HID conversion
 

i just got a new 03 ES protege. I was thinking of putting in some HID. Has anyone done this? Can anyone give me some info if they had already looked into this and help me out thanks guys. RAY

sorry that this has nothing to do with your topic but-

Have you tried out the headlights yet? They are terrific stock compared to all other vehicles I have previously driven (all pre 2000 models). Exceptionally bright, excellent pattern, great distance and spread yet it is confined enough that it shouldn't blind other drivers.

http://www.mpsport.net/images/p5.html

This car from the Vancouver Protege Club has a HID conversion kit, and it looks sweet.

Also www.sparkcoonline.com sells a conversion kit.

thanks

question: is there a dif between hid conversion kits vs getting the jdm hid's?

does the whole headlight assembly have to be changed for true hid? ala jdm?

sorry, i'm a noob. lol :o

The JDM headlights won't be the correct beam pattern for over here, right hand drive v left hand drive.

And HID headlights have a lense that focuses the beam correctly, so putting HID bulbs in a halogen headlight won't give you the right beam pattern neither.

Basically, wait and see what comes out...

The only thing that would worry me with HID lamps is that the Pro's headlights present the possibility of accelerated yellowing. HID's emit a much more significant amount of UV raditation than standard halogen lamps. I can only assume that the Pro's headlights are acrylic, which yellow in the presence of UV light.

how would the beam pattern be different for left vs right side driving? (i'm assuming the beam is symmetrical) and if it is symmetrical then how is the "pattern" actual different that it makes a difference for left vs right side driving?

Sun emits waaaay more UV light, and lenses are subject to it during the day-for about 10-12 hours, compared to headlights which are used for 1-2 hours a day, if used at all.
Alex

No, the only concern should be how well h4 HID bulb is made-whether it's designed to go into h4 socket, or some "shadetree mechanic" glued HID bulb into H4 adaptor with crazy glue-then yes, it might not be precise and beam will be screwed up.
If it's designed to be H4(or H7) replacement, it will have exactly same beam as factory. HID buld doesn' have ANY beam pattern by itself, it's like any other bulb, it gives more light, that's all.
If kit is well made, you will have all benefits of HID with only minor adjustment of headlights.

My friend works at tuner shop in Europe and he installed lots of kits(they are actually cheaper in Europe-about $250-$300US)
He doesn't recommend installation into "focusing lense" headlights( like1 st and second gen)-they are very hard to adjsut and benefit is not substantial. But with "focusing reflector" type-like ours, it's just plug in and you're done, with little aiming if any aiming at all.

Check this link out and see for yourself

http://mccullochhid.com/index2.htm
Alex

I agree.... it's worn off on me now after a year and a half but I remember noticing it when I first drove at night :nod:

That's a good point.

That's not necessarily true when the bulb is installed into the headlight housing. Halogen lamps and HID lamps have a different LCL (light center length). The center of light with an HID (the arc tube) may no longer fall into the same focal point that the headlight's reflector was designed for. Therefore, a different illumination pattern will result.

Yes, kcbhiw, thats exactly what I was talking about-it's focal point of HID bulb.
So if it's properly done, and I seen on some websites that aftermarket companies take care to align focal point of HID bulb with focal point of factory bulb.
There's a company around the corner from me which sells retrofit HID kits, when I get some free time I will stop by and ask them for demonstration.(www.xenondepot.com)

The only reason I don't have HID kit installed on my car is that I don't think it's necessary in place I live-I haven't driven at night in place with no street lights for about a year now.

There're lots of parts on our cars which are not DOT certified and will terrify SAE engineer-like fake HID bulbs, neon lights, non factory approved rims and tires, J-spec parts,messing around with emission control equipment etc.

Either way, RB46, that's your call, but I suggest you do your homework and make sure you get quality product with return warranty-there're lots of kits with different quality out there-you may get good stuff and may get ripped off as well.

Alex

http://www.fet-usa.com/news_reviews.asp

These guys are local to me (lucky, eh?!) I'm getting a 4300k H7 specific kit for hopefully, $400. Might jump up to 5100k, not sure. My 01 CL Type S had 4300k, and I loved them. :)

I'll post a review with pics ASAP. I should have these procured, and installed by the end of this week. :D

Jim

PS - Catz (FET) are OEM for Honda in Japan, from what I've read.

OMG - this has been SO beaten to death, but here we go anyway.....

HID "UPGRADES" ARE ILLEGAL - plus, they are DUMB and RUDE.

TRUE HID systems cost THOUSANDS of dollars (go check on any car that has them stock, or better yet - offers them as an option) - mostly because the lamps are required to have a self-levelling feature. This is to prevent ANY mis-aiming of the lights, even if the car was to take a large bump in the road. Viewing HID lamps from direct angles is RIDICULOUSLY blinding - they are brighter than any halogen, high beams or not. They border on being like lasers. TRUE HID systems NEED to have this self-levelling feature in order to be SAFE and not blind other drivers.

ANY HID "system" that costs a few hundred bucks is illegal, and I seriously hope that anyone who installs them gets ticketed for them. I have been the unfortunate victim of several of these yahoo rig-it-up-throw-the-brightest-beam-wherever HID systems - they are BLINDING. And it's just plain dangerous.

There is a reason that real HIDs are so damn expensive. To think you can replicate the TRUE system for a few hundred bucks is just plain foolish.

*whew* I still don't feel better, because I know it's only a matter of time until yet another person tries to get on the "I want the cool lights" bandwagon.

Our stock lights are far better than most - but that's just not good enough for some people.

~HH