Another AP2 headlight swap thread (with pics)
 

So I finally finished off my last project... after having my passenger side headlight replaced due to a random attack on my S2000, my driver side look 'weathered' compared to the brand new one and I didn't feel like wet sanding it since it didn't look THAT bad... just 'weathered'. I came across a great deal on an AP2 passenger headlight with a repaired mounting tab and another tab that needed to be fixed. I sold the damage passenger AP1 headlight and the weathered passenger side one and bought a brand new passenger side AP2 headlight so I could begin the AP1 -> AP2 headlight swap.

First, I gotta say even after reading a DIY, it's not straight forward when using AP1 ballasts. Unfortunately, getting AP2 ballasts would cost another $400-500 to this project (and I only had $60 into this project if I could get the AP1 ballasts to mount properly). Long story short, the biggest PITA was keep the headlight free of plastic pieces that would fall in since I need to dremel the hole for the ignitor/ballast bigger. Mounting the ballasts was challenging too since it mean moving it around to make sure it would mount back on the car proper...

Some pics...

Before (old pics for comparison):

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/AP...7-2746_IMG.jpg

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/AP...7-2747_IMG.jpg

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/AP...7-2748_IMG.jpg

During...

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/Ta...9-2938_IMG.jpg

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/Ta...9-2939_IMG.jpg

Bottom of the headlight... everything mounted back on with AP1 ballast:

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/AP...9-2962_IMG.jpg

Sealed to prevent moisture and dust getting into the headlight (not pretty but better safe than sorry :)).

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/AP...9-2965_IMG.jpg

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/AP...9-2966_IMG.jpg

After:

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/AP...9-2969_IMG.jpg

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/AP...9-2970_IMG.jpg

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/AP...9-2971_IMG.jpg

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/AP...9-2973_IMG.jpg

http://www.chillybanana.com/S2000/AP...9-2974_IMG.jpg

Overall the project cost me $70 to swap PLUS I still have a brand new AP1 passenger headlight side headlight to sell so I'll actually come out ahead a couple hundred if not more. :)

Projects are tedious but fun. :)

Keith

Looks good. AP2>AP1 headlights. :D

Looks sweet, do the taillights too! :cool:

how did you get the lights for so cheap?

good job!
i couldnt get the ap1 ballast on the ap2 light. :(

Looks good, clean swap! :thumbup:

So much better

Thanks guys...

Make the hole bigger on the headlight was the biggest pain... mounting wasn't hard at all though.

Keith

How did you prevent plastic from going into the lamp?

I couldn't... I tried covering the inside of the ballast hole with painter's tape as I dremeled which caught a TON of pieces but a bunch still got through. I vacuumed and blew out as much as I could. I used a straw with a camera sensor wipe to try to move and/or catch the rest of the plastic particles that made it through...

Keith

:thumbup: