Anyone tried retrofit projector lights?

[robthebubble]

I'll be watching this thread later to see if you've put up the photos. I'll be ordering my HIDs today so that I can get the ball rolling with mine as my projector lenses have arrived! Just need to get some shrouds and away I go....although as previously mentioned you'll be 80 once it's done!

 

[TarekElsakka]

Well I received a call from the guy and he told me he wouldn't be able to finish both of them on time, as in now, but he'll finish them tomorrow afternoon for sure. I was pretty upset, to be honest, because I hate it when people give a word and not keep it, that is just too unprofessional for my taste but then again I know how hard and delicate this process is and if it's not done right, then I'm screwed, so I'll force myself to be patient and wait. Hopefully the outcome will meet my very high expectations.

 

[robthebubble]

Well don't be angry with me if you're only 81 when I get mine done!

Look forward to the photos....assuming he's taken them through the process!

 

[robthebubble]

Well I received a call from the guy and he told me he wouldn't be able to finish both of them on time, as in now, but he'll finish them tomorrow afternoon for sure. I was pretty upset, to be honest, because I hate it when people give a word and not keep it, that is just too unprofessional for my taste but then again I know how hard and delicate this process is and if it's not done right, then I'm screwed, so I'll force myself to be patient and wait. Hopefully the outcome will meet my very high expectations.

Any news on this?

 

[TarekElsakka]

It's 4 o clock now and I am supposed to meet up with him at 6 and install the head light units. I have very high hopes that he'll not cancel on me or anything. lol.. I am literally on the edge of my seat waiting for time to pass by. How lame is that?

 

[robthebubble]

I can imagine!...will have a look later this evening once you have uploaded the photos!

 

[TarekElsakka]

I am still at the shop waiting for the professional to come and install the head light units but here's a quick, crappy photo of the unit while it's in the trunk.

Don't know if you can see it since I'm uploading this from my BlackBerry but here is a direct link without the image code:

http://imageshack.us/a/img696/3192/img2012092700001.jpg

One lens, two rings. Probably either going to remove the sidelight bulb or install the LED one, I don't see a use for any sidelight bulbs with the rings there, though. I'm really loving the retrofit, honestly in reality they look so much better, and I'll see if I can borrow a good camera and take pictures later while they're on at night and off in the morning. The only downside is that the glue/sealant is very apparent except when you close the hood, I believe it could have been sealed better. But nonetheless, it's a very nice and welcomed change. What do you think? He said he'd send me a couple of pictures of the installation process when he goes home. I'll also update on how things workout, in terms of connecting the rings and lsenses and any errors on the dashboard (hopefully not, though).

 

[robthebubble]

Looks good!...I've just ordered some shrouds and I think they are the same as yours! Would like some side photos to see hoe it sits in the reflector and also how it's connected up. What projectors did he use...I presume we will see them when he sends the photos. Also, do the electronic headlight adjusters still work with the projectors?

Looks really good...hope you will enjoy them!

 

[TarekElsakka]

Thank you very much, Rob. I actually just got back (2:23 AM).. spent about 3 and a half hours at the shop installing the head lights, doing some rewiring, etc. for the rings.

They are an absolutely beauty, although not without their faults.

1) For some reason the left bulb (or lens, not sure) is pretty screwed up in terms of sideways alignment. When I cover up the left lens and look at the right one, it has a nice clean cut off line in front of the car, whereas when I cover the right lens, I can see that the left one is sort of pointing right wards or something.. it's just not as good. I took a couple of pictures of the beam alignment issue, here they are:

2) The left bulb is a bit yellowish whereas the right one is pure white (6000K). They both have the same code and came in the same kit, but I'm going to give the guy a call and have him give me replacements and see.

3) There are four small devices that are used to connect the four rings to the sidelight wire, one of these devices is not working therefore the ring of the left lens isn't working; I'll have him give me a replacement device tomorrow. I wanted to make sure the ring itself is working so I tried switching devices with the right ring's one and it worked fine.

4) There are two errors on the dashboard that say: "Check left low beam" and "Check right low beam". The beams are working fine but I'm guessing I'd have to do the battery-restart trick or something which supposedly clears errors? OR would I have to use VCDS to clear them? I don't have a VAG-COM cable and don't know anyone who does, and I don't know if I can ask the SEAT dealership to do that for me.

All in all, I'm very, very happy with the change. The head light units when powered up look absolutely beautiful, although I did not really take pictures of them lit up on my car because when I reached home my phone was already dead! I really hope the alignment problem (tried allen key and stuff, no use) is because of the left bulb, which is also different in color than the right one, rather than the left lens itself because then I'll have to give him the head light and that will suck!!!!!!

By the way, the electronic adjustment works just fine. And ugh.. there's a small gap between the shroud and the dipped beam reflector, but it's not noticeable except when you get close to the unit and it's not lit up.

 

[TarekElsakka]

Oh and I forgot to say.. you can actually "flash" using the projector lenses. They use H4 bulbs and are connected in a way in which when you flash the high beam, the lenses actually flash as well.

 

[robthebubble]

Looks good and there are always going to be a few issues but as long as the chap sorts them out. As for the VCDs, you can get a copy from eBay for £20GBP and that will clear the faults.

I like the angel eyes, are these the standard single LED at the bottom or a load of smd's in a row? Get those other photos up as I want to see them in closer detail!

Not sure I understand how they flash with the main beam...some wiring trick?

