[mzd]

HOWTO: Install HID kit H11

Bought my HID kit because my halogens bulbs weren't cutting it, couldn't see *h*t at night.

IMPORTANT: make sure HID kits are legal where you live before buying.

Tools you will need:

• HID KIT H11
• Relay Harness kit
• Screw drivers flat and phillips
• Zip ties
• Wrench with small sockets or adjustable pliers
• Nitrile gloves (optional)

I got the mini ballasts version from a local supplier in Canada. If you wanna see how mine looked like, it is in step #1 top left golden like.

I forgot to take pictures so here is one similar.

First before I start, I gotta give credit to a Youtuber who helped me install mine with his brilliant idea of avoiding whole bumper removal. He did exactly what I am describing below.

His channel is Oscar "Saint TerraCare" Perez

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSEKSR

NOTE: I did not use a relay wiring harness because I was short on time but I highly recommend installing one as it is cheap insurance. Also, you will notice that the relay wiring harness will only use one of the OEM plugs (driver side) for signalling which means the other side will need to be taped to prevent any electronic issues.

Will it work without it? Yes but it may not turn on sometimes which will require you to toggle due to lack of power from OEM


1. Remove the negative post from the battery and battery removal if you cannot get your hand in to install the bulb which is at a later step.

2. Remove the airbox by flipping the taps on the front of the airbox and loosen up the clamp then take move upwards carefully similar to when I installed my filter minder.

3. CAREFULLY push the fuse box towards the rear of the car where it would allow just enough room to get your hands in. CAREFUL NOT TO BRAKE IT!!!

4. Get your hands in and remove the cable from the bulb

5. Carefully remove the bulbs and put them somewhere safe while using gloves or trying not to touch the bulb as it can shorten the bulb's life. You may need it in case your HID kit goes KABOOM!

6. By pointing with a flashlight and looking through the peek hole, install the new HID bulb.

7. Connect the ballast to the car's headlight plug while MAKING SURE GREEN MATCHES WITH RED and BLACK with BLACK. You may think that it would only go one way but it can be connected both ways which may kill your ballast.

8. Do the same on the passenger side which is way easier as you do not need to remove anything other than the bulb.

9. Plug the battery back and turn on the headlights. DO NOT START THE ENGINE as it will trigger an error code because the air box is off

10. Test all the lights are working: HIDs AKA "low beam", hi beams, turn signals.

11. If everything works, use zip ties or screws to mount the ballasts and its cables.

12. Make sure your hood or bonnet closes.

13. VERY VERY IMPORTANT STEP: aim your headlights, this step is a tutorial itself but it is shown in the service manual. This could be a hazard to all drivers as it would not light the road properly and blind oncoming traffic.

Example of aiming:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDudMM4J-ZE

 

[mzd]

Wiring harness installed

 

[Move Over]

That's great. I got a set from Amazon today today, 2 year warranty so I couldn't beat that. What kit did you go with?

Also, how is the light dispersion in the OEM halogen projector? I'm a little worried about it being all wonky.

Where did you get your relay from? Mine did not come with it.

 

[rdriggett]

Great writeup!

Just a note for anyone looking to do this, any hid kit WILL destroy your projector bowls. Halogen headlights cannot handle UV light from a hid bowl and the reflective coating will be destroyed over time. It can take anywhere from several years to a few months.

Also hid kits are only legal in North Korea and some African countries.

 

[Move Over]

Thanks, maybe I should just stick with a "xenon" type bulb then.

Great writeup!

Just a note for anyone looking to do this, any hid kit WILL destroy your projector bowls. Halogen headlights cannot handle UV light from a hid bowl and the reflective coating will be destroyed over time. It can take anywhere from several years to a few months.

Also hid kits are only legal in North Korea and some African countries.

 

[mzd]

Great writeup!

Just a note for anyone looking to do this, any hid kit WILL destroy your projector bowls. Halogen headlights cannot handle UV light from a hid bowl and the reflective coating will be destroyed over time. It can take anywhere from several years to a few months.

