Getting my hands dirty with the M Headlight moddin...

[mr_luv]

Well when I got the car I swore I wasnt going to do much with the car, Same thing I said when I had my Subaru Legacy.
Well I broke down and cant stop, after getting wheels that will due for now until I get my suspension and exterior aesthetics. So I felt the M's headlights were totally slacking in the visual and looks department. So I got a set off ebay and craigslist for a good price to tear apart and experiment with. Heres what I have so far:




Painted them simi flat and doesnt look to good so gonna get that paint off good ol paint thinner to the rescue.
Added a set of mini morimoto projectors to the high beam area for that good ol quad projector look. Tore down the main projector to see if I can make it into a bixenon ASF as well. Thats all for now more to come later on.... Thanks for looking.

[a.blanco0905]

Looks great man...

[mcrews]

Very nice!
I hang uot at hidplanet.com. they are really into the retro.
I also painted the inside of my lamps. I was trying for the black-chrome look.




post up if you get the bi-xeon (hi & low) working.

[DoN_BLaZe34]

I want BADLY to mod my headlights but I don't want to void my warranty so I'll likely wait until it's expired...I had an TL bixenon retro'd on my previous car...


Anyway I think a glossy black would like nicer than the matte. I like what you've done so far though!

[CPJ LB]

looks good...

just curious, was it difficult to remove the entire headlight lens cover???

I figure, if you have the entire lens cover off, it'll be a good time to smoke that amber side piece...right?? I want to badly smoke that piece, but not sure of the process to remove the lens cover...

[mcrews]

taking it about is difficult. AND putting it back together so it is sealed is tougher. Mine didn't seal and I had moisture inside. THEN the mositure caused 'hard water spots' on the inside. I had to sand down the inside........arrrgh

[The Bodyguard]

looks good...

just curious, was it difficult to remove the entire headlight lens cover???

I figure, if you have the entire lens cover off, it'll be a good time to smoke that amber side piece...right?? I want to badly smoke that piece, but not sure of the process to remove the lens cover...

I think that clear amber lens is not amber.....it's just the light bulb! I read on an older thread that a member changed his bulb to clear looking bulbs that light up amber so when they're off they look uniform clear with the headlights......

[sunoco]

Well when I got the car I swore I wasnt going to do much with the car, Same thing I said when I had my Subaru Legacy.
Well I broke down and cant stop, after getting wheels that will due for now until I get my suspension and exterior aesthetics. So I felt the M's headlights were totally slacking in the visual and looks department. So I got a set off ebay and craigslist for a good price to tear apart and experiment with. Heres what I have so far:




Painted them simi flat and doesnt look to good so gonna get that paint off good ol paint thinner to the rescue.
Added a set of mini morimoto projectors to the high beam area for that good ol quad projector look. Tore down the main projector to see if I can make it into a bixenon ASF as well. Thats all for now more to come later on.... Thanks for looking.

looks good...

just curious, was it difficult to remove the entire headlight lens cover???

I figure, if you have the entire lens cover off, it'll be a good time to smoke that amber side piece...right?? I want to badly smoke that piece, but not sure of the process to remove the lens cover...

I think that clear amber lens is not amber.....it's just the light bulb! I read on an older thread that a member changed his bulb to clear looking bulbs that light up amber so when they're off they look uniform clear with the headlights......

I think hes talking about the amber piece on the far left of headlight in the first picture.....def not just a bulb....

[Ilya]

If I had it taken apart the way you did...I would see if an Acura TL Bi-Xenon will fit in place of the M. That is an AMAZING projector (along with a ZKW or ZKW-R clear lens) and WAY better than the OEM junk Infiniti uses. I miss the retro I had on the Maxima.

Or...if it's too big...try an FX-R projector or TSX-R from TheRetrofitSource.com.

[mr_luv]

Any of the above can fit, but you may loose your asf feature. The M Projector is pretty darn good for a single xenon unit...

If I had it taken apart the way you did...I would see if an Acura TL Bi-Xenon will fit in place of the M. That is an AMAZING projector (along with a ZKW or ZKW-R clear lens) and WAY better than the OEM junk Infiniti uses. I miss the retro I had on the Maxima.

Or...if it's too big...try an FX-R projector or TSX-R from TheRetrofitSource.com.

[EniGmA1987]

Once you take the whole housing apart how do you reseal the light back together and maintain its seal against water and moisture?

[mr_luv]

My method is take a lighter to burn off any lint or derbies in the channel of the lens and housing, then push them together, bake for 10-15 mins pull out the oven screw in the screws to seal the housing, then bake for another 10-15 mins squeeze together by hand to press them together to close them. No rushing here take your time to do it right and cleanly if you get goo on the lens its ok use googone to clean it off, oh and have oven set at 225deg 25-30 mins depending on the oven and 225deg 10-15 per step to close and seal lamp.

