KW (Tri-Cities) Thread

[Slartibartfast]

Originally Posted by thorlius

Ordered LED replacements for the dome, trunk, and license plate lights, as well as switchback front turn signal LEDs and rear turn signal LEDs (all 5 items from Diode Dynamics, in the vendors section here), and I also ordered the HID retrofit kit from The Retrofit Source yesterday.

I'll try to post some before and after pics when I install everything, though it might not be until the spring since I am generally pretty whiny about the cold and don't have an easily accessible warm place to do it in.

Only two planned mods left now: lowering springs and a sharkfin antenna.

Nice, I'm likely going to do much of the same LED's. For headlights, I'm waiting. I'd like to see if I can get some used ones out of the UK from a friend.

I'm really interested in how your LED's turn out. We (Jamie and I... well, mostly Jamie) are trying to organize an FR-S meet at the dealership. You'll have to come by. Demandred has done some LED's too, if memory serves.

[Demandred7]

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Nice, I'm likely going to do much of the same LED's. For headlights, I'm waiting. I'd like to see if I can get some used ones out of the UK from a friend.

I'm really interested in how your LED's turn out. We (Jamie and I... well, mostly Jamie) are trying to organize an FR-S meet at the dealership. You'll have to come by. Demandred has done some LED's too, if memory serves.

Yeah, I ended up going with HID_Powerhouse for the dome, trunk, license plate, and reverse lights. Pretty happy with the results. I haven't done anything with my headlights - not sure if I want to do HID, just whiter and brighter regular bulbs, or like yourself, acquiring euro spec or JDM whole assemblies. However, more than that, I really want fogs.

Going to wait until spring for any further mods.

Really hoping that the meet timing works out, I am stoked to make it out to one.

[Demandred7]

Originally Posted by thorlius

Ordered LED replacements for the dome, trunk, and license plate lights, as well as switchback front turn signal LEDs and rear turn signal LEDs (all 5 items from Diode Dynamics, in the vendors section here), and I also ordered the HID retrofit kit from The Retrofit Source yesterday.

I'll try to post some before and after pics when I install everything, though it might not be until the spring since I am generally pretty whiny about the cold and don't have an easily accessible warm place to do it in.

Only two planned mods left now: lowering springs and a sharkfin antenna.

Dome and trunk are quick easy installs. Just make sure that you do the installs during the day.

[engsr]

Originally Posted by Demandred7

not sure if I want to do HID, just whiter and brighter regular bulbs, or like yourself, acquiring euro spec or JDM whole assemblies. However, more than that, I really want fogs.

OEM HIDs or OEM retrofit is the way to go. My last 5 cars (including my track car) had/has an OEM retrofit - I refuse to own a car with just halogens. HIDs is money well spent if done correctly (OEM or OEM retrofit - no cheap kits). And it's probably just me but with HIDs I find the fog lights useless - I only use my fogs at times so I'm more visible to other drivers.

[thorlius]

The HID job sounds like the most intimidating. I read it'll require me to remove the front bumper, take out the headlamp enclosures and bake them in the oven to open them, swap out projectors and replace brackets, etc., then re-assemble everything. I think it was rated as around an 8 hour job, so for me that'll have to happen on a long weekend and will probably take more like 12-16 hours. And that's if I don't break anything.

Apparently the switchback front turn signal LEDs I ordered work pretty well as fog lights (they are white, and then flash amber when the turn signal stalk is used) and are "as bright as the stock headlights".

[engsr]

An easier (although not cheaper) option is to get another set of headlights to work on - this way you can take your time with the retro and still be able to drive your car. From the sounds of it though, this kit has everything you need - ie. you don't have to cut/drill out anything, make your own brackets, etc. I had to do that for my Civic - fun times.

Just take your time with the baking/lens removal part - I always found that to be the "painful" part. Helps if you have another set of hands that knows what they're doing too. My friends and I were notorious for doing retros, so if you need advice, just send me a PM.

Oh, don't confuse brightness with useable output. I always chuckle when I see light bulbs (like the Sylvania Silverstars commercials) that are advertised "as bright" or "as white" as xenon/HIDs but the output is worse than regular halogens. Again, that's just me.

[naking]

Just received this in the mail today! I ordered from Yospeed, and am surprised how well it turned out! Great speedy service too! $24.95 + $8 (shipping to Canada) Definitely worth it!

[Slartibartfast]

Originally Posted by naking

Just received this in the mail today! I ordered from Yospeed, and am surprised how well it turned out! Great speedy service too! $24.95 + $8 (shipping to Canada) Definitely worth it!

Nice, I've thought of doing something similar. Looks great.

