MyNameIsEarl

Wow, so I haven't posted in a while. And I also haven't had any car projects on my plate in a while, too. Anyway, as the title suggests, I have decided to tackle an HID configuration.

Now, for at least the moment, I plan on only putting in HID bi-xenon bulbs. After that, I will consider putting in projectors and shrouds.

I have read this post, where I already got a couple of questions answered. But I wanted to ask if anyone else has converted their 96-99 RL to have HID headlights either low beam only or bi-xenon without doing projectors/shrouds. And if you have and added projectors/shrouds after the HID bulb install, I just wanted to confirm if this is possible.

Anyway, thanks for the input. And I'll be sure to keep you guys informed of how things are going!

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...&highlight=HID

3.5RLv-tec?

iTrader: (2)

LOL, that was me. I think I'm the only 96-98 with projectors HID combo. Anyway, to answer your question, if you decide to get the HID only then it will work; you might blind other people with the stock halogen housing. The HID bulb for the projector is difference, you will need D2S bulb not H3 plug n play bulb. Hope thats help.
BTW, you can get HID for the low beam and HID foglight( not our yellow foglight) then you will have at least 90% brightness compare to projector setup.

MyNameIsEarl

Hey thanks for responding. So I actually bought projectors and shrouds as well. (I couldn't help myself! I didn't buy from The Retrofit Source; I would have loved to, but it was just a bit too expensive for me. I decided to go the eBay way, but I made sure that I could at least return them in 30 days so if they are really crappy and stop working abruptly, I can return them. And the HID setup has a two year warrantee, and I don't anticipate the projectors to fail.

So this is what I got:

HID Setup: http://www.ebay.com/itm/121142204700...84.m1497.l2649

Projectors (2.5 Inch): http://www.ebay.com/itm/290716474285...84.m1497.l2649

I read the information you provided on sanding the headlight plastic cover. But, I was wondering if you could perhaps go into a little bit more detail for me because I REALLY don't want to mess anything up and have to buy a new headlight module. As I understand, you hand-sanded the first one and used a drill on the second. Now, I have plenty of my dad's tools at my disposal when I'm home and am not new to power tools.

Also, as far as headlight assembly removal. I know just about everything I need to do, but there is one hang-up I am anticipating. See I was in an accident about a year ago and ended up switching a lot of parts from the wrecked car to the replacement car (one part of which included the bumper). Anyway, I have removed the bumper before, which allows me access to all of the bolts holding the assembly in place. But, once I get to that point, the headlight assembly is kind of stuck because the metal bar in the bumper stops it from being tilted so that it can be removed. Can you tell me what I need to do to get around that?

Also, I plan on using a heat gun, or putting the assembly in the oven on low for a couple of minutes to get the clear plastic to separate from the housing.

MyNameIsEarl

Okay, so I actually had to order a different HID system because I was an idiot and bought an HID system with H4 Bulbs. Little did I know that H4 bulbs will NOT work in a D2S projector. So, I had to contact the seller (I know it hasn't been shipped yet) and get a refund. Meanwhile I ordered this set. It is 5000k D2S bulbs.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321170658042...84.m1497.l2649

MyNameIsEarl

I found these wonderful pdf files. Turns out I have never completed the front bumper removal, all I have had experience with was taking off the front bumper molding.

Sorry to post three times in a row.

Here are links to the files if anyone else decides to take on the job.

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/th...l_1_bumper.pdf

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/th..._removal_2.pdf

3.5RLv-tec?

iTrader: (2)

Good start you have there. Anyway, as far as how I did the sanding, I need to reread my threat. It had been a long time, so I did not remember the steps. I bought the 3M sanding kit ranging from 60-220 girt($25?) and 3M headlight restoration. I used the heat gun to open the headlight because I don't want to melt my headlight lol. It took longer but it is safer To remove the headlights you need to remove the front bumper then remove the 4 screws holding the headlights, 2 on top and 2 on the bottom. After you remove all of the screws you need to tilt the headlight up a little bit then push it toward the radiator and then push it in opposite direction of the radiator.
*You need one last thing and I think is the most important is the HID relay wiring kit. Without this relay you have a potential to fry the stock wiring. So head to retrofit source and get the relay wire, I think is about $20.

MyNameIsEarl

Are the relay kits really necessary? I have found some forums with people say they aren't unless you are using a 55W system, or that it depends. Where did you find out that you decided you needed one?

