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Question about Headlights

gingerdude

gingerdude

Donating Users
So I am on the edge about changing out my headlights.

First of all I would be doing it in stages. First I would get the projectors, then at some point in the future I would install HIDs (or LEDs maybe?). So for awhile I will have just ExtremeVisions in there.

I'm leaning towards the projector retrofit into the OEM headlights (and the clear corners), but here are my concerns:

1) Can I find them anywhere, or will I be on my own to make them?
2) If I find a set, how likely are they to be faded or start to fade soon after? My vehicle has been garage kept for pretty much its entire life until recently and the UV coating is already starting to fail on the factory lights.
3) I hear the clear corners on eBay leak?

If I go with the one piece heads and sides available on the web:

1) I hear light output is crap compared to stock without HIDs? Since I would not be getting HIDs for a little while this could suck...
2) It looks like I'll have to wire some stuff. I fear ****ty GM wiring issues (previous experiences) if I start to disturb stuff. I'm okay with HIDs, but all the supplemental stuff scares me. Lol.
3) Will these fade or leak? This would be the only thing that may make me lean this way. Trying to think for longevity as well. I'm driving this until it dies and it's only at 55k miles.

Alternately I could just get the clear corners and leave the halogens in...

Any thoughts?
 


Amazon and ebay has plenty of OEM headlight replacements. Just keep your stock bracket. I still have a set of clears I haven't even used. They'll last about 5 years before they yellow out, after that you'd need to do the headlight restoration or buy another. Running HID's in our lamps without projectors is pointless, most of the light goes sky high into other drivers eyes and not on the road.

There is a topic here somewhere about retrofitting, afaik Morimoto Mini fit with a bit of dremeling. Headlight wiring is easy and you HAVE to run a relay harness.

Ebay black headlights are pretty crap. The corners definitely hold in moisture and the tabs break off easily.
 
So the eBay lights like these are junk then? If they break, leak, or fade I don't want em. I can keep the stocks for that look lol.

1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix Black Halo LED Projector Headlights Lamp Left Right | eBay

1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix Halo Projector LED Headlights Headlamps Left+Right | eBay

If so I'll probably just go with the Depo clear corners and stick with my halogens for now. Retrofit good projectors into new (or restored) housings at some point in the future when these start to fade and I have to do something.
 
gingerdude said:
1) Can I find them anywhere, or will I be on my own to make them?
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They come up for sale every once in a while. I started with new and don't regret it. It is a bit pricier, but nothing beats fresh new headlights.



I hear the clear corners on eBay leak?
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Mine don't leak. They are next to impossible to find these days.



If I go with the one piece heads and sides available on the web:
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They suck!
 
Alright I think that settles it for me then. Looks like I'm keeping the stockers till it gets warm and then retrofitting those to projector/hid.

There are some clear corners here and there on the web, but they aren't the good ones. :(

I put a bead of silicone along the edges of all my current lights where the lens adheres to the bracket. You can't even tell. If I have to get the crappy clears I will do the same to keep water out.
 


Retros are by far the best way to go


Trust me





17204_968678073156202_2106646670724201065_n.jpg



I did run HIDs in stock headlights... Black Crystals actually.. The light output wasnt bad, and I honestly got flashed by oncoming drivers MORE after I went to retros and HID fogs...

But NOTHING will compare to the light output (and look honestly) or retros.
 
Ginger, I have a pair of brand new smoked corner lights that I thought I wanted, but don't want. If you think they would work for you, we can talk.
 


Our fogs are useless anyhow. Just throw a cheap SMD LED bulb in there lol.

