5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
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Must be a good weekend for retrofits. Worked on them Friday and Saturday night and installed them in the car this afternoon. Still need to check the aim, but its still light outside. The RX330 projectors were easy donors since they are very similar in design. The lower mounting holes in the shield matched exactly that of the Camry's halogen shield so I only had to drill the upper mounting holes and trim the excess away. Now for the pics:
Here's the RX330 projector fitted in after triming:
Here's the RX330 projector installed with modified shroud (ready to have lense put back on)
Here's both headlights assembled with the RX330 projectors
Here's a close-up of the RX330 projector installed (can't tell its a RX330 except for the dimpled lense)
Here's the back cover in place. Just a 3" PVC pipe cap painted flat black - fits perfectly.
__________________ 2011 Camry SE - Magnetic Gray Metallic 2011 Rav4 - Black Forrest Pearl
wow thanks for the idea about the 3" pipe man! Love you!!!! I was trying to figure out what to cover the back with so moisture wouldn't come in. Did you use a screw or anything to tighten it down?
wow. those look real nice. ITS DARK SO LETS SEE SOME PICS btw, you live within the vicinity of me. if this works out, i may have to inquire about the costs of your services
wow thanks for the idea about the 3" pipe man! Love you!!!! I was trying to figure out what to cover the back with so moisture wouldn't come in. Did you use a screw or anything to tighten it down?
The 3" pipe cap fits snug, but I put a thin bead of clear RTV silicon/adhesive to form a gasket to keep moisture out and keep it secure. I also installed some rubber grommets where the wires go through. I put the caps on before I put the headlights back on the car since there's not much room behind the cap once installed. If I need to replace the bulbs, I'll have to remove the headlight assemblies to do so (no big deal).
I just took it around the block last night and there's no nice walls nearby for a cut-off line shot (my garage door is wooden and has dark painted trim), so I'll have to take it into town to take the pictures. Will post some as soon as I get some. The cut-off line is not as crisp and colorful as the TSX or the stock halogens but should be an easier transition for oncoming traffic where I live (it's hilly here east of San Diego). I have to say, they're so much better than the stock projectors. The light beam coverage is wonderful with the RX330 projectors, very wide and I can't see where the beam begins anymore. When driving, the light goes from under the hood out to the cut-off - no need to run the fogs to fill in the gap. And it has three small squirrel spotter holes in each light so it lights up the street signs pretty well.
__________________ 2011 Camry SE - Magnetic Gray Metallic 2011 Rav4 - Black Forrest Pearl
I just took it around the block last night and there's no nice walls nearby for a cut-off line shot (my garage door is wooden and has dark painted trim), so I'll have to take it into town to take the pictures. Will post some as soon as I get some. The cut-off line is not as crisp and colorful as the TSX or the stock halogens but should be an easier transition for oncoming traffic where I live (it's hilly here east of San Diego). I have to say, they're so much better than the stock projectors. The light beam coverage is wonderful with the RX330 projectors, very wide and I can't see where the beam begins anymore. When driving, the light goes from under the hood out to the cut-off - no need to run the fogs to fill in the gap. And it has three small squirrel spotter holes in each light so it lights up the street signs pretty well.
Hahah, yeah most of San Diego is like that.
Even though the cutoff line isn't as crisp as the TSX, which is a known fact, the light coverage should be about equal. And I'm glad you're enjoying your retro. I've done so much preaching on the whole retrofit vs. "hid kit" thing that its nice to see people taking the leap of faith.
__________________ 2009 Audi TT 2.0T --- THE BEAST! 2002 LE 4Cyl --- Gone, but not forgotten. 06/28/09
Glaring blue HID bulbs are NOT classy, and don't make your car look nice, no matter what that kid in the Civic told you.
Look good LNGasMan ! A couple of questions though...
1. Do the RX330 projectors (I'm assuming those are the ones that don't swivel) seperate into two? I'm planning on doing a retrofit myself, but kind of half assed (gee can't wait for the response to THAT). I already have an MTEC aftermarket HID system, and I want to just replace the stock Stanley Camry projectors with those of the RX. It looks like you went all out and even ripped out the H11 connections and used the D2S ones from the RX330 (nice call on the PVC pipe cover). Figured that's a sensible alternative than buying a set of Denso ballasts, bulbs, etc. In the end cutoff and the lack of glare are more important to me than anything else.
