Morimoto projector headlight conversion

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Just to add a little extra info to the mix TheRetrofitSource.com sells a budget version of their Morimoto Mini H1 that they sell for $40 for a set of projectors and they include a set of mini gatling shrouds with the projectors for free. Matt (the owner of TRS) says they are a replica of the Morimoto Mini H1 and while the quality is just slightly less than their Morimotos, they are still great projectors and they rarely have a problem with them. The Morimoto projectors are also removed from the box and hand tested and tuned by the TRS guys, but the budget H1s are sent to you as is. I can vouch for the budget mini H1 they are fantastic projectors. So if the $350 price tag for a full bi-xenon set-up from TRS is still a little out of your budget, then call them up and ask for the Mini H1 full kit but with the budget projectors and your price should be about $270, with angel eyes then its $295.

Also I would like to add that I am aware that me running the Morimoto 5Five ballasts instead of the recommended 3Five ballasts I am going to more than likely overheat my projectors. I talked with the guys at TRS about this and they assured me that the only negative side affect of the excessive heat would be that the "chrome" reflective surface of the bowl will start to bubble and peel after maybe a year to two years. They said that more than likely I may not even notice it since the aluminum metal surface of the bowl underneath the "chrome" is also quite reflective. They asked if my projectors are removable from the housing which I told them they are I built them so I could remove them in-case something happened to them and they needed to be removed and they said then I shouldn't worry about it at all because I could always replace the bowls if it became a problem and the bowls are extremely cheap. They also said that I have the best chance of getting the longest life out of them before there could ever be a problem since I am running the Morimoto ballasts which are a very high quality ballast and actually run at 50 watts and not 55, and I have some very nice XB bulbs so the two combined shouldn't produce as much heat as some other low quality bulbs and ballasts. Also the back of my housings (I bought them second hand but I am guessing they are made by Rampage since they look identical to them) are made out of aluminum instead of plastic so I am hoping that since the bowls and housings are touching that they might help absorb and disperse some of the heat, but that is just wishful thinking haha.

So if you are going with the mini H1s and don't want to ever fool with them again then go with the 35 watt ballasts and make sure to get a good quality set like the Morimotos because Matt said they have even seen some really cheap 35 watt ballasts and bulbs cause enough heat to ruin the bowls. But if you do not mind changing the bowls out later on down the road then run the Morimoto 5Five ballasts and you will have some insane lighting!

wanaB4x4 when Urban Yan said show pictures he meant of a finished product not just some unopened housings and projectors sitting next to each other. If you think you can make it all fit under the glass lens without cutting the back of the housing then lets see it! I tried using the H4 adapter ring that comes with the projectors and mounted them and they stuck way too far out atleast an inch if not more. But if you know some trick to make it work then please show us!
 
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Ben, I agree with everything you said above. The brightest, and I mean BRIGHTEST setup I have ever seen was a pair of LS430 projectors in a Lexus GS that had boosted them to 55 watts. It was an unbelievable amount of light. But like previously mentioned, it takes it's toll. The guy had replaced the bowls before, after 18 months if I remember correctly. He said you won't notice until you take them out and put the new bowls in and realize how much dimmer the bubbled ones were. So to each their own, with brightness comes sacrifice.

I'll second the "economy grade" Morimoto H1's as well. I have one in my GSXR headlight. There's tons of threads online that you can use to tweak them to perfection. For $40 you absolutely can't beat them. I have a DDM (yuck) kit that I used to get the projectors setup how I wanted, but will me switching to another set of bulbs/ballasts before they go into full time use.

Lastly, there is NO WAY to fit an MH1 in a 7x6 housing without cutting, or a custom vacuum formed lens (like UbranYan's that stick out). Absolutely no way.
 
Ben, I agree with everything you said above. The brightest, and I mean BRIGHTEST setup I have ever seen was a pair of LS430 projectors in a Lexus GS that had boosted them to 55 watts. It was an unbelievable amount of light. But like previously mentioned, it takes it's toll. The guy had replaced the bowls before, after 18 months if I remember correctly. He said you won't notice until you take them out and put the new bowls in and realize how much dimmer the bubbled ones were. So to each their own, with brightness comes sacrifice.

I'll second the "economy grade" Morimoto H1's as well. I have one in my GSXR headlight. There's tons of threads online that you can use to tweak them to perfection. For $40 you absolutely can't beat them. I have a DDM (yuck) kit that I used to get the projectors setup how I wanted, but will me switching to another set of bulbs/ballasts before they go into full time use.

Lastly, there is NO WAY to fit an MH1 in a 7x6 housing without cutting, or a custom vacuum formed lens (like UbranYan's that stick out). Absolutely no way.

