Retrofit Source Lighting Upgrade

[my1stturbo]

Anyone tried the kit they have available for our cars? Was thinking of upgrading the projectors in a pair of stock halogens, wanted to know how the kit was and if install was good fit. Only saw one install thread I can remember but the install customized the brackets some.

[diagnosticator]

Anyone tried the kit they have available for our cars? Was thinking of upgrading the projectors in a pair of stock halogens, wanted to know how the kit was and if install was good fit. Only saw one install thread I can remember but the install customized the brackets some.

OEM Valeo low beam HID projectors fit in place of the OEM halogen projectors no mods required.

[Johann2.7t]

Anyone tried the kit they have available for our cars? Was thinking of upgrading the projectors in a pair of stock halogens, wanted to know how the kit was and if install was good fit. Only saw one install thread I can remember but the install customized the brackets some.

Ive had mini H1 projectors in a b5 s4 and was probably the best money Ive ever spent on an Audi. I think there are better options out there but this kit is essentially a bolt on upgrade making it very appealing.

[eljay]

Yes, the Mini H1 kits from TRS are excellent! I have an older 5.0 version in another car and the difference is well... night and day.
I recently picked up a similar kit from HID concept (a site sponsor) that I will be putting into my Depo housings, but I need to make my own bracket. The TRS kits includes the bracket, so it's an easy swap.

Here's the thread you are looking for.

[tcm glx]

Definitely jump on doing it... the brackets are on sale too! PM me if your interested in more info, I buy wholesale from them. Can get you the latest Mini V7.0 setup for a good deal!

[noldevin]

I installed the mini H1 bixenon kit, it works great! You don't even need to bake the headlights, though it is a bit tight trying to get the projector in and out through the back. Light output is incredible, though I do recommend doing the Joey mod because light tends to reflect off the chrome bits in the housing.

[FrankenA4]

I'll also tell you to go for them. I've had the V7.0 installed on my Civic for almost a year now with zero issues. Light output and cutoff is awesome.

Also, baking the headlight apart isn't a real big deal either so don't let it scare you off from doing the Joey as well. It'll make them look nice a sleek with the new projectors.

[my1stturbo]

Thanks for all the great feedback. Will definitely look into this.

[diagnosticator]

I'll also tell you to go for them. I've had the V7.0 installed on my Civic for almost a year now with zero issues. Light output and cutoff is awesome.

Also, baking the headlight apart isn't a real big deal either so don't let it scare you off from doing the Joey as well. It'll make them look nice a sleek with the new projectors.

I have tried baking the housings apart, the only success I had was destroying the housing.

[FrankenA4]

I have tried baking the housings apart, the only success I had was destroying the housing.

May I ask how you went about it? There's a lot of how-to's running around on the internet ranging from pre-heat to 300 and then turn it off, to 215 and bake for 10+ minutes. Either way, sorry you didn't have as much luck in the area.

I personally had zero issues myself setting the oven to 225, leaving it on, and putting the headlight in for about 6 minutes. It can be a bit of a struggle getting an initial lip to pry on but after that it came apart *relatively* easily. Other things I would suggest to others as well is put the headlight in the oven with the housing facing away from the primary source of heat-ish (I have a gas stove, the softer plastic housing was facing towards the door). I can't verify if this helped me or not, but given I've had to take my headlights back apart 4 separate times and have done it this way, I would say it works pretty well.

On the other hand, I can also verify how stubborn German headlights can be. I attempted to do the retro into an 08 Jetta and it didn't matter how long we baked the lights at almost any temperature, they would not come apart. In all, the housings and all were still 100% fine though.

[gmudan]

I have tried baking the housings apart, the only success I had was destroying the housing.

I have also baked mine apart, i used a heat gun and slowly worked my way around. It did take a long time and probably wouldn't do it again, but it did work.

[my1stturbo]

Just got this and trying it in my drivers side headlight a d for the life of me not seeing a way to get it centered. The top of the projector is almost touching the housing. Anyone have experience and might be able to let me know what might be wrong?

[my1stturbo]

Is the new projector supposed to be centered in the opening? I've tried the kit with the included adapter in 2 different headlights and each time the top of the projector is touching the housing with a .25" gap on the bottom. I reused the rubber spacers on the bottom, but it seems the only way to get it centered is pushing in the top corner that isn't secured, but obviously as soon as I let go it goes back to being misaligned.

