My Lexus, BMW, etc. OEM HID Retrofit write-up
08-25-2003, 06:53 AM
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My Lexus, BMW, etc. OEM HID Retrofit write-up
Ok, just finished my 8th OEM HID retrofit project tonight
I did an a 2002 Honda Accord tonight.
Here is my method on how to install OEM HID's in your non-hid equipped cars:
BASICS:
What you need to do is have the hid bulb rebased with the h4,9006, 9005, etc. headlight socket.
There are two types of OEM HID bulbs, d2s (projectors), d2r (reflective). None of these are made to fit in your regular halogen headlight housings.
Here are two d2r bulbs:
See? no tabs...
This is why you need to retrofit the bulbs to make the hids work.
RETROFIT:
9006 Application
A 9006 bulb has 3 tabs around the bulb to fit and lock into the headlight.
The basic goal is that get the ring with the tabs on the hid bulb.
With an h4 bulb, you knock the metal ring around the stock bulb off with a hammer, done in like 2 minutes with a hammer.
With a 9006 bulb, the job gets tougher because the ring is molded to the bulb base.
What we are trying to do is get the ring off so some dremmeling is required.
first, you cut the bottom of the halogen bulb off
this is done pretty easily with a cutting disc on the dremmel.
in the same manner, you cut the top off the bulb
Now you have to dremmel a hole in the ring so that it can go over the hid bulb base.
Use a grinder for this part. Cut a hold large enough to fit the grinder in and use circular motions to create an even circle. The grinder tool is the thing that is rubber accessory that you slip the sand-paperish cover onto.
Your product should look like this:
To get this ring to fit around the hid bulb, you have to grind off the ring that is around the hid bulb. Just use the same tool that you were using to make the hole in the halogen ring. Carefully grind the hid bulb ring so that it is smooth and flush around the base (no ring around the top of the base).
Your halogen ring can now fit over the hid bulb assuming you have ground the hid bulb and the halogen ring enough. Slide the ring over the hid bulb and match the ring of the hid bulb so that it's bubble (inside the glass) matches the position of the filament (spring) inside the halogen bulb.
This might be confusing, but look at a stock halogen bulb and the hid bulbs side by side. Match the two bulbs so that the spring inside the halogen bulb is parallel to the bubble inside the hid bulb. Then, place your 9006 hid ring onto your hid bulb so that it is parallel with the halogen ring in this position.
Your final product should look like this:
After you have positioned the ring around the hid bulb, attach it to the hid bulb with superglue. Then dremmel the inner ring that is surrounding the metal pyramid in the middle of the hid bulb. The entire ring up to the middle part of the bulb should be flat.
H4 RING FITMENT:
The metal ring fits perfectly over the hid bulb with no dremmeling.
You can match the distance the filament inside the stock bulb to the bubble inside the hid bulb for correct optics in the same way as the 9006 application. Simply slide the ring up or down to match the distances.
BULB installation:
Then you pop the hid bulb into the headlight sockets and connect the ballasts to the bulbs.
WIRING THE BALLASTS:
The wiring for the ballasts should be the same in all applications:
Your ballasts should have a pos and neg wire coming off of them. take your low beam pos and neg that are on your bulb socket and splice those together with the ballast wiring.
In some instances, it might be necessary to switch your stock fuses for your low beams to a higher amperage.
You will figure this out when you turn them on and one side blows out shortly after turning them on.
MOUNTING THE BALLASTS:
Now all you have to do to mount the ballasts is find a good place to mount them and attach them with velcro
The best solution, i've found, to mount the ballasts with is some stuff called push-on velcro found at radioshack. The stuff is really strong and they have high-heat applications. This should only cost about $2.99 for a set of 2 pairs.
FINAL product on the accord and my M3:
I hope this helps, good luck with the installs!!
Joe
I did an a 2002 Honda Accord tonight.
Here is my method on how to install OEM HID's in your non-hid equipped cars:
BASICS:
What you need to do is have the hid bulb rebased with the h4,9006, 9005, etc. headlight socket.
There are two types of OEM HID bulbs, d2s (projectors), d2r (reflective). None of these are made to fit in your regular halogen headlight housings.
