Installing HIDs -A Newb's Story
07-23-10, 06:11 PM
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Installing HIDs -A Newb's Story
I finally got some time here to share my experience of installing HIDs on lows and fogs on my 09 IS250. I'm a noob when it comes to car mods and this project was making me nervous but also really excited. I had done all my research from this forum and I was ready!
Let me tell you that installing HIDs by yourself is not that simple as it seems, if you are a complete newbie! A project that I thought would take just 2 hours ended up taking close to 6 by the time I was all done..ya..6 hours!!! Can you believe it? Here is my step by step experience
1) I did the low beams first, taking everything out was simple, 10 minutes.
2) Drilling was simple. I used a dremmel to smooth out the backing so the grommet would fit tight and snug.
3) I was using a relay on XD's Xtreme product so I had to do some rewiring so everything goes through the grommet. Because of the way the wires go through the headlight cover, I had to do this rewiring twice..i forget why..but it was a pain! There are so many wires, u really pay attention to what connects to what, especially with a relay.
4) Installing the headlight was a pain, I had trouble lining up the tabs but I finally got it. The driver side is tougher but I got lucky on my first try
5) Sealed the grommet with silicone
6) Mounting ballasts simple
7) Spent a good amount of time running the wires neatly..used a LOT of zip ties!
8) The fogs were a PAIN! I didn't want to take the bumper off so we put the car up on a ramp and I opened up the wheel well's and underneath the bumper. Taking everything apart, simple
9) Installing the fogs was piece of cake, u can actually see in this case! And I wasn't using a relay
10) I had problem with one of the fogs not lighting..you really gotta push in the 9006 connector tightly. And also reverse the polarity..do this before installing..lesson learnt!
11) On the driver's side, I couldn't get the ballast on top of the air dam because of the washer fluid container so I had to mount it upside down and zip tie it like crazy
12) This took us forever..putting the underside of the bumper back on..and getting it all right into the pins..oh what a pain! I'm so glad I didnt take the bumper off! I still can't get one of the plastic screw's by the left wheel to line up and go in..oh well, I give up! Next time I go to get my car serviced i'll get them to put it in.
That's my story. Was it worth it, DEFINITELY! I'm ready now to tackle new projects! Check out the pics below of the results..5k lows, 3k fogs!
Let me tell you that installing HIDs by yourself is not that simple as it seems, if you are a complete newbie! A project that I thought would take just 2 hours ended up taking close to 6 by the time I was all done..ya..6 hours!!! Can you believe it? Here is my step by step experience
1) I did the low beams first, taking everything out was simple, 10 minutes.
2) Drilling was simple. I used a dremmel to smooth out the backing so the grommet would fit tight and snug.
3) I was using a relay on XD's Xtreme product so I had to do some rewiring so everything goes through the grommet. Because of the way the wires go through the headlight cover, I had to do this rewiring twice..i forget why..but it was a pain! There are so many wires, u really pay attention to what connects to what, especially with a relay.
4) Installing the headlight was a pain, I had trouble lining up the tabs but I finally got it. The driver side is tougher but I got lucky on my first try
5) Sealed the grommet with silicone
6) Mounting ballasts simple
7) Spent a good amount of time running the wires neatly..used a LOT of zip ties!
8) The fogs were a PAIN! I didn't want to take the bumper off so we put the car up on a ramp and I opened up the wheel well's and underneath the bumper. Taking everything apart, simple
9) Installing the fogs was piece of cake, u can actually see in this case! And I wasn't using a relay
10) I had problem with one of the fogs not lighting..you really gotta push in the 9006 connector tightly. And also reverse the polarity..do this before installing..lesson learnt!
11) On the driver's side, I couldn't get the ballast on top of the air dam because of the washer fluid container so I had to mount it upside down and zip tie it like crazy
12) This took us forever..putting the underside of the bumper back on..and getting it all right into the pins..oh what a pain! I'm so glad I didnt take the bumper off! I still can't get one of the plastic screw's by the left wheel to line up and go in..oh well, I give up! Next time I go to get my car serviced i'll get them to put it in.
That's my story. Was it worth it, DEFINITELY! I'm ready now to tackle new projects! Check out the pics below of the results..5k lows, 3k fogs!
, looks great...
07-23-10, 06:23 PM
#3
Nice job, looks good, time to switch out those city lights now
Some of us have worse luck than others doing the "15 minutes install, max" but there's always that satisfaction at the end knowing you did it yourself
Some of us have worse luck than others doing the "15 minutes install, max" but there's always that satisfaction at the end knowing you did it yourself
07-23-10, 09:11 PM
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I am not impressed by the actual modifications as much as I am by the sheer quality of the photos. Everything looks so crisp! Great job.
The first time I installed an HID Kit, I was clueless. After just a few times, it becomes so much easier.
The first time I installed an HID Kit, I was clueless. After just a few times, it becomes so much easier.
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07-23-10, 09:18 PM
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Thanks everyone!
ELL Y..i'm so jealous of your retrofit! I'm seriously thinking of getting it done next year..but i won't dare try to do it myself though..looks complicated.
I gotta admit that as nice as the 5k looks, the light output is much less than 4300k..and the halogen projectors are definitely not for HID, the cutoff's are horrible! I'm comparing this to my 06 bi-xenon ES. Gotta get a retrofit done at some point..but for now..I'm gonna enjoy this and feel satisfaction of the great work I did!
ELL Y..i'm so jealous of your retrofit! I'm seriously thinking of getting it done next year..but i won't dare try to do it myself though..looks complicated.
I gotta admit that as nice as the 5k looks, the light output is much less than 4300k..and the halogen projectors are definitely not for HID, the cutoff's are horrible! I'm comparing this to my 06 bi-xenon ES. Gotta get a retrofit done at some point..but for now..I'm gonna enjoy this and feel satisfaction of the great work I did!
07-23-10, 09:33 PM
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kumquatism, don't drop the bumper..take the car up on ramps and just do the work underneath and behind the wheel
Running XD's Xtreme for lows and Volt for the fogs.
Running XD's Xtreme for lows and Volt for the fogs.
but volt is good too so good choice 
