HID Headlight Projector Upgrade?

[G.T.]

Another member here saying RX350:

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/lhd-headlights.148657/post-3047921

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[Adam the Lighting Guy]

Not to make this thread any more opionated or muddy bit there is 1 fact I'd like to offer.

HID lamps, no matter what color temperature belt out a bunch of UV light. I ran 50w/6k set up's in my 2015 GMC Canyon. I used this set up for 3-4 years before I transitioned to LED's. The HID's actually caused the clear portion of the housing to become "milky". It was not something that could polish out as this Milkyness was forming in the plastic itself.

$.02

 

[G.T.]

^ I dont doubt it.

I wouldnt mind retrofitting the headlights with a modern LED projector as they've come a long way, but not one that require major surgery.

I've actually been retrofitting bi-led projectors in the foglamp locations of most of my cars and they often throw more usable light than the factory headlights.

 

[Sparky1337]

This is one way, or get a D3S bulb in that color temp.



What he is saying is that the LED capsule does not throw out light in the same direction as the bulb the projector was originally designed for, hence it will perform poorly (less light output out front/glare/both).

I did look at the review links and the beamshots could be better IMO, the hotspot with the LED bulb seemed significantly smaller than with the Osram HID bulb it was compared with.

I didn’t think swapping an LED into an HID projector mattered like it does in a reflective housing. My only experience is with printed circuit LED headlights which is one reason why I haven’t bothered.

It would just be nice if @offroadkarter would elaborate a little. If you’re gonna tout that you know more about a subject and then ignore questions, why even comment.

 

[G.T.]

I didn’t think swapping an LED into an HID projector mattered like it does in a reflective housing. My only experience is with printed circuit LED headlights which is one reason why I haven’t bothered.

An HID projector still has a reflective housing, but the lens has a bigger role in light output compared to a standard headlight with fluted lens.

In the link here with a comparison where the HID projector had an LED bulb installed, you can see there is a difference in beam and output.

Yes the projector is more forgiving, but there is still a notable performance effect.

 

[offroadkarter]

Not to make this thread any more opionated or muddy bit there is 1 fact I'd like to offer.

HID lamps, no matter what color temperature belt out a bunch of UV light. I ran 50w/6k set up's in my 2015 GMC Canyon. I used this set up for 3-4 years before I transitioned to LED's. The HID's actually caused the clear portion of the housing to become "milky". It was not something that could polish out as this Milkyness was forming in the plastic itself.

$.02

Didn't those have halogen projectors? I'm not surprised running overboosted HID bulbs caused an issue.

It would just be nice if @offroadkarter would elaborate a little. If you’re gonna tout that you know more about a subject and then ignore questions, why even comment.

@G.T. has already covered it, a projector, just like a reflector housing, is based around one type of light source. The focal point is tuned around where the light source is sitting from that bulb. Swapping out for an entirely different light source throws things out of whack.

An HID projector still has a reflective housing, but the lens has a bigger role in light output compared to a standard headlight with fluted lens.

In the link here with a comparison where the HID projector had an LED bulb installed, you can see there is a difference in beam and output.

Yes the projector is more forgiving, but there is still a notable performance effect.

^

 

[G.T.]

Not done researching projectors so I modded the fogs first.

I put in 3" LED projectors in the fog locations today and while I havent driven with them at night I can see the difference in a parking building I regularly drive in.

Lights off
Headlights on
Projector foglights on
Projector foglights + headlights on

 

[G.T.]

I'm still looking for a headlight projector upgrade, I've been searching online for RX350 projectors or RX350-pattern LED projectors, but not getting many results.

I did find a vid by Lightwerkz Global where they modded an RX350 with clear lenses and adjusting lens and cutoff shield positions to suit. Looks to result in a big improvement in output!

 

[G.T.]

@offroadkarter, thanks for the tip the headlight projectors of the 2015-2017 S550's are RX350's.

It did get confusing as there are apparently a few different versions of these projectors but thanks to @RileyZ 'S pics, I think I've narrowed it down to the 3" bi-xenon non-AFS RX350's.

Right now it looks like RX350's are scarce and the G5's more common and better, and there are LED projectors in this pattern in the market. I'm wondering if the RX350 to G5 adapters by Lightwerkz and others will work, as they are labelled to be for AFS versions.

 

[Nightmonkey]

@G.T. Maybe the OEM projectors and lamps are just aged and new OEM head lights with new lamps will do the job without much effort?
I made this experience years ago with D1S headlights, the reflector behind the lense in the headlight got matte over time, the HID lamps age anyway.
Replaced the headlights and lamps = night & day difference.

 

[G.T.]

@G.T. Maybe the OEM projectors and lamps are just aged and new OEM head lights with new lamps will do the job without much effort?
I made this experience years ago with D1S headlights, the reflector behind the lense in the headlight got matte over time, the HID lamps age anyway.
Replaced the headlights and lamps = night & day difference.

Yes, very possible the reflector bowls are burnt and no longer "reflectory".

OE assemblies are pretty pricey and now with an idea what projectors drop in, I'm inclined to replace that part or possibly upgrade to better.

 

[Nightmonkey]

There are aftermarket OEM-style headlights, no clue how good they are.

 

[G.T.]

There are aftermarket OEM-style headlights, no clue how good they are.

True! All options open at the moment, thanks for the suggestion!

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