Once you take the whole housing apart how do you reseal the light back together and maintain its seal against water and moisture?

[Ilya]

Any of the above can fit, but you may loose your asf feature. The M Projector is pretty darn good for a single xenon unit...

If I had it taken apart the way you did...I would see if an Acura TL Bi-Xenon will fit in place of the M. That is an AMAZING projector (along with a ZKW or ZKW-R clear lens) and WAY better than the OEM junk Infiniti uses. I miss the retro I had on the Maxima.

Or...if it's too big...try an FX-R projector or TSX-R from TheRetrofitSource.com.

It's still no Tl, TSX-R, S2K, or FX-R projector. The cutoff in the OEM M projector is hardly sharp. I've had better (Liar Liar lol).

[mr_luv]

Instock form the only ones that are actually amazing are the (R) & the S2K projectors and only the AP1 versions of the S2K that were the beezneez, The (R) projectors were versions of the lackluster stock projectors that were tweeked to maximize the fullest potential of them. So OEM to OEM only nod I will give to greatness are the AP1-S2K & TSX the rest needed cut off tweeking lens spacing or swaps to achieve greatness. So when I get done Tweeking spacing trimming my OEM MProjectors they will trumpt the above mentioned with the added bonus of Bixenon greatness....
I knows my lights lol...

It's still no Tl, TSX-R, S2K, or FX-R projector. The cutoff in the OEM M projector is hardly sharp. I've had better (Liar Liar lol).

[Ilya]

I disagree to a degree (lol). My first retrofit was a TL non-lens-swapped setup and it was sharper than the M IMO a decent amount. My second retrofit that I ran on the Maxima was a TL with replica/knockoff ZKW lens and it was CRAZY sharp compared to the M's OEM cutoff. Bottom line...compared to a stock Acura TL (such as my brothers 08), the M lights are lacking.

Not only is the cutoff better, but the TL projector has a MUCH wider output area. Like an extra lane. Not to mention bi-xenon capability. No clue why Infiniti didn't go bi-xenon. Lucky you for being able to add that feature.

Like I said. It's (the M projector) not bad...compared to say, some of the basic projectors out there such as in the Hyndai Sonata or what not, but it's no where NEAR the level of performance of a stock TL projector or any of the other projectors I mentioned in OEM form or modded form. Infiniti could have done better is all I'm saying. After all, they do want to be taken seriously in this segment of premium luxury cars...don't they? They need to step their games up on the small details too.

First set (TL projector, E55 Shroud, No Clear Lens although I do think one side was slightly color modded):














Second set (TL projector, E36 Shroud, ZKW Replica Clear Lens, no other color modding):

[Ilya]

Either way, I give you props. Maybe when you're done you can provide some better details as to what parts were used (I'm mainly looking for sizes lol), how much the project ran approximately, if any cutting of the rear was required, etc. because...I may consider doing this myself lol.

Oh and...are you planning on making a harness to power the Mori? The reason I ask is because I ran HID's in the high beam and took them out because they were useless (by the time they warmed up, I didn't need them anymore). I had a harness made for my Maxima which put the ballasts into 'ready on' mode so even if I flipped my highs with my lights off, it wasn't hurting my ballasts as they were already on, etc. Just the bulb I guess.

[mr_luv]

True that, I will take some pix... But from what I am seeing it may not be worth the trouble to do it. Seems like its beyond what I am willing to work on in my basement lol, If I get my hands on a spare projector I will give it a college try other wise singles it will be with Bixenon aux/high beams.

Either way, I give you props. Maybe when you're done you can provide some better details as to what parts were used (I'm mainly looking for sizes lol), how much the project ran approximately, if any cutting of the rear was required, etc. because...I may consider doing this myself lol.

Oh and...are you planning on making a harness to power the Mori? The reason I ask is because I ran HID's in the high beam and took them out because they were useless (by the time they warmed up, I didn't need them anymore). I had a harness made for my Maxima which put the ballasts into 'ready on' mode so even if I flipped my highs with my lights off, it wasn't hurting my ballasts as they were already on, etc. Just the bulb I guess.

[mr_luv]

Heres the finished product. Just need to get wiring down to give the high beam normal low off and on with high trigger function.

I decided to go with simigloss black no fancy DRL just a OEM themed quad projector setup.

[mr_luv]

Heres the finished product. Just need to get wiring down to give the high beam normal low off and on with high trigger function.

I decided to go with simigloss black no fancy DRL just a OEM themed quad projector setup.

