What you need! Headlamp Projector & HID Retrofit

[Bogus]

Here's an email response from The Retrofit Source about a Sonic retrofit to projectors & HID's. If you plan on retrofitting your factory headlamps here's what you will need!

Thanks for your inquiry and for your patience waiting on a response here. We certainly have many customers with the new Sonic so we definitely know what work's well for you here and what doesn't.

For your Chevy, the ideal projector to install with the best output would be the Morimoto FX-R. This projector does require some drilling and/or cutting on your headlights for the projector install, however, we have install guides on our tech page to give some insight:
The Retrofit Source Inc - Resources

Bi-xenon FX-R Stage III Kit

The FX-R Stage III Kit includes:

Morimoto FX-R Bi-Xenon Projectors
Morimoto 3Five D2S Ballast
Morimoto 3Five D2S Bulbs
Shrouds of your choice
H11 Standalone Canbus Harness + high-beam splitters (to fit a 2013 Sonic)

and is priced at $315 complete.


You have choices with this kit. Everyone loves choices!

Bulb choices: 4300k, 5000k, 6000k temperatures. 4300k looks like sunlight, 5000k looks like fluorescent lighting, and 6000k is slightly blue in color. 4300k is the brightest (per lumen count), and as you progress into more color you lose usable light. A visual guide is attached:
Kelvin Reference Guide

Shroud choices: I usually recommend what will fit with little to no extra trimming required, and something that also matches well with the shape profile of the reflector inside your headlight (i.e. is it fully circular, oval shaped, shallow or deep, etc?)

To give you a visual of what this setup looks like, here are some links for you to our customer-supplied gallery:
FX-R Output: TRSMatt's Album: FX-R Bi-xenon Projectors


If you prefer a projector install with less cutting which sacrifices a bit of performance, we also have a suitable projector available for you there: Bi-xenon Morimoto Mini Stage III Kit (H1)

Since this was a lot of information to digest - don't hesitate to ask if you have any other unanswered questions. You can simply reply to this email, or give us a call at 404-220-7940 and we'll be happy to help.. Otherwise, if you've already made up your mind - you can put in an order through our website, request PayPal invoice, or call us to order over the phone.


Thanks again!

Andrew @ TRS

This should be everything anybody needs.

ps. I asked for projectors that give the color-flicker effect. I personally think it looks wicked cool. But if anyone doesn't want that they can use different projectors.

 

[Eric Smit]

thanks Bogus!


-Eric Smit

 

[Bogus]

Welcome!

Sticky worthy?

 

[Beastlick]

Great info to have access to. Plus its actual pertinent information instead of off-topic banter like usual...

 

[Eric Smit]

I'd say sticky worthy.


-Eric Smit

 

[Beastlick]

The VIP Q45 projectors are so sick, but so expensive!

 

[laborsmith]

I vote to sticky.

Laborsmith

 

[14T6MT]

Awesome! I'll probably do this before suspension. Whoever is the first person to jump in and do this, make a detailed DIY w/ photos and you will get respek knuckles.
Respek Knuckles!! (full scene) - YouTube

 

[Bogus]

Beastlick has his done. Maybe once he does his write up he can link it here and I'll add it to the OP.

 

[14T6MT]

Sweet. The sight says they're compatible with DRLs. Does that mean they will be like the stock DRLs with a low setting for lighter conditions and a full setting for darker conditions? Or will they just mix those two into one level so they're just on or off?

 

[Beastlick]

My HID harness had a relay built into it. The DRL's turn into constant low-beam driving lights for me. I'm working on my write up over the weekend. Too many pics to go through.

 

[danielag]

Has there...

Any updates? I'm looking at buying a Sonic but want to know if a double retrofit will be possible...Anything ASAP would be super appreciated!

 

[rcmn0022]

It seems like there is the same amount of room in each light, I wouldn't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to get them in there. But keep in mind that HIDS don't like being toggled on and off.

If I were to attempt this I would put two of the fx-r in and would have the stock low on only when y are running DRLs. Having the headlights on would have both lights on low then with highs on it would turn the bixenon selenoid on for both lights.

If you wanted to save a couple of bucks you could opt out of bixenon in the low beam.

But to be honest the sonic has fairly good lights. I'm not saying that they don't need to be better but they cover the ground very well.

 

[danielag]

My 2003 350z came stock with reflector bowls (d2r actually) and the difference between those and the 2006 headlights (with projectors) was night and day....i would love to go the route you suggested; having a double retrofit in both the high and low bowls.....

My concern lies with opening up the lenses. Typically (atleast in my 350z) it's a butyl glue sealant...i'm wondering how these lights are sealed up.

 

[rcmn0022]

My concern lies with opening up the lenses. Typically (atleast in my 350z) it's a butyl glue sealant...i'm wondering how these lights are sealed up.

beastlick has a DIY article on how to retrofit the HIDs and there is no mention that there was much trouble to seperate the lens. Not sure the exact method that was used to seal them up from the factory.

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...77-custom-hid-projectors-w-demon-eye-mod.html

 

[Beastlick]

Its not a butyl seal, its a permaseal which I had no luck in the oven. It actually caused more damage to the light than cutting. I had to add silicon to those altered areas from trying to pry them open. I sealed everything back up with 3 layers of silicon and haven't any moisture problems.

 

[Bogus]

I wouldn't want to put HID's in my high beams because they will flicker when you try to flash them on.

 

[ChrisJ]

You have choices with this kit. Everyone loves choices!

Bulb choices: 4300k, 5000k, 6000k temperatures. 4300k looks like sunlight, 5000k looks like fluorescent lighting, and 6000k is slightly blue in color. 4300k is the brightest (per lumen count), and as you progress into more color you lose usable light. A visual guide is attached:
Kelvin Reference Guide

Kind of strange.

6500K is considered pure white in the video industry. Never heard anyone say 6000K is slightly blue? Weird. I have fluorescent lights ranging from 2700K to 6500K.


For lights I definitely prefer 4300k-5000K though. 6000K-6500k from a light to me, is more of a "cloudy day" kind of sunlight, at least if their numbers are accurate.

 

[danielag]

Its not a butyl seal, its a permaseal which I had no luck in the oven. It actually caused more damage to the light than cutting. I had to add silicon to those altered areas from trying to pry them open. I sealed everything back up with 3 layers of silicon and haven't any moisture problems.

What would you recommend to someone with a little more technical knowledge and that has prior experience in doing retrofits in terms of performing this mod to make it as quick & as easy as possible?

The guy i would want to have do it (Sam @ facebook.com/zleds) stated that based on the thread you made, he would have to 'cut' the lens off, which would take quite a bit of time and as a result, a higher charge.

 

[danielag]

I wouldn't want to put HID's in my high beams because they will flicker when you try to flash them on.

It seems like there is the same amount of room in each light, I wouldn't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to get them in there. But keep in mind that HIDS don't like being toggled on and off.

If I were to attempt this I would put two of the fx-r in and would have the stock low on only when y are running DRLs. Having the headlights on would have both lights on low then with highs on it would turn the bixenon selenoid on for both lights.
[...]

Precisely this.....i would want both to be connected to low beams, and when i hit the high beams, the bi xenon 'shroud' if you will; will simply flip down and allow more light to come out.....but obviously...the difficulty lies in getting the lens off first.