EliteCM.net

I have been wanted to do a retrofit for a while after some persuasion from fellow members so i decided to do it. However,being a college student, I wanted to keep it low cost without sacrificing too much quality. This is my first retrofit and i am by no means an expert, i just wanted to share what I did.

First, a little background info on the headlights. One of the first mods i did to the car when i got it was get a new pair of Ebay black housed headlights which were the ones i was running until yesterday. Becuse they were cheap ebay headlights after two years the clear coat was flaking off. I had kept the OEM headlights which had a lot of oxidation and cracking on the lens but i figured i would combine the best aspects of each pair in order to make ONE good retrofitted pair of headlights.

I bought everything from www.headlightsquick.com (http://www.headlightsquick.com). They are an authorized disributor from The Retrofit Source and Morimoto. James Wachs the President of the company was very helpful and handled all of my orders personally. Oh and the best part, they have FREE 2-Day SHIPPING.

Materials and Cost:
HQ Mini H1 Projectors: $45.00 http://www.headlightsquick.com/products/hq-brand-mini-h1-projectors.html (http://www.headlightsquick.com/products/hq-brand-mini-h1-projectors.html)
Full Sized Gatling Gun Shroud:$40.00 http://www.headlightsquick.com/products/full-sized-gatling-gun-shrouds.html (http://www.headlightsquick.com/products/full-sized-gatling-gun-shrouds.html)
*But if you buy it through Amazon you get both for $60.00 Shipped*http://www.amazon.com/Retrofit-Headlights-Projector-Silver-Gatling/dp/B009EDQTTA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1381185672&sr=8-4&keywords=mini+h1+projector (http://www.amazon.com/Retrofit-Headlights-Projector-Silver-Gatling/dp/B009EDQTTA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1381185672&sr=8-4&keywords=mini+h1+projector)

H1 Bulbs: $9.98 on Ebay
HID Kit: Already had one from Ebay.
High Beam Splitters: $10.00 Headlights Quick (If you cant find it on the website, send James an email, tell him what you need and he will get it for you)
Projector Selenoid Plug: $13.00 Headlights Quick
Butyl Glue (optional): $13.00 Ebay. (the roll was huge, way more than i will ever need in my life)

TOTAL: $105.98

Projector Review:: A lot of peopple may be a little skeptical about not using the mainstream/famous H1 Morimoto Minis but let me tell you that these projector are probably as good. I didn't want to spend $120 on projectors alone so i went this route, i figured ANY projector would be better than my plug and play HID kit on a reflector housing.  I have never had the Morimotos in my hand but i did look at a lot of pictures and videos of them and they look exactly the same as these HQ Projectors. The cut off line is very sharp and it even has a bluish/purple tint out of the box, which i know some people usually have to modify the projectors to achieve this.

Proectors:
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1277_zps5b72fe17.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1277_zps5b72fe17.jpg.html)
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1278_zps38a8578c.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1278_zps38a8578c.jpg.html)

This is a comparison picture of my retrofit cutoff and my brother in law"s 2012 Infinity G37 Sedan.

Left= G37 Sedan OEM Headlights 
Right= My Retrofit

(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1403_zpsd185385f.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1403_zpsd185385f.jpg.html)
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1404_zps5b5dd3f0.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1404_zps5b5dd3f0.jpg.html)

Close up of blue/purple tint
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1406_zpse977f128.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1406_zpse977f128.jpg.html)


Here are the OEM Headlights, from which i kept the reflectors and the plastic housing.

