cduluk

Hey guys! New to the forum, my name's Chris and i am 19 years old. I have a 2003 Lexus RX300 and have done some subtle modifications to it since my parents bought it as a CPO vehicle in June '05. My most recent modification has been retrofitting 08 LS460 headlights projectors into my RX headlights.

I have attached some pictures in case anyone is interested

cduluk

some more... (can't all fit in one post)

cduluk

cduluk

cduluk

cduluk

you can see my cardomain site at: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3090724

it hasn't been updated in a while but ill get to it

tell me what you think guys!

YoshRX300

That is simply amazing! Did you do it your self? Nothing hides at night now it covers the ground very nicely.

Lexmex

Nice job

chenxingha

I have been "blinded" many times by blazingly cool-blue headlights from incoming vehicles and a couple of times I almost drove off the pavement in winding hillry roads.

Please make sure that your powerful lights are not projected too high that could get incoming vehicles into trouble.

cduluk

Oh yeah, i did it myself I've always been really hands-on so it was easy for me to do. I've always been jealous by all the new Lexus models with projector headlights, (including my idol, the LS460) so i decided it was about time to ditch the Rx300's reflector type units and put in projectors.

I had first settled on Infiniti M45 projectors, since the chrome had the same green-ish tint that the Lexus chrome headlights did- but the performance wasn't very good.

Then i saw some LS460 projectors on ebay. I figured they were OUT of my price range, so i placed a bid for $150 thinking someone would definitely outbid me, but i won them for $138!!! Which in the projector industry is UNHEARD of.

They're top of the line projectors. The width, intensity and sharpness of cutoff line is amazing. I could be in the right lane, and these things light up the whole lane next to me, to the point where i can see the cutoff line along the trees.

As far as blinding people, i was able to keep the auto-leveling feature that the rx300 came stock with! I just drilled a 3" hole in the reflector and glued the projector in place.

I also wired the switch from the RR control arm into the cabin, made it look nice and pretty, so i can control the headlights height at any time from the drivers seat!

You can see more on my cardomain page. I've added this link to a video of my RX300 with the LS projectors with the auto-leveling feature. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb-16...eature=related

It's nice, because if there's someone in front of me going to slow, just aim these babies up and it must be like looking into the sun, they move right out of the way

Also in this video, you might notice my modified gauge cluster. I got the needles to light up before the rest of the gauges. converted the CCFL to white LED's, making the needles light up separately with individual LED's with a delay relay. Kinda like the 90-00 LS's and new IS's!

What do you guys think?

Johnny

Very well done... I actually miss the crispness of my previous 460 HIDs, compared to what I have now.

cduluk

are the 460h projectors not as good?

Johnny

The 600h's LED headlights are about the same intensity as typical halogen lights. Here's the data from Lexus' supplier:





LEDs are in the genesis stages of automotive application. Lexus has taken a bold step ahead of their competitors, but that means the 600h's lights are weak when compared to the 460's HIDs. More powerful LEDs are on the way however, but who knows when they will arrive, and when the cooling problems are solved, who knows if they will be retrofittable. For now, the attraction is more of a fashion statement than a practical/functional solution.

cduluk

I can't imagine how they got LED's to be even as bright as halogen. They should have just used xenon bulbs as they've been doing since 98.

cduluk

Does anyone know if anyone else has attempted to do a projector retro in an rx300? I know someone with a 99 did it with LS430 projectors, but anyone else?