I think I might have gotten it to work. Had to modify the projector a but and move the adapter back instead of in the front. Fits much better, even though the glass of the lens isn't all the way forward.

[my1stturbo]

Bringing this back for any feedback. I moved the bracket a little and the lenses seem to fit up much nicer(touching the front housing) but want to make sure that should be fine with respect to heat. So curious to hear how the fitment of the new kit has been for others coming from halogen lights?

[noldevin]

Mine fit well, but took some shimming to get the aim right. Do you get a lot of glare off the chrome on the bottom?

[my1stturbo]

Didn't install in the car yet. I keep taking them out trying to get the fitment better. I found if I move the bracket from the front to the middle of the assembly it fits better, just the lense touches the plastic.

[JB5]

I'm using the TRS Mini H1. I used the rubber spacers since that's what aligns them. I also had to shave off part of the aluminum projector lens housing so the nut can screw down right. it lights up great but doesn't sit flush with the chrome piece of the projector.

[my1stturbo]

Did you put the bracket in the position that the diagram goes or further back? I had to add a little clearance to mine as well since I moved the bracket.

[noldevin]

The retro quik kits make things easier, but retrofitting will always require some adjustment to get it just right.

[JUSADUB]

Im running their 7.0 kit. I just installed them a couple of weeks ago into my brand new depo ecodes. I still need to get the bulbs to seat properly but they work just fine now. I have ran OEM xenons, OEM ecodes, and depo ecodes in the past. The mini h1 projectors by far are better then all of them.

[my1stturbo]

Thanks for the feedback. Once I get another pair of housings I'll see about swapping these in again. Will leave the bracket where I think it fits best and see how they look installed.

[DougL]

I ran the Mini H1 v6's in my car with 4.5K Morimoto XB bulbs and 35w ballasts. They were light years superior to the OEM bi-xenon's and OEM halogens I had tried previously.

I swapped to the Mini H1 v7's with 5.5K XB Bulbs and 55w ballasts. What a huge improvement. The cutoff is so sharp and the output is very wide. The adapter plate makes install extremely easy. The output is so controlled I never have oncoming traffic flashing me. These photos don't do them justice- but I only own a phone camera, no SLR here.

I'd check out if they offer their Mini D2S v4 with the retro-quick kit for our A4's before you order. Supposedly it is a superior setup.






Lows:



Highs:

[my1stturbo]

Thanks for the response. I actually ordered and have the v7 kit already, just was never too happy with the fitment with the mounting plate in the correct position. I found that if I put the kit together in this order:

Projector lenses-> adapter plate -> projector rear housing (from front of car back, with adapter plate sandwiched between the lenses and backing)

that the lenses was then centered in the plastic cutout in the headlight(although it is touching the plastic). Putting the plate in front of the lenses always seemed to leave the lense closer to the top than the bottom and never centered left to right. Was that your experience as well? If not, any pointers or tips to help in getting it centered?

[DougL]

Thanks for the response. I actually ordered and have the v7 kit already, just was never too happy with the fitment with the mounting plate in the correct position. I found that if I put the kit together in this order:

Projector lenses-> adapter plate -> projector rear housing (from front of car back, with adapter plate sandwiched between the lenses and backing)

that the lenses was then centered in the plastic cutout in the headlight(although it is touching the plastic). Putting the plate in front of the lenses always seemed to leave the lense closer to the top than the bottom and never centered left to right. Was that your experience as well? If not, any pointers or tips to help in getting it centered?

By putting the plate between the lens portion of the projector and the reflector bowl/cutoff shield portion you've modified the optics and will have a different beam pattern / light distribution. I made this exact mistake on my v6 set, but only realized after the fact.

IIRC the brackets slide OVER the lens and the assembly should be adapter plate > lens > projector bowl


You might have to play with the alignment settings on the headlight itself- did you properly aim them after install?

[SleeperAvant]

I ran the Mini H1 v6's in my car with 4.5K Morimoto XB bulbs and 35w ballasts. They were light years superior to the OEM bi-xenon's and OEM halogens I had tried previously.

I swapped to the Mini H1 v7's with 5.5K XB Bulbs and 55w ballasts. What a huge improvement. The cutoff is so sharp and the output is very wide. The adapter plate makes install extremely easy. The output is so controlled I never have oncoming traffic flashing me. These photos don't do them justice- but I only own a phone camera, no SLR here.

