Retrofit

[2016xl]

well I'm getting antsy with these headlights and from what I see,for the cost of those led headlights from xb i could probably get a retrofit going and get the same if not better output and look good doing it.question is has anyone heard of someone doing the swap?.any computer related issues to change wiring?etc?

 

[mbp1979]

I'm working on a set myself now waiting on my bezels to get back from the painter's. So I'll know in the next couple days once I start working on them.

 

[CMoore711]

@2016xl and @mbp1979 - Any update on this?

mbp what platform do you have? Escalade, Yukon, or Tahoe.

I realize this is an old thread to bump up, but along the same topic.

Most of the headlight projector retrofit threads on the site are specific the the '07-'14 model years.

I have a 2015 Yukon XL Denali and have been looking into this quite a bit. The stock 2015 Yukon XL Denali is a 3" dia. D3S HID projector. That's all I can tell without opening up the headlight. But I would think a simple project upgrade would be quite easy. No reason for shrouds or too much cutting if you can get an upgraded projector that mounts with the same bolt pattern as the stock OEM projector.

Has anyone opened up one of their headlights to see what the low beam projector mounting bolt pattern is? I would assume GM used the same low beam projector across the Tahoe/Yukon platform. Confirming this would lead to a shorter list of projectors with the same mounting bolt pattern and could make this upgrade pretty easy.

@cmatt I know you've got some headlight swapping wiring harness upgrade experience. Have you ever had an OEM headlight opened up and confirming the projector mounting bolt pattern?

Trying to find some guidance or experience from others before I just pull the trigger on an OEM headlight and open it up.

I've upgraded my OEM HID low beam bulbs to OSRAM CBI D3S bulbs, but it's not enough. The light output sucks and I depend on my LED fog lights to make up the difference. That should not be the case.

 

[Tiki]

Can the non HID equipped projectors accept aftermarket HID projectors? I assume they are the same projector.

 

[CMoore711]

Can the non HID equipped projectors accept aftermarket HID projectors? I assume they are the same projector.

Yes; Unlike Halogen reflector headlights projectors are mounted into the headlight with a sort of flange and bolt pattern regardless if they are HID or Halogen projectors.

Here's an example of the way a projector mounts:

I've been trying to find out if anyone has opened up a '15-'20 Yukon headlight to confirm the mounting bolt pattern of the stock projector. Knowing GM; I would even go as far as saying that the same halogen projector is used across all '15-'20 SUV/Truck platforms, same for the HID projector. And I bet the only change between the '15-'20 HID vs. halogen projector is the actual bulb socket connection at the back of the projector.

There's only a few different bolt patterns that projectors use and if we knew what bolt pattern the OEM projector is it would really help narrow down which upgraded projector would be a simple remove crappy OEM and replace with upgraded projector type retrofit. Essentially with no cutting or much modification. At that point the most complicated step of the whole process would in fact be just opening and re-sealing the headlight assembly.

 

[Tiki]

Yes; Unlike Halogen reflector headlights projectors are mounted into the headlight with a sort of flange and bolt pattern regardless if they are HID or Halogen projectors.

Here's an example of the way a projector mounts:
View attachment 362881

I've been trying to find out if anyone has opened up a '15-'20 Yukon headlight to confirm the mounting bolt pattern of the stock projector. Knowing GM; I would even go as far as saying that the same halogen projector is used across all '15-'20 SUV/Truck platforms, same for the HID projector. And I bet the only change between the '15-'20 HID vs. halogen projector is the actual bulb socket connection at the back of the projector.

There's only a few different bolt patterns that projectors use and if we knew what bolt pattern the OEM projector is it would really help narrow down which upgraded projector would be a simple remove crappy OEM and replace with upgraded projector type retrofit. Essentially with no cutting or much modification. At that point the most complicated step of the whole process would in fact be just opening and re-sealing the headlight assembly.

That was my assumption and like you was hoping for an easy upgrade.

 

[CMoore711]

So I've been trying to search and search on this.

It seems there are some common projector upgrade packages for the K2XX Silverado's and Sierras and some vendors that make mounting bracket conversion "plates" to make projector retrofits easier on certain GM SUV/Truck headlights. Some projector swap/upgrade kits that are actually doable without even opening up the headlight!

This video here is a couple years old, but you get the idea and can see how much room from the back with the headlight cap removed there is to work with on the K2XX Sierra and Silverado headlights:

Other than the brackets to convert the bolt pattern it seems pretty straight forward. Especially like the idea of not having to open up the headlight.

Reviewing the back of a K2XX Yukon headlight, the opening for the low beam projector seems a bit smaller. I'm not so sure the same projector swap/upgrade would be doable without opening up the headlight? The project may be too large to come out of that back opening and the new one may be too large to go back inside.

This is the back of a non-Denali Yukon Halogen low beam projector headlight

I did purchase a broken "for parts only" Yukon OEM halogen headlight off eBay to play around with. My original intent was to bake it and open it up to see what the mounting bolt pattern was for the OEM projector to see what Bi-LED or Bi-Xenon projector would be the easiest swap.

