lot of scatter there. I'll try to take a better picture this evening and see if I can get a better representation of what's going on.





I hope they'll let us exchange them at least. I like the color and the light output is nice, but I don't like being that guy that has headlights that interfere with other drivers on the road, I try to be respectful.

I was following my gf after taking pics of our cars yesterday after dusk, and when we got back to her house I asked her about my headlights. She said they were bright, but not blinding like HIDs can be. I'm wondering if part of the scatter may be the placement for the LED diode on the side. Too far forward and it partially or wholly misses the reflector housing.

 

[parapraxis24]

I was following my gf yesterday after dusk, and when we got back to her house I asked her about my headlights. She said they were bright, but not blinding like HIDs can be. I'm wondering if part of the scatter may be the placement for the LED diode on the side. Too far forward and it partially or wholly misses the reflector housing.

That's my thinking, my second pic shows a pretty serious stray light beam that shoots off like 80* perpendicular to the bulb, I don't recall that being there with the stock halogens.

 

[RAAMaudio]

Perhaps you can make a little shield for the problem area?

 

[Etyrnus]

That's my thinking, my second pic shows a pretty serious stray light beam that shoots off like 80* perpendicular to the bulb, I don't recall that being there with the stock halogens.

If you check my pics on page 9, you can actually see the same pattern on the side wall of my garage. Less intense, but still there. I know I'd seen the cast pattern off to the side while driving in a really dark area, even with the stock halogens. Definitely something to think upon.

 

[CanadianGuy]

How do they fare in the fog housing?

 

[jfdana]

I'm really happy with mine (low beams only). As I said before, I did have to re-aim the R one as it was significantly higher. I have followed friends and they say that, yes, they are brighter, but not HIDeous (sorry). The cut-offs on mine are sharp and do not appear to cause problems for other drivers.

According to a recent article in the NYT [ http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/01/a...-road-we-cannot-see.html?ref=automobiles&_r=0 ] we're not likely it have an OEM solution for many years.