For better or worse, I've picked up some second-hand projector housings for my 97 Cavy. (From
this for-sale thread)
Dumb questions:
1) My stock lights had regular beam on the outers and high beam on the inners. Does it seem that these projectors would be the same? I only ask because they seem a bit unbalanced when used that way. By that, I mean that the outer lens is very focused but seems to make the brightness of the regular beam suffer. The inner reflector seems very broad and generalized, and hardly even reigns in the high beams. Perhaps this is to be expected.
2) The reason the first question isn't quite obvious is because the bulb openings at the back of the housing are the same size. Meanwhile, one bulb holders is larger (hi-beam, if I remember correctly), and doesn't fit properly in either opening. (Though I can make it work without modification, only just.)
I'm willing to blame manufacturing quality on a lot of things for these housings, but even if they are just poorly designed they still look nice so I'll deal with it. I'm just making sure I don't spend too much time on the wrong track.
Pic from the original ad:
A rough install on my car. Additional nudging and aiming to follow:
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well I have heard lots of output complaints from aftermarket projectors without the use of an HID kit.
But no, the low beam should have a cut off shield inside which gives it that sharp line, and "concentration" of light.
Throw some HID's in, and you will be happy.
John Benham wrote:But no, the low beam should have a cut off shield inside which gives it that sharp line, and "concentration" of light.
Thanks. That makes sense, and I did see the shield. So at least I know I shoved the bulbs into the right places. Next thing is to aim these things, which will not doubt be a PITA thanks to the Taiwanese-made mounting brackets.
John Benham wrote:Throw some HID's in, and you will be happy.
Sounds like the next thing to save for. With the little bit of night driving I do, it might be a while before that happens.
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you might be able to snap on the GM brackets for easier aiming.....depends on the projectors....
They look nice though....cant say the bug shield does much for me....but your ride, not mine
Definitely save up for a decent HID kit. I am sure that you would have though....
You might be right, it looks like the bracket might change. I'll have to get a closer look.
In the meantime, I got impulsive at WalMart and bought a set of Silverstars. I realized these are still nothing like a set of HIDs, and there are more than a few people unimpressed by them, but it's the closest I'll get for a little while.
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Got the driver's side headlamp switched over. The insides of the housings had a bunch of residue, especially on the low-beam lens. I ended up dismantling it to clean up. Also, switched the driver side to Silverstar bulbs. Finally, I changed the side marker light to an amber bulb just in case the local authorities took note. I thought I'd dislike an amber bulb behind a clear lens, but I actually really like the effect. The amber bulb against a blacked-out side marker lens is wicked.
A bit of a side-by-side:
Your gratuitous Silverstar comparison shot:
The passenger side gets left to tomorrow, as well as the final headlight aiming. This is because dismantling these things is a bit tedious, and the passenger side mounting bracket needs some tinkering, methinks.
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those look pretty nice, i need to pick me up some now though, and dont mind me saying i think it would look nice w/o the bug guard with the black lights in the front
I had the same set before. They lasted about a week on the car. The light output was horrible. I now have the one piece projectors and the light output is very close to stock.
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bwawawawawh cheap projectors are crap you get what you pay for. try and find a set of projector lenses and lenses housing from a car (oem, mazda,lexus,merc,bmw) and install them in place of the cheap ones. then youll be happy. not trying to disagree with john but brighter isnt always better......it just blinds the living f*ck out of other people on the road. I.E. dont use real hids with scatter lenses.silver stars blow, coulda spent half the price on 6000k simulation luminics bulbs and had that beautiful blue white light output.
In summary:
- If I didn't know before, I definitely realize now that these aren't exactly premium projector housings.
- The light output is reduced on the regular beams, probably in no small part because they employ a scatter lens. This makes upgrading to HID with this setup less practical.
- I'm just waiting for these bastards to leak constantly with no end to condensation and probably shorted bulbs. Especially because I've had them apart, and the sealing process might require a mulligan.
- Luckily, I almost never drive at night. I vividly recall driving for a few hours on dark evening while it was raining cats and dogs, and following an SUV most of the way so that I could actually see the road ahead. This was with the stock lighting, without the benefit of Z24 fogs. I had hoped the projectors might actually improve things, but since it seems they're not going to cooperate, this might just be a temporary aesthetic phase.
- I don't regret buying Silverstars. I don't want gay blue 6000k lights, and these will do fine until such time as HIDs are in play. Overpriced? Yes. Especially since I got both 9005 and 9006 pairs. Overrated? They work as advertised. If I expected 65 watts would suddenly make a lot more light, then I was deluded. If they burn out in two weeks, then I'll be pissed.
- I know I'm the only one that would keep that bug deflector there. Unibrow car forever!
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Who care about light output? They look cool!
All jokes aside though, I have gone through 5 sets of projectors,
& none of them really had perfect output.
The one piece set I have right now does seem to have slightly better output than
the rest I have used though.
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hey, to each thier own.....at least you call it a uni-brow.
and a cheaper way to correct the problem mentioned above would be to swap in the LENSES from another car......depending on how yours are in there.
I thought those projectors had a real projector lens in them though.
Swap in some acura TSX projectors, hands down will give you the best output.
" Aint nothin' but a Peanut!"
get some one pieces they are soo sooooooo much better ive owned both styles and learned.
