A4 conversion?

[98se5speed]

I swear I read/saw somewhere before that someone had put A4 / S4 headlights on their 4th gen. I gave it some thought, then remembered that the earlier A4's had 2-piece lights (later ones had the corner light and headlight as one assembly). Anyone think this headlight (ignore the corner light) would be close to the size of our headlights? Once again, I'm projector crazy.

http://www.helixautomotive.com/images/audi-a4-blackpro-hd-pair2-500.jpg

The only other factory projector setup that I know of which is close to our headlight size is the J30. Sorta rounded on the inside though.

http://i16.ebayimg.com/01/i/06/1e/ee/25_1.JPG

[Biggs]

i don't know man....i think you should just pop open that sucker and then take out the projector and retrofit it into your existing headlights

[98se5speed]

I'm sorta thinking of a hybrid of sorts. Take an aftermarket projector setup (like that A4 one) keep the projector and other lens (high and low beam would be nice) mounted to one another, cut em out and install the 2 lenses inside my current headlight (with obvious hacks and cuts). I'd like to keep my current housing and lens for fit, but insert a pre-mounted projector and possible high-beam lens.

Actually, what I'd really like is for someone to just make a set of aftermarket projector headlights for us! How the hell did the 5th gens, which already have a full OEM HID setup, get support in the aftermarket before us! Idunno, seems there would be more people modding 4th gens, but maybe I'm wrong.

[Biggs]

man just buy some bixenon done

[98se5speed]

ah, the other side of my idea... not spending $400.

I don't care how "bi-xenon" those kits are, for sure I'd still get people flashing me if I put HID in my stock reflectors. Anyone know of anyone that has one of those kits in their stock housings?

[b00b]

i got one 2002 HID reflector. Those things look pretty sexy. I am going to test fit that thing into my 95-96 housing and see how they look and if they will even reflect right.

[Ovaltine Jenkins]

The j30 isn't a projector headlight is it. When I looked at them with hector, we saw they were just normal crappy bulbs with a lens in front, not a true projector.

[98se5speed]

well, it definitely isn't an HID projector, but anything with a magnifying glass lens used to disperse the light is a "projector" of sorts. I know my in-laws J30 had an excellent cut-off line on the low beams. Add an HID retro kit (not sure what bulbs those lenses use) and you would be pretty set.

Unfortunately, J30 headlight assemblies go for around $130 per side. Not exactly a popular car. My aunt has one that's a real POS, I gotta keep an eye out for when she wrecks or junks it.

[Ninos_Maxima]

you could use r32 lights

[98se5speed]

Those do appear to have a similar size/shape, but finding a pair for cheap over here is probably tough. Looking to spend ~$100 max. Probably not entirely feasible, but worth some research. If I can't get it done, my 9004's still light up the road.

[Ovaltine Jenkins]

Not as well as my 9007s.

[98se5speed]

true, true. I'm just not interested in doing anything to it if it doesn't involve an HID projector. Til then, 9004 Silverstars plus fog lights get the job done.

http://tosinet.com/anton/maxima/clean/lites.jpg

[Mr Grey]

At the moment it is not really possible to get an good HID set up without using projectors on out cars. Getting the bulbs themselves sucks for our cars. Which menas there's no cheap method yet. This is one of those cases where you have to pay for quality. Amybe not $400, but close.

[98se5speed]

yeah, I started there, and after about the 50th person flashed me for them being too bright, I put a pair of 9004's back in. I've been doing a lot of research into gutting a pair of A4 headlights and installing the innerds into my stock Maxima housings. From what I've seen so far, I think it'll turn out pretty sweet. Take a look at this stock A4 assembly... if I was to take it apart and use only the inside assembly that has the 2 headlight sources (the projector plus regular reflector for high-beams) and somehow install them (still intact with one another) inside a gutted Maxima headlight, I think it would turn out pretty awesome. Guess I need to get my hands on a pair of A4 headlights.

http://i9.ebayimg.com/03/i/06/06/4f/1d_1.JPG

[Mr Grey]

Good idea...I see where you are going with this.