You stated that the mounting holes were pretty similar, so my next question is...
2. How difficult was the trimming involved? Any difficulties on the upper mounting holes? Did you have to fabricate a piece of metal to make it fit like someone might need to do with TSX projectors? From the pictures it really doesn't look like it but I just want to be sure.
Look good LNGasMan ! A couple of questions though...
1. Do the RX330 projectors (I'm assuming those are the ones that don't swivel) seperate into two? I'm planning on doing a retrofit myself, but kind of half assed (gee can't wait for the response to THAT). I already have an MTEC aftermarket HID system, and I want to just replace the stock Stanley Camry projectors with those of the RX. It looks like you went all out and even ripped out the H11 connections and used the D2S ones from the RX330 (nice call on the PVC pipe cover). Figured that's a sensible alternative than buying a set of Denso ballasts, bulbs, etc. In the end cutoff and the lack of glare are more important to me than anything else.
You stated that the mounting holes were pretty similar, so my next question is...
2. How difficult was the trimming involved? Any difficulties on the upper mounting holes? Did you have to fabricate a piece of metal to make it fit like someone might need to do with TSX projectors? From the pictures it really doesn't look like it but I just want to be sure.
Are you thinking of taking the front half of the RX projector and using it with the rear half of the stock projector? It won't work. They won't fit together properly. And it won't make much difference that way anyway because you're still not getting the HID projector optics, and you're still using the original halogen shield. The front of the projectors is the LEAST important when it comes to HID optics and retrofits. Lens quality makes a difference, but not very much. The most important thing is the HID bowl and the HID cutoff shield, neither of which you will have if you do what I think you are talking about.
You don't "rip" out the H11 connections in a retrofit. You use those H11 harnesses in your HID wiring harness, which goes to the ballast, which sends the D2S connector to the projector.
__________________ 2009 Audi TT 2.0T --- THE BEAST! 2002 LE 4Cyl --- Gone, but not forgotten. 06/28/09
Glaring blue HID bulbs are NOT classy, and don't make your car look nice, no matter what that kid in the Civic told you.
Last edited by white3ch0c0late; 08-20-2007 at 04:29 PM.
Are you thinking of taking the front half of the RX projector and using it with the rear half of the stock projector? It won't work. They won't fit together properly. And it won't make much difference that way anyway because you're still not getting the HID projector optics, and you're still using the original halogen shield.
You don't "rip" out the H11 connections in a retrofit. You use those H11 harnesses in your HID wiring harness, which goes to the ballast, which sends the D2S connector to the projector.
There goes my well though up plan. You sure have a way of bumming a guy out white chocolate...just kidding. As I stated before, it was a half ass idea to begin with.
Ok so I guess I have to go full throttle and do it right. Or I can pay someone to do it for me...any takers?
Last edited by 2007DarksideSE; 08-20-2007 at 04:33 PM.
^ Didn't mean to bum you out, but just saving you time and money, thats all haha. It would have been a fruitless attempt.
No worries...I can always appreciate any helpful advice. Say do you know of any reputable shops in Southern California that do a good job? I've seen some vendors at HIDplanet but most of them are out of state.
^As far as shops, I have absolutely no idea. I did my entire retrofit on my own from start to finish. I don't think I've even heard of anything in the area that does that kind of work. I'd offer to do it, but my hands are just way too full at the moment-- Fall semester starts on Thursday, I work, and Cross Country season starts in 2 weeks. I have been working on a retrofit of my fog lamps with mini H3 projectors that is sitting here half-done 'cause I just don't have the time to finish it up.
__________________ 2009 Audi TT 2.0T --- THE BEAST! 2002 LE 4Cyl --- Gone, but not forgotten. 06/28/09
Glaring blue HID bulbs are NOT classy, and don't make your car look nice, no matter what that kid in the Civic told you.
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RX330 Retrofit Completed
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