HID the right way.

[RBS14]

Here's some pics of the retro I did in my zenki. Projectors are E46/TT singles with 4100k burners. Damn fluted lenses are killing me! cutoff is really blurry and they are throwing quite a bit of glare by projector standards. Not as much as it looks like in the pics but still a good amount. I'm getting clear lenses soon hopefully which will mean even more light on the road and less glare. Oh yea, and a razor sharp cutoff. :)

Ok, now the pics.

from about 4 feet.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID002.jpg

Lenses look yellow dispite sanding and polishing. Hopefully they'll be gone soon.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID004.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID005.jpg

There is nowhere near this much color in real life.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID008.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID010.jpg

Haha, you can see my power steering cooler in between my lights.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID011.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID012.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/wheels025.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/wheels028.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID014.jpg
Where I soldered the wire onto my turn signal stalk. With the wire soldered in here, low beams don't turn off when you turn high beams on.

Sorry, no tripod. I suck at cameras.

[91CRXsiR]

you have any pics w/ the glass cover off? what did you use to aim/hold the projector?

my friend did a similar setup in his camry and he's using zip ties?!

[TurDz]

very good job man. Umm....that's not too much glare at all, but your cutoff isn't too sharp due to the lense. Are you getting the Final Connections clear lenses?

anyway, if it makes you feel any better, on Kouki headlights, there's actaully more glare above the cutoff, kinda sucks due to the glass design.

[RBS14]

only pics of the retro itself are on my phone, really low quality. I used 4 screws to hold it onto my stock reflector. Drill the holes and bolt it in. Obviously it's more complicated than that, but that's the jist of it.

Turdz: you can't tell from the pics, but street signs get lit up like the headlights are pointed at them. haha But i'm glad it's sharper than koukis. When I get clear lenses it'll be razor sharp so i'm not worried for the mean time.

[Slidin240Wayz]

Hello,

I guess this is a different kind of right way.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/684000-684999/684902_24_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/684000-684999/684902_12_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/684000-684999/684902_84_full.jpg
Wishing you all the best,
Carlos Doria

[TurDz]

Wow slidin240, very unique, but don't steal the original guy's glory....haha, j/k. Those are valeo ece's aren't they?

[Slidin240Wayz]

NO NO, not at all. I give you alot of credit rbs14 :bow: . Retrofitting is no easy task. I am glad to find someone else that has taken the challenge, only know 1 more person that has done this to the zenki. Yes, I did use ece hid valeo's. The space is tighter than a _____ (fill in the blank). I had to realign the driver side one and it was like doing the whole retrofit over again. Now it is a very simple thing to do but take lots of hours, little knowledge and *hitloads of patience, 10-30 actual work hours. My next possible retro is a bi-xenon maxima projector in a sentra.

[RBS14]

only thing I meant by right way was OEM HID projectors. not a drop-in kit.

Cheers.

[SimpleS14]

Very nice work and thanks for the info Scott.

[Slidin240Wayz]

RBS,
I dont think anyone offers a drop in kit for the zenkis. Still a great job you did. Get those final konnexion covers.

Wishing you all the best,
Carlos Doria

[Maeda]

Pay money for headlight covers? bah.

Scooter you gotta tell me where you got those projectors... My silvia lights are aching to be retrofitted...

[publicenemy137]

I'd love some HI-Ds, I hate driving in the pitch black dark and not being able to see shit.

wishing you the utmost happiness,
Andrew Cappelli

[Dunkee]

Nice job :yum: I'm gonna start working on my retro-fit this summer...where'd you get your projectors from..and where did you find the info to do the install? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[RBS14]

everything you need to know about retrofitting is at www.hidplanet.com I got my projectors in the f/s section there too.

John: I'll send up the stock lenses soon so Linda can make me some new ones. Woot!

[Slidin240Wayz]

RBS- how about trying the sanding method to clear the lenses? yes www.hidplanet.com is a great forum. The yoffer a kit for about $420 with basically everything you need. Make sure you take measurements.
The projectors that fit in zenki reflectors are:
audi ece hid
bmw x5
e46

Read into fresnel lens, hid vs halogen projectors, ballasts, all these little things and more make a difference.

Wishing you the best,
Carlos Doria

[Dunkee]

RBS- how about trying the sanding method to clear the lenses? yes www.hidplanet.com is a great forum. The yoffer a kit for about $420 with basically everything you need. Make sure you take measurements.
The projectors that fit in zenki reflectors are:
audi ece hid
bmw x5
e46

Read into fresnel lens, hid vs halogen projectors, ballasts, all these little things and more make a difference.