[98se5speed]

yeah... basically use the A4 lighting system, installed inside our stock housings. Should be tight, just gotta get my hands on a pair of lights. There's some reasonably cheap ones on ebay here and there (especially aftermarket) but they all seem to hose you on shipping ($35+).

This pair of aftermarket Civic/CRX lights is real similar too, but I'm sure the output/quality wouldn't be anywhere near that of the OEM Audi setup. Sorta tempting to try at ~$70 for the pair, shipped. But if I'm gonna hack my headlights all to hell, may as well do it right.

http://www.optionracing.com/images/eBayPhotoNE/HeadTailLights/CRX-HL.jpg

[Biggs]

you don't want those headlights. any aftermarket headlights on ebay will get you terrible beam pattern and terrible light output. I have seen it...those projectors you can't even put a hid bulb inside probably burn it up. TYC makes ok headlight projectors, the beam is not wide but it's alot better then these ebay stuff, and yes you can stick a hid bulb into them.

[98se5speed]

I think I'm just gonna hold out until I can get my hands on an OEM set. If I'm gonna do it, gotta do it right. 2 friends of mine have/had cars with those A4 headlights, and they are awesome.

Problem is, I'm broke as a joke, but I'll figure it out. Just desperate for a project. Guess I should work on swapping injectors in my van. Got the injectors like a month ago, haven't put em in yet. Relatively easy job, but dealing with gas fumes/mess is rarely fun, no matter how easy it is to get at.

[98se5speed]

ha, a super-ghetto photo-chop of what I wanna accomplish

http://gallery.scottpolak.com/albums/maxima/maxima_a4.sized.jpg

Man, it's a ghetto chop, but it sure would look good in real life.

[Biggs]

looks very very oodd very...

[98se5speed]

well, mind you I'm working with 2 pictures that were taken under completely different lighting conditions. I was just trying to explain the idea better. It would hopefully look more stock when finished.

http://images.autotrader.com/images/2005/10/23/191/265/1899123468.191265380.IM1.02.565x421_A.562x421.jpg

[98se5speed]

Here's a way less creepy (and probably close to what it would look like in person) chop. Used the lights you see on the above red A4.

http://anton.scottpolak.com/max_small3.jpg

Now if only someone sold lights just like this...

[Mr Grey]

Good stuff........

[98se5speed]

buddy of mine with a 2000 A4 was bored enough at work 30 minutes ago to go out and measure his lights. These were his eyeball dimensions for the inner lens assembly. Looks like it'll work out perfectly.

http://anton.scottpolak.com/lines.JPG

Am I obsessed with this project or what?

[Biggs]

do it already!!!!

[98se5speed]

I finta, just gotta keep an eye on ebay and gather the goods. No one is ever selling a pair, so I gotta gather each one seperately, which kinda sux. Wish I knew someone who worked at a high-end junkyard, or dealt with totaled cars for an insurance company. That guy would be my best friend ever. What's that? A 2002 6-speed Maxima got rear ended by a semi? Shame. Lemme borrow that car for a few days.

[Biggs]

man a 02 6-speed got rear ended....i would enjoy that....

[98se5speed]

how bout it. I need friends in the auto insurance industry. Actually, my ins. agent is my friend's dad (known him since I was about 13). Maybe next time I talk to him I should ask if he knows anything about getting my hands on salvage parts/cars. Very lucrative business I'm sure, gotta know the right guy.

[Ovaltine Jenkins]

Just get a dealser license and go to junkyard auctions.

[98se5speed]

that's one idea, but I'd probably rather be more like "hey dawg, how bout that pair of headlights for $20?" or "how about that 3.5 drivetrain for $100?" Either that or just know someone who wouldn't give a crap if I yanked stuff off totaled cars before they went to junkyards/auctions.

[Ovaltine Jenkins]

That, would be great.

[98se5speed]

well, yeah, no doubt about that.