[Ilya]

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

I expect a write up on my desk in the AM. :P

[mr_luv]

LOL right up is trade secret lol cant have tons of quads popping up all of a sudden, Tho would love some ideas for DRL's other then the fake me out Audi bar and Iron man, both are played IMO need something new and sexy, Maybe Aston /Ferrari/ Lambo Water fall

[SIK L]

Just out of curiosity, why didn't you remove the outer amber lens while you were at it?

[EniGmA1987]

Not a DRL suggestion, but something I have been wanting to do lately is the same concept as the Audi LED bar under the light but get the LEDs in an amber color and wiring them up as your turn signal. That way they are only on when the blinker is on, it is the legal color, and no one else has it. IMO it would look pretty bad a$$


Also another along the lines of audi, some of us who enjoy that look but want something different get the same LED eyebrows type thing, but we mold them to our headlight shape. Instead of a simple little bar at the bottom, it would look like this:



and a couple more links to the few of us here who run a setup like that:
http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/minkara/n ... 573/p2.jpg
http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/minkara/n ... 573/p1.jpg
http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz32 ... AG0024.jpg
http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/minkara/p ... 299/p3.jpg

I get compliments on them all the time even from Audi people who wish their's looked like that

[Ilya]

LOL right up is trade secret lol cant have tons of quads popping up all of a sudden, Tho would love some ideas for DRL's other then the fake me out Audi bar and Iron man, both are played IMO need something new and sexy, Maybe Aston /Ferrari/ Lambo Water fall

Yo don't hate on the Iron Man lol. I know the guy at G35NYC who started it (I think) and when I was initially thinking of getting a G coupe I was going to get that done 110%. Love that look. Haha.

Regardless, sick setup. Makes me miss my retrofit.

[mr_luv]

I didnt like the look of the naked bulb there and way it looked with out the amber defuser kinda incomplete with the grooves of the reflector. Hope to find away to make a clear defuser one of these days.

Just out of curiosity, why didn't you remove the outer amber lens while you were at it?

[mr_luv]

I like yours and the 1st 2 links they seem to glow and kinda fade out. Im not really crazy about the outside installed light strips. I like them hiden you know picka boo, off cant see them on there they are but you cant see how they are installed. I might give that a spin next go around. On the next set of lights.

Not a DRL suggestion, but something I have been wanting to do lately is the same concept as the Audi LED bar under the light but get the LEDs in an amber color and wiring them up as your turn signal. That way they are only on when the blinker is on, it is the legal color, and no one else has it. IMO it would look pretty bad a$$


Also another along the lines of audi, some of us who enjoy that look but want something different get the same LED eyebrows type thing, but we mold them to our headlight shape. Instead of a simple little bar at the bottom, it would look like this:



and a couple more links to the few of us here who run a setup like that:
http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/minkara/n ... 573/p2.jpg
http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/minkara/n ... 573/p1.jpg
http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz32 ... AG0024.jpg
http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/minkara/p ... 299/p3.jpg

I get compliments on them all the time even from Audi people who wish their's looked like that

[mr_luv]

Oh man nah never the hater here lol, props to everyone doing there own thing to stand out ( when its done right ).
Heres my version of the Ironman when i did it last year. Those 180 guys are holding it down hats off to them. They have the G-Market locked down.

I am still trying to teach myself how to do LED's until then this is my method. I think it stayed more true to the ARC Reactor.

LOL right up is trade secret lol cant have tons of quads popping up all of a sudden, Tho would love some ideas for DRL's other then the fake me out Audi bar and Iron man, both are played IMO need something new and sexy, Maybe Aston /Ferrari/ Lambo Water fall

Yo don't hate on the Iron Man lol. I know the guy at G35NYC who started it (I think) and when I was initially thinking of getting a G coupe I was going to get that done 110%. Love that look. Haha.

Regardless, sick setup. Makes me miss my retrofit.

[Ilya]

Nice. Yeah, Igor and them 180* guys do good work for sure. Your setups look nice.

So, when you said 'next set'...are you going to sell this set? lol. What if I trade you my OEM lights for this set plus $250 or so. lol. I know, wishful thinking.

[mr_luv]

LOL if the M's were cheap lamps I sure would trade, or sell just not sure the price point since the MLamps are expensive. Not sure what I am going to do with the next setup. But Since I know what to do I can pump them out quicker lol hummm maybe a group buy LMAO... Wishes are ment to come true lol....

Nice. Yeah, Igor and them 180* guys do good work for sure. Your setups look nice.

So, when you said 'next set'...are you going to sell this set? lol. What if I trade you my OEM lights for this set plus $250 or so. lol. I know, wishful thinking.

[EniGmA1987]

Never seen that "Iron Man" thing before. Looks kinda cool. Definitely unique.