(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1372_zps9a7e4e04.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1372_zps9a7e4e04.jpg.html)

From the Ebay Headlights i used the black trim thingy (dont know the name) with the clear reflector and the flaking lens. Obviously i didn't leave the flaking lens, i sanded it down starting with 400 grit sandpaper, followed by 600, 800, 1000, 1200, and 1500. Then i used automotive 2k clear coat that i had left over from when i painted my rear lip and gave the lenses 7 coats of clear coat.
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1393_zps9929b763.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1393_zps9929b763.jpg.html)
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1385_zps3310a405.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1385_zps3310a405.jpg.html)
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1383_zps04ddaaf9.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1383_zps04ddaaf9.jpg.html)

I used this AMAZING little gun that i got from amazon. Very good gun, exceeded my expectation tremendously.
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1387_zpse69d9e7e.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1387_zpse69d9e7e.jpg.html)
http://www.amazon.com/Tool-Force-A-C1-HVLP-Spray/dp/B000EWYASM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381194718&sr=8-1&keywords=spray+gun (http://www.amazon.com/Tool-Force-A-C1-HVLP-Spray/dp/B000EWYASM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381194718&sr=8-1&keywords=spray+gun)

Painted the projector shields and interior stuff graphite gray to match the color of the car.
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1389_zps1cc603a3.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1389_zps1cc603a3.jpg.html)

Trimmed the shrouds to fit the reflectors as exact as i could.
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1374_zpsf9c53830.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1374_zpsf9c53830.jpg.html)
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1377_zps59e0e99a.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1377_zps59e0e99a.jpg.html)
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1380_zpse5794601.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1380_zpse5794601.jpg.html)
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1378_zpsbef05d37.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1378_zpsbef05d37.jpg.html)
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1376_zps251399e0.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1376_zps251399e0.jpg.html)

Placed the reflector on the housing.
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1395_zps6c81444f.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1395_zps6c81444f.jpg.html)

(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1396_zps914deb94.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1396_zps914deb94.jpg.html)

Went to see if i could aim and adjust the headlights during the day but then realized i had no choice but to wait until it got dark. Fail!
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1398_zpsedb590a0.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1398_zpsedb590a0.jpg.html)
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1399_zpsa11ab89f.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1399_zpsa11ab89f.jpg.html)

After it got dark and i aimed the headlights it got late so i stopped taking pictures because i wanted to finish. Sorry.

I sealed the headlights back up and this is the end result. 

(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1423_zps1fba9eee.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1423_zps1fba9eee.jpg.html)

(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1421_zpscc544487.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1421_zpscc544487.jpg.html)

(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1424_zps53ce80fb.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1424_zps53ce80fb.jpg.html)

(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1425_zpsd103bfef.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1425_zpsd103bfef.jpg.html)

(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1426_zps9abd306a.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1426_zps9abd306a.jpg.html)

(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1427_zps6b88fe85.jpg) (http://s1306.photobucket.com/user/olecram93/media/IMAG1427_zps6b88fe85.jpg.html)

Overall i am very happy with the result, the only reason why i hadn't done this before was because of the cost, but i found a way to do it on a budget so i am happy. Definitely one of my favorite mods. I love how the full sized Gatling Gun shrouds fill up the headlight and they don't look small like the Mini Gatling Gun shrouds.
Let me know what you guys think and feel free to ask any questions.

For only a hundred bucks, you can't beat that!  Looks nice

I'm curious why you went with that company for your supplier. The stuff you bought is in TRS' "bargain basement". Granted, HQ is an authorized distributor for TRS but I prefer to deal with the source when it comes to projectors.

I went with them because they have free 2 day shipping and TRS doesn't. And also because since I bought the projectors through amazon I got the projectors AND the full sized gatling gun shrouds for 60. The same combo would've ran me 45+40+shipping from TRS.

Ah. Makes sense. Nothing like saving a few dollars where you can. Well done hermano.

Looks good nice work clean install on them.

Thank you guys. Glad you approve.

Budget retro!  Nice output, especially for the price :thumbsup:  Definitely worth considering.....

Nice job! Its good to know there is a cheap option for a retrofit.

Man, Now that you reminded me of your thread, I may actually go through with this over winter. I haven't decided yet, but I kind of like how the projector lens is more exposed with the mini gatling:

Gatling:
(http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s576/olecram93/IMAG1421_zpscc544487.jpg)

Mini Gatling:
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--KW4tVTmCf4/UMZyNbomvhI/AAAAAAAAIkk/oyUqaQzglIQ/s1600/hidillusionz+2003-2007+accord+morimoto+h1+mini+gatling+hid+retrofit+05.jpg)

Of course I had to get this urge after I already ordered the HIR bulbs. Lol. Oh well, my sister's Civic needs brighter lights just as badly. I also think I'll color match the bezel to Graphite Pearl.

