HID headlight conversion
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 400
From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
HID headlight conversion
Hey Guys,
Has anyone changed their flip headlamps into a HID flip headlamp set? I really like the set I installed into my mustang (the lighting on the originals were just horrible, especially for a 2006). I wont' go back to halogen.
Since there are four lights, lows and highs, could I convert one set to be both highs and lows, and then just have the other set come on with the lows and stay on when turning on the highs? Change the other set's bulb to a silverstar ultra or something. I want both to be as close to white as possible.
What do you think?
Thanks.
Has anyone changed their flip headlamps into a HID flip headlamp set? I really like the set I installed into my mustang (the lighting on the originals were just horrible, especially for a 2006). I wont' go back to halogen.
Since there are four lights, lows and highs, could I convert one set to be both highs and lows, and then just have the other set come on with the lows and stay on when turning on the highs? Change the other set's bulb to a silverstar ultra or something. I want both to be as close to white as possible.
What do you think?
Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 5
From: South Dakota
You will have to take the cans out and cut the hole larger for the backs of them to fit. If they sell you the adapter kit, then your fiber optics may not work for the high beam. IMHO - Stick with some nice halogens and don't waste the money.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,631
Likes: 293
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Yup, I have true hid's on mine. No projectors though. I had to run new thicker wires and relays. It's was a pain but I was also dealing with 30 year old wiring with poor grounds. 2 outer lamps are hi/lo and middle 2 are strictly hi's. Replaced original sealed beams with hella housings. I'm running the 55w hids in the 4500k color.
Search, there are some that have done projector hids and some that just upgraded to some non sealed beam lamps with regular halogens.
Search, there are some that have done projector hids and some that just upgraded to some non sealed beam lamps with regular halogens.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,631
Likes: 293
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Pics are from when I first installed them and my low beams were a bit off:
took these while out driving the other night, I pretty happy with them....nothing to compare to because electrical was a basketcase when I got the car:
took these while out driving the other night, I pretty happy with them....nothing to compare to because electrical was a basketcase when I got the car:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 955
Likes: 50
From: Jersey Shore
I would rewire the lights using 12 gauge wire and relays before doing the HID's. My stock replacement halogens are bright white like an HID, its just that the beam pattern sucks. No complaints when I turn on the aircraft landing lights though!
Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 741
Likes: 46
From: Hebron IN
I've also been thinking about installing HIDs.
Most HID kits that I've seen use far less power than halogens...I think 35 watts is the standard. What is the need for heavier gauge wiring and relays? Are there start up issues or something?
Even on motorcycles with limited charging capacity, adding an HID is way to free up wattage for another accessory.
I've seen 55 watt kits but those seem overkill and a good way to **** off oncoming drivers...or worse yet a cop resulting in a ticket. Furthermore 55 watts is about the same as stock halogens.
Most HID kits that I've seen use far less power than halogens...I think 35 watts is the standard. What is the need for heavier gauge wiring and relays? Are there start up issues or something?
Even on motorcycles with limited charging capacity, adding an HID is way to free up wattage for another accessory.
I've seen 55 watt kits but those seem overkill and a good way to **** off oncoming drivers...or worse yet a cop resulting in a ticket. Furthermore 55 watts is about the same as stock halogens.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 400
From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
I've also been thinking about installing HIDs.
Most HID kits that I've seen use far less power than halogens...I think 35 watts is the standard. What is the need for heavier gauge wiring and relays? Are there start up issues or something?
Even on motorcycles with limited charging capacity, adding an HID is way to free up wattage for another accessory.
I've seen 55 watt kits but those seem overkill and a good way to **** off oncoming drivers...or worse yet a cop resulting in a ticket. Furthermore 55 watts is about the same as stock halogens.
Most HID kits that I've seen use far less power than halogens...I think 35 watts is the standard. What is the need for heavier gauge wiring and relays? Are there start up issues or something?
Even on motorcycles with limited charging capacity, adding an HID is way to free up wattage for another accessory.
I've seen 55 watt kits but those seem overkill and a good way to **** off oncoming drivers...or worse yet a cop resulting in a ticket. Furthermore 55 watts is about the same as stock halogens.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 955
Likes: 50
From: Jersey Shore
14 I believe... But all the power is fed through the light switch in the dash which can heat up when there is a high current going through it. The relays only use the headlight switch to trigger them (very minimal power draw).
Even if the HIDs draw less than upgraded halogens, the relay setup is a good safety precaution
Even if the HIDs draw less than upgraded halogens, the relay setup is a good safety precaution
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,631
Likes: 293
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
14 I believe... But all the power is fed through the light switch in the dash which can heat up when there is a high current going through it. The relays only use the headlight switch to trigger them (very minimal power draw).
Even if the HIDs draw less than upgraded halogens, the relay setup is a good safety precaution
Even if the HIDs draw less than upgraded halogens, the relay setup is a good safety precaution
thought process behind the relays for hids is to get a full 12v source going to the ballasts so they'll ignite when they get the signal and like mentioned above takes the oad off the headlight switch. Now for my 55w halogens for brights (yellow), the new wiring was needed after the relay as to not put a load through the lightswitch.
Note: 55w hids are not the same as 55w halogen headlights....same watts yes, not same kind of light output
I have 55w hids in my 05 gmc and my vette and have never been flashed. Even got my brother to take it down the street while I was in his gto and in both vehicles they were not blinding. most people get these headlights and never adjust them properly so yeah, they are always blinding people. My hella housings for my vette have a nice cutoff similar but not as good as projector headlights. The beam is actuallu angled off to the right so not to blind oncoming traffic too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 241
From: Niles, MI
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 955
Likes: 50
From: Jersey Shore
Good relays (I used 2 Hella 40Amps) are $9 on summit racing. I went to autozone and got 3 rolls of their 12gauge wire. I think they are little over 10 ft each roll. You might need more depending on where you put the relays. Then you will need two 10 or 12gauge inline fuses, and a piece of 8gauge wire to go from the alternator stud to the inline fuses. Add a few more $$ if you dont have little things like spade connectors for the relays, heatshrink tubing, solder, etc... Shouldnt be over $50
Heres my setup... Could use some cleaning up, but it works well for now. I have my fan relays here to. All incoming power is fed through a 4gauge wire from the alternator, junctioned at the horn relay, and fed to the relays through 10gauge inline fuses
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 955
Likes: 50
From: Jersey Shore
The fiber optic plugs into the factory headlight plug and "looks" into the back of the lamp through a clear spot in the glass. So if you retain a factory style plug and bulbs that have the clear spot, then yes your fiber optics will still work
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 2
From: North Royaton Ohio