Morimoto Sealed7 + XB LED Fogs = Perfect Affordable Lighting from TheRetrofit Source
03-23-2015, 07:15 AM
#1
JK Freak
Thread Starter
Morimoto Sealed7 + XB LED Fogs = Perfect Affordable Lighting from TheRetrofit Source
Over the past two years I've gone through a few different head/fog light setups and I think I finally found the perfect affordable solution. First I spent way too much money on Truck Lites which iced over in the snow and became completely useless. Then I got the heated Truck Lites and they were okay, but still not excellent.
During this time I went from the stock fogs to Rigid knock off square amber 'floods' and those were just too blinding to other people on the road. They threw light everywhere and I was constantly getting flashed. Next I tried drop in LED bulbs which did next to nothing except change the color of the light and then I added amber film and that seemed to eliminate any usable light.
Fast forward to after a year with Truck Lites and I decided it was time to give true HIDs a shot. Two of my buddies told me that the Morimoto Sealed7s were much better projectors than the ones included from the big JK retrofit guy who's on the other forum. One of these friends had those lights and the output was good, but I wasn't impressed with how the buckets looked and after getting a very high quote from that guy, I took my friends' advice and ordered my Sealed 7s from TRS. I was concerned about having to 'build' the lights since I wanted to customize my shroud color(the offer a pre-built option if you're okay with the chrome shrouds), but after talking to Matt at TRS and Chris(a very passionate Sealed7 owner) over on JKO I felt confident that even I could handle cutting, painting and gluing the shroud. The projectors come pre-installed in these lights which is usually the hardest part. The only issue I had was with the high beams, and it turned out that the problem lies within my Jeep as a shop that I reached out to with lighting experience decided wiring the high beams to my SPOD was the easiest way to go. So after $400(with discount code) and a few hours of work I have really good looking lights that put out more light than I have seen any vehicle with OEM hids or LEDs exceed. I've since driven a few new Bimmers with OEM Hids and a new Mini with their new LED headlights and the Sealed7s just destroy them. I've joked that I can't get a new car that can't be retrofit because these headlights have spoiled me so much.
So naturally when I heard that The Retrofit Source was going to be selling LED fogs from the same company, Morimoto, I jumped. After a simple plug and play install these lights are just as awesome. The output(which I need to grab a pic of) is low, wide and has a crisp cutoff. They do exactly what a fog should do and they do it for $170 compared to $300+ for the JW speaker fogs.
All in all my light setup cost me $570 and I'd put it up against the JW Speaker setup that winds up at $1000+ for fogs and head lights. Also, for what it's worth, I can't say enough about TRS customer service. They've always gotten back to me almost momentarily and I've never had a painful experience with them.
During this time I went from the stock fogs to Rigid knock off square amber 'floods' and those were just too blinding to other people on the road. They threw light everywhere and I was constantly getting flashed. Next I tried drop in LED bulbs which did next to nothing except change the color of the light and then I added amber film and that seemed to eliminate any usable light.
Fast forward to after a year with Truck Lites and I decided it was time to give true HIDs a shot. Two of my buddies told me that the Morimoto Sealed7s were much better projectors than the ones included from the big JK retrofit guy who's on the other forum. One of these friends had those lights and the output was good, but I wasn't impressed with how the buckets looked and after getting a very high quote from that guy, I took my friends' advice and ordered my Sealed 7s from TRS. I was concerned about having to 'build' the lights since I wanted to customize my shroud color(the offer a pre-built option if you're okay with the chrome shrouds), but after talking to Matt at TRS and Chris(a very passionate Sealed7 owner) over on JKO I felt confident that even I could handle cutting, painting and gluing the shroud. The projectors come pre-installed in these lights which is usually the hardest part. The only issue I had was with the high beams, and it turned out that the problem lies within my Jeep as a shop that I reached out to with lighting experience decided wiring the high beams to my SPOD was the easiest way to go. So after $400(with discount code) and a few hours of work I have really good looking lights that put out more light than I have seen any vehicle with OEM hids or LEDs exceed. I've since driven a few new Bimmers with OEM Hids and a new Mini with their new LED headlights and the Sealed7s just destroy them. I've joked that I can't get a new car that can't be retrofit because these headlights have spoiled me so much.
