HID Headlights, step by step

[delicat]

Just converted my regular headlights to HID, quite easy and amazing results.

HID Kit.jpg (81.66 KiB) Viewed 17809 times

1) Remove the side markers assembly (3 phillips screws, one on the side and two at the front)
2) Remove headlight assembly (3 bolts, two on the side and one at the front)
3) Remove dust cap of projector lamp
4) Drill a 7/8" or 1" hole in the center of the dust cap, clean edges

Modified dust cap.jpg (53.26 KiB) Viewed 17562 times

5) Insert the HID bulb assembly through the dust cap

HID & dust cap.jpg (45.29 KiB) Viewed 17614 times

6) Remove original bulb and replace with HID, same connections so very easy

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Temporary hook up.jpg (65.5 KiB) Viewed 17659 times

7) Install ballast assembly into headlight housing (use double sided tape/velcro or screw in place)

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8) Reconnect all wires from ballast and main harness to headlight
9) Reinstall headlight/side markers
10) Turn your headlight for 10 minutes
11) Enjoy your new night vision!

Job finished.jpg (50.89 KiB) Viewed 17484 times

[MardyDelica]

Hi, David,
very nice, so its really bright now, i guess i will be much better as you got the good headlights on it.
happy for you
cheers;
Mardy

[Reinhold]

Hello David,
Nice!
Where did you get them and what would we be looking at a price?
Rick

[delicat]

Got them at VancouverSuperMoto for $260.

[delicat]

Just went to look back for details on where I got them and some specs:

HID vs Halogen:
Wattage: 35W vs 55W
Brightness: 200 000 cd vs 67 000 cd
Lumen: 3.200 Im vs 1.500 Lm
Life: 3000 hrs vs 400 hrs
Replacement cost for HID bulb is $25

Bought at:
Vancouver Super Moto
858 Powell Street.
604-255-3323

You can probably find them somewhere else but these guys also drive a Delica so I'd rather support them.

[coaxial]

Awesome guide, thanks for posting it!

$260 for the pair?

Very very tempting

[jessef]

Nice instructions.

What is the manufacturer/part # ?

Thanks
Jesse

[delicat]

I don't have a specific part number, just got the E4, H3 kit. It's made by GoldenEye HID. Marc at Vancouver Super Moto (VSM) has better price then what I could find on line... Not sure if he checks this site regularly but his member's name is VSM.

[jessef]

I don't have a specific part number, just got the E4, H3 kit. It's made by GoldenEye HID. Marc at Vancouver Super Moto (VSM) has better price then what I could find on line... Not sure if he checks this site regularly but his member's name is VSM.

Thanks

Jesse

[JMK]

While I was already vaguely aware that retrofitting halogen pods with HID Bulbs was illegal, I was somewhat suprised to come across this post on the Corrado CLub of Canada Website:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note all ALL HID retro-fits are illegal through-out all of Canada, the US, and the EU. While it is relatively safe if you fabricate lights using projectors designed specifically for HID, it is highly unsafe to run any form of rebased HID capsule and/or kits that rely on the use of housing designed for halogen bulbs. Housings designed for halogen cannot control the light beam well enough to prevent HID from glaring badly and blinding oncoming traffic. They also shape the beam very poorly, directing the majority of light away from the optimal placement of 25' in front of the vehicle.

CCC does not support or endorse these kind of illegal and unsafe modifications, nor will we support any attempt to sell these kits through our site. Any post advertising HID retro-fit kits will be summarily deleted. Continual attempts to advertise these kits will result in first a warning and if needed a total ban of your account.

So I wonder how the eCode style retrofit lights that we've got work? Will look forward to more feedback.

[delicat]

Very interesting quote.

There's 2 things that I need to do before being in any position to comment further on what you brought up. I need to get the whiter bulb as for some reason I got the bluish ones that I really don't like (should receive in a week). Then I need to properly adjust the headlight beam as I recently cranked my torsion bars (but no one has been blinded yet as I haven't been doing much night driving, blame a busy schedule).

But I appreciate this info JMK, I'm in no point the type the type that will push a product just 'cause I installed it... If it doesn't turn out good I'll be the first one to let everyone else know. That's the best thing about this forum isn't it?

Cheers!

[JMK]

Thanks for that. I'm pretty tempted to install these too, their legality notwithstanding, as I'm sure thousands of others have too. And I agree on the color, I think the purple is for the under 25 crowd that drive Skylines and want to impress the world and a few memebers of the opposite sex perhaps. (How many long haul trucks do you see with purple HID's). If they can be aimed properly I can't see how anyone would be able to differentiate them from good halogens on casual inspection.

I'm simply more worried as you probably are about all the oncoming traffic getting pissed at me and flashing their brights, blinding them, or having and ineffective lens pattern that made me wish I kept my halogens. I guess it will come down to the geometry in these eCode pods we are using (mine are identical to yours by the looks of it). So I appreciate that you're taking the chance on our behalf to let us know. I'll be waiting eagerly for the results.

[mararmeisto]

My understanding of the issue has more to do with the 'color' of the light rather than whether they are too bright or not. The reason for the 'yellow' tint to North American headlights is so as not to fatigue the eyes of the oncoming traffic, this is done by keeping the frequencies down in the lower part of the spectrum.

The 'purples' and the 'blues' appear to be brighter for the same reason that glare appears to be so bright. Being higher in the frequency spectrum, the shorter wavelengths are difficult for our eyes to handle for extended lengths of time. This is why snow goggles are worn in the high Arctic, sunglasses are polarized, and why lighting inside ships/submarines is red instead of blue (although the Americans due tend to favor blue in their subs instead of red).

The reason why vehicles get pulled over is because it is so obvious they are running HIDs - I saw a performance shop in Vancouver with a spectrum chart of the HIDs they would sell - the purples and blues were not on that list. Sure it looks cool, but it's a dead giveaway you've changed the bulbs.

On a side note, I thought I read somewhere on this forum that someone had changed their lens from a E-code? to a different E-code? and noticed a brighter light from the same halogen bulbs. I'm just wondering if there are some smoked/tinted lens assemblies out there for those of us who are complaining of dim headlamps. Anybody else read this?

[delicat]

I changed the E13 for a set of Depo that I got from Mardy and the difference was very noticeable, much brighter. We compared delicas with the E13 with mine on the first meet this year (facing our lights against a wall) and mine were a lot brighter. With my HID set up it's another step up, way up in term of brightness.

But the light pattern is the same as the halogen as it's controlled by the pod shape so although it's brighter if it's aimed properly it shouldn't be that much worse for incoming traffic. It's different for sure but higher scale vehicles have them as well...

More to come...

[jrman]

David,
Can you give us an update on the performance for this system?
Are you still happy? Did you ever change the bulb to a whiter bulb.
Looking to upgrade the "vision" situation after 18 months of just getting by.
Cheers,
Sean

PS: Awesome post...give me faith that even I could do this!