Notices
General Miata Chat A place to talk about anything Miata

Frog eyes HID conversion.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 25, 2012 | 05:01 AM
  #1  
benmiata's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 15
Total Cats: 0
Default Frog eyes HID conversion.

Hi,

Name is Ben, I want my first post to be worthy. I installed an Bi-Xenon HID. Let me know what you think. The whole process took me around an hour because running a wire from the battery to the engine bay was a little of a challenge for me.

Enjoy the pictures, Comments are welcome, I know this type of set up is not for everybody. Mind you that the lights still need to be adjusted (aiming at 10ft away instead of 20ft).

high beam lowbeam front lleft right front front
Attached Thumbnails Frog eyes HID conversion.-th_2e581a19.jpg   Frog eyes HID conversion.-th_e25fdbad.jpg   Frog eyes HID conversion.-th_87a40e80.jpg   Frog eyes HID conversion.-th_0f6bbe9e.jpg   Frog eyes HID conversion.-th_f03c759c.jpg  

Old May 25, 2012 | 08:04 AM
  #2  
skidude's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,023
Total Cats: 19
From: Outside Portland Maine
Default

That looks like a pretty good kit, do you have any info on it?
Old May 25, 2012 | 08:51 AM
  #3  
Braineack's Avatar
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 80,552
Total Cats: 4,368
From: Chantilly, VA
Default

I'm hypnotised. your wish is my command, master.
Old May 25, 2012 | 10:03 AM
  #4  
ianferrell's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 613
Total Cats: 3
From: Maumelle, AR
Default

Man... I saw a scion the other day with GREEN *** HIDs it was the afternoon and he had them on... Some people just like getting pulled over by the cops I guess... I don't get it.

(edit: just mentioned this cause it reminded me of it... not saying that you'll have this problem, or that getting HIDs is nonsensical)
Old May 25, 2012 | 10:56 AM
  #5  
dgmorr's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,446
Total Cats: 6
From: Toronto, ON
Default

It's Johnny 5.
Old May 25, 2012 | 11:31 AM
  #6  
MicaCeli's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 456
Total Cats: 6
From: Ellicott City, MD
Default

The look is not my cup of tea I bet visibility is much better.
Old May 25, 2012 | 11:37 AM
  #7  
benmiata's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 15
Total Cats: 0
Default

The light came from dapper lighting. They have the classic that fit nicely in to the oem location also. If I can get enough interest, I might be able to convince the company for a group buy.

Ian, it funny how you said that, I was driving around last night with a lot of cops patrolling the street and I had the light aiming at 25ft. I didn't have a problem w them because it doesn't blind on coming traffic. I adjusted back to 10ft so I can see what in front of me when I was running the hill.
Old May 25, 2012 | 02:01 PM
  #8  
Joe Perez's Avatar
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 34,402
Total Cats: 7,523
From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Default

Saw the thread title and thought "What, Boss Frog is making headlight conversions now?"



Looks like kind of an interesting setup. Are the headlights still capable of retracting down into the closed position? Any photos of the beam as projected against a wall? (Usually the easiest way to compare patterns)
Attached Thumbnails Frog eyes HID conversion.-chameleon.jpg  
Old May 25, 2012 | 03:12 PM
  #9  
benmiata's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 15
Total Cats: 0
Default

The down side is that it NOT retractable. It stick out from the original location by about 1" In order to retract, I have to trim the housing by an inch and what the fun in that?


http://www.dapperlighting.com/index.html ---> It where I bought mine.

Other model they offer
Attached Thumbnails Frog eyes HID conversion.-th_4658679.jpg   Frog eyes HID conversion.-th_3193472.jpg   Frog eyes HID conversion.-th_4845708.jpg  
Old May 25, 2012 | 06:31 PM
  #10  
Joe Mauch's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 63
Total Cats: 0
From: Renton, WA
Default

Any chance you can pull up to a large wall, like on the side of a grocery store, and take a pic with your car about 15ft from the wall? High and low beams.