Let me know how this goes for you, Jeff.

Even better for you then because like i said, the projectors with the Mini Gatling Gun Shrouds are only $45 with free 2 day-shipping and require no modification so its almost plug and play. If you order them today, you can a have new retrofit for thanksgiving lol

Would you mind explaining what the solenoids and high beam splitters do? I'm pretty much a noob when it comes to wiring that's more advanced than positive and negative. Lol.

Oh and what eBay seller did you buy your HID kit from? I don't want to fuck up and get a shitty kit.

Solenoids move the shield out of the way so that the projector light is allowed to fully shine through. Basically, its a high beam. The splitter allows you to keep your halogen high beams but also plugs into the projector that way you have dual high beams.

Ahhh I see. So if I didn't give two shits about having dual high beams, I could get away with not using them.

Except that sounds totally awesome, and the whole point of this project is moar light to begin with. Maybe I'll put the HIR 9012 bulbs into my high beam socket (if it works and doesn't complain about having 35w bulbs in a 50w socket). I bet they would still be brighter than the stock bulbs.

Exactry.

I have one of those Xentec shitty kits from eBay which I do not recommend so I can't help you there. The ones I have brake all the time so if you have the extra money get a good kit, mine have been replaced a bunch of times already and it's gotten to the point where the seller doesn't even answer my emails anymore so I had to use the kit I had on my fog lights as a back up and put nokya yellows on the fogs.

Damn. And the Morimoto system is like $150 by itself. Dafuq! That puts this build to around $200+.

As much as the diehard retrofit community hates them, take a look at DDM tuning. I've been running their ballasts since my first retro and the only ballasts I had to swap out were my 55w set earlier this year and that was after 2-3 years of solid use. Their 35w setup with H1 bulbs (which the Minis take) is $30 plus shipping.

Lmk if you need discount from TRS. I can get you ~20% off in parts

This is the same price of the Xentec crappy ones from ebay, so there you go. When mine go out im gonna go with these, thanks Z.

No hay por que.

Awesome. I'll give DDM a shot too. Would 4500K be a good choice for getting good light output? I'm also wondering if I should buy a spare set of headlights to work on so my car isn't out of action.

Don't ever buy Xentec ever. I wouldn't use it even if you give it to me for free. They flicker and are inconsistent

@ Jeff DDM 4300k is fine. Just make sure you get the lifetime warranty and not the Raptor kit

That will give you the best usable light output but the color is blehh, 5000k is more white and looks more luxurious imo.
Buying spare headlights is the ideal thing to do, but considering that you will use the mini gatling shrouds and the mini projectors there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to finish it in one day, if you start early.



^ agreed

Is this the right high beam splitter?

http://www.headlightsquick.com/products/high-beam-correctional-splitters.html (http://www.headlightsquick.com/products/high-beam-correctional-splitters.html)

Edit: Actually, I think this is what I need, right? http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=9717 (http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=9717)

I'm trying to get everything bookmarked so I can start figuring out costs and whatnot. I'm also looking at a set of Depo headlights on eGay but hot damn they're like $160 a set.

Yup you got it, that's the one (Second link).
You can always just buy a used set of oem headlights on craigslist locally.

* Edit

Yes those are what you need buy from TRS since its cheaper.

I think I can get them cheaper then what is listed.

Is there going to be a problem with the dual high beams and the DRL feature of 06-07 Accords? I totally forgot that my high beams are on like 95% of the time.

no. I have an 06 with DRL and don't have problems.

I feel like I'm missing something with the DDM kit. I ordered it in 35W, H1 bulb type, 5000K, but it doesn't mention anything about the input wiring. If I chose H1, does the harness or whatever already come with 9006 for the input from the Accord's wiring and H1 for the output to the bulb? The kit is being shipped from China so it's going to be awhile before I get it...

