Retrofitting HID Projectors into a TJ

[InvertChaos]

Hey everyone. My next mod is going to be installing HID projectors into my TJ. You don't see it very often, and I didn't find much info online, so I'm making a build thread for them.

So here is the plan:

• High-ish quality Morimoto Mini H1 bi-xenon HID projectors from The Retrofit Source plus accessories
• Modify stock JK housings to mount the projectors

The reason I decided to go with the Morimotos and retrofit rather than ebay lights, is that the quality of the projectors far surpasses anything you'll find on ebay for $100. The light is very evenly dispersed with no hotspots or the like, and the low beam cut off is very, very sharp. I've personally seen these lights retrofitted onto my friend's Honda Civic (go ahead, laugh) and they are absolutely fantastic. His high beams are brighter than my highs, fogs, and 6" KC Daylighters combined.



So the idea is that you aim the cut off at the base of the average car's windshield or rear window. That way, you don't blind them, but can see everything. Then when you hit high beams, the cut off shield moves and you can use all of your light.





I decided to use the JK housings because you can easily cut them to modify them, they have a clear lense that won't scatter the light of the projector, they mount right up to a TJ, and still say DOT approved on the front which is fairly important being in a state that requires state inspections.

So here is what I ordered:

• This kit Bi-xenon Morimoto Mini Stage III Kit (H1) - Complete Retrofit Kits from The Retrofit Source Inc which comes with the Morimoto Mini H1 6.0 Bi-xenon projectors, ballasts, bulbs, shrouds, wirings harness, and mounting hardware.
• OEM JK housings

I also tossed in a set of amber led angel eyes to place behind my shrouds. I want to wire them as DRLs and to flash with my turn signals. This is what they'll look like:



All of my stuff came in the other day!











Updates to follow as I get some progress done.

[BadAssEddie]

Pretty cool. I like the moding JK parts to fit. Cooler than plug and play.

[Mr.WJ]

Going to be a fun project and the light output is phenomenal. I could never go back to halogens. Good to see you're not just tossing the HID's in the stock TJ housing haha.

[tomg]

Looks nice! I wouldn't mind doing this to mine sometime!

[InvertChaos]

Installing them tomorrow!

[Lil Whitey]

curious to see them Wes

what's your total project cost looking like?

[InvertChaos]

curious to see them Wes

what's your total project cost looking like?

I'll have to total it later, but itit's around $350 total I'd say.

[InvertChaos]

So here are some pictures of the final product. It'll take me a day or do to get the write up made. It took my 2 friends and I 10hrs to install them because cutting the JK housings was trickier than I thought it would be. Aesthetically, they're not perfect, but that's my fault and you can only notice the imperfections from up close. I've got to say though, there is something sinister looking about my shroud with the led ring behind it, I love it. But, I am super impressed with the performance thus far. We got them aimed last night and went for a drive. The low beam cutoff is razor sharp and has this cool color banding effect, and the high beam has very wide and tall coverage. I can see more on low beams than I could previously with high beams. Also, my KC Daylighters and factory fog lights are now pretty much useless. I'll be aiming the KCs way off to the side and only use the fogs during poor weather like they're intended. Anyways, onto the pics.

[CJonLP]

Very Nice!

Looks great!

[Lil Whitey]

any pics of how the housings and everything mount up in the grille?

[InvertChaos]

any pics of how the housings and everything mount up in the grille?

What part specifically? The jk housings literally mount right up with no modification. There is a retaining ring behind the bezel that holds them in place.

[Matt612]

Looks awesome Wes, I have never seen angel eyes on a Tj but they look great. I like to look.

[Lil Whitey]

any pics of how the housings and everything mount up in the grille?

What part specifically? The jk housings literally mount right up with no modification. There is a retaining ring behind the bezel that holds them in place.

hmm didn't know that. interesting.