HID Retrofit Project completed! Pics coming soon... :)

[freakygeek]

After having a HID plug-n-play kit for a while and being unhappy with the light output, I started to look at other options for my DC2R. After doing much research on various forums such as www.hidplanet.com I decided what I needed to do was a proper HID projector retrofit.

This involved replacing the Halogen projector unit in the headlight assembly with one designed specifically for HID light. The difference is that a projector designed for HID will have a greater and more even light spread than one designed for Halogen bulbs.

So, to begin I sourced some current model BMW X5 projectors. These are BiXenon projectors which means they have an electronically controlled shield which moves when switching to High-Beam (shown in pictures below).

Some pictures so far (all testing only, the projectors have not yet been fitted to the headlamp enclosures)

The X5 BiXenon projector units :-


The light output from approx 10 metres :-


The pretty blue bit around the cutoff region :-


With High-beam switched on :-

[Jingers]

god help any animals caught in your light

[mecca]

Hehehe cool!

Keep us posted! I was always happy with the halogen projectors with the DC2, even with the HID plug/play. Although your results with HID projectors look awesome.

Why not source Euro projectors? The are OEM Honda and may be easier to fit into the housing of the DC2?

[tinkerbell]

(BMW parts are easier to source for some Tamworth locals...)

looks great cam!

do it right!!!!!!

[kavehman]

keep us updated on the cost of this as well please.

Those projectors gotta be quite pricey

[supernatural]

mad... i wont mind having one if it isnt too pricey... lol... good luck y0...

[freakygeek]

keep us updated on the cost of this as well please.

Those projectors gotta be quite pricey

Maybe not as expensive as you might think ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-X...spagenameZWDVW

Just have to ensure that the projectors you purchase are for Right Hand Drive (or are switchable LHD/RHD like some OEM ones are)!!!!

I looked into Accord Euro projectors as they offer BRILLIANT low beam light output (better than the BMW ones) however the idea of BiXenon appealed to me and I wanted to play around with that.

BiXenon lights for EC trackday? Hmmm... it's a possibility... I have all the parts here, just not sure about the time.

[JCE]

(BMW parts are easier to source for some Tamworth locals...)

I need one more to start my conversion, if Cambo still wants to let me have his spare one.

[JCE]

Freakygeek,

Did you use your new lens to take those shots?

[freakygeek]

Freakygeek,

Did you use your new lens to take those shots?

No, look at the EXIF data

Shots were taken at

17mm, ISO 200, 1sec exposure, F4.0

[mecca]

Hey freaky, so you will still be able to utilise the bi-xenon functionality on the BMW projector? I thought when you active the high beams that will just trigger our second set of lights, how will you tell it to toggle the low to high. Will be interesting when you pull it off.

If it aint too expensive I would definitely look into this. Was also checking a similar thread on Honda-tech.

I always thought our light output from our halogen projectors were fine, not sure why the americans are having so much trouble.

Anyway keep us posted!

Cause the thought of having euro hid projectors would be wicked, but the bi-xenons would be awesome!

[fueltank]

Hey freaky, so you will still be able to utilise the bi-xenon functionality on the BMW projector? I thought when you active the high beams that will just trigger our second set of lights, how will you tell it to toggle the low to high. Will be interesting when you pull it off.

If it aint too expensive I would definitely look into this. Was also checking a similar thread on Honda-tech.

I always thought our light output from our halogen projectors were fine, not sure why the americans are having so much trouble.

Anyway keep us posted!

Cause the thought of having euro hid projectors would be wicked, but the bi-xenons would be awesome!

I'm guessing the projector has a motor which drives the hi-beam glass up/in and down/out

[freakygeek]

Hey freaky, so you will still be able to utilise the bi-xenon functionality on the BMW projector? I thought when you active the high beams that will just trigger our second set of lights, how will you tell it to toggle the low to high. Will be interesting when you pull it off.

It is very simple, the shutter just operates from 12v to open - so you just wire the high beam into the shutter to activate it when the high beam is switched on.

If it aint too expensive I would definitely look into this. Was also checking a similar thread on Honda-tech.

I always thought our light output from our halogen projectors were fine, not sure why the americans are having so much trouble.

They're not having "trouble"... just that HID projectors blow away the OEM ones in terms of light spread and output. The difference is huge.

[JCE]

Are you going to use a relay to trigger the Bi-xenon shutters?

What is the setup on the X5?

[freakygeek]

Are you going to use a relay to trigger the Bi-xenon shutters?

Going to ask Dr. Dave how the X5 one works but I don't think it will require a relay. The little servo shouldn't draw much current at all so I might just end up putting it directly onto the high beam circuit.