Mini H1 Projector HID Retrofit in progress

[redciv1]

So I am coming to the end if my H1 Projector Retrofit and wanted to ask the members that have done this some questions.
1. Exactly how much of the bowl did you have to cut out to get the projector to sit flush?
2. How did you seal the hole back after it was cut?
3. What was used to reseal as I have read that using the adhesive will permanently seal the light pretty much.

[Nine8Six]

Exterminate the halogen! Yay!!

1. Can't remember but it was quite a bit of material and needed pretty custom art to get them there and somehow closely aligned with the car.

2. Reseal with sealant, if you don't fancy cutting a plate out of sheet metal or thin sheet of aluminum. If memory is good

3. I use Butyl on the headlights that I personally service here, however I (and most, I think) do recommend silicon-based sealant (much stronger). Later can also be removed but require considerable heat and lot more wrist-energy :/

[redciv1]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Exterminate the halogen! Yay!!

1. Can't remember but it was quite a bit of material and needed pretty custom art to get them there and somehow closely aligned with the car.

2. Reseal with sealant, if you don't fancy cutting a plate out of sheet metal or thin sheet of aluminum. If memory is good

3. I use Butyl on the headlights that I personally service here, however I (and most, I think) do recommend silicon-based sealant (much stronger). Later can also be removed but require considerable heat and lot more wrist-energy :/

Hey Nine, yes, extracting of the halogen. Definitely required far more material than I thought but WORTH EVERY HID GLOW. I was thinking of using maybe aluminum tape on the inside. I thought about using the Butyl and aluminum foil on the back side to seal up as well.
I think I will go with the Butyl as well.
Last question. What do you use after the headlight is out of the oven to hold headlight tight so it seals?

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by redciv1

Last question. What do you use after the headlight is out of the oven to hold headlight tight so it seals?

Large rubber bands; they last that 8min in the oven and provide that natural (flexible?) pressure that is required as the assembly expands.

Trade secrets my friend, delete this thread

[redciv1]

LOL. Thanks Nine. Will be deleted!!!

[oldskool73]

I fitted some cheapo chinesium hids in one set (still got another set waiting for Fred to get back to speed with his next run, hint hint... ... )

1. Didn't actually have to take too much off the bowl, just a kind of semi-circle out of the middle on the 90 degree bend where it transitions from upper to lower reflector half to get the lamp in there. Just take the shroud off and keep shoving it in the hole, dremmel a bit more, shove again etc till it goes (real finessed like). I did take a bit too much off the first one I did and went right through to the other side, but luckily it's hidden back there so a blob of steel putty closed that. I had to take a lot more off the shrouds than off the bowl... that was major chop work.

2. Not sure what hole you mean?

3. Man you guys are lucky with your huge ovens, no chance of fitting them in my tiny apartment oven. Had to open them with a hot air gun and close them up with Permatex black silicone and a couple of clamps.

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by oldskool73

I fitted some cheapo chinesium hids in one set (still got another set waiting for Fred to get back to speed with his next run, hint hint... ... )

I think you are the 2nd on the excel sheet I keep warm here Those plastics got to go... received more ugly pics from a friend from TW lately, wanna see?! $100k modded N-GTR.... gore gallery stuff man

[particlewave]

Permatex Black silicone adhesive sealant. Butyl is not ideal and is absolute crap if you ever need to open the headlights again.

Your kit determines how much reflector material you need to remove, but shouldn't be more than 2 small notches in the shelf that separates the high and low beam reflectors.

[redciv1]

I think I saw too many Retrofits on YouTube and other cars not having to do anything with the reflector bowl. May try that steel wool putty as well. Thanks everyone, hopefully picks next couple of days. Looking to freshing up the Amber on my lenses also.

[redciv1]

...never got around to the finished product and I hate when people start projects and don't show the finished work. I wetsanded the light covers first 650/1500/2000 then shot with Duplicolor Clear. Then waited about 2 weeks and wetsanded the orange peel with 1000 then 2000 grit. Polished with Meguiairs Ultra Compound by hand.
Not a camera person so shoots are not that great, but last 3-4 shots are after wetsanding was done.
Mini H1 Projectors were Amazon Zone Tech 2.5 MINI HID Bixenon Projector Lenses
HID kit is 6000K from Greatek on Amazon. 35W kit with no problems at all so far. After polishing cutoff line was super crisp as when I was testing without lens on originally. Very impressed and happy. I did not use the high beam on the projector because I wanted to keep flash to pass so I retained the halogen H7 bulb.

[Disaster]

Originally Posted by redciv1

...never got around to the finished product and I hate when people start projects and don't show the finished work. I wetsanded the light covers first 650/1500/2000 then shot with Duplicolor Clear. Then waited about 2 weeks and wetsanded the orange peel with 1000 then 2000 grit. Polished with Meguiairs Ultra Compound by hand.
Not a camera person so shoots are not that great, but last 3-4 shots are after wetsanding was done.
Mini H1 Projectors were Amazon Zone Tech 2.5 MINI HID Bixenon Projector Lenses
HID kit is 6000K from Greatek on Amazon. 35W kit with no problems at all so far. After polishing cutoff line was super crisp as when I was testing without lens on originally. Very impressed and happy. I did not use the high beam on the projector because I wanted to keep flash to pass so I retained the halogen H7 bulb.

Wow. Lot of work, very professional result. Looks factory.

I bought a cheap HID kit as well that worked great (for a different car.) The toughest part was the fitment and alignment.

[geraintthomas]

I seriously need to re-sand my lights, they're stunning.