But then I found the video above and got a glimmer of hope that maybe an upgrade could be achieved without even opening the head light.

More to come...

 

[Tiki]

Super excited, I need all the lights now, putting in a lot of remote highway time.

 

[Tiki]

@CMoore711 Any updates?

 

[Tiki]

Le bump

 

[CMoore711]

I did receive the OEM K2XX Yukon Halogen low beam projector headlight housing. I didn't heat it up in an oven and open it up completely, but I was just trying to see what all I could see from the back side of the headlight and details about the OEM Halogen projector.

The OEM Halogen projector is made by MAGNA. The access to the projector mounting bolts is A LOT tighter on our K2XX SUV headlights than the back side of the K2XX Truck headlights. You can just tell by the larger overall size and diameter of the stock dust caps on the truck headlights vs. the SUV headlights.

Here is a picture of the backside of the OEM Halogen project through the opening with the dust cap removed:

You can see the (4) mounting torq bit screws. Unfortunately it's not a straight path to the bolts through the opening, I will need to get my hands on some sort of flex drive extension to see if I can get at them that way.

Something like this:https://www.homedepot.com/p/eazypow...RnJBTSbdM6jYbvPPANIaAsQsEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Another thing I noticed that will present an issue.

You can see that the chrome shiny mounting flange is a part of the headlight fixture the projector is mounted to and the actual projector itself has a more dull cast aluminum finish on it same as the back side of the projector bowl. Notice where the bolts mount the projector how the flanged mounting lip of the projector is on the FRONT side of the chrome shiny mounting flange of the headlight fixture. Even if I can get a clear path access to the (4) mounting bolts and remove them I'm not sure there is enough room or clearance for the projector to come out the back of the headlight through the dust cap opening.

Here is the same picture where I have noted the mounting flange area I'm referencing. You can see how the projector mounting flange is on the front side of the headlight mounting flange.

I need to do some additional recon and put some more effort into seeing if I can remove the projector from the back side without damaging or cutting the OEM headlight housing. But my initial findings are not encouraging for a projector swap that could be done WITHOUT opening up the headlight.

I also need to see if I can figure out a way to measure the bolt pattern of the (4) mounting bolts to see if it's a "standard" projector mounting bolt pattern; Something standard like the Hella G3 G5 Bolt pattern. Something tells me that won't be the case either and some adaptor brackets may be necessary for an aftermarket projector like what's needed on the K2XX truck headlights found here:

2015-2019 Chevrolet Silverado HD D2S 4.0/5.0 Retrofit C-Brackets

Retrofit your Chevrolet Silverado HD with a stainless steel laser-cut C-Bracket. Fits 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 Chevrolet Silverado HD or 1500 LTZ with Halogen Projector headlights C-Brackets replicate the factory mounting points allowing for a no hassle installation. These Brackets...

custom-brackets-designs.myshopify.com

Here's a decent DIY video of the K2XX truck platform retrofit WITHOUT opening the headlight:

Here's another video of his output results in night time driving with the NHK IV Plus Bi-LED projector:

It is a SIGNIFICANT improvement over even the OEM HID light output.

 

[Tiki]

So you think magna installed the projector and then close the headlight? That’s no bueno

 

[Tiki]

 

[CMoore711]

@Tiki What initial bracket did you propose to them that rendered their response saying "the bracket in that kit is a little different than the one you would need."

There are not project mounting brackets in this kit here that it looks like they linked you to:

G5 D2S Bi-Xenon Projector Retrofit Parts Package

What is it? Essentially this is a replica of the Original Hella G5 Projector, which is what the Morimoto D2S 5.0 Bixenon projector was based off of. While very similar in comparison, there are a few differences. The main difference is the shield type, the G5 has a straight shield and the...

lightwerkz.net

That projector just has a standard G5 mounting bolt pattern.

The second link in his response are the actual brackets he's referring to I believe.
Found here:

Ram / Charger / Durango / Tahoe to G5 Projector Retrofit Brackets

Retrofit your Dodge Ram, Charger, Durango, and Chevy Tahoe with a stainless steel/ 5052 Aluminum, laser-cut C-Bracket. These Brackets convert the factory halogen projectors found in the Dodge RAM to proper retrofit bi-xenon projectors. D2S 4.0/5.0/G5 + MLED 2.0 compatible too! Confidence: Order...

lightwerkz.net

The link says Dodge Ram 15-18, but if you click the link the description reads: RAM / CHARGER / DURANGO / TAHOE TO G5 BRACKETS.

And lists the '15+ TAHOE.

It would make sense that GM used the same low beam halogen projector across ALL K2XX SUV platforms.

 

[Tiki]

THe truck bracket

 

[Tiki]

Do it

 

[Tiki]

@CMoore711 Imma need you to try this.