I want more light!

[Lex]

Well, truth be told, the Escort headlights are just plain bad. I don't have the Espec option Protege people do. So what do I do?

The only option I see myself having is an HID retrofit kit. I know they are illegal, but will it improve my night time visibility? Please give me some input.

[Marc]

Ever thought about a projector retrofit from another vehicle? I know for the protege/323 mirage and bmw projectors can be made to fit and a certain year civic projectors can fit on mx3's. Surely there is something close for you escort guys.

[Lex]

the closest thing are BMW lights or civics .... but because of the dip in the bumper and weird - non rectangular shape of the lights, it will not sit very flush with the rest of the body lines.

Are the HID retrofits really that horrible?

[mazdaracer]

HID belongs in a projector, not a reflector bowl. You'll just have more of that horrible light output. I strongly urge you to not get some 9004 retro kit, please don't.

I'd suggest following Intruder's how-to and going HID with a projector retrofit...you will kick yourself in the ass for not having done it sooner...seriously :P

[greendragon]

I have always added a set of good quality fog lights to run on my cars , I have them on all the time ,they will help augment the factory headlights .

[Lex]

I have always added a set of good quality fog lights to run on my cars , I have them on all the time ,they will help augment the factory headlights .

That's not a bad idea .... projector fogs. Any suggestions on type/brand?

[WorldHazard]

u could convert ur front end to a pro.... or at least the front bumper, and get the e-specs in there....? that would have been my first idea

[Lex]

hehe that's not as easy as that .... and would be quite expensive in the end.

[prakashkamath]

you can get additional lighting like fog lights but that are actually driving lights. that's the best solution imho.

[Lex]

I actually just found a good deal and bought these guys:

http://www.hella.com/produktion/Optilux/WebSite/AuxiliaryLights/FogLamps/Model_1182/Model_1182.jsp

I hope they will greatly improve the lighting and it seems to be one of the most sensible solutions.

[1967cutlass]

I actually just found a good deal and bought these guys:

http://www.hella.com/produktion/Optilux/WebSite/AuxiliaryLights/FogLamps/Model_1182/Model_1182.jsp

I hope they will greatly improve the lighting and it seems to be one of the most sensible solutions.

Those are hot. I just put these on my car, made a HUGE difference. With 55 watt driving lights were the fogs go it puts out a decent amount of light (nothing too great though)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a295/1967cutlass/IMG_7291Large.jpg

[pigeon]

I am actually in the same boat as you here, I have horrible lighting at night... I just cant decide what to do. I dont feel like spending $ and time on an HID projector retrofit tho :(
...and I dont think good halogen bulbs will do quite enough for me.. friggin headlights suck ass

[pigeon]

I've been considering the Hella Micro DE Xenon lights... they're expensive tho, and im not sure how clean its gonna look on my car.

[Intruder]

I am actually in the same boat as you here, I have horrible lighting at night... I just cant decide what to do. I dont feel like spending $ and time on an HID projector retrofit tho :(
...and I dont think good halogen bulbs will do quite enough for me.. friggin headlights suck ass
I was pretty damn impressed by the brand new OEM headlights that I bought for my retrofit. I got them cheap on ebay too... it may be worth lookin out for a pair.

http://www.pixelmaths.com/martin/protege/hid/usdm_patrn_01.jpg

http://imazda.com/forums/showthread.php?t=308

[pigeon]

That is an excellent idea man! :)
That combined with a set of Osrams... and I should be good!

[Lex]

If I really want to go further, I can retrofit those optilux foglights with an HID kit since they are projectors to begin with.

[1967cutlass]

If I really want to go further, I can retrofit those optilux foglights with an HID kit since they are projectors to begin with.


http://www.geocities.com/jvxdriver/hid_foglight_conversion.htm

[Lex]

Something like that yes ... so Mike, how much better is visibility with just the 55watt halogen foglights?

[mazdaracer]

Thats not a bad how-to...although i'd look for a better quality foglight than Pilot...Hella has some decent fogs at decent prices. The wire to hold the bulb in place is kinda ghetto, but the coke can step cutoff is alright...just make sure to point the silver side out ;)

IMO, you could have 100w halogen fogs and still not match the output of a nice HID retro'd projector. Yes, it will cost more, but i garauntee you'll be much happier with the outcome.