Wishing you the best,
Carlos Doria

I was wondering if the X5's fit...Thanks ;) BTW, do you guys have intercoolers? Did you use a smaller bat...and did it effect the set up or did you run everything to the back?

Carlos I sent you a PM.

[Slidin240Wayz]

I have an optima redtop in my car. No intercooler in my car. I have responded to your pm.

[RBS14]

I tried sanding an extra lens I had lying around, and after 4 hours I had gotten virtually nowhere. I don't have the time or patience for that.

A friend is vacuum molding some clear ones for me, so I got that covered.

Cheers

[blazn240sx]

wondering where u can get the clear lenses for the zenki headlights

[Jeff240sx]

hidplanet down?
If e46 projectors work.. would the angel eyes work?
-Jeff

[Var]

RBS14 that seems like a lot of glare to me from an oncomer's POV. how much worse can it get? And how much different is that from a drop in kit like Jeff sells? anyone got pics to compare?

[Jeff240sx]

Here's how much worse it can get.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/yourmomsrps13/240sx122.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/yourmomsrps13/240sx160.jpg
And the worst!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/yourmomsrps13/240sx159.jpg

Not my kit. Just something I laughed at when browsing 240sxforums. Place is only good for laughs.
-Jeff

[RBS14]

It can get way worse. And once I get the clear lenses, the cutoff will be razor sharp, so this is just temporary, couple months max.

Example:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid78/p483d6fec1d08dfaea8d2caa0cd7eb586/fb291d25.jpg

Jeff, I'm using e46 and they fit fine. There's a little more room to work with, but not much. These projectors are some of the best out there, so it was a no-brainer for me. They're the smallest OEM HID projector produced to date.

[KiDyNomiTe]

For those with flip ups, don't get all discouraged, just look at the H4 housing and don't ever buy one like that. All those fancy crystal clear ones are useless directional wise. Put in my HIDs from Jeff's buy yesterday and they have a good cutoff, you can generally tell how they are going to look by looking at the headlight designs, I'll post pics once I get my camera back. Now whats gonna happen in the rain, I have no idea....

[SimpleS14]

What size are those E46 projectors? The one I have are 2.25" and I considering using those in my friend's Zenki S14. Also I thought the S2K projectors were the smallest OEM units. Question: where did you find the 15A fuse holder? I can't find one locally...I've look at all the auto places. :/

[RBS14]

I got mine at radio shack.

yea, e46 are about 2 3/4" lens. The bowl is the small part tho, most are larger in some way. S2k are slightly larger. I'd definately recommend the e46 projectors, especially now that we know they fit.

Cheers

[SR240DET]

what about stock s13 silvia projectors?

[KiDyNomiTe]

what about stock s13 silvia projectors?
work great, my friend has some 8000K on his

[RBS14]

the fact that you think 8000k is even worth mentioning gives me more than enough reason to doubt how good the silvia projectors are with HID in them. Most halogen projectors handle HID better than most reflectors, but still not near up to par with OEM HID projectors. But like I said in the other thread, whatever floats your boat. Only problem is that it affects other drivers big time in a bad way, which is not cool.

[KiDyNomiTe]

the fact that you think 8000k is even worth mentioning gives me more than enough reason to doubt how good the silvia projectors are with HID in them. Most halogen projectors handle HID better than most reflectors, but still not near up to par with OEM HID projectors. But like I said in the other thread, whatever floats your boat. Only problem is that it affects other drivers big time in a bad way, which is not cool.

I've driven accross from him towards him in front of him bla bla bla and other than the fact that his car bounces up and down never had a problem.

[dct223]

hrmm ur inspiring me to do a retrofit... where did you source your projectors???? junk yard?

[Jeff240sx]

the fact that you think 8000k is even worth mentioning gives me more than enough reason to doubt how good the silvia projectors are with HID in them. Most halogen projectors handle HID better than most reflectors, but still not near up to par with OEM HID projectors. But like I said in the other thread, whatever floats your boat. Only problem is that it affects other drivers big time in a bad way, which is not cool.

Do the e46 projectors barely fit? Because.. I'll do a retrofit only for those angel eyes. Would I be able to get that halo in there also?
-Jeff

[RBS14]

they angel eyes are completely seperate from the projectors. On the BMW's they are set in the housing around the projector. But you can put angel eyes around any projector you want, just have to get the right sized ones to fit around the lens of your projector. You'll need to do a retro to make angel eyes look good, so if you are gonna do that, i'd suggest e46 because they fit fine, and have good output. They are also cheap compared to s2k, tsx etc.