Kinda specific, I know... but I was hoping to see the entire cutoff and light bleed.
Old May 25, 2012 | 06:50 PM
  #11  
Joe Perez's Avatar
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 34,402
Total Cats: 7,523
From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Default

On closer inspection, I'm not seeing a whole lot of difference between the 7" housings that these guys advertise and the ones with the plastic housings that you see on eBay for $30.

Same goes for the lamp itself, insofar as that it appears to use the sliding-sleeve design, rather than a shutter mechanism in the projector housing.

I'll reserve final judgement until some pattern-on-wall shots are posted.
Old May 27, 2012 | 12:54 AM
  #12  
kotomile's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,537
Total Cats: 42
From: Monterey, CA
Default

Oh man, would non-retractable headlights ever be a deal breaker for me...
Old May 27, 2012 | 05:36 AM
  #13  
benmiata's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 15
Total Cats: 0
Default

Here are the beams. Mind you that is still not adjusted yet.

Attached Thumbnails Frog eyes HID conversion.-th_188c43a7.jpg   Frog eyes HID conversion.-th_3e9a35db.jpg  
Old May 27, 2012 | 05:39 AM
  #14  
benmiata's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 15
Total Cats: 0
Default

Originally Posted by kotomile
Oh man, would non-retractable headlights ever be a deal breaker for me...
That why you would buy the other one (classic). I prefer the non-retractable because it remind me of Keroppi like this one http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile..._2670504_n.jpg
Old May 27, 2012 | 10:24 AM
  #15  
kotomile's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,537
Total Cats: 42
From: Monterey, CA
Default

Originally Posted by benmiata
That why you would buy the other one (classic). I prefer the non-retractable because it remind me of Keroppi like this one http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile..._2670504_n.jpg
Good counterpoint. I wouldn't be able to stand having those chameleon eyes on display permanently.

Unless they were frog eyes...then I'd rock 'em.

Attached Thumbnails Frog eyes HID conversion.-404917397120a05ff685b.jpg  
Old May 27, 2012 | 11:17 AM
  #16  
Braineack's Avatar
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 80,552
Total Cats: 4,368
From: Chantilly, VA
Default

Originally Posted by benmiata
The down side is that it NOT retractable.

That's a REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Y BIG downside.
Old May 27, 2012 | 12:28 PM
  #17  
Joe Perez's Avatar
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 34,402
Total Cats: 7,523
From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Default

Originally Posted by benmiata
Here are the beams. Mind you that is still not adjusted yet.

(pictures)
Gotcha.

Just for future reference, here's what the pattern from a projector headlamp is supposed to look like:



The hotspot in the center ideally shouldn't be there, but the key point is the sharp cutoff at the top and the relatively even dispersal of light across the width of the pattern.
Attached Thumbnails Frog eyes HID conversion.-ozsit.jpg  

Last edited by Joe Perez; May 27, 2012 at 05:59 PM.
Old May 27, 2012 | 02:09 PM
  #18  
benmiata's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 15
Total Cats: 0
Default

Ah crap, then I think I installed my upside down then. I'll reverse it and see what happen (still new at this) excuse me for my clumsiness
Old May 27, 2012 | 02:14 PM
  #19  
benmiata's Avatar
Thread Starter
Newb
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 15
Total Cats: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Joe Perez
Gotcha.

Just for future reference, here's what the pattern from a projector headlamp is supposed to look like:



The hotspot in the center ideally shouldn't be there, but the key point is the sharp cutoff at the top.

Thanks! for pointing it out and for the sample pictures
Old May 27, 2012 | 02:57 PM
  #20  
turotufas's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,304
Total Cats: 7
From: Gainesville,Fl
Default

Those must be expensive. Least they could do is include a headlight surround thingy to accentuate its non retract ability. Enjoy!



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:32 AM.