IS250 Retrofit in Progress
01-15-09, 09:18 AM
#32
well I bought another set of AFS HID headlights, projectors, lenses, brackets, tools and other nick nacks and it ended up that much. I still have a little more spending to do. I wanted to get another set of headlights to take my time on the retro and at the same time I still have my car to drive around in.
01-15-09, 01:53 PM
#34
Yeah I knew that the non AFS is cheaper than the AFS but it was personal preference.
The wiring harness on the AFS is different from the non AFS, correct me if I am wrong (no ballast vs. with ballast). I know its cheaper but it saves me some headache; I dont have to hunt for ballasts, and besides, the design of the AFS holds the ballast very efficiently and sleek. And the projectors I got were mostly from my bodyshops. The SC430/e30 combo cost me about 250; that's all I spent on projectors. That was the first and will mostly be the last time I buy projectors. The other projectors I have were no charge. The shrouds from the ISx50 are actually usable and they arent that bad; they are actually nice imo.
Tools and supplies were an extra 100 or so. That's how it added to about 1k. If I didnt get another set of headlights, it would be over half the cost for sure.
The wiring harness on the AFS is different from the non AFS, correct me if I am wrong (no ballast vs. with ballast). I know its cheaper but it saves me some headache; I dont have to hunt for ballasts, and besides, the design of the AFS holds the ballast very efficiently and sleek. And the projectors I got were mostly from my bodyshops. The SC430/e30 combo cost me about 250; that's all I spent on projectors. That was the first and will mostly be the last time I buy projectors. The other projectors I have were no charge. The shrouds from the ISx50 are actually usable and they arent that bad; they are actually nice imo.
Tools and supplies were an extra 100 or so. That's how it added to about 1k. If I didnt get another set of headlights, it would be over half the cost for sure.
but i really do like what you've done 
01-15-09, 02:42 PM
#36
Thanks!
I made custom brackets using some 1mm x 10mm metal pieces and bending them in shape. Then I have to test the rotational settings on the car to make sure its horizontally level. Its alot of labor. I am at this moment waiting for my left headlight. After that I can get started on the retro on that which should take about 2 hrs for the left side; I have all my brackets ready for install. Come to think of it, if I had EVERYTHING I needed for this retro (every single part and tool), it would probably take me 6 or 7 hours to complete, it to be honest.
Well if you just use the original headlights on you car every thing CAN cost about 300 (maybe less) in parts. Labor is a different story.
I made custom brackets using some 1mm x 10mm metal pieces and bending them in shape. Then I have to test the rotational settings on the car to make sure its horizontally level. Its alot of labor. I am at this moment waiting for my left headlight. After that I can get started on the retro on that which should take about 2 hrs for the left side; I have all my brackets ready for install. Come to think of it, if I had EVERYTHING I needed for this retro (every single part and tool), it would probably take me 6 or 7 hours to complete, it to be honest.
Well if you just use the original headlights on you car every thing CAN cost about 300 (maybe less) in parts. Labor is a different story.
01-15-09, 06:58 PM
#42
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Extreme, it should look OEM as he is utilizing the stock shrouds, albeit slightly reduced in side. Projectors look like projectors.
mahcah, I have nearly finished purchasing parts for my retrofit and will begin painting and possible mounting soon
How did you test your setups? I am planning on alligator-clipping PC power supplies, but am not completely sure on how to do it yet, since Ocellaris's thread is tremendously confusing for me.
mahcah, I have nearly finished purchasing parts for my retrofit and will begin painting and possible mounting soon
How did you test your setups? I am planning on alligator-clipping PC power supplies, but am not completely sure on how to do it yet, since Ocellaris's thread is tremendously confusing for me.
01-15-09, 06:59 PM
#43
With everything back together to a non-IS fanatic, yes it will look oem. But if a person really knows how the original headlight looks like in full detail, then that person can point out the retrofit. Honestly I think that it still does look oem with the finished set up; probably a little better imo. I will post up another thread when I am completely finished with the project from the start to the very finish, showcasing the output at nighttime. Exciting; at least for me.
01-15-09, 08:21 PM
#45
You bet.
After looking back now on how much I spent on just this retrofit alone, its alot of money for such a smaller sized project, but Im very satisfied thus far with what has been done. Needless to say, with humility, it didnt hurt my wallet too bad either.
After looking back now on how much I spent on just this retrofit alone, its alot of money for such a smaller sized project, but Im very satisfied thus far with what has been done. Needless to say, with humility, it didnt hurt my wallet too bad either.