DIY: TheRetrofitSource/Morimoto Retro-Quik Install in FR-S

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by thorlius

Whoever's done this, can you answer what this extra stuff is that came in each projector box? Or the nut behind the projector lamp mounting bracket (which just doesn't seem to serve any purpose)? Nobody has mentioned any of this in any guides I've seen.

The top four items I know what to do with. The screws and other things seem useless, but then why would they be included?




Edit: Also, should I have gotten 4 bulbs, or just 2? There are 4 bulb holes total, and I only got 2 bulbs. I'm assuming I use the OEM bulbs for the inside lights (high beams/DRLs? I don't even really know what the inside ones are for...), but then they won't match the other headlights.

The rest is useless. Morimoto projectors are typically mounted to the bulb hole in the reflector, which is what you'd use that hardware for. Ours mount to an actual bracket, so we have no use for those parts.

The reflectors towards the inside of the car are the high beams. The kit doesn't include bulbs for that, you can reuse the stock bulbs though. You should have a y splitter in the kit as well, so you can run both the stock high beam and the new bixenon high beam. Or you could just plug the high beam wiring into the stock high beam bulb or just the new bixenon high beam, your choice.

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[thorlius]

Originally Posted by civicdrivr

You should have a y splitter in the kit as well, so you can run both the stock high beam and the new bixenon high beam. Or you could just plug the high beam wiring into the stock high beam bulb or just the new bixenon high beam, your choice.

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I got the Y-splitter as well. Wouldn't the stock high beam bulb mismatch the HID (colour-wise)?

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by thorlius

I got the Y-splitter as well. Wouldn't the stock high beam bulb mismatch the HID (colour-wise)?

Color wise, yes. I'm running Nokya yellows in the high beams. They don't match, but I love the output between the two.

You could probably use a set of some "hyper white" bulbs to match it closer. But if you don't use the high beams all the time, I wouldn't worry about the mismatch.

I wouldn't run HIDs in the high beam reflector because of the DRL circuit and flashing the high beams quickly will shorten the lifespan of the bulbs compared to incandescents.

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[thorlius]

Originally Posted by civicdrivr

Color wise, yes. I'm running Nokya yellows in the high beams. They don't match, but I love the output between the two.

You could probably use a set of some "hyper white" bulbs to match it closer. But if you don't use the high beams all the time, I wouldn't worry about the mismatch.

I wouldn't run HIDs in the high beam reflector because of the DRL circuit and flashing the high beams quickly will shorten the lifespan of the bulbs compared to incandescents.

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Thanks again (as well as for the DIY in the first place).

I got everything installed. Getting the bumper off and then back on again was the toughest part. Those side markers are just awful. Somehow I managed to keep them on and not break anything.

I ended up leaving the Y-splitter out. The high beam bulbs are just sitting in the housings now, and not attached to anything on the car. With 6000K LEDs and the 6000K HID kit, I didn't want to mix the colour with the high beam bulb. The switchback LEDs are really bright and are more than sharp enough to act as DRLs, leaving the bi-xenons only for night driving.

All that's left to do is align the headlights and then (get a carwash, then) take pictures.

[Yruyur]

Holy crap, just found a working 25% coupon code for the retrofit source, just picked up the Morimoto Retro-Quik System for $75 off! Hell I bought the extra butyl seal too.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...397#post819397

[Yruyur]

So if I'm not mistaken the y adapter that comes with the kit allows for drl and high beams. Does this mean the high beam solenoid is on even though the headlights are off? I see another y adapter they sell if you have a light that shuts off when you turn your headlights on.

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[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by Yruyur

So if I'm not mistaken the y adapter that comes with the kit allows for drl and high beams. Does this mean the high beam solenoid is on even though the headlights are off? I see another y adapter they sell if you have a light that shuts off when you turn your headlights on.

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The high beam solenoid is energized at about half power when the main beams are off, assuming you still have DRLs enabled. Once the main beams turn on, the DRL turns off, so the solenoid is not energized until you turn on the high beams. I've been running like this for ~18k miles with no issues to the solenoids thus far.

If energizing the solenoid when the DRLs is a concern, you can have your dealer disable the DRLs.

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[Yruyur]

Sweet. Thanks for being on top of this stuff.

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[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by Yruyur

Sweet. Thanks for being on top of this stuff.

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NP, and I just checked the high beam correctional splitter on TRS, that's for cars that turn off a light when you enable the high beams. We don't have that.

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[SupraRon]

@civicdrivr Can someone take a look at my wiring and let me know if I've got it right? I'm pretty sure it's incorrect and need someone to correct me. Let me know.

Passenger's side:



Driver's side:



Edit: I just saw the post close to the top of this page by @raul referring to the wiring. I will give that a shot.

Thanks,

Ron

[koteman]

Drivers use high beam y splinters ut wring and plugged in to your low beam and missing the hid solenoid

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[SupraRon]

Got everything figured out and so far, I'm quite impressed with the quality of light these projectors give.

A special thanks to @civicdrivr for this very helpful DIY and all those that contributed along the way.

Note: I also was able to remove the bumper without breaking the tab for the side markers. Getting the bumper re-installed at the corners was challenging, but doable.

I think I need to align the projectors, but here is the output:



Thanks,

Ron

[tonystewart]

Excellent results, aiming them makes them even better. Besides up and down don't forget left and right adjuster as well. I did the first time.

I was in Atlanta this past weekend, rented a Ford Explorer 4WD from Avis
On three separate occasions , my daughter (FRS Morimoto Conversion), my wife Avalon LTD with Factory HID, myself with Sienna LTD with factory HID, various volleyball parents with Porsche Panamera, Range Rover Sport, Mercedes S63 and the BMW 335i, all asked if the lights were on when we were driving on I20 and I285 at night.

You don't realize how good your lights are until you drive a car without them.

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by tonystewart

Excellent results, aiming them makes them even better. Besides up and down don't forget left and right adjuster as well. I did the first time.

I was in Atlanta this past weekend, rented a Ford Explorer 4WD from Avis
On three separate occasions , my daughter (FRS Morimoto Conversion), my wife Avalon LTD with Factory HID, myself with Sienna LTD with factory HID, various volleyball parents with Porsche Panamera, Range Rover Sport, Mercedes S63 and the BMW 335i, all asked if the lights were on when we were driving on I20 and I285 at night.

You don't realize how good your lights are until you drive a car without them.

I don't feel as safe driving at night in a car with halogens anymore. I've spoiled myself

Sent from my Nexus 4