107 replies to this topic

[Samwise]

how do you know they do that? 

 

My AUDM lights stayed perfect for 10 years. Yet my JDM lights need a polish every few months..

[jack_keaka]

oh right. yeah true that. well I'm swapping them anyway and ill see how they go. 

[krazynayba]

I think I may have discovered something which could be contributing to the inconsistent beam pattern. On the actual reflector part inside, there is a patch which is sort of "rough" looking or "matte". It's not completely dull - still a bit shiny but matte and grainy looking compared to the rest. I'm thinking there's been some form of heat damage involved, like maybe they've been left out in the sun on 30-40+ degree days.. would explain the little micro cracks on the inside of the lense too. A better way to describe these micro cracks would be that they look like when you melt thick, transparent plastic and bend it. It sort of "splits" and these tiny "cracks" appear where you've bent it... if that makes any sense. I'll try and get some pics in when I can.

 

I'm considering informing the ebay seller of the issue but wouldn't mind getting some other opinions here before I complain. Thankfully I haven't left feedback yet so I've still got some leverage if he wants to be a d**k about it

[jack_keaka]

you have any pictures?

 

this is my current HID's

when i picked them up:

 

since then it has gotten SO MUCH WORSE its actually embarrassing. i have someone swapping the lens' over for me for my AUDM lens' which are minty good. 

 

now:

[Samwise]

Mine look like that. I bought headlight restorer and stuff. I hope it works.

[jack_keaka]

that first pic is after a restorer kit, nek minnut...

[Samwise]

Tried sandpaper and scratch-x?

[owen1r]

2000 Grit wetsanding + PlastX. Headlights have stayed perfect since.

[jack_keaka]

Nah these cracks and imperfections go all the way through. It's not just the surface. And yeah the restorer kit I used had 3 levels of sanding. Came up ok for about a month, then just went haywire.

[owen1r]

Look at some detailing sites, I think it helps if you put some kind of sealant over the top to prevent damage. If the imperfections go all the way through I couldn't see why you can't swap the lenses over. Good luck.

[allpaw4]

HID's emit a hell of of a lot more UV than halogens, hence why they need polishing occasionally. You are essentially looking at a controlled electrical arc (think welding, and the UV burns you get when wearing no protective clothing)

 

You should be able to switch the lens over, although it might be worthwhile buying a second set off IM for cheap. That way you keep the ADM ones, and you have spares if required.

 

Won on IM last night, a pair of these. Will cost me approx 260 landed once they are posted. Made sure I got ones with reasonable lengths of cable to splice, and all the plugs. Couldn't get a set that looked half decent, so got 2 singles. If you look, you can get good quality ones for very cheap. You just have to spend the hour or so it took me to make sure you get the right ones. Everything working, all plugs and excess cable. Most of the ones that look good either didnt have the level control plugs or parker/indicator globe holders, or didnt have the male plug on the main light.

[allpaw4]

Ok, got these a week or 2 ago, installed just then. Took me an hour, but I wasnt very organised and had to go back the the shed several times for extra tools and bits.

 

Rev D models are almost plug and play. As long as the dual filament parkers are installed, you are good to go with only mods to the main HID wiring. All other plugs are good. Use the JDM parkers and wiring up to the main parker plug, and just plug the ADM loom into it. Indicators are the same, ADM loom plugs straight in.

[jack_keaka]

yeah i noticed that on Sunday when i was having some work done to my headlights. why the fudge are the JDM parkers dual filament? also i can't find LED parkers that go into the JDM socket... only ones are way too tall for the housing and don't fit. 

 

also for anyone interested, i fixed up my HID JDM ones. i swapped the covers over from my perfect AUDM ones and painted the insides. came out pretty awesome if i don't say so myself,

 

old on the left new on the right. 

[allpaw4]

As has been said somewhere on the forums, the second filament (21W rather than 5W I think) is for turn lamps - they come on solid when indicating, the Ford EF/EL Fairlanes had a similar setup with their fog lamps. Supposed to give you more light around the corner. Have never understood the need for them, but hey.

 

I have a set of LED single pole (filament in terms of incandescent lights) whites from Aerpro. Will go get a photo of them when it gets a bit later and I can get back out to the car.

I havent installed them yet, as the ADM wiring powers up the wrong pole for the new parkers to work, I need to switch one of the wires in the parker plug over to power up the other filament. Would be ok if I could get the same style LED light in double pole, but Aerpro only do the white T20 globes in single pole. Everything else in double pole LED is red for stop/tail.

[jack_keaka]

If you find some let me know. I'd love to keep that feature. Also can you do a quick diagram of yours when you're done? I think mine are correct but not sure...

[allpaw4]

I'm not going to worry about setting up the dual filaments to work to JDM spec. I'm just going to change the pins in the main parker plug (the flat 3 pin one the ADM loom plugs into) to make the single pole LED parker work. Theres way too much mucking around to be done to make it work to JDM spec, and I dont want to butcher my loom more than I have to. The wiring diagrams in the manual will tell you where you need to get the source from etc. for the second filament if you want to set it up.

 

To make them work fully probably wouldnt be that hard to do. Same as getting dual pole T20 white LED globes shouldn't be too hard if you know the max height you can go.

[Hypnotic]

I like the black on the indicator, looks good.

[jack_keaka]

I like the black on the indicator, looks good.

 

looks so much better. should have came like that. haha

[nickknack]

 

looks so much better. should have came like that. haha

 

Do you have any pictures of them installed?

[allpaw4]

These are what I'm talking about. Can get them from supercheap auto and autopro stores. The only white ones they do in T20 wedge is the 45SMD single pole. No double pole, but could probably find similar online of a different brand. Have not actually put them into the assembly to check they fit yet, have only plugged them in - once I found I needed to change the pins I put the incandescent back in and reinstalled the light.

They are damn bright too.