GB #2: FC3S bi-xenon hid retrofit!
11-24-11, 05:46 AM
#27
Okay guys, I finally got the kit in today and installed it the same day. Ordered the kit Oct 26. Arrived at my door November 24. That is 29 days. So if you order it during a time when TurboIIRotary is busy, expect longer than the estimated 3 weeks. The kit comes with everything you need and it is plug and play. I got the e55 shroud with 6k bulbs.
Quality of the housings look good. However I did notice condensation developing inside the housing. The heat from the bulb is able to evaporate any water in front of the lens except below it. Most of the water builds up in the lower corners. This may cause problems down the road especially for a plastic housing. Will hasten yellowing and other damaging weather effects.
Installing the kit in a stock FC is pain because of how close the ballast needs to be. The length of the wires is not enough to remote mount at cleaner areas. For stock RX7 you'll need to remove the intake box for the passenger side. I think the best place to mount it is somewhere inside the headlight structure. For me, it was late and I did not want to figure out a way to do this so I just mounted it right next to the rubber grommet with the headlight wires past through. I will relocate the ballast in the future.
You can use the stock brackets to hold the new housing to the headlight frame but you will need to pick up extended bolts and spacers. I went to Lowes and picked up (8) nylon spacers 3/8 x .171 x 1/4 and (8) m4-.70 x 20 screws/bolts.
I'm not quite sure how I should be adjusting the angles but the cut off is ridiculous. It may be cleaner than my Escalade. The cut off for the high beam isn't too shabby either but not as clean as the lows. The 6k bulbs were exactly what I was hoping for. A mild blue tint in the lighting. The housing does get warm but compared to my cousin's HID kit, this one isn't too bad. My cousin did have a 55w ballast and has glass housings.
Here are some pictures. I may get some more up later.
-Shaun
Quality of the housings look good. However I did notice condensation developing inside the housing. The heat from the bulb is able to evaporate any water in front of the lens except below it. Most of the water builds up in the lower corners. This may cause problems down the road especially for a plastic housing. Will hasten yellowing and other damaging weather effects.
Installing the kit in a stock FC is pain because of how close the ballast needs to be. The length of the wires is not enough to remote mount at cleaner areas. For stock RX7 you'll need to remove the intake box for the passenger side. I think the best place to mount it is somewhere inside the headlight structure. For me, it was late and I did not want to figure out a way to do this so I just mounted it right next to the rubber grommet with the headlight wires past through. I will relocate the ballast in the future.
You can use the stock brackets to hold the new housing to the headlight frame but you will need to pick up extended bolts and spacers. I went to Lowes and picked up (8) nylon spacers 3/8 x .171 x 1/4 and (8) m4-.70 x 20 screws/bolts.
I'm not quite sure how I should be adjusting the angles but the cut off is ridiculous. It may be cleaner than my Escalade. The cut off for the high beam isn't too shabby either but not as clean as the lows. The 6k bulbs were exactly what I was hoping for. A mild blue tint in the lighting. The housing does get warm but compared to my cousin's HID kit, this one isn't too bad. My cousin did have a 55w ballast and has glass housings.
Here are some pictures. I may get some more up later.
-Shaun
11-24-11, 02:24 PM
#29
Thanks for the review! To be clear the spacers are for the headlight housing mount because the pilot automotive housings are thicker than the stock ones they are not to space the headlight for clearance. I will also include the spacers and screws from now on for each kit so you don't have to go out and buy some.
11-28-11, 03:59 PM
#32
Driving RX7's since 1979
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Keep in mind the ballasts are very sensitive to heat. So mounting them outside the engine bay and where they can get lots of air flow should be a priority. I like that well between the headlight bucket and radiator.
11-29-11, 09:55 PM
#34
never said I wanted to mount them IN the engine compartment, but I had a perfect spot under the cooling panel, made a REALLY nice bracket that used holes already in the car and then realized just how short those wires are when you take into consideration the lights need to go up and down.
04-02-12, 01:57 PM
#40
Driving RX7's since 1979
iTrader: (43)
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: So Cal where the OC/LA/SB counties meet
Posts: 6,096
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Received 8 Likes
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The difference these lights make is AMAZING!! However, I will advise that it seems much more grinding is apparently needed to get them to fit a Vert.
04-02-12, 06:02 PM
#41
I am currently not making them but i will start another group buy the beginning of summer.