So naturally when I heard that The Retrofit Source was going to be selling LED fogs from the same company, Morimoto, I jumped. After a simple plug and play install these lights are just as awesome. The output(which I need to grab a pic of) is low, wide and has a crisp cutoff. They do exactly what a fog should do and they do it for $170 compared to $300+ for the JW speaker fogs.
All in all my light setup cost me $570 and I'd put it up against the JW Speaker setup that winds up at $1000+ for fogs and head lights. Also, for what it's worth, I can't say enough about TRS customer service. They've always gotten back to me almost momentarily and I've never had a painful experience with them.
03-23-2015, 07:48 AM
#2
JK Super Freak
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I've had the sealed 7 kit since it was able to be bought by the public. I am brighter than most oem vehicles. With better beam pattern and throw than 95% of them.. The high beam is great. I don't blind others like the trucklites still do. The kit was straightforward. I can't literally complete a sealed 7 kit from the boxes to the jeep in under an hour. It's an easy job. Anyone can do it. Definitely one of those best upgrade to date situations.
03-23-2015, 08:37 AM
#4
JK Freak
Thread Starter
Yup they melt snow and with the 50w ballast they blow away the light output. I don't know about the 35w ballast because I don't have them. My high beams outshine my 50" light bar distance wise. I'll post output pics of heads and fogs hopefully tonight
03-23-2015, 10:50 AM
#6
JK Freak
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03-23-2015, 12:44 PM
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JK Newbie
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I'm very interested in your setup, could you expand more on the specific options you selected on the retrofit site? You seem pretty savvy on the subject unlike me. Thanks bud
Austin
Austin
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03-23-2015, 02:42 PM
#8
JK Freak
Thread Starter
Housing: Only one option so nothing to choose here. This is the 7" round bucket with the projector installed
Shrouds: These are purely cosmetic. Choose the ones you like the most. Google each one(example: Apollo Shroud, Panamera Shroud, etc.) and you should be able to find pictures of them.
Ballast Igniter: Not sure what it does, but only one option so it's an easy choice lol.
Wire Harness: Mopar H13 - this is so that they work with the stock JK switches/wiring. The other harnesses would be for other applications which take 7" round headlights such as the FJ cruiser, TJ Wrangler, etc.
Sealant: Necessary if you're assembling these yourself. If you choose the option for them to assemble them, you don't need it. This seals the lens to the headlight bucket.
Projectors: LHD or RHD - assuming you're in the US and have a US-spec Jeep it'll be LHD(left hand drive)
Ballasts: 35w or 50w - purely personal preference. 50w will be brighter(I'm told as much as 25% brighter) and whiter. Whatever color temp bulbs you choose will look more white than they would with the 35w. The 50w have a shorter warranty, but I remember thinking it was still long enough for me. I don't remember what the exact term was so I don't want to spread false information. Check with TRS.
Bulbs: The are two considerations here: color and brand. First, color is how the light appears and how much of it is usable light. My understanding is that the lower the kelvin temperature, the whiter and more useful the light. So the 4300k bulbs will be more white and more usable while the 6000k bulbs will be more blue and more cosmetic. I initially had the 5500k $45 bulbs and recently changed to 4300k Osram Xenarc $85 bulbs. These new ones are much brighter, but they definitely don't have that purple look with the 50w ballasts like some of the oem lights do - they just look white. I'd call The Retrofit Source and let them guide you. Have I mentioned that their customer service is awesome? haha
Halos: Personal preference. The bigger ones go around the 7" circular part of the headlight and the smaller ones are more round the smaller projector part I think. I personally didn't add these.
Assembly: Three options: 1) You build them which is really just trimming the shrouds down, gluing them on, gluing the lens on, and then attaching the wires. This is shockingly easy and allows you to custom paint your shroud and your headlight bucket if you so desire. 2) They assemble the lights for you and you can't customize the colors without taking them apart and having paid them to assemble them for nothing. 3) they assemble the lights and install halos.
Hope that helps. If I can be of any further help please don't hesitate to ask.
03-23-2015, 03:12 PM
#9
JK Newbie
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Over the past two years I've gone through a few different head/fog light setups and I think I finally found the perfect affordable solution. First I spent way too much money on Truck Lites which iced over in the snow and became completely useless. Then I got the heated Truck Lites and they were okay, but still not excellent.
