The FIRST R8 PROJECTOR HEADLIGHT PROTOTYPE is FINISHED ! (....for now)
Well phase one of this project is completed, my cheap-o Projector units have arrived and I have fitted
it to my freshly painted headlight, as you can see below the unit comes in two parts, the main projector
housing and its chrome cover, it also has a couple of adapter plates included to adapt it to a H4 or a H7
headlight, it also has the option to wire up the pre-fitted solenoid to use it as a dipped main beam unit
but as the R8 has a separate main beam I won't use this, yes I know that the dipped lights on the R8
uses a H4 bulb that also doubles as a main beam too but 4 bulbs is a bit over kill even for ROVER.
To fit it to your headlight reflector it basically sits in where the H4 bulb goes, it may seem too heavy to be just
supported by the reflector but I have fitted these to several sets of headlights and run them with no issues, just
keep an eye on your beam levels by facing a wall at night.
You first need to remove the mounting plate for the H1 HID/Xenon bulb, it is only held in with 3 small screws and
then undo the nut washer if it is attached to the threaded shaft, sometimes they are and sometimes they are in
the bag with the adapter plates, you also need to remove the chrome plastic surround, mine came with no screws
fitted, these projectors were only £15 posted so i'm not complaining and I could find alternative small screws to
fit them but it won't fit inside the R8 headlights anyway so it is no great loss.
Next fit the projector unit into the headlight reflector from the front, it has 'TOP' stamped on it so you can fit it in
the correct way up, feed the high beam wires through as well, you can cut these off if you want but I have retained
them in case I decide to use this function, there is just enough of a gap to feed the wires through the locating slot
of the adapter plate, if yours is a bit anorexic or at risk of being stripped just file it a little.
Once in position and by holding the projector in place slide on the white rubber gromit and the H4 adapter plate, it
is easy to see which way up it goes as it sits in place of the OEM bulb, next screw on the nut washer, then once it is
up against the plate firmly push against the projector but not too hard so you can do up the nut tight enough to stop
it moving about, then screw on the HID bulb plate.
Now this is just the first phase of this project, I intend to fit some LED strip lights to emulate DRLs and the sidelights
before refitting the glass, like all the other headlights I have modded I will scrape off as much of the old sealant as I
can and apply a bead of Windscreen Sealant around the headlight housing then refit the glass, it is what I have always
used and gives a great seal but that will be done later down the line, use silicone at your own risk as it may not 'stick'
the glass to the housing and you may be at risk of it falling off while driving.
For now I have placed the glass in place for your viewing pleasure until I get some other bits and bobs sorted, I need to
order some bulbs, only £7 for a pair of 4500k (White) HID bulbs, once they arrive I shall conduct some lighting tests and
see what the beam pattern is like then inform you all with more photos.
Let me know what you think so far folks, I think its going quite well, it has a stealth look.