Here are two d2r bulbs:
See? no tabs...
This is why you need to retrofit the bulbs to make the hids work.
RETROFIT:
9006 Application
A 9006 bulb has 3 tabs around the bulb to fit and lock into the headlight.
The basic goal is that get the ring with the tabs on the hid bulb.
With an h4 bulb, you knock the metal ring around the stock bulb off with a hammer, done in like 2 minutes with a hammer.
With a 9006 bulb, the job gets tougher because the ring is molded to the bulb base.
What we are trying to do is get the ring off so some dremmeling is required.
first, you cut the bottom of the halogen bulb off
this is done pretty easily with a cutting disc on the dremmel.
in the same manner, you cut the top off the bulb
Now you have to dremmel a hole in the ring so that it can go over the hid bulb base.
Use a grinder for this part. Cut a hold large enough to fit the grinder in and use circular motions to create an even circle. The grinder tool is the thing that is rubber accessory that you slip the sand-paperish cover onto.
Your product should look like this:
To get this ring to fit around the hid bulb, you have to grind off the ring that is around the hid bulb. Just use the same tool that you were using to make the hole in the halogen ring. Carefully grind the hid bulb ring so that it is smooth and flush around the base (no ring around the top of the base).
Your halogen ring can now fit over the hid bulb assuming you have ground the hid bulb and the halogen ring enough. Slide the ring over the hid bulb and match the ring of the hid bulb so that it's bubble (inside the glass) matches the position of the filament (spring) inside the halogen bulb.
This might be confusing, but look at a stock halogen bulb and the hid bulbs side by side. Match the two bulbs so that the spring inside the halogen bulb is parallel to the bubble inside the hid bulb. Then, place your 9006 hid ring onto your hid bulb so that it is parallel with the halogen ring in this position.
Your final product should look like this:
After you have positioned the ring around the hid bulb, attach it to the hid bulb with superglue. Then dremmel the inner ring that is surrounding the metal pyramid in the middle of the hid bulb. The entire ring up to the middle part of the bulb should be flat.
H4 RING FITMENT:
The metal ring fits perfectly over the hid bulb with no dremmeling.
You can match the distance the filament inside the stock bulb to the bubble inside the hid bulb for correct optics in the same way as the 9006 application. Simply slide the ring up or down to match the distances.
BULB installation:
Then you pop the hid bulb into the headlight sockets and connect the ballasts to the bulbs.
WIRING THE BALLASTS:
The wiring for the ballasts should be the same in all applications:
Your ballasts should have a pos and neg wire coming off of them. take your low beam pos and neg that are on your bulb socket and splice those together with the ballast wiring.
In some instances, it might be necessary to switch your stock fuses for your low beams to a higher amperage.
You will figure this out when you turn them on and one side blows out shortly after turning them on.
MOUNTING THE BALLASTS:
Now all you have to do to mount the ballasts is find a good place to mount them and attach them with velcro
The best solution, i've found, to mount the ballasts with is some stuff called push-on velcro found at radioshack. The stuff is really strong and they have high-heat applications. This should only cost about $2.99 for a set of 2 pairs.
FINAL product on the accord and my M3:
I hope this helps, good luck with the installs!!
Joe
08-25-2003, 09:05 AM
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Re: (teg-your-it)
mmm muffins 
Regarding grinding the D2S base flat after you attach the 9006 ring, I recommend not doing that. By doing that you leave no place to put on any o-rings from a 9006 bulb, which ensures a tight fit. See how my bulb is that I bought from visualdynamics:
With some effort, I was able to get a 9006 o-ring to stay on that little lip above the 9006 mounting ring which made for a better fit in my headlights. Without the o-ring, the bulb felt quite loose inside the housing.
Regarding grinding the D2S base flat after you attach the 9006 ring, I recommend not doing that. By doing that you leave no place to put on any o-rings from a 9006 bulb, which ensures a tight fit. See how my bulb is that I bought from visualdynamics:
With some effort, I was able to get a 9006 o-ring to stay on that little lip above the 9006 mounting ring which made for a better fit in my headlights. Without the o-ring, the bulb felt quite loose inside the housing.