During this time I went from the stock fogs to Rigid knock off square amber 'floods' and those were just too blinding to other people on the road. They threw light everywhere and I was constantly getting flashed. Next I tried drop in LED bulbs which did next to nothing except change the color of the light and then I added amber film and that seemed to eliminate any usable light.
Fast forward to after a year with Truck Lites and I decided it was time to give true HIDs a shot. Two of my buddies told me that the Morimoto Sealed7s were much better projectors than the ones included from the big JK retrofit guy who's on the other forum. One of these friends had those lights and the output was good, but I wasn't impressed with how the buckets looked and after getting a very high quote from that guy, I took my friends' advice and ordered my Sealed 7s from TRS. I was concerned about having to 'build' the lights since I wanted to customize my shroud color(the offer a pre-built option if you're okay with the chrome shrouds), but after talking to Matt at TRS and Chris(a very passionate Sealed7 owner) over on JKO I felt confident that even I could handle cutting, painting and gluing the shroud. The projectors come pre-installed in these lights which is usually the hardest part. The only issue I had was with the high beams, and it turned out that the problem lies within my Jeep as a shop that I reached out to with lighting experience decided wiring the high beams to my SPOD was the easiest way to go. So after $400(with discount code) and a few hours of work I have really good looking lights that put out more light than I have seen any vehicle with OEM hids or LEDs exceed. I've since driven a few new Bimmers with OEM Hids and a new Mini with their new LED headlights and the Sealed7s just destroy them. I've joked that I can't get a new car that can't be retrofit because these headlights have spoiled me so much.
So naturally when I heard that The Retrofit Source was going to be selling LED fogs from the same company, Morimoto, I jumped. After a simple plug and play install these lights are just as awesome. The output(which I need to grab a pic of) is low, wide and has a crisp cutoff. They do exactly what a fog should do and they do it for $170 compared to $300+ for the JW speaker fogs.
All in all my light setup cost me $570 and I'd put it up against the JW Speaker setup that winds up at $1000+ for fogs and head lights. Also, for what it's worth, I can't say enough about TRS customer service. They've always gotten back to me almost momentarily and I've never had a painful experience with them.
<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=602689"/><img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=602690"/><img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=602691"/><img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=602692"/><img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=602693"/>
During this time I went from the stock fogs to Rigid knock off square amber 'floods' and those were just too blinding to other people on the road. They threw light everywhere and I was constantly getting flashed. Next I tried drop in LED bulbs which did next to nothing except change the color of the light and then I added amber film and that seemed to eliminate any usable light.
Fast forward to after a year with Truck Lites and I decided it was time to give true HIDs a shot. Two of my buddies told me that the Morimoto Sealed7s were much better projectors than the ones included from the big JK retrofit guy who's on the other forum. One of these friends had those lights and the output was good, but I wasn't impressed with how the buckets looked and after getting a very high quote from that guy, I took my friends' advice and ordered my Sealed 7s from TRS. I was concerned about having to 'build' the lights since I wanted to customize my shroud color(the offer a pre-built option if you're okay with the chrome shrouds), but after talking to Matt at TRS and Chris(a very passionate Sealed7 owner) over on JKO I felt confident that even I could handle cutting, painting and gluing the shroud. The projectors come pre-installed in these lights which is usually the hardest part. The only issue I had was with the high beams, and it turned out that the problem lies within my Jeep as a shop that I reached out to with lighting experience decided wiring the high beams to my SPOD was the easiest way to go. So after $400(with discount code) and a few hours of work I have really good looking lights that put out more light than I have seen any vehicle with OEM hids or LEDs exceed. I've since driven a few new Bimmers with OEM Hids and a new Mini with their new LED headlights and the Sealed7s just destroy them. I've joked that I can't get a new car that can't be retrofit because these headlights have spoiled me so much.
So naturally when I heard that The Retrofit Source was going to be selling LED fogs from the same company, Morimoto, I jumped. After a simple plug and play install these lights are just as awesome. The output(which I need to grab a pic of) is low, wide and has a crisp cutoff. They do exactly what a fog should do and they do it for $170 compared to $300+ for the JW speaker fogs.
All in all my light setup cost me $570 and I'd put it up against the JW Speaker setup that winds up at $1000+ for fogs and head lights. Also, for what it's worth, I can't say enough about TRS customer service. They've always gotten back to me almost momentarily and I've never had a painful experience with them.
<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=602689"/><img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=602690"/><img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=602691"/><img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=602692"/><img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=602693"/>