wes8398

iTrader: (2)

This is just a cut n paste from my post at CF, but I thought I would share here too...

Hey fellas. I know a couple of you were waiting for some follow up here. I got the headlights installed last week and I'm really happy with them. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the LED bulbs I'd hoped to use for the high beams and fogs. http://www.ebay.com/itm/271824256631?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITWhile they seemed very well made, and were definitely the brightest LED bulbs I've ever seen, I'm returning both pairs for a refund (Yes, eBay stores/vendors DO have fantastic customer service if you don't mind working with their english language barriers a bit). I wasn't able to get the LED bulbs seated properly into the high beam location due to the size and shape of their heat sinks and the "springy wire" method of securing the bulb that these new headlights employ. There just wasn't enough room to work inside the housing, and I wasn't about to completely dismantle my brand new headlights. The bulbs I was going to use in the fogs was EXACTLY the same bulb, just with an adapter wire which fit it to the proper 9145 (H10) plug. These fit fine, and had lots of room for the heat sink, etc. Unfortunately they didn't satisfy my OCD in terms of their colour. They're definitely closer to a 4500k than the 6000k that they advertised. I'm going to start searching again for another "high power" LED bulb that's closer to 5000-5500k for my fogs.

Unfortunately I was on a time constraint to get all this done so I could bring the car back to the body shop who was repainting my hood and front bumper for me, so I wasn't able to take as many pictures of the install procedure as I would have liked to. Sorry about that. But here are a few of the headlight fitment, appearance, and the fog bulb colour that I wound up not being happy with. I'd love to get a better shot of the colour of the low beams but my phone just picks up on the glare all over the place and you can barely make out the picture when I try that. I'll add a photo of the light output against my garage door though. I was only about 8 feet back from the door, and the car was not squared up or anything though... for the record. The new lights DID (very easily) adjust to exactly where my OEM ones were though; so that made me happy.









NOTE: These were taken a little too soon. I'd JUST installed everything and was excited to have it all working. I wound up loosening up the mounting bolts and getting the lights to match up to the fender MUCH better than shown here. It just took some finessing and a little elbow grease. They're not PERFECT, but they're pretty damn good. Good enough for my OCD, which says a lot.




Location of new ballasts, in OEM location. Just trimmed off one end of the "box" so the wires could exit and the ballast could sit in there flush:


Removed washer fluid lines, removed "T" that sends a line to each headlight, plugged main line with random large stainless bolt/screw and a couple gear clamps for good measure:


Game face:


Light output/cutoff. I'm pretty close to the garage, so I'm not sure the "hot spots" are so "hot". At a proper distance, it's a pretty uniform light output. Very happy with the cutoff and adjustability:


Ugh, these look so disgusting now:

raven154

iTrader: (14)

Those look pretty sharp.

wes8398

iTrader: (2)

Thanks! Yah, I'm really happy with how they turned out. Fingers crossed that they last for a decent amount of time, cause my OCD will go overboard if a halo goes out or something. lol

raven154

iTrader: (14)

Any idea what you're going to do with the old headlights?

wes8398

iTrader: (2)

I was going to post 'em on eBay when I get the time. Even old and beat up, they still seem to get a good buck. You interested? PM me an offer and we'll see what's up.

raven154

iTrader: (14)

Oh I'd like to have them but I wouldn't be able to make a reasonable offer on them right now. Just curious more than anything.

Naf

iTrader: (1)

Why didnt you choose another model of led with the braided heat sink?

I may do that with my setup high and low on the right and just high on the left

Andringa

I put these same headlights on my CTS-V exactly two years ago, and I just recently noticed that both headlights have a thin coating peeling off of them.

It started at the top portion, the same section that the sun/UV kills on the OEM lights.

Other than them starting to peel, I've been happy with them. Perhaps you want to put a wax/sealant on them to try and protect them from UV?


I'm not sure if I want to just get a new set of lights or sand these down and paint them.

NIKDSC5

iTrader: (10)

Yup. I have this as well. I will eventually clear them.

wes8398

iTrader: (2)

Well, I'd entertain an offer if you're willing to save me the hassles of listing them...

I don't want to remove the freshly painted bumper to experiment with the high beam bulbs anymore. And I was anxious to get the job done, so I didn't want to leave it all apart until I found a suitable replacement set of LED bulbs. There's a set of (shitty) Silverstar's in there now, and those will have to remain until I have another reason to take the bumper off.


Good to know. Thanks! More reason to get a protective vinyl or something on these suckers sooner than later. And I'll probably put a good coat of my Collinite 845 wax on 'em for good measure too.