D.I.Y 7TH Gen Civic VTi H.I.D Projector Retrofit

[Sixstring]

Step 04: Installing Projectors

Okay now the fun begins. The main objective is to make room for projectors to fit into the halogen housing.

Step 4.1: Halogen Cutoff (alignment reference)

It’s best to put a halogen bulb in the Chrome reflector first and trace the aim of your halogen cutoff. This will help in aiming the projectors later on. Just place the chrome reflector on a flat table about 20 ft from a wall, place a bulb, energize it using a 12volts battery or computer power supply (like I did) and trace the cutoff . Just make sure that the location of chrome reflector is marked on the table so that when you come back with Projector fitted, your reference points remains the same. Shown below

Halogen Cutoff LHD

Step 4.2: Chrome Cutting

Now, its time for cutting. The projectors should be placed as far back in the headlights as possible. Carefully measure the maximum depth of the Chrome housing and projector and with reference to the projector diameter trace an outline using permanent marker onto the chrome housing like this:

Step 4.2.1: Using Cutting tool on Drill Machine

Cutting can be carried out by either a cutting bit on top of a drill like this

Step 4.2.2: Using Dremal Tool

Or by using a dremal tool

Now you should have enough room to slide the projector inside. Make sure you double check for clearances again like this

[Sixstring]

Step 4.3: Projector Securing

Projectors can be secured by using one of these methods or any other method that you can come up with

Step 4.3.1 The Silicone Way

If carried out carefully, the projector will be very secure. Because this could be an irreversible process once the high temperature silicone dries (4hrs), so make sure your projectors are perfectly aligned before it dries. Your projector in the housing should be secured a thin line of Silicone on the back of the projectors first like this

And than carefully slide all the way back into the reflective chrome housing

The heat of HIDs will help drying up the silicone faster.

Keep the HID lights lit up to compare Projector cutoff with Halogen cutoff.

Once alignment is correct, be liberal in applying more silicone and let the silicone set for minimum 4-6hrs or for best results overnight.

[Sixstring]

Step 4.3.2 The Screws Way

This is comparatively less complex but the holes for the screws have to be drilled in the Chrome housing. Take your time and measure twice before drilling.
The benefit of this method is you can continue to align projectors even after they have been secured by adjusting one screw at a time. Your housing should look like this

Adding springs on top of the screws will help keep the projector under constant compression and can take bumps and pot holes easily without upsetting the alignment

Check for alignment

Secure the bolts at the ends with Loctite or silicone once the alignment is correct as discussed above.

[Shicks]

Hats off Bro ..... Nice DIY !!

[Sixstring]

@Sardarsaeed
Right on bro! I will b informing bout the MH1 but i reckon the elementary stuff has to be made public. (plus i still have reservations bout uneducated usage of BI-X on our roads, u know wa i mean)

and this is expected from aftermarket bulbs, one has color shifted before the other, and thats exactly why im going for TSX or MD2S for GLi,

OEM bulbs yummm..

[Sixstring]

Step Five: Aiming Headlights on Car

Final aiming before resealing the headlights should be done with lights mounted on the car

Optional Step: Black Out low beam

Another option is to black out the low beam chrome bowl using high temperature paint while covering the high beam bowl with painters tape

[daniyalahmad]

Excellent!
Loving the cutoff line.
Hats off.

[Sixstring]

Step Six: Install Shroud (Cover)
Shroud can be installed using silicone as well as screws depending upon selection.

Time to be creative and make sum of your own!

[Sixstring]

Step Seven: Resealing Headlights
Reverse the procedure of taking headlights apart and start putting it back together

Now it’s time to put the lens back on, but before you do that, take a soft cloth and wipe down the reflective housing and the projector. The projector might have fingerprints or dirt on it and you would want to get it out before you seal the headlight. After you wipe it down, use compressed air, to blow any other dust off.
When you have finished that, then put the lens on, make sure you line it up perfectly

Now it’s time to heat the glue up again. You could do this by putting it back into the oven for a few minutes, then pushing them together or using clamps to bring the pieces together.

You could also use a heat gun and heat little sections at a time, making sure you move the heat gun and the clamps.

Put the rubber seals back on, trimmed as necessary

[sardarsaeed]

@Sardarsaeed
Right on bro! I will b informing bout the MH1 but i reckon the elementary stuff has to be made public. (plus i still have reservations bout uneducated usage of BI-X on our roads, u know wa i mean)

and this is expected from aftermarket bulbs, one has color shifted before the other, and thats exactly why im going for TSX or MD2S for GLi,

OEM bulbs yummm..

If ur gonna buy spare used headlight's for the gli, only then go for the tsx projectors, otherwise stick with the Mini's (i'd stay with H1's), and i would say that u get FX-R's rather than TSX.. Love their beam pattern, excellent low and high...
Btw which bulbs are u using in the projectors?? I'm using morimoto 4300K bulbs in my civic in the low beam with 35w morimoto ballasts ( dont hate me ).. The cutoff is not good at all but far better than the normal hid kit's, the glare is almost negligible.. Retrofit karnay ki himmat nai parhti.. Jab sochta hoon karnay ka, "agar wapas setting sahi na kar saka" soch k ruk jaata hoo :P...

[Sixstring]

Final Step: Finished & Mounted Pictures

Enjoy your ride!

[Sixstring]

@Sardarsaeed

I will definitely be doing next retro on a spare OEM set of GLi headlights and probably with color moded TSX cause i got 02 pairs lying wid me.
I can import MH1 or FXR but mini wins handsdown with the ease of installation.

As for bulbs they are generic replicas not morimotos or even philips/Osram. its a hit or miss in one of these. usually no two bulbs are exactly the same.

Your setup seems reasonable but you HAVE TO try and go for a retro. Just take one step at a time and enjoy the process, im sure youll be able to do it. Dont think bout "point of no return" cause you will complete it before you know it. Trust me. And if nothing else you can always get a refurbished, cheap spare set of lights or just one light to test your skills and iron out any potential problems, u know " jhaaka khul jai ga" LoL

In my view, may b cause i drive on highways and motorways a lot, improved vision is possibly the best investment a person can make to enjoy and have a comparatively safer journey. REtro is the OnLY way to achieve that. My 0.02

[margallar]

best thing is that the headlamps look like they were always like that, the aftermarket ones are really trash, its surprising how well they fit in

[mwm749]

Dear @Sixstring,

You have mentioned that you have 1 set of spare projectors, pl confirm that they will fit corolla 2010?. If so I would be interested to buy the spare set from you. I am in Lahore. My cell is 0300-8411800.

[usmanulamin]

very very difficult project ... greatly done ...

[Sixstring]

Thanks a lot guys for your kind words of appreciation

@Margallar
Your opinion bout after market projectors is spot on. I have observed it first hand that the light spread in those is absolutely crap and almost all of them are designed for halogen bulbs, even though the shopkeeper will insist that the light will improve with HiDs which it never will.
As for the finish look its best to use a replica shroud, which are purpose built shroud for retrofitting and replicating an OEM shroud. The shroud will cover every thing you have done at the back reflector while giving it an OEM look.
Nice!

[JBL]

nice work bro

[fahdlovespak]

MASHALLAH....very nice work

[mrhaseebali]

a very great effort bro must say....can dis be done for head lamps with H4 bulb fitting ?

[Sixstring]

Hi guys

I had to do some adjustments to the projector so took em off. while doing that i changed the shroud with a different design that covers more area and looks better IMO. here are some pics thought i'd share