I'd check out if they offer their Mini D2S v4 with the retro-quick kit for our A4's before you order. Supposedly it is a superior setup.

What projector lenses are those?

Edit: nevermind they are mini h1 v7's, wow. What I have done is run 3" STI clear lenses in my oem bi-xenons.

[my1stturbo]

By putting the plate between the lens portion of the projector and the reflector bowl/cutoff shield portion you've modified the optics and will have a different beam pattern / light distribution. I made this exact mistake on my v6 set, but only realized after the fact.

IIRC the brackets slide OVER the lens and the assembly should be adapter plate > lens > projector bowl


You might have to play with the alignment settings on the headlight itself- did you properly aim them after install?

Yea the correct order is supposed to be plate > lens > projector bowl. But whenever I put it together like that and then turn to look at the unit from the front I have the the top of the lens touching the plastic and then about a .25" gap on the bottom. I'll play around with it again this weekend. I never actually installed the lights in the car because the fitment always looked so off. I played with the loosening the two bottom screws to get better fitment but didn't have much luck. You left the rubber bushings in place I imagine?

[DougL]

Yeah ya need the rubber bushings to aim the lights correctly. Actually mine were a little crushed- I should have replaced them with some vacuum line or something. Maybe when I do something dumb like Joeymod or quad projectors I'll fix em up

[my1stturbo]

Yeah ya need the rubber bushings to aim the lights correctly. Actually mine were a little crushed- I should have replaced them with some vacuum line or something. Maybe when I do something dumb like Joeymod or quad projectors I'll fix em up

Cool. How centered are your new lenses compared to the old? Mine seemed off center and the only way I could think to fix it would be to tighten the bottom 2 mounting points that have the bushing on them until I couldn't tighten anymore to pull the bottom in.

[my1stturbo]

For those that have installed these, which is the correct position for the bracket :



Or



I know instructions call for it in one position but I didn't ha much luck with it there. I found I would need to modify the rear housing some to allow for access to the studs to secure the projector.

[JUSADUB]

For those that have installed these, which is the correct position for the bracket :



Or



I know instructions call for it in one position but I didn't ha much luck with it there. I found I would need to modify the rear housing some to allow for access to the studs to secure the projector.

The 1st picture is right. I did it the way you had it on the 2nd picture and my cutoff line was all jacked up.

[gmudan]

For anyone shopping, eBay has the MINI H1 7.0 for about 115$. Grab them and the TRS adaptor plate for 5$ along with a HID kit and you're set for a fairly cheap upgrade.

[my1stturbo]

The 1st picture is right. I did it the way you had it on the 2nd picture and my cutoff line was all jacked up.

Thanks. How did you secure the top corners? The side that has the rounded off section should be installed closest to the center of the car? When I tried mine that corner is about .25" away from being flush.

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[my1stturbo]

So looking it over again and watched the video online and had a question. With the bracket installed like this:



Which side would that be used on? All this time I've been trying to use it on the passenger side with the top hole in the adapter being secured by the top nut in the housing but watching the video again maybe it should be used on driver side?

[thetikm]

For anyone shopping, eBay has the MINI H1 7.0 for about 115$. Grab them and the TRS adaptor plate for 5$ along with a HID kit and you're set for a fairly cheap upgrade.

Are you sure those brackets will work with the mini h1 7.0's? The pictures of the brackets I'm seeing in this thread look different than what is for sale on the trs website. Those brackets look to be for the 6.0's only

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[gmudan]

Are you sure those brackets will work with the mini h1 7.0's? The pictures of the brackets I'm seeing in this thread look different than what is for sale on the trs website. Those brackets look to be for the 6.0's only

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Hmm I'm not sure, I'll have to ask. And forget about the eBay mini h1's. TRS told me they are fake!

[my1stturbo]

Ok, so after many attempts I finally watched the video online again and realized what i was doing wrong so I have the projectors mounted and fitment is good. Went to install the ballasts like I saw in a post on here but the wiring to the ignitor is long to too long to fit under the light like I had hoped. Where are you all putting the ballasts? I have an old setup with HIDs so i can reuse those locations if need be but not sure the wiring is long enough.

[Fast4esT]

Can anyone who has been running the mini h1 bulbs comment on their longevity? I've been running the trs kit since early 2013 and in the last 6 months been feeling that my light output has noticeably reduced. Curious if it's my imagination or anyone has this experience.