[dct223]

once u get those clear headling covers or if u have pics of the projector mounted on the reflectors, please post!!

[Maeda]

Hey scoot...

How come you dont just cut a hole in front of the hids just to reduce glare until we can make you some clears?

Or am I retarded....

Oh yah, and you should really visit for a week so we can make those things. I say a week, so you can nag jin jin for 4 days, and then use the weekend to mold/vac it out.

[RBS14]

it would look sooooo janky. I'm ghetto, but not that bad. haha

And it would be nice to spend a little more time sanding the oxidation off of these and sell them once you guys make the clears for me.

I really wanna come up, but I've got so much school and hw it's ridiculous.

don't worry, I'll post pics when I get new lenses.

[Maeda]

You have problems with janky?

Comming from the man that 'modified' his door panel to fit a seat?

[RBS14]

I admitted to being janky, that just takes it too far. What the hell else was I supposed to do? I wanted the seat on the floor, and that put the sholder thing into the door panel. So with a little loving it all worked out great. hahaha

[pkw1]

you wanna mold me a pair of lenses too? :D i'm happy to pay for them.. and i'm sure a few more others on here are willing to as well.. since that other set from japan (forgot the name of the make) are like $300... crazy

[Slidin240Wayz]

If anyone is seroiusly interested in the FK clear covers, let me know. Cost will be around $350. I just know someone who can get them. E-mail [email protected]

Wishing you all the best,
Carlos Doria

[kenshinS14sks]

i can't see any of the pictures...they all have strange little red x's

[RBS14]

Pics fixed. Added a couple daytime and one of my turn signal stalk.

[kenshinS14sks]

ok, i was looking for a write-up on the retro, but i guess this is it. :Owned: ok...so let me get this straight you used e46 hid's
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/princecupid214/IMG_0592.jpg

and then used "coke cans" as shrouds?
http://www.midwest-plaza.com/cokecollectibles/images/791342_small1.jpg

and then drilled holes to screw in the hids

i went to www.hidplanet.com and read up a bit but the whole custom brackets and stuff got me hella confused so from this point on is my own possibly newbish assumptions/questions:
- how do you manage to control beam height/direction, if you just screwed the hid's in?
- do they just fit right onto the stock zenki adjusting brackets? so that placement isn't an issue?

[RBS14]

yes, those are the projectors I have. You see the 4 screws at each corner that hold the lens/shield to the bowl? take those out and put 3" long ones in. Then make templait of the "bolt pattern" of the 4 screws on some cardboard. Then drill holes in reflectors using the templait as a guide. Then cut out the center hole just big enough for the base of the bowl to fith through. Put nuts on the end of the screws and that part is done. Then cut out the back of the headlight so that when you adjust the height/direction with stock adjustment screws, the nuts/screws on the back of the reflector don't hit anything. That's the basics.

Yes, I used soda cans for shrouds. one will go 3/4 of the way around the projector. I cut them to fit flush up against the bowl, no gaps. Then cut another piece to cover the rest of the area. I used jb weld to hold them on, and no probs whatsoever.

[Dutchmalmiss]

anyone have pics of HIDs done the right way w/o projectors on flip-up style lights? i've yet to see some.

[Ian]

hid's w/o proper OEM projectors arent done "the right way"

havent you read anythign?

[SimpleS14]

Welp....someone took the reflector housing from a IS300 and put them into the housing of a EK civic headlight...so yea...it can be done...just not on a 240SX.

[nrg]

that's because 8000k is as good as halogen LOL.
Do you know that those headlights have RHD Cutoff??

I picked up a fuse holder at autozone. and shoved a 25A fuse in to it.

RBS14, you can run a diode to fix that low and high problem.
I did it my way:
http://img262.echo.cx/img262/706/h4wiring9ua.jpg

the only thing that sucks is that when i try to flash my HIghs, the low (HID) flashes too. oh well.

My HID: http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6638
about 20ft from the wall:
http://www.nrgonline.org/s14_hid/img/cutoff_4.jpg

[SimpleS14]

nrg - I'm assuming your car is a Kouki (real one)...if so..you already have a relay to keep the lows on when the highs are activated. The Zenki does not have that relay and a diode wouldn't help. Since my car was a Zenki I have the same case, but I'm going to wire in the relay that the Kouki has to solve my issue.

