FS:FX-R Retro/Mini Retro

I've been sifting through threads on HID planet and haven't found anything on it besides with the Blazers. When my projectors come, I'll see if they install with the return wire down from the factory. Someone made a comment on HID Planet:
"As you can see, I have modified the base of the bulbs to allow the return wire to be DOWN, as with any legitimate HID projector, for best output."

He was referring to modifying the bulb for the Blazers but sort of implys that you normally wouldn't have to make that modification on a 'legitimate' projector. Time will tell... If I find something definitive, I'll post back.

 

DUE TO TRAVELLING (mission trip to Cambodia) ALL ORDERS/SERVICES WILL RESUME NOVEMBER 1, 2012. ORDERS/SERVICES WILL BE A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS. THANK YOU

 

returned!

 

me and you need to speak in person soon

 

alright mister heh.. I should be up next weekend visiting during the day.

 

gotta pay you...sounds good

 

postponed to next sat!

 

alright sounds good

 

Bump for a great guy who does some kick ass work

 

At $750 a pair, that's a tough cookie to swallow

 

As one who did his own retrofit $750 is a really decent price. Even if you do not factor in the cost of a set of donor headlights the cost for parts needed to do the job is close to $500. This includes paint if you want to black out the headlamps. Then there is a cost of any tools you would need to buy. If you hustled and everything went well it would take you close to 4 days to do the job. Most of that time is waiting for paint to dry.

I do agree it is a tough cookie to swallow but swapping out a set of headlamps should only take a few hours.

 

holy crap $500 for fxr's? where the heck are you ordering from? you need new supplier, dude.

 

TRS.

The stage IV is $410. With CCFL and sealing compound add $35.
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=205

You can purchase through a group buy, if one one is currently running, or purchase a less expensive FXR setup.

By the time you add in paint to black out the housing you are close to $500.

Paint included an adhesion promotor, primer for plastic, and color matched BSP paint.

There is also a cost for misc hardware to mount and seal the FXR to the reflector bowl.

 

yes the stage 4 is, but he's not selling the stage 4 so why advertise that price?

that kit starts at $315. if someone REALLY wants the ccfl halos, that's $25. the glue i've never seen a need for, nor needed on the 20+ retros i've done for clients, but okay let's add $10 for that. $350 for parts. paint including adhesion promoter would be maybe $10-15 tops - you're not using a whole can per customer are you? no need to charge full price for that stuff then. hardware - i've never spent more than $20. all the hardware for my truck retro costed MAYBE $10 from Lowes. that's also all stainless steel stuff.
so, estimating pretty high on paint and misc hardware you're at $370-$380.
the whole reason to me even saying anything, is people don't want to pay so much for retros, so why over charge? especially when OEM products aren't being used.

don't take this the wrong way, i'm not bashing anything or anyone here but i'm sure some people would love to hear why it's all so expensive.

 

I did not tkae it the wrong way. This was the cost to me to do mine on the Tacoma. If there is a TRS group buy going on you can save yourself $100 off the cost.

I found the project pretty streight forward with some nervous moments during the project. Overall I would give the project a difficulty of 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. Not that it was hard but there are a few places wher you can really do damage to the donor headlamps.

I will say that AA was very helpful and provided information freely.

 

Buy/Sell/Trade rules [Revised 6/28/2012]

DO NOT BASH for sale threads in what you think is a good price to sell an item. PM the OP and give them a suggestion.

The seller can ask whatever price he wants. If someone want's to bargain, that's up to them but way to ruin the guy's thread.

 

for the record i'll once again state that i WASN'T bashing.
i was saying why explaining his pricing may be beneficial for his sales since $750 for headlights seems unjustifiable to some customers.

 

To all inquiring minds. The FX-R stage 3 kit is $315 plus your accessories, tax, ship and such it can run up to $370-$380 (jump on a group buy and its cheaper, 25% cheaper)

A used OEM Tacoma headlight runs roughly $120 for a pretty good set.

so far that is about $500.This service, though may be easy for some, takes time regardless. My fastest stills take a whole Saturday to work on a pair! That is if I'm lucky and I don't come across any complications (minor alignment issues, JB glue not dry, any other misc. modifications to the shroud/projector/light). I understand it can be a little bit hard to swallow. I paid about the same amount, if not more, when I first bought a set.

For other people who are reading this, should you have any questions. Please feel free to PM me. "sk8rjess" I appreciate the PM and your concern for my pricing.

For the record, though I've done many retrofits and have the experience/knowledge, it still takes a day or more to complete.

 

You expect him to work for free?

Disassemble the housings, cut the reflectors, mount the projectors, dummy up the housings in an aiming jig, fire them up, get the projector position close enough so that the finished product can be aimed with the adjusters, etc....

Ants isn't just buying and repackaging a bunch of shit.