Also hid kits are only legal in North Korea and some African countries.

They are legal in Canada, you just need to aim the properly.

AFAIK both OEM HID and halogen use the same projector housing.

 

[mzd]

That's great. I got a set from Amazon today today, 2 year warranty so I couldn't beat that. What kit did you go with?

Also, how is the light dispersion in the OEM halogen projector? I'm a little worried about it being all wonky.

Where did you get your relay from? Mine did not come with it.

My kit is one of those chinese no name branded by a Canadian distributor.

I got the relay from the same person that sold me the HID kit but I have to mention that I had to modify the plug that goes into OEM headlight plug as they would not fit.

This one is the one I got

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Innovited-Universal-wiring-harness-single/dp/B00XKK74Y2[/ame]

#5 which is the signal cable would not fit so I had to trim the top portion and secure it using zip ties and electrical tape.

The trick is to aim them properly which can be found on the service manual.

 

[rdriggett]

They are legal in Canada, you just need to aim the properly.

AFAIK both OEM HID and halogen use the same projector housing.

No they are not, and the OEM hid is bi xenon so its not the same projector at all. Different optics for different bulbs.

 

[mzd]

No they are not, and the OEM hid is bi xenon so its not the same projector at all. Different optics for different bulbs.

YES THEY ARE LEGAL IN CANADA

Yes housings are different but I meant the projector itself

The optic or projector "ball thingy" is the same!



HID

HALOGEN

 

[rdriggett]

YES THEY ARE LEGAL IN CANADA

Yes housings are different but I meant the projector itself

The optic or projector "ball thingy" is the same!



HID

HALOGEN

Im sorry, but you are incredibly misinformed. Do you see how there is a separate high beam for the halogen? Do you see that on the oem hid model? Where do you think the high beam comes from on that? I'm way too lazy to find the canadian vehicle code that states they are illegal, but here is a CBC article stating they are Use of 'blinding' headlights illegal, Sudbury police say - Sudbury - CBC News

If you would like to keep arguing I suggest you do your research first and find out how misinformed you are.

 

[rdriggett]

This is a solenoid to lower the cutoff shield that blocks the high beam. That is how a bi (meaning 2 or low and high beam) xenon projector worker. Xenon only comes in a few legitimate sizes, all starting with a D. D stands for discharge, the D in hiD. H stands for halogen.

This is what our projector looks like.

See how there is no flap? Thats because it is a halogen low beam only projector.

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Here is a explanation by a guy who designed headlights on why hid kits are no good.

 

[mzd]

Im sorry, but you are incredibly misinformed. Do you see how there is a separate high beam for the halogen? Do you see that on the oem hid model? Where do you think the high beam comes from on that? I'm way too lazy to find the canadian vehicle code that states they are illegal, but here is a CBC article stating they are Use of 'blinding' headlights illegal, Sudbury police say - Sudbury - CBC News

If you would like to keep arguing I suggest you do your research first and find out how misinformed you are.

Shoot yourself, your money do what you please.

300 candelas at a 100 degress 700 lumens which is way more powerful than much HID kits.

There is no LAW that says aftermarket is prohibited.

 

[mzd]

This is a solenoid to lower the cutoff shield that blocks the high beam. That is how a bi (meaning 2 or low and high beam) xenon projector worker. Xenon only comes in a few legitimate sizes, all starting with a D. D stands for discharge, the D in hiD. H stands for halogen.

This is what our projector looks like.

See how there is no flap? Thats because it is a halogen low beam only projector.

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Here is a explanation by a guy who designed headlights on why hid kits are no good.

Exactly as my guide is for the low beam not the high beam.

 

[tony619]

this is how i see it
hid kit to reflector=nono,bad thing
hid kit to projector=ok, just do it

 

[mzd]

this is how i see it
hid kit to reflector=nono,bad thing
hid kit to projector=ok, just do it

:thumbup1 1:

 

[upashi]

Some member may be learning information from these posts, so inaccurate information should be corrected for those who are interested in more lighting upgrade.