I have read on how to tune them to absolute perfection but honestly from where I was coming from before, I appreciate these so much right out of the box that there really is no reason for me to go through the trouble haha. Maybe one day if I get bored and just feel like tinkering. Yah I expect to have to replace the bowls in about 2 years. What I think I might do is go ahead and replace the bowls but take the old ones and either mechanically or chemically remove the rest of the chrome finish and then polish the aluminum so a near mirror finish or as close as I can get. Then when I need to replace the bowls again I'll try them out with just polished aluminum and see what the output is like. If they are good then I found the fix! If not, then I'll just get some more bowls. Like you said great output comes with a sacrifice.

Yah the Mini H1 will never fit without cutting but hey he thinks he can do it so I invite him to give it a try. Either he will learn like we have that it can't be done or he will show us up. Either way mine are done and I couldn't be happier!
 
WANAB4x4- do your bulbs fit inside the headlight housing? Can you show a picture of the bulb inside the headlight housing. Thanks.
 
Updated list and prices.

1-upgrade to SilverStar sealed beam bulbs $40-45
2-upgraded PUTCO H4 harness $25-40 and stock or SilverStar bulbs $40-45
3-upgraded harness $25-40 + H4 conversion headlights- Rampage $60 + bulbs or Autopal $40-45 + 50/55w bulbs $20-40
4-#3 + 55/100 or 90/100 H4 bulbs $20-40
5-HID bulbs with H4 conversion headlight housings $50-125 + PUTCO $25-40 + Rampage $60 or Autopal $40-45
6-HID Projectors and bulbs in H4 conversion headlight housings and PUTCO harness ?$300-350
7-Morimoto budget projectors $275-295 + H4 conversion headlight housings $40-60 + PUTCO $25-40
8-LED by Truck-lite $500pr + PUTCO harness $25-40
9-Jeep Commander headlights $500+
 
Updated list and prices.

1-upgrade to SilverStar sealed beam bulbs $40-45
2-upgraded PUTCO H4 harness $25-40 and stock or SilverStar bulbs $40-45
3-upgraded harness $25-40 + H4 conversion headlights- Rampage $60 + bulbs or Autopal $40-45 + 50/55w bulbs $20-40
4-#3 + 55/100 or 90/100 H4 bulbs $20-40
5-HID bulbs with H4 conversion headlight housings $50-125 + PUTCO $25-40 + Rampage $60 or Autopal $40-45
6-HID Projectors and bulbs in H4 conversion headlight housings and PUTCO harness ?$300-350
7-Morimoto budget projectors $275-295 + H4 conversion headlight housings $40-60 + PUTCO $25-40
8-LED by Truck-lite $500pr + PUTCO harness $25-40
9-Jeep Commander headlights $500+

No need to add the Putco harness for the mini H1 setup. TRS includes an upgraded Hi/Low harness in their kit for the $275, which I actually just checked their site and currently they are advertising $270 for the full Mini H1 setup!
 
Thanks-

Updated list and prices.

1-upgrade to SilverStar sealed beam bulbs $40-45
2-upgraded PUTCO H4 harness $25-40 and stock or SilverStar bulbs $40-45
3-upgraded harness $25-40 + H4 conversion headlights- Rampage $60 + bulbs or Autopal $40-45 + 50/55w bulbs $20-40
4-#3 + 55/100 or 90/100 H4 bulbs $20-40
5-HID bulbs with H4 conversion headlight housings $50-125 + PUTCO $25-40 + Rampage $60 or Autopal $40-45
6-HID Projectors and bulbs in H4 conversion headlight housings and PUTCO harness ?$300-350
7-Morimoto mini H1 projectors $270-295(AE) + H4 conversion headlight housings $40-60
8-LED by Truck-lite $500pr + PUTCO harness $25-40
9-Jeep Commander headlights $500+
 
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If you watch eBay, you can find Commander halogen housings for not all that much.

Such as this set:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/06-09-COMMA...pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

This puts the housings in you hands for under $200 including shipping. It is on my list of things to do... They show up all the time, pairs of housings, new. For me, I'll start with a new to me front header so as to preserve my original part.

Just wish the projector housing weren't so bloody spendy. Here is a link for a fairly typical comparison:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2009-2010-J...pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

As much as I would like to go that way, it is out of my league. And, that price, above, is for one side only...
 
Im doing some beta testing for Truck-lite's LED plug and play headlight. I will start a new thread shortly with the pictures and LUX comparisons from a stock halogen.

In short, they are phenomenal.

IMG_20120416_093105.jpg


IMG_20120416_093053.jpg
 
Not Morimoto's. Still have to do some work and testing. Not ready for prime time just yet. Soon.
 
For the love of humanity, please tell me you're not doing an ACTUAL retro with garbage eBay projectors?? I like what you're doing here, but to me this would be the equivalent of doing all the work involved in a big brake kit, and then buying some 10 year old brake fluid at your neighbors garage sale.
 
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