Comparing HID to halogen in a Gen2 (with pictures)

[philosophicaljt]

Just thought I would share some photos while I was working on my RX330 projector swap. I have yet to truely start that btw, lol.

Here are a couple photos of a plug and play HID conversion kit with an h11 base (Stock) at 5000K 35watts.....compared to the stock halogen bulb 65watts.

Obviously the HID bulb is in the passenger side, and the stock bulb is in the drivers side.

Quicky setup:


Installed:












I actually think I lost useable light output, due to the light being more scattered, and not nearly as focused. I can tell in the last picture, that the left side (stock bulb) has more light concentrated where I want it. But the white light does looks cooler.

Exactly why you should do an HID refrofit, and not use these kits in the stock projectors.

[[SMAN]]

OK good, i was worried something was wrong with my headlights when i saw that part lit up just the the above left of the step cutoff. Normal projectors don't have that, and I have the strangest feelign it's blinding oncomming traffic.

[philosophicaljt]

yeah.....the area above the cutoff is glare. I doubt it's "blinding" oncoming traffic, but it will may look the headlights look slight more........."intense". Kind of distracting.

Yeah. This kit adds glare. This is me farther down the driveway (it slopes)





Gotta say, it is a sweet cutoff color though.

[Projex0]

hey can u do me a favor when you have the stock projector out can you take the stock lens out and measure it for me or take a picture of it on top of a ruler.

[philosophicaljt]

sure. PM me so we can discuss more.

[someazn]

The slope is normal, the passenger side is aimed higher than the driver side so that you don't blind oncoming traffic with the HID. As for the glare above the cutoff, its a slit inside the projector cutoff shield so that you will be able to see the signs. The HID makes the glare more obvious. The Solara projectors are badass if you can get the right bulb that is properly rebased. I figured this out when my McCulloch bulbs blew out. I thought HID's were crap and wanted to retrofit, but once I got new bulbs from vvme.com, I changed my opinion. Every company has different rebasing size, and the optics from the McCulloch kits do not match the Gen 2 Solaras very well. The H11 bulb is WAY too short for any output = scatter and halogen like. The d2S bulbs are longer, and vvme.com does a good job on their bulbs rebasing it to actual measurements. A pair of HID bulbs from vvme cost $50 but if you search on ebay for user: mydepots, he carries the same bulbs for $38 with 1 year warranty. My 2 cents.

[someazn]

Also, you can cover up the slit with aluminum tape.

[---CAMRAZY---]

Also, you can cover up the slit with aluminum tape.

Bent the shield in....

[someazn]

o btw, philosophicaljt, if it saves you the trouble, imo theres really no point in retrofitting your headlights with rx330 projectors (which is why I am selling mine). They are both the same exact projectors, only the RX330 projectors are fitted with d2S bulb holders. You will still get the glare above the cutoff with the RX330 projectors and output is still going to be the same. If you really wanted to do a proper retrofit, I would look into replacing the Solara lense with clears lenses from an E30, s2k, or celica. You would get output similar if not brighter than the s2k projectors. After that, you can cover the slit with aluminum tape, get proper hid bulbs, and you'll be kicking ass.

[Projex0]

^^ thats why im asking bout the lens size i have some E46 projectors at home and the lens size on them are 2.25 and its clearer that the solars's rippled stock lens i need the measurements before going ahead and doing a lens swap.

[Projex0]

The slope is normal, the passenger side is aimed higher than the driver side so that you don't blind oncoming traffic with the HID. As for the glare above the cutoff, its a slit inside the projector cutoff shield so that you will be able to see the signs. The HID makes the glare more obvious. The Solara projectors are badass if you can get the right bulb that is properly rebased. I figured this out when my McCulloch bulbs blew out. I thought HID's were crap and wanted to retrofit, but once I got new bulbs from vvme.com, I changed my opinion. Every company has different rebasing size, and the optics from the McCulloch kits do not match the Gen 2 Solaras very well. The H11 bulb is WAY too short for any output = scatter and halogen like. The d2S bulbs are longer, and vvme.com does a good job on their bulbs rebasing it to actual measurements. A pair of HID bulbs from vvme cost $50 but if you search on ebay for user: mydepots, he carries the same bulbs for $38 with 1 year warranty. My 2 cents.

funny reading this i ordered an HID kit from their site and it sould be here maybe tomrrow or monday.

[philosophicaljt]

^^They only offer a 6000K bulb color. I want 5000K.

But thanks.

And I am slowly realizing that the RX330 projectors are not going to be what I want.

[philosophicaljt]

can you guys post some pics of the bulbs from VVME.com? I am interested in seeing the base.

Did you have to trim the bulbs or anything?

[Kahlua Mandingo]

So what is a newb to do? I have been reading the posts and was looking for a jump off point for lights on my 01 Solara. Should I just change out the bulbs or would it be easier to change out the entire assembly? Projectors Vs. Just changing the bulb? HEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPP

KEN

[philosophicaljt]

in the 01, do a retrofit. You have halogen reflectors. Your glare will be horrible.