HID Conversion
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HID Conversion
i originally purchased a xgl hid kit which included the ballasts, capsules, projectors, and wiring harness.
however, as you may have noticed, they have "bubble" appearance which i didn't like.
to get around this, i did a retrofit into a halogen housing.
halogen housing cut to fit the projector
test fit of projector into cutout
rear boot trimed to clear the projector
mounting tabs fixed with a strong epoxy
built a shield to prevent any reflection of the grey area
butyl rubber insulation used to seal the between the housing and projector
finished results
if anyone wants to attempt a retrofit, feel free to ask me any questions and i'll do my best to help.
however, as you may have noticed, they have "bubble" appearance which i didn't like.
to get around this, i did a retrofit into a halogen housing.
halogen housing cut to fit the projector
test fit of projector into cutout
rear boot trimed to clear the projector
mounting tabs fixed with a strong epoxy
built a shield to prevent any reflection of the grey area
butyl rubber insulation used to seal the between the housing and projector
finished results
if anyone wants to attempt a retrofit, feel free to ask me any questions and i'll do my best to help.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue 13th Mar 2007, 04:33am
- Location: USA
RE: HID Conversion
superb job you've done there!!, any idea what its all cost you to do the conversion??
- smiffy_no46
- Posts: 930
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- Location: East Yorkshire
RE: HID Conversion
they look really nice
i've wanted to change my angel eyes for a while, might look into doing that
i've wanted to change my angel eyes for a while, might look into doing that
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Mikey13 - Posts: 3609
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RE: HID Conversion
just to let you know you can now get hold of hid bulbs and balasts that will fit standard h4 headlamp holes.
Much easier!
Well done on the job though.
Much easier!
Well done on the job though.
- wildoliver
- Posts: 216
- Joined: Mon 9th Oct 2006, 03:51pm
- Location: East Yorkshire
Yeh ive been looking at the H4 conversions, but theres a few different companies doing them now - trying to decide which one to plump for. And is it worth the £200-300 price tag to convert? hmm decisions!!
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keithio450r - Posts: 110
- Joined: Thu 8th Dec 2005, 01:35am
- Location: Brixham, South Devon
Re: RE: HID Conversion
wildoliver wrote:just to let you know you can now get hold of hid bulbs and balasts that will fit standard h4 headlamp holes.
Much easier!
Well done on the job though.
it's definitely much easier, but it's not as safe as true hid projection system.
first, when doing a retro with bulbs only, you have to consider about optics. an hid capsule does not align properly with the filament of a halogen bulb. unless it has been rebased/engineered to do so, which most kits aren't. with this is mind, the light pattern will be altered and thus cause glare to oncoming traffic.
second, most hid bulb kits will loose the ability to use your high beams. of course some of us have multiple driving lights that can fill that loss. but for thos who don't, the lack of high beams can be a factor. with a projection system, you can get a bi-xenon projector like what i got. it will function as both your high and low beam. here's a quick example (the lights aren't aligned yet in this vid):
http://www.realmofexcursion.com/videos/bi_xenon.wmv
my advice, spend a little more time and money and invest in a true hid conversion for peace of mind over a kit.
also, thanks eveyone for the comments!
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boister77 - Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue 13th Mar 2007, 04:33am
- Location: USA
keithio450r wrote:Yeh ive been looking at the H4 conversions, but theres a few different companies doing them now - trying to decide which one to plump for. And is it worth the £200-300 price tag to convert? hmm decisions!!
as i mentioned in the post above, if you do decided to go this route. verify with the manufacturer if the capsule has been specifically designed to work (not just fit) in an H4 application. if not, glare and an incorrect beam pattern will be a problem.
for the amount you posted, you can do a proper retrofit with projectors in the states. i don't know how much pricing is your area for parts, but it's just to give you an idea.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue 13th Mar 2007, 04:33am
- Location: USA
Re: RE: HID Conversion
boister77 wrote:wildoliver wrote:just to let you know you can now get hold of hid bulbs and balasts that will fit standard h4 headlamp holes.
Much easier!
Well done on the job though.
it's definitely much easier, but it's not as safe as true hid projection system.
first, when doing a retro with bulbs only, you have to consider about optics. an hid capsule does not align properly with the filament of a halogen bulb. unless it has been rebased/engineered to do so, which most kits aren't. with this is mind, the light pattern will be altered and thus cause glare to oncoming traffic.
second, most hid bulb kits will loose the ability to use your high beams. of course some of us have multiple driving lights that can fill that loss. but for thos who don't, the lack of high beams can be a factor. with a projection system, you can get a bi-xenon projector like what i got. it will function as both your high and low beam. here's a quick example (the lights aren't aligned yet in this vid):
http://www.realmofexcursion.com/videos/bi_xenon.wmv
my advice, spend a little more time and money and invest in a true hid conversion for peace of mind over a kit.
also, thanks eveyone for the comments!
Well the ones I have access to have the shutter sytem which is exactly what you will have unless your lights have 2 bulbs, no-one produces a bi filament xenon bulb as it is technically impossible due to the nature of the bulb, even the car manufacturers that fit them as standard either use 2 bulbs or a shutter system. A bi filament xenon bulb would be dangerous due to the time it takes for the bulb to ignite, leaving you without lights for a second or so between switch over.
It is also incorrect to call your lights "true HID" while they are indeed true hid, the inferrence that the types I mention are not is wrong, what your lights are are HID projectors.
Re. the lining up of the bulb, again the types I mention are designed for use on the road unlike a lot of kits so yes fully lined up.
- wildoliver
- Posts: 216
- Joined: Mon 9th Oct 2006, 03:51pm
- Location: East Yorkshire
Re: RE: HID Conversion
wildoliver wrote:Well the ones I have access to have the shutter sytem which is exactly what you will have unless your lights have 2 bulbs
i have a moveable shutter/shield as well, with one capsule per projector. post pics/info of your bulbs as i would be interested to share it with fellow members who are interested in a easier retrofit.
wildoliver wrote:It is also incorrect to call your lights "true HID" while they are indeed true hid, the inferrence that the types I mention are not is wrong, what your lights are are HID projectors.
take note, i gave you the benefit of the doubt as i do know hid kits that have been engineered to align correctly exist. as for mentioning true HID, that holds true for either a projection or reflector based system that uses a capsule that is specifically designed to coexist together.
wildoliver wrote:Re. the lining up of the bulb, again the types I mention are designed for use on the road unlike a lot of kits so yes fully lined up.
as i mentioned, please share more about the bulbs you offer. i would especially like to see your cutoff pics as well as your projection pattern on the road. i have other people who are interested in hid conversion, if i can provide more information about your bulbs, they may consider this route as it would be easier.
take note...i'm not trying to step on anyones toes. however, i feel a need to make it clear that not all hid kits are designed properly. in the states, there's an abundance of improper kits in use which is very dangerous as glare is a very big and dangerous issue.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue 13th Mar 2007, 04:33am
- Location: USA
RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
Nice work - they were as ugly as sin before you retro'd them
How much difference does it make to driving in the dark??
How much difference does it make to driving in the dark??
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Tony_B - Posts: 1076
- Joined: Tue 4th May 2004, 09:03pm
- Location: Leeds
RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
looking good. fancy making me a set of lights and sending them across the pond?
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wholovesthemini - Posts: 3844
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Re: RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
who_loves_the_mini? wrote:looking good. fancy making me a set of lights and sending them across the pond?
thanks! a few people have inquired as well. i might consider something.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue 13th Mar 2007, 04:33am
- Location: USA
RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
The ones I can get (from a company called "Ultra") have a Xenon dipped beam, with a halogen bulb for the high beam.
Hehe, and that first pic of where you've got them fitted, make your mini look like its on drugs!
Hehe, and that first pic of where you've got them fitted, make your mini look like its on drugs!
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chairchild - Posts: 14460
- Joined: Wed 23rd Jul 2003, 03:17am
- Location: Hunstanton, Norfolk
Re: RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
boister77 wrote:who_loves_the_mini? wrote:looking good. fancy making me a set of lights and sending them across the pond?
thanks! a few people have inquired as well. i might consider something.
if you ever decided to go down this route id definately be interested.
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Coedy - Posts: 1039
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RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
Hehe been running HID projectors for 4 years now, i will never go back to halogen, Top Job!!!! looks ace!!
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MadMini - Posts: 417
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RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
looks amazing
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sidewalkdave - Posts: 317
- Joined: Thu 29th Mar 2007, 08:25am
- Location: west sussex
RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
As ever fantastic work and pictures!
Im so glad you changed them, i almost thought you'd made your car the ugliest rhubarber around!
Its such a nice mini! I LIKE!
Oh and i dont know jack about these lights are they just brighter?
Im so glad you changed them, i almost thought you'd made your car the ugliest rhubarber around!
Its such a nice mini! I LIKE!
Oh and i dont know jack about these lights are they just brighter?
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LankyJames - Posts: 521
- Joined: Sun 8th Oct 2006, 04:27pm
- Location: Nottingham
RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
dont know if its of intrest to anyone but i've been reading up on hid (with the aim of converting my car) and found this
" Internationalised European vehicle regulations require such headlamps to be equipped with lens cleaners and an automatic self-levelling system to keep the beams aimed correctly regardless of vehicle load and attitude, but no such devices are required in North America, where inherently more glaring beam patterns are also permitted"
on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-inten ... harge_lamp
i take it that if the above is true we would have to have lense cleaners etc to do the conversion to european standards!!
also i was looking at this style of bixenon
http://www.xenonvalot.com/newh4bixenon.html
it uses a sliding mechanism to allow both low and high beam, do you think it would be sutible for a mini?
" Internationalised European vehicle regulations require such headlamps to be equipped with lens cleaners and an automatic self-levelling system to keep the beams aimed correctly regardless of vehicle load and attitude, but no such devices are required in North America, where inherently more glaring beam patterns are also permitted"
on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-inten ... harge_lamp
i take it that if the above is true we would have to have lense cleaners etc to do the conversion to european standards!!
also i was looking at this style of bixenon
http://www.xenonvalot.com/newh4bixenon.html
it uses a sliding mechanism to allow both low and high beam, do you think it would be sutible for a mini?
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l_jonez - Posts: 1413
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RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
In a recent Practical Classics product page, they were showing Hid conversions for classic cars. The company uses P7000 Tripod Lenses which means they should fit a mini, but you could ask if unsure?
http://www.snoopershop.com/cgi-bin/sear ... =ClassicH4
http://www.snoopershop.com/cgi-bin/sear ... =ClassicH4
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Paul - Posts: 1621
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Citroen C2 VTS
Nissan Qashqai Tekna
Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
l_jonez wrote:i take it that if the above is true we would have to have lense cleaners etc to do the conversion to european standards!!
if you do confirm that it's true, then yes, i would retro fit with the lens cleaner.
l_jonez wrote:also i was looking at this style of bixenon
http://www.xenonvalot.com/newh4bixenon.html
it uses a sliding mechanism to allow both low and high beam, do you think it would be sutible for a mini?
in my opinion, i would avoid any type of retrofit that uses the an oem halogen housing. while companies do claim to have properly aligned the hid capsule to the halogen housing, i still believe in retrofitting a complete hid system.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
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- Location: USA
RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: HID Conversion
When can you make me a set? How much?
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mr.x - Posts: 462
- Joined: Wed 29th Mar 2006, 01:58am
Re: HID Conversion
thought i'd share an update.
i have since done a new retrofit using better components. for my current retrofit, i'm using the following: tl projector, zkw replica lens, phillips dl-50/740 50w bulbs, generic 55W hid ballast. the results are far superior to my previous retrofit. the width and intensity is amazing.
for those interested, here are additional pics of the work:
http://www.vtecminis.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=21&page=1
if you are interested in attempting a retro and have questions, please feel free to ask.
i have since done a new retrofit using better components. for my current retrofit, i'm using the following: tl projector, zkw replica lens, phillips dl-50/740 50w bulbs, generic 55W hid ballast. the results are far superior to my previous retrofit. the width and intensity is amazing.
for those interested, here are additional pics of the work:
http://www.vtecminis.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=21&page=1
if you are interested in attempting a retro and have questions, please feel free to ask.
Last edited by boister77 on Mon 9th Feb 2009, 04:36am, edited 1 time in total.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue 13th Mar 2007, 04:33am
- Location: USA
Re: HID Conversion
Bwaaar... that's awesome! How much did all the bits cost?
Can't stand how useless standard lights are on mine, this would be a (/another!) great thing to add to my to do list
Can't stand how useless standard lights are on mine, this would be a (/another!) great thing to add to my to do list
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Tony_B - Posts: 1076
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Re: HID Conversion
So very jealous, i like those black chrome style lights, where the hell did you get them from let alone the HID kit!
Looks like awesome work, would love to try it
Looks like awesome work, would love to try it
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LankyJames - Posts: 521
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- Location: Nottingham
Re: HID Conversion
there are some h4 kits on ebay
would these work
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HID-Xenon-CONVERS ... 240%3A1308
mike
would these work
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HID-Xenon-CONVERS ... 240%3A1308
mike
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Tigger - Posts: 4670
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Re: HID Conversion
Just been looking into these HID h4 kits and there are stacks on flee bay.
like this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BI-XENON-HID-CONV ... 240%3A1318
they fit straight into the standard H4 slot with no mods required for the Unit like above
Might be getting some for my little project
Mike
like this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BI-XENON-HID-CONV ... 240%3A1318
they fit straight into the standard H4 slot with no mods required for the Unit like above
Might be getting some for my little project
Mike
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Tigger - Posts: 4670
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Re: HID Conversion
Tony_B wrote:Bwaaar... that's awesome! How much did all the bits cost?
around $400. it does seem like a lot, but the results are truly priceless.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
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- Location: USA
Re: HID Conversion
LankyJames wrote:So very jealous, i like those black chrome style lights, where the hell did you get them from let alone the HID kit!
got them from ebay. search for 7" black housing.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
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- Location: USA
Re: HID Conversion
Tigger wrote:Just been looking into these HID h4 kits and there are stacks on flee bay.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BI-XENON-HID-CONV ... 240%3A1318
please do not use those kits. yes the are very tempting as it's plug and play, but they can be dangerous. optics are key to any lighting system. using a hid bulb in a housing designed for halogen can cause excess glare to oncoming traffic.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
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- Location: USA
Re: HID Conversion
so can you modify the standard halogen units to accept the Hid kits
Mike
Mike
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Tigger - Posts: 4670
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96 Mazda MX5 in Black
Re: HID Conversion
2 things,
is there a hid kit available that does have the 'bubble' look that i can just wire into my car rather than mess about retro fitting anything?
and i think the guide to make your own should be stickied or stuck in the tech section
is there a hid kit available that does have the 'bubble' look that i can just wire into my car rather than mess about retro fitting anything?
and i think the guide to make your own should be stickied or stuck in the tech section
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tadleysimon - Posts: 585
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Re: HID Conversion
Tigger wrote:so can you modify the standard halogen units to accept the Hid kits
Mike
the only safe way to use hid's in a standard halogen housing is to do a projector retrofit.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
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- Location: USA
Re: HID Conversion
boister am i wrong or do the hid projectors just do the dip beam? they dont produce the full beam do they? i've not seen hid set up working
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R.P.C - Posts: 1737
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Re: HID Conversion
these were advertised in mini world this month.
http://www.essexracing.com/product_info ... ts_id=1077
they say they are a direct replacemnt for the H4 bulb.
so you say you need to get projectors instead of the hid kits. Is there no way to modify the standard halogen lamps to work with the hid h4 kits?
Mike
http://www.essexracing.com/product_info ... ts_id=1077
they say they are a direct replacemnt for the H4 bulb.
so you say you need to get projectors instead of the hid kits. Is there no way to modify the standard halogen lamps to work with the hid h4 kits?
Mike
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Tigger - Posts: 4670
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96 Mazda MX5 in Black
Re: HID Conversion
R.P.C wrote:boister am i wrong or do the hid projectors just do the dip beam? they dont produce the full beam do they? i've not seen hid set up working
you are correct in a way. projectors control the beam more precisely than a reflector housing. by doing this, you greatly reduce the amount of glare to oncoming traffic and project a majority of the light onto the road.
this picture is a great example; notice the sharp cutoff.
Last edited by boister77 on Mon 9th Feb 2009, 10:19pm, edited 1 time in total.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
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- Location: USA
Re: HID Conversion
Tigger wrote:these were advertised in mini world this month.
http://www.essexracing.com/product_info ... ts_id=1077
they say they are a direct replacemnt for the H4 bulb.
so you say you need to get projectors instead of the hid kits. Is there no way to modify the standard halogen lamps to work with the hid h4 kits?
Mike
it's all bad marketing. no hid "kit" can be used in a halogen housing safely. hid bulbs required different optics as opposed to halogen bulbs.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
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- Location: USA
Re: HID Conversion
boister77 wrote:R.P.C wrote:boister am i wrong or do the hid projectors just do the dip beam? they dont produce the full beam do they? i've not seen hid set up working
you are correct in a way. [/img]
Still a bit confused, do they only do dipped beam?
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R.P.C - Posts: 1737
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Re: HID Conversion
i a bit confused with your term "dipped". do you mean low beam? if so, certain projectors only have low beam operation. for low and high beam operation, you need a bi-xenon projector. this type of projector has a solenoid with alters the optics for high beam. the projector i'm currently using has the bi-xenon feature.
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boister77 - Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue 13th Mar 2007, 04:33am
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