Also, that HOOD BRA UGH
 
I played with HIDs in my stock housings a few times and the light sucked and was scattered. I finally just spent the 500 or so bucks and had classys retrofits build me some projectors. They supplied the morimoto hid kit with them and new housings. It took me a long time to decide but after I finally spent the dough I wished I would have done it in the beginning. I drive 100 miles round trip to work and through mountain areas full of wildlife. I can see so much better with them and figured the investment would possibly be some insurance against an animal collision. So far no regrets. People do flash me even though lights are adjusted correctly but most of the time its because i'm going up a hill and the car is sort of pitched upward. My suggestion is save your money and get the right thing or take a chance and build your own. I am an avid DIY'er and when I added it all up it was worth it to me to have Classys do it since they had the experience particularly with GPs. I added hella optilux driving lights in the fogs and swapped an engine at the same time; lol. The driving lights are totally unnecessary with the projectors and almost unnoticed.

I did modify the headlight lights so they don't come on from the light sensor automatically but park lights and halos on driving lights do. That way HIDs will last longer.

img_20170702_234547306.jpg

img_20170702_234638656_hdr.jpg
 
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Yep I'm sold on the retros. I like to keep the low key stock, but enhanced, look.

I've built tons of stuff with powertools and play with Arduinos in my spare time, so retrofitting and wiring is no prob for me. Hell I did the head gaskets on this bad boy when I got it. No way it's harder than that.

Any updated projector lenses I should get? Don't know if there are better ones out now...

Odi and Bronco Boy it's funny that you mentioned LED fogs... I've been thinking about it too. But do you all think the LED fogs will blind people? I have modded my fogs to stay on with the brights btw.

Bronco, I actually might take you up on that. The only thing is I'm debating if it's weird to have tinted sides and not tinted heads... Hmmm. What brand?
 
That is like night and day.

I swapped my factory bulbs... yes literally the ones from the factory... for ExtremeVisions and did the fog light on with brights mod. That helped the lighting but there's definitely room for improvement. My lenses are in good shape too.
 


Buy a spare set of headlamps for the retro. You might break/crack one when trying to prop them open.
 
Odi said:
Our fogs are useless anyhow. Just throw a cheap SMD LED bulb in there lol.
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Or install proper LED lights. :th_winking:

LED_Fog_Lights_001.JPG


LED_Fog_Lights_007.JPG


LED_Fog_Lights_059.JPG




Also, that HOOD BRA UGH
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Yup. It isn't on any more. I was hoping it would cover a few of my huge rock chips, but it didn't.





gingerdude said:
I've built tons of stuff with powertools and play with Arduinos in my spare time, so retrofitting and wiring is no prob for me. Hell I did the head gaskets on this bad boy when I got it. No way it's harder than that.
Click to expand...
I thought the same, but I failed and bought from Classy. The alignment made me pull my hair out. LOL



Any updated projector lenses I should get? Don't know if there are better ones out now...
Click to expand...
Moromito minis are about all that fit, without major work.



But do you all think the LED fogs will blind people?
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If you put them in the stock housing, it is possible. I had HID's in aftermarket fogs and never got flashed, but they had no cut-off and they glared like crazy. Being down low helps the cause.



Bronco, I actually might take you up on that. The only thing is I'm debating if it's weird to have tinted sides and not tinted heads... Hmmm. What brand?
Click to expand...
Same thoughts here. I have clear headlights and clear corners, and had custom HID fog's; they all matched and looked good. When I installed the XB-LED's, they have a tint to them, so things looked odd. I thought going to the smoked corners might look ok, but I was wrong. I'm working on a better set of fog's and they have no tint, so things will look good soon. I got the corners on e-Bay, and they have no "name" on them.

Here are some images of them: Smoked Corners

They are pretty dark, and IMO would only look good if you painted your headlight reflectors black.



gingerdude said:
That is like night and day.
Click to expand...
^ This. Retros give the best possible light. I never used to like the look of them, but now I wouldn't have my headlights any other way.
 
Bronco, damn those are way darker than I was expecting! I'm gonna pass on them. I feel like that's just asking to get pulled, especially if I black all the other lights to match. Hadn't intended to get the retros for awhile anyways, so it would be weird looking in the meantime.
 
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