[RBS14]

yeah, in zenki, wiring a diode inline does absolutely nothing. Tried that first. But I don't need to worry about any of that because I have a new setup. haha

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID016.jpg
from left to right: running lights, low beams, high beams

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/ScooterS14/HID/HID017.jpg
Turn signal.

:w00t:

[SimpleS14]

lol...that is a weird setup, reminds me of a plane cockpit with all kinds of flip switches.

[kenshinS14sks]

so your stock stick headlight "switches" are non-functional?

[chmercer]

ahahahahaha

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7973881794&category=36476

http://home.earthlink.net/~shkim70/12000K/purlight.jpg

[nrg]

simples14, my car is a zenki with kouki conversion ;)
Please give more info on that relay. I was thinking about doing that too, but I can't find the 97+ USDM FSM to get the wiring diagram.

wtf?? did someone delete their post above mine?? Now my post looks funny.

[mr_240sx]

ahahahahaha

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7973881794&category=36476

http://home.earthlink.net/~shkim70/12000K/purlight.jpg
wow talk about massive glare!

[SimpleS14]

simples14, my car is a zenki with kouki conversion ;)
Please give more info on that relay. I was thinking about doing that too, but I can't find the 97+ USDM FSM to get the wiring diagram.

wtf?? did someone delete their post above mine?? Now my post looks funny.

Sure, this is taken directly from my write-up.....

* The 97/98 240SX comes with an extra relay (6-pin, DPDT) that allows the lows to stay on when the high beams are activated. The relay is a brown color and here is the part number: 25230-79964 . In case you don't want to buy a new one (~$15), this is the same relay used for the rear defrogger on various Nissan cars (ex: Altima) so you can find one at the junkyard.

* The relay is wired inline to the connector for the headlight switch. The wiring diagram to show this can be seen HERE (http://home.comcast.net/~simples14/hid/koukidiagram.jpg). For comparison purposes the wiring diagram from a 95/96 240SX can be seen HERE (http://home.comcast.net/~simples14/hid/zenkidiagram.jpg). As you can see, the 95/96 240SX is missing a relay, resulting in the lows going off when the highs are activated....which is a big no-no for Xenon lighting.

[RBS14]

so your stock stick headlight "switches" are non-functional?

I just got some new spst switches and with the aid of a wiring diagram wired them up, then took the entire turn signal stalk off. haha. Oh yeah, the turn signal is spdt.

[nrg]

Sure, this is taken directly from my write-up.....

* The 97/98 240SX comes with an extra relay (6-pin, DPDT) that allows the lows to stay on when the high beams are activated. The relay is a brown color and here is the part number: 25230-79964 . In case you don't want to buy a new one (~$15), this is the same relay used for the rear defrogger on various Nissan cars (ex: Altima) so you can find one at the junkyard.

* The relay is wired inline to the connector for the headlight switch. The wiring diagram to show this can be seen HERE (http://home.comcast.net/~simples14/hid/koukidiagram.jpg). For comparison purposes the wiring diagram from a 95/96 240SX can be seen HERE (http://home.comcast.net/~simples14/hid/zenkidiagram.jpg). As you can see, the 95/96 240SX is missing a relay, resulting in the lows going off when the highs are activated....which is a big no-no for Xenon lighting.

That would be a bitch to redo and extend wires to the engine-bay fuse box. making all the wiring look like how the Kouki should. Sounds like it's more of a headach then it's worth. I gues I'll just stick to what I have now. hah

[SimpleS14]

That would be a bitch to redo and extend wires to the engine-bay fuse box. making all the wiring look like how the Kouki should. Sounds like it's more of a headach then it's worth. I gues I'll just stick to what I have now. hah


huh? what are you talking about? all you have to do is look at the wires on the plug that connects to your headlight switch and have those wires run to the relay according to the diagram. Everything is done inside the car....the diagram looks intimidating huh?

[240KAT]

does anyone make HID's for s13 silvia front?

[RBS14]

in what sense? drop in kit, yes. retroffited housing, no.

[nrg]

huh? what are you talking about? all you have to do is look at the wires on the plug that connects to your headlight switch and have those wires run to the relay according to the diagram. Everything is done inside the car....the diagram looks intimidating huh?
nah.. I would want to wire it like OEM.
I'm sure the wires now run stright from the interior harness to the headlight harness. the wires are bypassing the fuse box because there isn't a relay.
I would have to splice those wires on the harness, extend some wires to the fuse box, solder it up to the relay harness, clip it on the fuse mount, etc.