[Demandred7]

Originally Posted by naking

Just received this in the mail today! I ordered from Yospeed, and am surprised how well it turned out! Great speedy service too! $24.95 + $8 (shipping to Canada) Definitely worth it!

I have been eyeing up the console plaque as well, but, I am still figuring out what design that I want to use.

[Demandred7]

Originally Posted by engsr

OEM HIDs or OEM retrofit is the way to go. My last 5 cars (including my track car) had/has an OEM retrofit - I refuse to own a car with just halogens. HIDs is money well spent if done correctly (OEM or OEM retrofit - no cheap kits). And it's probably just me but with HIDs I find the fog lights useless - I only use my fogs at times so I'm more visible to other drivers.

I was reading a write up about it and it seems that the wiring is a pretty formidable task. It talked about re-pinning the connections and taking off the bumper. I am definitely no shade tree mechanic. Plus there is the issue of cost vs bulbs. Although, I haven't seen what Silverstars look like (they might truly look like crap). Ironically they are promoting them in the current Canadian Tire flyer. If I ever attempted it, I would definitely want someone more experienced giving a helping hand.

[engsr]

I would guess the re-pinning is required for the OEM GT86 headlights to be installed or is this any kit? I haven't really researched this, so I don't know. However, if you're retrofitting an OEM HID system, you want to create your own wiring harness that runs off the battery. You shouldn't just plug the ballasts in to the OEM wiring (which how most "kits" are made to do) as this draws a lot of current on start up and may burn out the harness. An independent system off the battery is a safer way to do it.

As far as cost goes, the price paid for OEM HIDs is completely outweighed by the considerable improvement in lighting. As I said before, I will not own a car with regular halogens and I know a lot of other people that are in the same boat. It's a night and day difference, literally. If you're considering buying the fog lights, considering putting that money towards the headlights. With HIDs, fog lights are useless.

It's your money of course - I'm just offering my opinion/experience because I've gone through these types of situations 8-9 years ago. Back then though, there weren't places like the retrofit source where you could buy complete kits - you had to piece things together and make your own wiring harness. Again, I'm more than willing to advise/help if needed.

:happy0180:

[Demandred7]

Originally Posted by engsr

I would guess the re-pinning is required for the OEM GT86 headlights to be installed or is this any kit? I haven't really researched this, so I don't know. However, if you're retrofitting an OEM HID system, you want to create your own wiring harness that runs off the battery. You shouldn't just plug the ballasts in to the OEM wiring (which how most "kits" are made to do) as this draws a lot of current on start up and may burn out the harness. An independent system off the battery is a safer way to do it.

As far as cost goes, the price paid for OEM HIDs is completely outweighed by the considerable improvement in lighting. As I said before, I will not own a car with regular halogens and I know a lot of other people that are in the same boat. It's a night and day difference, literally. If you're considering buying the fog lights, considering putting that money towards the headlights. With HIDs, fog lights are useless.

It's your money of course - I'm just offering my opinion/experience because I've gone through these types of situations 8-9 years ago. Back then though, there weren't places like the retrofit source where you could buy complete kits - you had to piece things together and make your own wiring harness. Again, I'm more than willing to advise/help if needed.

:happy0180:

This is the site I was looking at:
http://www.garagefrs.com/jdm-headlight-conversion/


Seems like a fairly legit installation.

Need to save up if I want these.

[thorlius]

This is the one I got and this was the DIY that sold me on it. The pics on the last couple pages in the DIY thread are pretty sharp.

I went with 6000k since the switchback front signals will be the same colour.

Apparently the OEM set of Subaru HIDs are $600 per lamp. No thanks. I could've just bought the BRZ for that difference.

[engsr]

Originally Posted by Demandred7

This is the site I was looking at:
http://www.garagefrs.com/jdm-headlight-conversion/


Seems like a fairly legit installation.

Need to save up if I want these.

I like how those lights look - the LED bar makes it look like angry eyebrows. lol

The only thing that would concern me about that install the gauge of the OEM wire for the low beam. The JDM one (pink and black) is a thicker gauge, where as the USDM wasn't mentioned. I would bet that it's smaller like the highbeam. I wouldn't be comfortable and I would likely make my own harness just to be on the safe side.

The other thing I noticed too is that it's possible the GT86 HIDs aren't bi-xenon. I wouldn't think the LEDs would be bright enough as highbeams.

Originally Posted by thorlius

This is the one I got and this was the DIY that sold me on it. The pics on the last couple pages in the DIY thread are pretty sharp.

I went with 6000k since the switchback front signals will be the same colour.

Apparently the OEM set of Subaru HIDs are $600 per lamp. No thanks. I could've just bought the BRZ for that difference.

I would guess the GT86 lights are around the same price range?

That's a very thorough DIY. Can't go wrong especially when someone has already laid it out step by step.