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i am the one that sold the projectors to him. i had 2 sets
I have had my set since 2003, i was one of the first cars i saw around with black housing projectors. I paid $350 for them at the time. The light output is not as good as stocl thats for sure. but at the time i was driving at night with headlight covers which made even less light. ive been driving for 5 years with these projectors now, iam just use to the ouput, i can see fine. In very low light area, with no street lights and other cars around i use the highbeams, which are very bright. I mostly bought my set because they looked realy cool and were legal at night.
pic
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MY 1998 CHEVY CAVALIER Z24 WEB PAGE
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MY OLD CAR: KEVIN'S BLUE 1993 CHEVY CAVALIER WEB PAGE
I'm back to my stock housings now. I actually tried to drive at night with the projectors. They have an odd way of sending a bit of light out to each side of the car, but none directly in front, where stuff tends to approach at 60 mph. You can see this as the dark areas in my driveway photo posted above. The solution was to either drive like I was elderly, or use the high beams (which were actually worked really well). That was fine until I rounded a blind corner next to a corn field, blinded a guy in the oncoming lane, hit the dimmer until I passed him (narrowly avoiding collision since he was creeping into my lane), and nearly drove off the road because I couldn't see @!#$ until the brights were back on.
So maybe HIDs would make them tolerable. Until then, they stay on the workbench. I had them apart to clean up the insides, so here's their construction:
Yes, I cleaned the lens already. It was plenty clear and shiny.
Follow up dumb questions:
1) Would an HID retrofit necessarily be for the outer "low beams" only? Or would be be desirable to put HIDs in the big 'ol traffic blinding reflector high-beams too?
2) It was mentioned that a lens swap might help. Does it appear from these photos that this might be a path to pursue?
3) I'm still rather annoyed that the high-beam bulb holder simple does not fit properly in the receptacle at the back of the housing. Maybe Kevin could tell me if this is a problem with the design of these things. Or am I just missing something obvious?
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did you modify the bulbs to fit the low beam harness, you have to melt a part inside the high beam bulb to make it fit in the low beam harness.
I didn't have a problem inserting my high beams. i don't remember a problem when removing them from the other car. Is the plastic on the back of the light bent or melted. you may have to heat the plastic and bend it back so the bulb and harness will lock. Are you sure you lined up the bulb and it is in properly.
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MY 1998 CHEVY CAVALIER Z24 WEB PAGE
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MY OLD CAR: KEVIN'S BLUE 1993 CHEVY CAVALIER WEB PAGE
Geeky wrote:I'm back to my stock housings now. I actually tried to drive at night with the projectors. They have an odd way of sending a bit of light out to each side of the car, but none directly in front, where stuff tends to approach at 60 mph. You can see this as the dark areas in my driveway photo posted above. The solution was to either drive like I was elderly, or use the high beams (which were actually worked really well). That was fine until I rounded a blind corner next to a corn field, blinded a guy in the oncoming lane, hit the dimmer until I passed him (narrowly avoiding collision since he was creeping into my lane), and nearly drove off the road because I couldn't see @!#$ until the brights were back on.
So maybe HIDs would make them tolerable. Until then, they stay on the workbench. I had them apart to clean up the insides, so here's their construction:
Yes, I cleaned the lens already. It was plenty clear and shiny.
Follow up dumb questions:
1) Would an HID retrofit necessarily be for the outer "low beams" only? Or would be be desirable to put HIDs in the big 'ol traffic blinding reflector high-beams too?
2) It was mentioned that a lens swap might help. Does it appear from these photos that this might be a path to pursue?
3) I'm still rather annoyed that the high-beam bulb holder simple does not fit properly in the receptacle at the back of the housing. Maybe Kevin could tell me if this is a problem with the design of these things. Or am I just missing something obvious?
The "projector" is junk!
I had Hi-Beam Bulbs in both without a problem for my short time with them.
And just to go with your above pics...
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What you know about Street Racing anyways? Only what Fast & Furious taught us....
SO EVERYTHING!
what are the dimensions of the actual projector??
Perhaps there is one that will fit right in there, or you could do a lens ubgrade, looks like the lens is just held in by that metal bezel.
If going the HID route, yes, you could only do the low beams, but make up your mind on the projectors first, and get the right HID kit for what you are going to use.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Wednesday, October 08, 2008 8:12 AM
Quote:
Swap in some acura TSX projectors, hands down will give you the best output.
And acura TSX projector will fit there I am sure of as you already have the head lights apart the hardest parts over. Also to keep your headlights more stable using your OEM mounting brackets will help. They should attach simply enough.
As for your HID, if oyu would like the most output, the a 4100K kit will suit your needs, this will be bright white but have great color depth while viewing and will give oyu hands down "the best vision".
Rember though the more color you add to your bulbs the "less output" or visible light you will get.
I did an "HIDcrash course" awhile ago.. read that it should catch you up on anything in that department.
good luck
" Aint nothin' but a Peanut!"
yeah, 4300-6000k is where you want to be.
the TSX's are bi-xenon though.......if I remember correctly.
You can get a set of low beam projectors for much less from many different places.
ya i have the same head lights lol. got mines for free though haha. ya one is 9005 and the other is 9006 i used slyvia blues on the outer ones and sylvia ultra brights on the inner ones they look amazing and seem to be pretty bright. i had to get the connector for one of the 900's took like 30 mins total to put em in only prob i had with em was the bracket was a lil weird i just took that one off and used the stock ones and its fine for me.
