headlights!

I just did my original 2006 headlights using Cerakote headlight restoration kit for $16 and they look like new. They suppose to remain like that for lifetime, we will see.

 

I just did a restoration and projector hid retrofit on my 2005 prius. Huge difference. The width of light is amazing along with a razor sharp cut off.

The sylvania kit is rated best by many, including projectfarm on youtube. It worked perfect to restore the old lenses.

I used ddm tuning ultra 35w d2s hid kit in 4500kelvin as reviews show those color temps are brightest. It's a pure white color.

Used bi xenon morimoto projector copies. Sinolyn version 9.5 h4 d2s. The upgraded model with all metal construction and 'hella' style highbeam solenoid

Also used an h4 to hid adapter. Didn't want to install a relay harness and tap power. The adapter plugs into the prius h4 and splits it to power the hid along with the highbeam solenoid.

Final photo is before adjustment of height and a little bit of rotation, so it's aimed too high but thought I'd share how wonderful it looks. I've used hikari led bulbs for the longest time but while the cut off was sharp the width was terrible.

Total cost for projectors and hid kit was about $175. Ddm ultra kit uses hylux ballasts with a lifetime warranty. Absolutely no complaints. I love driving at night now.

For installing the projectors i used a large box and heat gun to make a faux oven. Worked perfectly.

 

Just a comment on the temperature. I think you mean 6500 Kelvin. That is the pure white. 4500 Kelvin is more akin to the color temperature of standard halogen bulbs.

As for the brightest, that is not necessarily correct. How bright a light is is measured in lux or lumens, not Kelvin.

I have a set of LEDs that are 6500 Kelvin and are not really any brighter than the halogens they replaced. However, because the LEDs are 6500 Kelvin they "feel" brighter. It is all a mind trick.

 

Very nice. Im looking to do this project. Any chance you have a complete parts list? I can DIY but the options for projectors and ballasts are huge and I don't have time to do the R and D myself. I found these
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804440139153.html?src=google&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=708-803-3821&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&albagn=888888&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&albcp=20268592310&albag=&trgt=&crea=en3256804440139153&netw=x&device=c&albpg=&albpd=en3256804440139153&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwte-vBhBFEiwAQSv_xdMNycdnP5qSe74ChW9GbBdtypVLm7wV268Dqk3pSgb576lfuPKXAhoCWWkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&aff_fcid=6584969dd88f417aaccc78fdf5321174-1711016090109-02504-UneMJZVf&aff_fsk=UneMJZVf&aff_platform=aaf&sk=UneMJZVf&aff_trace_key=6584969dd88f417aaccc78fdf5321174-1711016090109-02504-UneMJZVf&terminal_id=b60ffd5e3f5c4cbdacebe88f157ad1d6&afSmartRedirect=y&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa
DDM Tuning

 

I made my decision based on Bulbfacts which compares, measures and tests various bulbs. Their lumens, lux, and actual color temperature.

Ddmtunings ultra bulbs are a great deal considering what others can cost. I may try out 5500k down the line as they put out a tiny bit more lumens though are visually more blue.

BulbFacts | HID Chart (OEM)

The 5500k bulb tests 5800k. Too blue for me. Regardless, the bulbs are substantially brighter than any hikari led or halogen I've ever owned. I do appreciate the correction but am not confusing kelvin as lux or lumen.

6500k is very blue. 5000-5500k is most neutral in color.

Website also tests led bulbs in both reflector and projector housings. Very useful resource and also has youtube videos showing the bulbs in use, beam patterns, etc.

These hids make my old leds look quite dim. The light travels much further as well. Leds tend to flood light without much depth.

These conclusions are based on comparison reviews.

 

Regarding the parts list.

I used a ddm tuning ultra slim ballast kit in d2s. D2s projectors have a slightly better beam width/pattern than h1 style from comparison videos I've watched.

DDM Tuning when purchasing make sure you choose d2s, not d2r. D2r is for reflector housings like the gen2 prius oem hid option. Which suck. Bulb color is up to you but i wouldn't go above 5500k, which test 5800k per bulbfacts.

I then used these projectors

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804195851937.html

I purchased these as they were a couple dollars cheaper and china famously sells the same product under 20 different names. Amazon is a great example of this.

Make sure to get the upgraded version as the old style projectors can have the high beam silenoids fail. I'd rather not open my headlights again. It's easy but still annoying.

Regarding the h4 to hid adapter. I purchased this item which comes with two adapters. They're a lot of options available but i felt 35w through the stock harness was no issue. If installing 55w I'd definitely use a relay style kit that pulls 12v power from the fuse box.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802933726528.html

I wanted to install 55w hids but was concerned about heat degradation of the projector lens. Also didn't want something so ridiculously bright that it blinds everyone when going over a speed bump. They're 45w hid kits but i also didn't want to limit my bulb options. Like if i somehow needed a bulb in the middle of nowhere, autozone is not gonna have a 45w bulb. It'd have to be ordered online.

Since leds came out the hid industry has kind of dropped off due to convenience of installing leds, no projector or ballasts required.

Only other items i used for projector install were a couple flathead screw drivers, and heatgun. I also dremeled a little bit of the headlight housing(the part where the h4 bulb locks) so the projector lockring fit better.

Oh i also used thick double sided tape to secure the ballasts. They're small and fit behind the headlights on the metal body panels. Lots of space, i was able to tuck them without any issues. The adapter plus ballast wiring give you a ton of mounting options due to cable length.

Keeping the headlights clean wasn't hard. Just wear gloves, compressed air to blow the dremel dust off. Store oem headlight lens away from your workspace. I'd of used my air compressor but didn't want to potentially blow oil/residue onto anything.

I chose to do the headlight restoration after projector install so i wouldn't be putting the clearcoated headlight assembly near a heatgun.

 

Project farm has a huge comparison of headlight restoration kits and cerekote kit was near the top.

From reading and watching longterm reviews almost all the kits have the clearcoat haze after a year or two. I actually forgot to register my sylvania kit for the lifetime warranty before tossing it out. So I'll do it again in a year or two and register it.

They're people who use 2k and 4k clearcoats, as well as various headlight clearcoat formulas that last much longer but require spraying it on. Also once activated the two part spray cans will harden within a couple days so you can't leave it in the garage for next time.

 

That was my experience with the Sylvania kit on a Honda Civic's headlights, although it was closer to (but less than) three years. Lots of Southern California sun exposure during that time. Polishing them at that point took off the haze that had developed, but I never found any coating that didn't have some problem:

Restoring 3 years after Sylvania Headlight Restoration?

Rockauto has the TYCs for around $90 each. $200 might be worth it not to have to worry about the headlights for a dozen years more (assuming the car itself lasts that long.) The Depo's are about half as much. This is an old study, but neither brand did well in it:

https://www.capacertified.org/uploads/2015/01/CAPALighting3.pdf

That said, TYC at least seems to have both "regular" and "CAPA certified" variants. Don't know who these guys are, but here is their list of replacement parts, some of which are CAPA certified, and some are not:

2007 Toyota Prius Headlights Headlights At HeadlightsDepot.com |⭐Top Quality Headlights At Affordable Prices