GEN 2 Baja Designs S8 30" Grill Light bar kit install

[Nick@Apollo-Optics]

Great write up! Do you have pics of the finished look?

 

[gneissday]

I posted this a while back but found it works great for adjusting the S8. No one has ever said they even noticed until I pointed it out! I just used some heavy duty wire cutters and snipped a couple grill slats on each side. File down any rough edges, black sharpie and it looks like it was made that way. On a side note, anyone else notice the black anodize has turned a shade of purple like mine??? Both my S8 and Onyx 10 have turned purple! I don't mind though, I think it's kind of cool.

 

[Palmetto_Raptor]

I posted this a while back but found it works great for adjusting the S8. No one has ever said they even noticed until I pointed it out! I just used some heavy duty wire cutters and snipped a couple grill slats on each side. File down any rough edges, black sharpie and it looks like it was made that way. On a side note, anyone else notice the black anodize has turned a shadeView attachment 120137 of purple like mine??? Both my S8 and Onyx 10 have turned purple! I don't mind though, I think it's kind of cool.View attachment 120138

Interesting... the anodizing on my S2 pro's in my unlimited kit are turning bronze colored which I don't like.
The squadrons are not changing colors. The squadrons appear to maybe be painted instead of anodized?

 

[hamster]

Great write up, but now think the ONX6+ in the lower grill is enough.

 

[smurfslayer]

Great write up, but now think the ONX6+ in the lower grill is enough.

There is no “enough”.
I just lit up the S8 & XL80’s on a super dark stretch of parkway and I definitely appreciate the extra light and need to aim the xl’s a little more precisely.

Plus, the Onyx is down low, you need some light higher up.

 

[hamster]

There is no “enough”.
I just lit up the S8 & XL80’s on a super dark stretch of parkway and I definitely appreciate the extra light and need to aim the xl’s a little more precisely.

Plus, the Onyx is down low, you need some light higher up.

Agree it is never enough. Just got a '20 and maybe will talk myself into S8. On my '17 have ONX6 and in bumper had Flex and Rigid. Pretty good when aimed right. For the '20 I ordered S1 and Squadron Pro for bumber and ONX6+ for lower grill. Looks like about 50% more light so we will see. If not, next is S8....."Honey, I am getting old so I need more light" has worked so far.

 

[Nick@Apollo-Optics]

Interesting... the anodizing on my S2 pro's in my unlimited kit are turning bronze colored which I don't like.
The squadrons are not changing colors. The squadrons appear to maybe be painted instead of anodized?

Talk to Baja Designs and they'll take care of you. Their products carry a lifetime warranty.

 

[Swifteee]

Thanks a bunch for your post. I installed a Baja s8 today on my 2018 raptor. I had the help of a friend but complete install was just over an hour. Your instructions input was great.

 

[hamster]

Installed my S8 today. Have all the front lights installed.....tomorrow is wiring.



The OP's instructions were very helpful and I also used the video from CJ Pony. If all I had was the BD instructions, it would have taken me a lot longer.

I found some very minor differences in the 2020 vs. 2017 that actually made it wee bit easier. They changed the wiring harness for the camera and the temp sensor so they are not in the way or have to be disconnected.

Only had two issues.

1. When I first re-assembled the two grille halves, the top passenger side did not come together easily. Turns out that I had to make sure the light was mounted to the bracket as far back from the edge as possible. See the last picture in the OP thread as that shows how it should look. I had let the light slip forward and it was at the edge of the bracket. Once I adjusted it, it was a perfect fit and I did not have to press anything to make the two grill halves come together to bolt them up. As others have noted, it is a very tight fit.

2. I broke a couple of the clips that hold on the painted plastic trim that goes around the headlight. Tried finding OEM ones, but closest ones I could locate were $1.56 each not counting shipping and I was not 100% sure of the size and did not want to deal with a difficult return and shipping cost. So ordered these from Amazon.....perfect replica just orange instead of white.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FW25CGD/?tag=fordraptorforum-20

 

[smurfslayer]

2. I broke a couple of the clips that hold on the painted plastic trim that goes around the headlight. Tried finding OEM ones, but closest ones I could locate were $1.56 each not counting shipping and I was not 100% sure of the size and did not want to deal with a difficult return and shipping cost. So ordered these from Amazon.....perfect replica just orange instead of white.

Cool! You need to step it up though, XL80’s on the hood to complete the equation.
I broke those same clips on Lucille and never even bothered chasing it down. You can’t tell by looking and it’s not like anyone else knows those clips broke.

of course, now that I know, this will gnaw at me until I fix them. Thanks for that.