[1967cutlass]

Something like that yes ... so Mike, how much better is visibility with just the 55watt halogen foglights?

Well it's like this...

Car]_____/----------------/

The first line would be the driving lights lighting everything up in the first 20 feet of the car, then the second line is the headlights filling in everything after that. It's better than nothing but they aren't really bright enough for long range visibility stuff, since the headlights are brighter anyway.

You could use your projectors and retrofit them into an escort headlight housing (you can have my old ones for free if you want them) and do an HID conversion. You'd just have to sand the diffusers off the plastic and make it clear. You can also get TSX projectors or ones from other cars that will work nicely for somewhat cheap. I have driven a car with an HID retrofit and honestly unless you had a bank of rally foglights (which wouldn't have a nice cutoff anyway) our escort lighting will never be that good.

[Lex]

Mike I might take you up on those headlights and the valve cover we talked about. How much would all the be shipped to 98281?

[1967cutlass]

Mike I might take you up on those headlights and the valve cover we talked about. How much would all the be shipped to 98281?

I'm not sure, the headlight boxes are fairly large it would probably end up being around 20$ for everything since it's close.

[Lex]

PM sent.

[pigeon]

98281?
Hey, thats not a postal code...!

[Lex]

got a buddy over the border :) I drive down and pick stuff up making shipping easier, faster, and cheaper.

[pigeon]

Awesome! Don't you have to declare it on your way back up?

[Lex]

Awesome! Don't you have to declare it on your way back up?

I do ... unless I just happen to install parts there ... and in any case I don't get charged brokerage.

[pigeon]

Ok dude... hands down jealousy here. (and very smart thinking I might add :goodjob: )
I spend between $2000 - $3000 on brokerage services per year :(
I need to find me a cheap broker

[Lex]

Ok dude... hands down jealousy here. (and very smart thinking I might add :goodjob: )
I spend between $2000 - $3000 on brokerage services per year :(
I need to find me a cheap broker

Thanks, it's saved me A LOT in the long run and shipping is so much faster and cheaper. I just have a bunch of parts sent there and do a run every couple of weeks or month or when needed.

This is one thing that sucks about being this side of the border ... the auto market is on the other side.

[TheMAN]

I am actually in the same boat as you here, I have horrible lighting at night... I just cant decide what to do. I dont feel like spending $ and time on an HID projector retrofit tho :(
...and I dont think good halogen bulbs will do quite enough for me.. friggin headlights suck ass
uhhh... you COULD get the EDM shit you know

[pigeon]

uhhh... you COULD get the EDM shit you know
Well my darling, how do I acquire these E-SPEC's and what price range am I looking at??

You stupid asstard moron Canadian with your garbage 2nd gen and poo brown fake interior, I always tell you but you're such a n00blet who has the memory of a moronic Canadian garbage 2nd gen owning gold fish! FAQ!!!!!!!!!OMGBBQQ!
It scares me when you yell :(

I DONT CARE, dont make me come to Toronto and take a cab to Hamilton so I can slap you! Then ask you for a ride in your garbage 2nd gen with the poo brown interior back to the airport so I can fly back to texas ya'll... READ the FAQ!
Ok ok, I just did... nothings in it... and all I could find on clubprotege was you yelling at Kdawgone from like 10 years ago... now what!

[Intruder]

I think you can get e-specs on the German ebay. They're like 200 euro each. And they're plastic.

[pigeon]

..i figured i'd just make it a bit easier for you to answer the question, and just insult myself for 5 minutes

I'd say i've captured your Edwin-ness accurately, wouldnt you??

[hadoken]

I've been keeping quiet on these until I really start seeing what's needed to get them to fit: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E36-ZKW-PROJECTOR-HEADLIGHTS-EURO-ELLIPSOID-318ti_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33710QQihZ007QQit emZ170098694833QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

They're E-Spec ellipsoid projectors for the BMW, one of the 3 brands approved by BMW for use. But from what I've read they go back a ways deeper than the USDM E36 lights do so I'm still trying to learn a little more about them.

On a side note I've also started looking into Volvo 850 lights as an option because a guy at work showed me an 850 with these BMW lights installed so the size has to be fairly similar.

[Lex]

Keep us updated .... I'd really be interested to see what a swap like this entails.