How-To: OEM Hid Retrofit

[jhelmuth]

Originally Posted by rogue

You will end up blinding everyone with that setup. The projectors are not the same. I suggest reading the HID upgrade FAQ in this section for further info.

In the meantime, pull your car up to a wall and take a look at the halogen beam spread, see all that spare light above where the beam is pointed? That will translate into bigtime glare for oncoming traffic.

You should be able to find an entire set of OEM HID assemblies for less than $600 from bodyshops. Call around.

Thanks Rogue. That's exactly what I want to avoid. I was suspicious of the projectors being different. They look quite similar, but I understood that HID systems in general produce their beam in a downward plane.

Oh well, not a big enough deal to get caught up in. Maybe I'll reconsider for a used pair of OEM units later on down the line.

[jhelmuth]

Originally Posted by rogue

You will end up blinding everyone with that setup. The projectors are not the same. I suggest reading the HID upgrade FAQ in this section for further info.

In the meantime, pull your car up to a wall and take a look at the halogen beam spread, see all that spare light above where the beam is pointed? That will translate into bigtime glare for oncoming traffic.

You should be able to find an entire set of OEM HID assemblies for less than $600 from bodyshops. Call around.

OK, I did this (just curious) - but I didn't get the results I expected based on what I understood you to say here. The halogen beam spread had a very sharp cut off with very litle to no light above it. The pattern was (from left to right) something like this...
..............____________________ ................................____________
________/............................... ____________________/
(please ignore the "dots" - but I can't use spaces)

Isn't this the same pattern as the Xenon HID? From all I've read (various "expert" HID sights - no dealer/seller sights) this would seem to have the same HID pattern. If you could possibly lead me to some more information, I'd love to get the knowledge.

I was thinking of trying to find a pair of the OEM Valeo projectors (would have to be quite cheap) and then add the non-OEM D2 Xenon HID lighting components. If this were close enough to a dealer "upgrade" price, then I think it would be better to go completely original. I also think that I may not go HID at all given the detractable statements I've read on DOT spec HIDs vs E-code (Euro spec) types. Sounds like if I could have anything, the Euro spec would be it.

Thanks in advance for your comments and help.

PS - If anyone other than Rogue or Hermino want to add their two-cents, please feel free.

[HERMINIO]

Hi

As many of you remember, I was the first one that retrofitted a non-HID 300C with the OEM equipment.

Now I went a further step changing the D1S Valeo projectors and bulbs for a D2S Valeo projectors and bulbs.

The first bulbs used were original Philips 85122+ 5000k and now have installed the Philips Ultinon 6000K. The light output will be pure white with some tint of bluish and purple.

Need only to remove the 4 attaching screws from the projector to the light housing and install the new one and reattach them again. Also needed the D2S bulb connector.

You still used the OEM ballast and ballast to bulb connector cable.

Herminio