3.5RLv-tec?

iTrader: (2)

I don't know if it necessary but it is just a piece of mind. $25 vs $1000 to replace the stock wiring. Everyone I know have the relay, so it is up to you.
BTW, make sure you test out the projectors performance before sanding the headlights!

MyNameIsEarl

Okay, so I went ahead and got a relay kit. Now I just have to wait for all this stuff to arrive. It's only been two days since ordering and the wait is killing me!

The HID kit is going to arrive today though, the relay kit is also on the way. What's going to take the longest is the projectors from China. Yay outsourcing!


By the way, the whistles go, "Wooo Woooooo!"

Pro-Pilot

Cool. Interested to see how it will turn out. BTW, 55w 6k are extremely bright. I have a set in my fogs and my hi's as well. Just the fogs alone cast at least 3 times the amount of light that my stock headlights do. So if you ever need extreme lighting, 55w is the way to go

MyNameIsEarl

Allright, so time for a check in. I got all the parts and I have sanded down the dozens of little prisms in one part of the housing. It seems that I must not have done something well enough with the 3M sanding kit, so tomorrow (I guess technically late today) I'm going to try to redo the compounding polish part. Hopefully that takes out the tiny little scratches all over the place. And somehow I managed to scratch the front of the housing.

Additionally, I'm working on a DIY guide, so when I'm all done and if anyone wants to replicate it, they can.

3.5RLv-tec?

iTrader: (2)

All you have the sand is the low beam area. I put painting tape to protect the high beam and the signal area. Make sure you keep moving or else you are going to burn the lens! You use the lowest girt from the kit to remove the bumpy thing lol and move to a higher one.

MyNameIsEarl

I only sanded the primary headlight area, like you did. I'm just having a little bit of trouble getting rid of the tiny scratches. I may need to go down to a heavier grit. It's kind of getting there though!

Did you have any problems getting rid of the finer scratches, though?

MyNameIsEarl

Okay, so here is the progress so far. As you can see it is like 90% done. I'm just really struggling now to get it crystal clear. Any advice would be appreciated.

I have already used a buffer pad and car wax to try to knock the scratches down, but to no avail. (I've done this several times already.)

99blackhatch

6K HIDs are annoying i think... they are like seeing all the "lifted up trucks that will never actually be taken off roading" that have the purple headlights that don't really help light up the road at all compare to stock halogen bulbs.

I personally recommend 4K or 5K for bulb choices.

MyNameIsEarl

Okay, so I had to go to the store and buy some elbow grease. It did the trick! One lens done, one to go! Here is another picture. I'll be sure to take another when I go back together with it.

Oh, and blackhatchback, The 5k bulbs I got are pure white. I didn't mean to say 6k. I got pure white and they look great! I've tested them out with the projectors already, too.

MyNameIsEarl

The housing all done!

3.5RLv-tec?

iTrader: (2)

Try to get the 3000-3500 grit, I think it will remove the micro scratches. Looking great!

MyNameIsEarl

Oh my goodness. This job has taken taken sacrifice of me in blood and sweat so far. Hopefully tears are not next to come. I am really looking forward to finishing this, hopefully tomorrow. I think so far the job has taken something like 12 hours so far. And I have only finished one headlight and the other one's lens is only about 35% complete with sanding.

My fingers hurt, my hand hurts, my arm hurts, my lungs hurt. Hell, I think my mind even hurts from this.

The only thing keeping me going right now is ever couple of hours walking to the front of the car and admiring the complete headlight.

3.5RLv-tec?

iTrader: (2)

LOL, trust me once you are finished with the project all the sweats worth it. I know how you feel man and it took me almost 3 weeks to finish this project. I only had 1 or 2 hr each day to work on it.

MyNameIsEarl

At last! I am finally done, and as promised, here are the results.

I hope to upload a DIY for this within the next couple of days.

Enjoy!

And this is a picture of the previous set up. When I was experimenting with only taking one side of the yellow fog lights off.

MyNameIsEarl

Now, the last picture makes the lights look washed out. In person it looks crystal clear.

And also, the lights are very pure white, the picture does look a little blue. I'll try to take some better picture some other time.

3.5RLv-tec?

iTrader: (2)

Is it 5K or 6K? It looks blue? Have you readjusted the headlights yet? A day time pic would look best lol.

MyNameIsEarl

It's 5K. Something just went weird with the camera and it looks more blue.

Pro-Pilot

Nice!! I really want to do this when I get a chance.

MyNameIsEarl

Sorry everyone I haven't posted the DIY yet, my AC compressor decided to go out, so I've been dealing with that the past couple of days. Stay tuned!