Headlight projector retrofit - HIDs to the max!

Hello all,

I have had issues driving with the factory lighting on my 2011 Prius, where as the headlights are projector style which I hate compared to my 2005 Prius model. The projector style is very hard to drive at night and when I upgraded to the HID and Xenon bulbs neither of them made a difference. Is there a bulb I can use that will bring the beam out much more than factory? I have complained to the dealer and they do not have any NONPROJECTOR headlights I can fit. I believe there should be a recall on the headlights as I have had others with my similar issue complain as well. I ended up placing my HID bulbs with the balast kit in my fog lights to drive at night, my fog lights now act as my headlights for the time being.

 

You may want to post something like this in the Gen3 forums... the Gen2 don't come with projectors so most of us won't be of much help. However, if after you put HIDs in your oem 2011 projector headlights and you still weren't happy with the light output, you could retrofit a better projector. That is what this thread is mainly about...upgrading the oem non-projector headlights WITH projectors. I have upgraded my oem HID non-projector headlights with HID retrofit MiniH1 55W projectors and the light output is exceptional - FAR better than OEM halogen non projector headlights or OEM HID non projector headlights.

from my 2008

 

Probably just complaining about the cutoff. Also, dealers don't know crap about aiming headlights. Go find a level area with a large wall 25feet ahead of you. Think of the back of grocery stores with the loading docks and big buildings where you can drive behind them. Now park so that you car's headlights are facing the wall 25feet away. Measure the distance between the ground and the cutoff of your projector. Then go to the wall as use some tape or something to mark that height minus 1inch. Now adjust your headlights so the cutoff is on that line.

An inch or two down, can make the headlights almost useless. A couple inches too high and all the light goes into the sky and not the road also making it useless.

 

Please put the HIDs back into your lowbeams and properly aim them as 2k1Toaster has outlined above. The reflector type foglights don't have a proper cutoff shield for HIDs. Putting HIDs into your foglights throws a lot of glare up into oncoming driver's eyes and into the rearview mirrors of people in front of you.

 

They work great and they are not causing any problems. I also did the H9 OSRAM 65watt bulb install and now I can see better at night. Just wish I can find some whiter bulbs as I don't really like the old yellowish effect.

 

I did that with the stock bulbs still could see in front of me. After the H9 OSRAM conversion I can see now.

 

If you want to see better, stick with the clear H9 bulbs with the clear capsules. I tried H9 bulbs with ion coatings and bluish bulbs that put out "whiter" light, but ultimately went back to the oem clear bulbs. The blue bulbs don't give good contrast on rainy, wet roads like the 4300k type light.

 

Ok cool, I can see much better with the H9's anyways. Thanks

 

New 2009 Prius owner here and although I love my Prius, I really miss my HIDs retrofit in my previous car. So now, I'm getting ready to start gathering everything I need for my retrofit. In the meantime, I need to purchase a set of headlights I can retrofit while I still drive my Prius. Does anyone have an opinion on which specific replacement brand I should stay away from or look for? Any opinion and experiences will be greatly appreciated. Some of the brand I've come across are Dorman, TYC (leaning towards this one), Replace, and Sherman. Thank you guys

 

I've used Eagle eyes brand on my last two retrofits. Doubt there is too much difference.

 

This post was a life saver today, but I have run into one issue. The actual wiring the TRS stuff into the stock harness. I have a demon eye kit and switchback halos along with the H1's already assembled and when I was attempting to wire everything up, everything went to hell. The projectors work beautifully, but the halos aren't kicking on when I spliced them into the marker lights and the turn signal. So I went directly through the turn signal and it was blink fast like cars do when a bulb is out. So I am at a loss on how to wire the "accessories", does anyone have pictures of their morimoto wiring set up from the headlight to the car? TRS is great but they really just focus on the light and not so much how to actually hook everything up into the car. Maybe I am just being oblivious and missing something, but I have been researching and testing all day to no avail. Any suggestions?

 

If the halos are LED, then they have to have the proper polarity to work. Did you try switching the connections around?

As for the hyper flashing, you will either need to use resistors, or change your flasher relay to an LED compatible one.

 

I spliced my HALOs switchback to my blinkers. You will also need one of this to avoid the fast blinking:
1pcs 8 Pin LED Flasher Relay Fix Signal Lights fast Blink Error Code For Toyota
I got mine off of eBay
1pcs 8 Pin LED Flasher Relay Fix Signal Lights fast Blink Error Code For Toyota

 

F8L, It's been 4 years since your HID retrofit. Did you ever encounter electrical malfunctions as a result of the HID retrofit?

I'm thinking about installing HIDs in my 08 Prius with this headlight.: ANZO USA | TOYOTA PRIUS 04-09 PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS BLACK w/ HALO (CCFL) - Projector Headlights - Headlights

and teh TRS HID kits.

 

I sure hope you don't expect anything but looks from the eBay projector headlights.

They may 'look' like an improvement but they will never compare to a true retrofit like mine, F8L or many others who have spent the time and effort ...and $$$ to do it the best way. Here is a thread about the quality and their install of the eBay projectors.. Projector Headlights from eBay for the Gen II | PriusChat

Yuck.. very narrow beam


The cutoff is very narrow because of cheap lens and projector bowls in the ebay lights.

Example of a true retrofit.

 

Mine (now my bro's) is still working. I just drove the car with it when I was in SF a few weeks ago.

The car has over 220k miles with original battery and brake pads.

 

is it possible you can fix all the images? or send me those broken images? I want to do a project. thanks

 

any update?

 

any update?

 

Last message is 6 years old. Reviving old thread. Is there a current list of parts available for a "true retrofit" as @Justdidit says above? There are OEM style assemblies with projectors still around ebay and other sites, but these have been trashed in this thread as sub par and not a "true retrofit".