Long story short

*Projector for HID and Halogen is different
*HID kit in halogen projector never can shoot intended proper beam pattern
*It cause glare at minor level (with proper aim) , but not critically terrible ( having dirty lens is worse)
*HID in halogen projector may contribute to see LESS even with brighter output
*In US, it's sadly not OK to use HID kit ( illegal)
*Cheap HID kit may burn reflector bowl with excessive especially UV-C






Long story long,,if you wanna learn bit more depth


Projector optics ( reflector bowl design-curve parameter, controlled leak above cut off allowance set up etc) used for Halogen light source and HID light source is designed different.

In detailed aspect, using any HID bulb ( in our case H11 HID kit bulb) never have intended proper beam pattern output, beam distribution balance in halogen projector.
It is because halogen bulb filament lighting character and HID arc character is completely different.

Halogen filament is close to cylinder shape light source while HID arc has 2 distinct hot sport near each electrode and due to thick glass arc chamber, it also create two separate imaginably lighting point.



it is true projector generally handle beam pattern better than multi-reflector can do.
So it's OK to say it's better in projector than in reflector. But doesn't mean it will pass lab test.



in US, there is stubburn regulation , we supposed not to use any light parts that doesn't have DOT approved product,,so naturally aftermarket HID kit falls into this category,,
even with HID designed projector retrofit properly, unless I take my headlight into DOT certification test to have it approved, technically, illegal.




Does HID kit in our projector blind people?

Yes at certain level, not much. Purpose of front lighting is to illuminate road, gently illuminate street signs and also to be seen.
Projector tend to have more distinct cut off line compare to reflector design headlamp system.
many projector now uses lightly frosted surface texture lens. It helps more gentle transition from lighted area to where light is cut off.
This helps preventing " view evaporation"

Each projector has controlled amount of light leak above cut off line. This is to illuminate street signs at desired lux rating.
This volume is determined by light source,,so HID in general has more than x2 of luminus intensity,, relative to lighted area by main beam pattern and this controlled leak area balance remain same mostly.
But absolute rating of illumination intensity to above cut off also x2 along light source change.

And this area will reach to on coming traffic. So this is considered as undesired glare.



Why it may see less with HID even with more powerful light source?

1. improper beam distribution caused by different light source.
This may lights up certain area more than it should be, while some other area light up less.
2. It lights up near view ( foreground lighting area) too strong ==>cause your eyes to adjust strongly illuminated near view=make distance view(the place you want to see the most) relatively weaker.
Just like hard to see dark outside from inside of super bright room.





BUT,,,afterall,,, having dirty lens ( faded, oxidation etc..) is far worse in terms of "glare" and poor illumination ability.

 

[mzd]

This is a solenoid to lower the cutoff shield that blocks the high beam. That is how a bi (meaning 2 or low and high beam) xenon projector worker. Xenon only comes in a few legitimate sizes, all starting with a D. D stands for discharge, the D in hiD. H stands for halogen.

This is what our projector looks like.

See how there is no flap? Thats because it is a halogen low beam only projector.

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Here is a explanation by a guy who designed headlights on why hid kits are no good.

All those big words and the test were only done on reflectors! NOT projectors.

IF aimed properly there shouldn't be much glare.

 

[rdriggett]

All those big words and the test were only done on reflectors! NOT projectors.

IF aimed properly there shouldn't be much glare.

I never said they would glare, the increased glare is not very much. I was simply correcting what you were wrong about.

It will create more foreground and less distance, it is illegal for good reason and it will eventually fry in inside of headlights. I rest my case.

 

[GerryB]

It's illegal because a lot of them are poorly designed and installed. Reflector headlights will blind almost anyone with HIDs installed. Projectors are fine. And I ran HIDs in my old. 6 for 9 years and never had an issue. Of any kind.

Sent from the wrong side of the tracks.

 

[mzd]

I have seen them and all reflectors blind people. But I believe glare can be lowered using an HID cap.