I can do it in a weekend. When I find time, i'll do a complete writeup on which wires to cut and splice.

[SimpleS14]

nah.. I would want to wire it like OEM.
I'm sure the wires now run stright from the interior harness to the headlight harness. the wires are bypassing the fuse box because there isn't a relay.
I would have to splice those wires on the harness, extend some wires to the fuse box, solder it up to the relay harness, clip it on the fuse mount, etc.

I can do it in a weekend. When I find time, i'll do a complete writeup on which wires to cut and splice.


ok, cool deal....keep us posted.

[Var]

Bringing it back from the dead. I just installed a true drop-in kit in my 2001 Z06. I just wanted to say that it kicks so much ass. I went on the vette forums and most people were simply happy with the drop in kits. After seeing some pics with them it was apparent that the hot spots weren't bad and the beam pattern was like having a normal halogen setup but just brighter. I spent 300 bucks on the kit that was plug n play and there is a world of difference. Nobody high beams me when they drive by, and there is no glare when i go to the front of my car and look at it. Cops dont ever look twice when i pass by them.

I went to the mountain runs with my friend who has an S2k and they supposedly have one of the best HID setup. Well let me just say it's garbage when you're in the twisties. That whole "sharp cutoff" hype to me is absurd. The light cuts off exactly where i need to see the most. And you turn on his high beams and it's no different cause they are pale yellow and they point towards the middle. The only way it is justified to have that cutoff is if you have a bi-xenon setup, where your HID high beams can take over and actually light up the rest of the road.

Granted for some cars the beam pattern is really bad and can be dangerous, but to be 100% honest i like this setup best. By luck the C5 headlight housings do well with the drop in kits.

[nrg]

um.. those OEM cutoff are DOT. Do you expect them to be at the same height as high beams? If they were, they would be blinding everyone. Plus when you do go up there, the first car runs highs, other cars behind it runs lows. You dont need to see everything. you just need to see the road and the lines. halogen high beams on the s2k is fine. It's not like you need to see 4300K of light for high beams.

your post is completely biased.

s2k retrofit hid in a kouki s14 up in the twisties:
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/1939/ortegacurve4ah.jpg

[xkamikazestormx]

when you do go up there, the first car runs highs, other cars behind it runs lows. You dont need to see everything. you just need to see the road and the lines. halogen high beams on the s2k is fine. It's not like you need to see 4300K of light for high beams.

exactly what your supopse to do.
the front uses their highs and everyone behind them uses lows.

unless your really far away from the front car

[Var]

You dont need to see everything. you just need to see the road and the lines.

Dont tell me what the fuck i need to see. If you are running uphill, the lights point straight into the ground and it's retarded.

your post is completely biased.


I think your post is biased cause you havent seen my lights, but i've seen tons like yours.



exactly what your supopse to do.
the front uses their highs and everyone behind them uses lows.

unless your really far away from the front car

thank you Bunta!! :jerkit:


Most of the time when i go driving there is only me and the S2k cause too many fanboys out here try to keep up and they crash. NO MORE. And sometime when the right people DO come up with us, we all fold in our mirrors and angle the rear view so it's 4x shaded. This way everyone can use high beams.

I drove the S2k with nobody else on the road. Lights were horrible, I'd rather have halogen with high wattage and the beam going where i need to look.

I drove my car and it was much better, but still only barely good enough. I just ordered a 4300K high beam kit and a relay kit so high/low stays on at the same time. THAT is what i call adequate lighting. I will take pics when it's ready.

The whole point was that on a C5, the beams pattern is stable enough that it doesnt bother oncoming traffic at all. I've had my friend drive the car past me just to verify it. And just out of pure luck, IMO it works a lot better than the hyped up cutoff projectors. Dont dismiss what i have to say because you have something different.

His lights shine better on the freeway because the projectors allow the beam to travel further in a straight line, which is useless to me. Freeways are all well lit up and my lights shine plenty far. All reflective material 1/4 mile away lights up. In the mountains, where it's turn after turn and there's no point in seeing a mile away, IMO my lights work better.


AND NRG..the pic you posted if just proof that you peripheral lighting above the cutoff is ZERO. Guess what..that's where the turn's gonna be :)


And another thing about the cutoff on dark roads. When i started to go fast and the cutoff light was bouncing up and down, it was disrupting my focus. It almost gave me a headache.