The ballasts have the 9006 input so you'll be fine.

The order has been placed for the HQ projectors. Tom from HQ and I are currently trying to figure out a solution for the DRL issue. I'm going to attempt wiring up a relay to the high beams so that the solenoid isn't constantly receiving the 6V for the DRL, and instead pulls it straight from the battery with an inline fuse or something. I can worry about that after everything else though.

I'd like to point out that both James and Tom from HeadlightsQuick have been very courteous and extremely helpful with everything that I have needed thus far. They are certainly worthy of having a thread in the parts retailer board.

I've read about people doing exactly what you're proposing with the relay to prevent "stutter" caused by the DRL circuit. I've also heard of people just keeping it simple and just pulling the fuse. I wish I could find where I've seen the relay setup but its been a while.

I told you they were great!

Z, didnt Ben (dreaminaccord) do something like that with his retro? Was it him who you saw do the relay setup?

I can't help on this one because I'm not familiar with the DRL, I have an 05.

It might've been Ben. Not sure.

Jeff, check Ben's threads, I know he did something related to drl in one of his retros maybe you'll find some help there.

Found the threads.

This is his build thread with some pics of the relay setup:
http://elitecm.net/forums/index.php?topic=5127.msg127767#msg127767 (http://elitecm.net/forums/index.php?topic=5127.msg127767#msg127767)

This post outlines the wiring, which is from his HID questions thread:
http://elitecm.net/forums/index.php?topic=4992.msg126029#msg126029 (http://elitecm.net/forums/index.php?topic=4992.msg126029#msg126029)

Ironically enough, I had seen his relay setup (but didn't realize it was Ben's post) over on HIDplanet a few weeks ago, and sent that over to Tom to see if his vendors had anything similar to it (unfortunately, they did not).
http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?52402-Honda-Accord-Morimoto-Mini-H1-6-0&p=589591&viewfull=1#post589591 (http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?52402-Honda-Accord-Morimoto-Mini-H1-6-0&p=589591&viewfull=1#post589591)

I plan on creating this relay harness as OEM-style/plug and play as possible. I'll get back with Tom and order some 9006/9005 plugs and pins, two sets of splitters, and two relay cubes. I want it to be impervious to the environment. Tom also said that he would definitely be interested in reproducing this relay for other people with this same issue.

With that said, 9005 and 9006 plugs ARE the same, right? It's just the bulbs that are different?

They are not. I always get the female and male plugs confused but ill try to explain it. The kind of plug that goes into the oem bulb (whichever that is idk) is not the same between 9005 and 9006. One will have one long groove and the other will have two parallel groves on the bottom.

No matter. That actually works out better so that the harness can't be plugged in backwards.

That's why they do it like that.

Do you think that plastidip stuff would work pretty well on the headlight trim piece? I keep hearing good things about it... I usually use Rustoleum engine enamel.

Should be durable enough just don't know how it holds up to heat

It will hold perfectly fine. I got over spray plastidip on the calipers of  my girlfriends sentra from when I painted her wheels. I haven't gotten a chance to take it off and it is still there. The bezel doesn't get nearly as hot as calipers do lol

It's Christmas before Christmas!

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13512054/PicsArt_1387500548721.png)

One headlight is already apart, I just have to figure out how I'm going to mount the full size gatlings to the projectors and then cut them up. I also don't get how people usually take the headlight reflectors out of the housing, I was able to unscrew the adjustment screw enough to be able to take out the bulb shield just fine. Saves the hassle of potentially breaking those ball joints.

People take out the reflector bowls for the custom installs generally. Its difficult to cut out the bowl if its still in the housing.

Yeah, I was just talking about other MH1 installs though. Anyways, it looks like TRS recommends mounting the concentric ring via silicone. Time to go to Lowes to pick up a silicone kit.

Son of a... I accidentally fucked up the finish in a noticeable spot while trying to cut the Gatling shrouds up to fit. Oh well, I didn't really like the grainy texture of the full size gatlings anyways. I think I'm going to stick with the mini gatlings. The big ones can still be used, but I'd have to paint them.