Projectors for a 1998 Camry (Gen 4)

[Dan3215]

Ok so i'm looking for a bit more performance out of the lighting on my 1998 Camry. I know HID is the way to go but I also know that there is little gain to be made out of simply dropping an HID kit http://www.mod-express.com/Mod_Expre...p/me-k5011.htm into my TYC clears, not to mention dubbing myself an ass to everyone else on the road unlucky enough to be on the other end of that barrage of scattered light. So my question is does anyone have any experience doing a projector retrofit for a Gen 4 housing or where they can be purchased. I've searched high and low for an answer but it seems that this option is nearly nonexistent. Options anyone?

[fenixus]

not sure about Camry light housing size, but on Solara gen1 (99-01) which also carries H4 headlights, people use bixenon projector from Infiniti FX35.
you could probably find a pair of used ones on ebay between $100 and $200 a pair. then you need shrouds (not easy to get), D2S bulbs with a D2S wiring kit ... and of course someone needs to take the lamp housings apart, black out the reflector mirrors and make it look nice all together (and sealed!).

not an easy task, skill and tools are required. local NY shops charge around $800 for a ready to install kit (if you provide them with your stock lamps) ... very expensive if you can't do it yourself.

PM member iovaykind, he was doing some projector retros in gen3 housing (9006, not H4 I believe), he may know more.

[carsrus]

Originally Posted by Dan3215

Ok so i'm looking for a bit more performance out of the lighting on my 1998 Camry. I know HID is the way to go but I also know that there is little gain to be made out of simply dropping an HID kit http://www.mod-express.com/Mod_Expre...p/me-k5011.htm into my TYC clears, not to mention dubbing myself an ass to everyone else on the road unlucky enough to be on the other end of that barrage of scattered light. So my question is does anyone have any experience doing a projector retrofit for a Gen 4 housing or where they can be purchased. I've searched high and low for an answer but it seems that this option is nearly nonexistent. Options anyone?

The light output gain from dropping HID's into a regular housing is pretty significant. Pointing them slightly down helps greatly with glare.

Doing a retro is $$$ and time consuming. Forget about getting it done by someone. A 5000k kit bi xenon is under 100$ and if you already have clear housing the glare wont be dramatic. In general people online over exaggerate the whole glare thing. I have installed 5-6000k kits in a buncha cars. Sure given that all of them have clear and good non hazy headlights, the glare was pretty insignificant.

But hey im sure 10 guys will come in here yelling that HID's in a regular housing is a crime. The gen 4 headlights blow, I drive around with my high beams on sometimes and nobody flashes me.

[LynchburgCSI]

Carsrus, I'm going to yell at you AND show you why you're wrong.




Dan, go here. https://www.facebook.com/iovaykindretrofits?ref=ts

[Buurin]

The Retrofit Source may have a solution. I saw there the other day of a Morimoto projector that mounts to the back of a H4 housing, you still have to open it, but there should be no cutting, taking a lot of work off of you.

[Dan3215]

Originally Posted by carsrus

The light output gain from dropping HID's into a regular housing is pretty significant. Pointing them slightly down helps greatly with glare.

Doing a retro is $$$ and time consuming. Forget about getting it done by someone. A 5000k kit bi xenon is under 100$ and if you already have clear housing the glare wont be dramatic. In general people online over exaggerate the whole glare thing. I have installed 5-6000k kits in a buncha cars. Sure given that all of them have clear and good non hazy headlights, the glare was pretty insignificant.

But hey im sure 10 guys will come in here yelling that HID's in a regular housing is a crime. The gen 4 headlights blow, I drive around with my high beams on sometimes and nobody flashes me.

No kidding the stocks blow! I swapped clears in as soon as this car found its way to me and picked up a pair of Sylvania Ultra's, which helped, but there's no doubt that there's progress to be made. I did some research on Burrin's suggestion regarding Morimoto's and that actually seems like a possibility. The only reserve I have is whether or not I'm willing to drop a little over a bill on a possibility. I actually still have the old yellowed housings that I could practice on tho so that could guarantee me a bit of sanity! lol Probably going to pick up an HID kit from Mod-Express and see how bad the glare really is with these housings, and if it truly is atrocious, or once i have the extra $$, the morimoto's might just have to happen. Projectors would just be nice anyways.....

[Dan3215]

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

Carsrus, I'm going to yell at you AND show you why you're wrong.




Dan, go here. https://www.facebook.com/iovaykindretrofits?ref=ts

Just dropped a wall post on the page! Any ideas on a price range?

[LynchburgCSI]

^ Issac is a reasonable guy. You should be able to do anything from a budget build all the way up to a $1000 masterpiece. I don't want to throw out a low number and be wrong though.

[Dan3215]

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

^ Issac is a reasonable guy. You should be able to do anything from a budget build all the way up to a $1000 masterpiece. I don't want to throw out a low number and be wrong though.

Yea I hear ya, thanks for the reference!

[carsrus]

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

Carsrus, I'm going to yell at you AND show you why you're wrong.




Dan, go here. https://www.facebook.com/iovaykindretrofits?ref=ts

Yeah some pictures aren't going to change my real world experiences. Most of the glare is still well within one car lane. I get more blinded by stock Xenons on trucks when im in the camry.

But hey, if someone wants to drop 400$ on a projector retro on a camry thats cool. But saying that putting HID's is only for projectors is ridiculous. 99% of HID kits out there are not in a retro.

[Dan3215]

Originally Posted by carsrus

Yeah some pictures aren't going to change my real world experiences. Most of the glare is still well within one car lane. I get more blinded by stock Xenons on trucks when im in the camry.

But hey, if someone wants to drop 400$ on a projector retro on a camry thats cool. But saying that putting HID's is only for projectors is ridiculous. 99% of HID kits out there are not in a retro.

Ok so this might be a stupid question but I just want to make sure. If I pick up a pair of H4 9003 to D2S/D2R shrouds that means that they will fit in my H4 housings and I will then need to get D2S bulbs with my HID kit? Just want to be sure before I order!

[akcc]

Basically, if you keep stock housing, you will need a h4 bi-xenon kit but if you retrofit it and get projectors you will have to spend extra and put d2s/r

I have a Camry 1999 with 55w hids and no projectors, my beams are pointed down and there is no glare, so if your get a 35w kit, there is like no glare what so ever if you install it correctly

[iovaykind]

There's always going to be stubborn rednecks who say there is no glare. And that their car is the SPECIAL 1% of cars that hold HID's drop in kits well. There's no changing those people and what they tell you.

But if you have half a brain, you'll want to do this the right way, and by the OP it seems he does so. So don't go telling him to do it the wrong way and say its okay when he's smart enough to do it the right way.

To OP: Didn't know you were on toyotanation, but I see you're new. Welcome! You'll love this place as much as I did when I started modding my camry. Anyway, I already gave you a rough estimate, you should be good to go if you're willing to spend a little more to do it the right way. Good luck and be sure to keep in touch with me no matter which route you choose

[bigbird]

in case you havnt seen this...

97-99 Toyota Camry FX-R Retrofit