How to Retrofit Projector Headlights to Your Car
A projector headlight retrofit involves adding HID or LED projectors into reflector-based headlights. This typically requires opening the headlights, removing their original reflector, and replacing them with new projectors, shutters, and lenses.
HID bulbs are a popular upgrade, as they provide brighter light and last longer than halogen bulbs. However, they must be installed into a projector headlight housing designed for them to work properly.
Reflector
When it comes to upgrading your car’s headlights, there are few options better than projectors. These headlights feature thick concave mirrors combined with magnifying lenses to project light onto the road, and they can make your ride look more sleek and sophisticated. They also improve your visibility by reducing headlight glare for other drivers on the road.
Depending on your needs, you can choose from several types of projector headlights. Some are designed to work with retrofit projector headlights halogen bulbs, while others can be fitted with HID or LED lights. The type of headlight you choose will depend on your vehicle and your driving habits.
Before you decide on a headlight upgrade, check your vehicle’s owner manual to find out what kind of bulb it uses. You may also want to visit a specialist car store to see what they recommend. If you’re looking for a plug-and-play solution, we recommend Morimoto’s XB LED headlights. They’re a great choice for most vehicles and come with a 5-year warranty.
If you’re ready for a more involved upgrade, consider a set of GTR Lighting projector headlights. These are a good middle ground between the high-performance Morimoto XB LED and the budget-friendly Alpharex. They use a different style of projector that produces more foreground lighting than the XB Hybrid but still provides an excellent upgrade.
Lens
The lens in a projector headlight is designed to evenly disperse the light that has been shaped and directed by the elliptical reflector and shutter. This feature helps to reduce the glare that can blind oncoming traffic, while still producing a bright and clear road for drivers.
Choosing the right projector lens depends on your vehicle, budget, and desired performance. There are a number of different options to choose from, including halogen, HID, and LED. Each type of bulb produces a slightly different output, and each will require a specific lens to operate correctly.
When choosing a headlight, look for a brand that puts quality and performance first. Companies like Morimoto, GTR Lighting, and Alpharex are among the best in the industry. They offer a variety of high-performance bi-xenon and bi-led projectors that are engineered specifically for retrofitting headlights.
After installing a new projector, it is important to periodically clean the lenses to keep them looking like new. The use of a mild degreaser and water can help to retrofit projector headlights maintain optimal light output. Additionally, it is important to regularly inspect your headlights for signs of damage. Once you notice a problem, it is essential to repair or replace the headlight as soon as possible to avoid damage and potential safety hazards.
Projectors
A projector is the device that converts an incoming beam of light into a much larger, brighter image. A projector is built into the back of the headlight and can be found on cars like the BMW E46 or Ford Mustang. This is the most challenging type of retrofit because it involves opening up the headlight, removing the reflector internals, and cutting or trimming to fit the projector into place. This is the main reason why this style of retrofit is often more expensive than other options.
A common projector option is the bi-xenon model, which has a cut-off shield that can be moved between low and high beam functionality. This allows the projector to produce a crisp and clean high beam pattern while also preventing glare for oncoming traffic.
For the best performance, look for a projector that is backed by a brand that puts quality first. Using cheap or knock-off projectors can ruin your nighttime driving experience, as they won’t have the same level of brightness as the best models.
Morimoto makes top-quality plug-and-play HID projectors for nearly every car on the market, and they even have a few kits that are designed for easy installs in your factory housings. If you’re looking for the ultimate headlight upgrade, you can’t go wrong with a set of Morimoto XB LED or XB hybrid projectors.
Shrouds
Shrouds, or bezels, are the plastic pieces that cover the projector in the headlight. These help to keep the halo effect from looking too bright and giving your vehicle an ugly look. These can be trimmed to fit the projector and headlight housing. They also can be painted to match your car’s paint job or to get a unique, customized look.
There are a lot of different types of shrouds available, but it’s important to choose one that fits your projector and headlight lens. Some are designed to be used with specific bulb sizes. For example, some are designed to work with H1 Xenon bulbs and won’t fit other bulb sizes. You may need to trim your shrouds to make them fit properly. This is usually a simple task and can be done with a Dremel tool with EZ Lock cutting wheels.
Lastly, you can add LED halos to your shrouds to further customize your retrofit headlights. These are a great way to add more style to your headlights and can even act as sequential turn signals. There are also front halo options that can be hidden within the shroud to give your lights a more stealthy look.
A good quality ROYALIN shroud is made of high-grade thermoplastics with certain elastic force. This helps them to resist deformation and perform well in the long run. In addition, the shrouds are finished with chrome electroplating in an omniseal environment to keep their color for a long time and resist flaking.