08-25-2003, 11:10 AM
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Re: (mrmonk)
As of August 15 it is illegal to sell aftermarket HID kits in the United States. 
The only options left are to buy OEM HID bulbs and modify them yourself to fit, or retrofit in factory HID projectors (better choice) which would just take regular D2S HID bulbs.
The only options left are to buy OEM HID bulbs and modify them yourself to fit, or retrofit in factory HID projectors (better choice) which would just take regular D2S HID bulbs.
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08-25-2003, 11:32 AM
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Re: My Lexus, BMW, etc. OEM HID Retrofit write-up (TurbothisLS)
nice write-up but your still just using the stock halogen headlight housing?
btw how do you like the m3? ive been thinking of selling my car and picking up an e36
btw how do you like the m3? ive been thinking of selling my car and picking up an e36
08-25-2003, 03:51 PM
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Re: (lustedp)
excellent writeup.. board member iLUVmySH is having problems with his BMW retrofit... I'll show him this thread 
08-25-2003, 03:55 PM
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Re: (B U N M A N G O)
thanks for giving me the heads up but it's sorta opposite of what i need to do...i NEED d2s bulbs and HAVE 9006 based bulbs.. so yea..thanks for the headsup and good writeup...btw..thanks for the projectors turbothisls
08-25-2003, 09:07 PM
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Re: (neuspeed)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by neuspeed »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Isn't the Audi better</TD></TR></TABLE>
*shrug* hope not...
*shrug* hope not...
08-25-2003, 10:55 PM
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Re: (-R-)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by -R- »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">where do u recommend i get the OEM HID's, a junk yard or is there betta places, cuz it would be wicked expensive to buy them new right?</TD></TR></TABLE>
liteswap.com sells the bi-xenon kit from Mercedes Benz for a little more than what the aftermarket Catz kits costed
liteswap.com sells the bi-xenon kit from Mercedes Benz for a little more than what the aftermarket Catz kits costed
08-25-2003, 11:11 PM
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Re: (-R-)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by -R- »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">where do u recommend i get the OEM HID's, a junk yard or is there betta places, cuz it would be wicked expensive to buy them new right?</TD></TR></TABLE>
you could go to ebay...they have a lot..and it cost waaaaaay less than what i paid for my modified 9006 hella hid kit...
you could go to ebay...they have a lot..and it cost waaaaaay less than what i paid for my modified 9006 hella hid kit...
09-28-2003, 12:59 AM
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Re: My Lexus, BMW, etc. OEM HID Retrofit write-up (TurbothisLS)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TurbothisLS »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Your halogen ring can now fit over the hid bulb assuming you have ground the hid bulb and the halogen ring enough. Slide the ring over the hid bulb and match the ring of the hid bulb so that it's bubble (inside the glass) matches the position of the filament (spring) inside the halogen bulb.
This might be confusing, but look at a stock halogen bulb and the hid bulbs side by side. Match the two bulbs so that the spring inside the halogen bulb is parallel to the bubble inside the hid bulb. Then, place your 9006 hid ring onto your hid bulb so that it is parallel with the halogen ring in this position.[/B]
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Alright i'm stumped now... i dont get that part at all.. please help...
Your halogen ring can now fit over the hid bulb assuming you have ground the hid bulb and the halogen ring enough. Slide the ring over the hid bulb and match the ring of the hid bulb so that it's bubble (inside the glass) matches the position of the filament (spring) inside the halogen bulb.
This might be confusing, but look at a stock halogen bulb and the hid bulbs side by side. Match the two bulbs so that the spring inside the halogen bulb is parallel to the bubble inside the hid bulb. Then, place your 9006 hid ring onto your hid bulb so that it is parallel with the halogen ring in this position.[/B]
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Alright i'm stumped now... i dont get that part at all.. please help...
09-28-2003, 05:46 AM
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Re: My Lexus, BMW, etc. OEM HID Retrofit write-up (serenity)
see how the when you line up the mounting ring on these 2 bulbs, the filament lines up w/ the bubble in the HID bulb, that's how you need to position the ring on the HID bulb:
