FocalFlareES

Just outta curiosity, has anyone attempted to do a HID Conversion on their Protege. It is something I am considering for my MP3, however I am not sure yet. I just want to get some info on any products or opinions you all might have. Any info is greatly appreciated.

eggynatey

Yeah, There's a few different kit available for our cars. My advice: Steer clear of McCulloch. I have one of their kits sitting in a drawer right now. After 5 dead ballasts at 80 bucks apiece, I gave up and put in Silverstars.

Hella makes good ballasts. Catz seems to have the very best kits, but they don't sell them in the USA anymore (BTW: aftermarket HID kits are illegal in the 'states as of about a year ago).

import_tuner19

Why???????????????? are they too bright? BTW:I put silverstars in mine, more cost effective, corksport has a HID conversion but it rus about $1,500.

FocalFlareES

no **** illegal. Is it b/c of the Intensity of the aftermarket light w/the original housing? would it be ok if the housing was that of HID classification? As of right now i have Nokya bulbs its okay but, i would like it to be more white versus the generic ricer blue. if i don't go for the HID would you guys chose PIAA or Silverstars. as far as color? thanks for the info you guys.

nate0123

there's a groupbuy over at Mazda Forums

$315 shipped

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90773

THAPRO1

i'm gonna get these, the 12000K hid's all the way at the bottom
http://www.customenterprise.com/view.../vts/design004

meGrimlock

aftermarket HID installed after oct. 03 (date might be off) are illegal except for offroad purposes. otherwise HID systems have to be OEM installed. reason? its my understanding that there are no regulations for aftermarket conversions of existing incadescent lamps. i read on a UK HID vendor site that the EU requires aftermarket HID to be installed by a certified electrician. why dont they formulate and enforce regulations in the US? that would make sense, but knowing the govt, it might be cheaper to just enforce the laws that are more convenient. im not trying to be an expert on the subject, i dont have any links or references to back up my claims, but this is just what i've researched from online vendors and looked up on car forums.

on a side note, the US (sylvania) silverstars are pretty sweet, significant increase in luminosity with a more "white" appearance. however if you go with EU (osram) silverstars, it doesnt have the light-bluish glass used in the US version so the light wont be as "white" but will contain the same if not more luminosity. tip: install the osram bulbs only if your existing bulbs are old or broken, or else you barely notice a difference.
-megrimlock

THAPRO1

well the way i see it is theres alot of people running around with HID'S on the road thesedays and its becoming more and more common to see "economy cars" from the factory with hid's ie mazda 3 ford focus and a few others so afterawhile who's even going to know the difference? plus i'm seeing more and more bulbs that look almost if not as good as the earlier hid's from mercedes and the like so unless they see that little "explosion" that real hid's do when they turn on, they won't know and also i kinda am a certified electrician lol so i'm good
peace
dante

meGrimlock

yea i think its a great thing that a lot more cars other than the high-end ones are getting HID option. i like that HID offers more visibility for the driver as well as for oncoming traffic at a further distance than incandescants. i dont think a cop would know to pull you over if you had an aftermarket HID since he or she probably wont have a list of makes and models that offer HID handy. but how do people pass state inspections and stuff? under the table hookups? i gotta get me some of those. hehe
-meGrimlock

eggynatey

I think it has to do with beam patterns. Mine got all f-ed up when I put in the HIDs. It was impossible to get a nice even cut-off.

I got flashed a lot.

nate0123

You can still adjust them up & down with screwdriver, right?

THAPRO1

that i honestly couldn't tell ya cuz we don't have state inspections like in il the only thing we have is the emissions testing so i can't help you out there sorry
peace
dante

THAPRO1

yeah thats one of the things i've heard i belive the lights reflect kinda weird like the light gets really bright at the top end of the lamp i was wondering about that i was thinking since i have the eyelids they kinda make a cut off for the light on the top end of the lamp so maybe that would work they wouldnt appear to be so bright to other drivers i dunno tho
peace
dante