 

[TarekElsakka]

Thank you very much, Rob. I'm going to check eBay for those VCDS cables you're talking about. I'm assuming they are the ones that I shouldn't update or they'd malfunction, right? And ugh.. are they easy to use? Where do you connect the cable in the car? And what if after I clear the errors it comes back every time I start the car or something?

As for the rings, I am not absolutely sure but I think they are a load of SMDs in a row because when the ring in the right head light unit failed because of the faulty connector, it didn't absolutely go black but a couple of SMDs were working then they all just shut down.

The lens has a wire that lets it flash together with the high beam, however only when lights are set to level 2 (as in sidelights and rear lights are working), but in level 3 (when dipped beam is activated) only the high beam flashes. Do you get what I mean? I could take a video of what I mean later on if you'd like. And yes, it's a matter of rewiring the wire coming from the lens into the main plug that plugs into the left head light unit and then connecting a wire to the fuse box. It's a very complicated process in general, ESPECIALLY connecting the four rings.

Here are a couple of pictures which don't do them justice, to be honest with you:

It's a long, tiring, complicated, and at times annoying process of conversion, but let me tell you, it's well worth it in the end. I keep getting compliments on them from friends and family.

 

[bigbadjay]

THIS IS SIIICK. how have i missed this! All pics so far look exactly how i want them too look!! Much better looking than oem. Infact standard reflectors in my opinion look better than oem xenon (apart from the light power/colour itself!)

I can answer afew wiring questions, firstly led rings, just tapped into sidelight bulb, as long as the origonal stays on, it wont error.
As for main beam flash, there should be a little shutter that lets more light out that covers up a section of the bulb. I think im right in saying this is activated in vag com. Hence bixenon (2 xenon functions, one bulb

Cannot wait to see what these babies can do

 

[Deleted member 74601]

So yeah, when one of you guys figure out how to make a set, put me down for some

 

[TarekElsakka]

THIS IS SIIICK. how have i missed this! All pics so far look exactly how i want them too look!! Much better looking than oem. Infact standard reflectors in my opinion look better than oem xenon (apart from the light power/colour itself!)

I can answer afew wiring questions, firstly led rings, just tapped into sidelight bulb, as long as the origonal stays on, it wont error.
As for main beam flash, there should be a little shutter that lets more light out that covers up a section of the bulb. I think im right in saying this is activated in vag com. Hence bixenon (2 xenon functions, one bulb

Cannot wait to see what these babies can do

Thank you very much, mate! The rings are working fine, no errors whatsoever, thank God. I don't know know what is causing the low beam errors exactly, but I have a feeling it's the rewiring he made in order for the lenses to flash with the high beam (four bulbs at once). So are you saying I'd need to activate the Bi-xenon feature in vag-com in order to clear the error? If so, I'm definitely down for that and will hopefully order the cable by tomorrow morning, when I put funds in my internet card. Is there any danger to the power supply now that there is an error on the dashboard or any sort of danger to the car at all? The reason I am asking is that it will take at least two weeks for the cable to arrive from the UK to Egypt, so during that time I'll be driving with errors.

I'm going to see if I can record a video using my Dad's iPhone 4S when he comes back as it has a much better camera than my Bold 9900. The problem with the rings is that they do not appear on camera at night at all, they're just too bright for the lens I suppose, that's why I took pictures in the morning as recommended by the guy who did the retrofit for me. I just truly hope the alignment issue is fixed with the left lens' bulb because it's truly annoying me.

 

[robthebubble]

I think the cable should clear the faults and won't come back (don't quote me on that!...put a noe on the Vag Com section!). As for the eBay cable, as long as your laptop is not connected to the net you will be fine otherwise it will get 'fried' when trying to update! Plugging it in is easy...USB to laptop and just under the headlight switch is a panel which pops off...there is a cable port there for the other end of the VCDs cable.

I think your lenses are the nuts...don't know if the high beam flash is causing the issues? My retrofit will be slightly different as I will be just using projector style lenses with HIDs. I'll also put in a couple of the SMD angel eyes like you have but I may have the come on with just the side lights. As long as the smd's are canbus friendly it should be fine. Just waiting for the HIDs and shrouds to arrive then I can crack on!

Can you take a photo from the side showing how the shroud connects to the reflector etc. would like to see that before I start mine!

 

[bigbadjay]

Activating bixenon should cancel out the old main beam(of you had one now!) Its obvious hes wired in the old main beam. As theres no seperate bulb (now shutter) it will error. Also he should have checked the ballasts didnt show errors by trial fitting.

Soooo anyone got a spare set of headlights lying around?? I promise ill pass them on again!!

While the headlight casing is off, we could install custom led strips/bars (leon mk3style or any other preffered)

 

[robthebubble]

Just bought some headlights to do the retrofit...£60...bargain! Already to my K1 vent DRLs so don't want to over do the DRLs!

 

[bigbadjay]

Great where from??! I saw a set like yours on a leon last week very nice!

 

[TarekElsakka]

I just got back. My rings do come on only when the sidelights are activated, not DRL or anything. I paid the guy a visit and he adjusted only the bulb and this is the outcome:

With high beam activated:

I think it looks much, much better than before and almost good enough for my taste. I'm just thinking I should use the allen key to raise the projectors a little bit, what do you think?

By the way, is this the port you're talking about?

And here are a couple of quick photos of how the shroud and lens are sitting in the reflector:

Is that what you were looking for?


@bigbadjay, I believe the ballasts are fine since they have decoders connected to them and also since the bulbs they are connected to are working fine as well. I don't think I'd want to activate that code in VAG-COM, then, because I don't want to disable my main beam bulbs; although they're halogen, they're still very, very nice (Osram Nightbreaker Plus).