SomDay

So my car came with Sonar lights. I checked tonight and they are aimed correctly although maybe a little to low. Problem is the low beams are junk, the high beams could burn down a forest.

I didn't pull them off yet but, looks like two ballasts per side, Xentec and probably the ones that came with the lights.

What are the options for the H1 low beams?

Has anyone retrofitted a better H1 projector into a set of these or perhaps even a LED H1 bulb?

Can I just ditch the Xentec ballast and get a better ballast/bulb setup for the projector?

If you have a set that work please post your setup and some pictures. TIA.

SomDay

Okay so I answered my own question. You can upgrade the sypder lights with an older H1 projector design from TRS. Google Retro-quick sypder lights.

I'm going to get some Depo lights and try some halogens, probably will wind up with some Morimoto mini H1 projectors.

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iTrader: (6)

Uh yep

VIP1

You found what I was going to suggest. Replace the projectors.

Also, Xentec ballasts and their bulbs tend to be weak. When you change the projectors, get new bulbs and ballasts too from a different brand. FastBright F3 ballasts are decent for a low price. As for bulbs, CNLight are decent for a low price as well, there are some other cheap but good options there as well, but I don't remember the brands.

SomDay

Thank you for the info. I picked up some Depo lights on Amazon and am going to try them with some 9005 and 9006 Halogens I already have from another car. Will most likely just install a mini projector setup in the Depo lights anyway. Would rather have good lights than a setup that looks cool but, doesn't work very well.

VIP1

If you want Halogen, 9011 replaces 9005 and 9012 replaces 9006. Much brighter and they are the same shape to they use the optics properly. Some housings they fit without any trimming. Sometimes, minor trimming is needed to a tab on the bulb.

SomDay

It isn't a want halogen thing so much as a want lights that illuminate the road deal. I did see the halogen options for 9011 and 9012 in another thread but, thank you for the suggestion.
My Depo lights already showed up so I'm going to mount them on the car and see if can't get them adjusted so I can see at night with the low beams.
I also want to take the Sonar lights off so I can get a good look at how they are wired up. Right now the DRL's appear to be wired to the LED's on the side and the halo's but, I'll have to pull the lights to be sure.
Has anyone here upgraded the projectors in the Spyder/Sonar lights?

VIP1

I think there are some threads on HIDPlanet for similar housings for other cars and I think TRS used to sell a bracket to mount the Mini-H1 projector in place of the ebay Halogen projector of Spyder ebay housings. Take a look around on there and see if your housing is similar enough. Otherwise, it will be custom.

SomDay

I did look at TRS but, they only offer a retrofit kit for an older Acme projector in the Sonar lights. Picked up Depo lights on Amazon and swapped in some 9006 halogens and 9005 LED lights from the Sonar setup. I can see at night and don't have to blind anyone. A little adjusting and that setup should be fine. Here is before and after for anyone that wants to see the Depo setup.

Sypder Before


Depo After

SomDay

Did my tail lights as well as I wasn't digging the Spyder tail lights. Picked up a mint condition set of LS1 lights on Craigslist on the cheap.

Spyder tail lights


Stock LS1 lights

VIP1

Instead of 9005 Halogen or 9005 LED (which usually don't use the optics right - some are passable but it depends on the design).

Try 9011 & 9012 bulbs.

9011 replaces 9005
9012 replaces 9006

Noticeably brighter.

Might need minor trimming to a tab on the bulb, but might not. Depends on the housing. They fit my mother's CR-V without trimming.

If you look on Amazon, you can find Wagner 9011/9012 bulbs cheaper than Philips, but they are really Philips bulbs in a plain white box (I've bought them and that is what arrived).

The Acme Projectors are the previous-gen MH1 projector made by someone else and relabeled. They'll still be better than the Halogen H1 projectors in the Spyder and Sonar headlights.

SomDay

Thanks for the tip on the Wagner bulbs. I will check that out as I'm going to need something better than the old bulbs I had laying around.

On a good note fixing all the lights has also fixed my cruise control. Removed the led brake lights and replaced with some regular 3057 per the list in the sticky. Adjusted my clutch switch and I'm all set.