I just installed a set of xenon lamps and the associated equipment in my Civic.Worked well and the mod was relatively straightforward.I see blue colored bulbs on alot CL and TL's at work and considering the performance and relatively low price of the xenon's(450.00) I am surprised none of you have tried it.The conversion is easy on a CL TL vehicle since the D2R bulb is almost the same size as a 9005 high beam bulb.I watched a guy do this very mod to a car and it is quite easy.It seems that all you need to do really is slightly modify the D2R bulb to have the same tangs as a 9005 so that it will slip into the factory socket.This is done with an X ACTO blade the wiring involves two wires and securing the electronic controls.Granted this setup would fry retinas if you accidentally left it on as you approach traffic never mind the fact that it is most likely illegal but for those of you with long drives on dark roads (like me) this might be the hot ticket.Jens

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1992 mazda Miata lowered with Eibach springs KYB AGX adjustable struts Sparco racing buckets 4 point safety harnesses Momo steering wheel lo profile headlite system with PIAA superwhite bulbs Custom audio system Custom gauges Jackson racing supercharger with header and Greddy cat back exhaust and a ton of other stuff 2000 Honda Civic on APEX coilovers Full Alpine Audio system factory fogs with Piaa bulbs Catz ZETA headlamp system tinted custom taillites and on and on

 

How do the brights work as far as flashing an oncoming driver? Xenon's don't immediately come on and I thought that's why Acura only made the lo beams Xenon. Would switching them on and off cut the life short? Was the $450 just for the bulbs?

PS Thanks for the info.

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01 CL-S NightHawk Black/Ebony Bowling Ball Interior

 

Try blipping your high beams in your garage, or in front of a reflective surface (when you don't have any of your lights on in the first place)... Its not like its a 2 second delay for the low beams to come on. Its maybe .3 seconds after the high's come on. I say its fine, and for what you're getting? well worth it.

Also, the lens and diffuser if any, are very determinant on the hue of white/blue that the bulb will emit. Even other OEM HID's in a different car will look off in color. Which brings me to my question, how good is the color match? Acura's a little on the blue side, and a little subdued in brightness. (As compared to Lexus' bright mostly white, and not as blue, or Mercedes' soft white/blue)

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Kenny
Slow TL

 

Jens wrote (and has probably increased X ACTO sales...
Heya Jens
I'm totally ignorant about using an X ACTO here. How do the tangs of the D2R bulb have to be altered? I could be wrong but it is the tangs that need altering, right? Aren't the tangs metal?

Also how and why does the wiring have to be changed. Also what do we need to know about "securing the electronics controls"?

Thanks again
Rob

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"01" CL Type-S
White\Black
Comptech Springs
Comptech Sways
Navigation System
Burlwood Shifter
Guards+Fenderwell Trim
PIAA16969
Smokers Package
My Car

 

Ok here is what I got for 450 bucks.Two D2R Xenon bulbs two ballasts two power supplies.The electric hookup involves quite simply power and ground this is accomplished by unplugging the original 9005 high beam bulb and using that plug that went into the bulb as a source for power and ground.The electronics can be mounted double sided tape bolted down tie wrapped whatever it takes,I bolted mine in.Modifying the D2R bulb means that the Xenon bulb has a round base that must be modified to look like the original 9005 high beam halogen bulb.An X ACTO blade and a small file would suffice to do this.Mind you I build alot of models in my spare time so I have these tools on hand along with two Dremels and a whole toolbox worth of stuff in the workshop.As far as color goes I have no idea if they are the exact match of the factory low beams in a CL or TL.Though i would tend to believe that if you need this amount of high beam light color is a secondary concern performance is the primary.Remember I did this to a Civic which involved replacing the headlamp assemblies with aftermarket units as the factory units are an H4 light system and is not easily converted to Xenon.My replacement lights used an H3 fog lamp style bulb for the low beam and a H1 for the high beam.The low beam is a projector like an Integra the high beam is like the high beam in an TL or CL.Currently I only modified the low beam to Xenon but the kit I purchased could easily be used as a high beam.Jens

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1992 mazda Miata lowered with Eibach springs KYB AGX adjustable struts Sparco racing buckets 4 point safety harnesses Momo steering wheel lo profile headlite system with PIAA superwhite bulbs Custom audio system Custom gauges Jackson racing supercharger with header and Greddy cat back exhaust and a ton of other stuff 2000 Honda Civic on APEX coilovers Full Alpine Audio system factory fogs with Piaa bulbs Catz ZETA headlamp system tinted custom taillites and on and on

 

Jens
I took note of your point about just HOW bright the D2R's can be. At times I travel nites to and fro from skeet/trap clubs from Maryland to NY state and so lots of light is good on less traveled roads. About the D2R bulb, is the base some kind of plastic? I've never used an Xacto knife on anything metal and I know it ain't balsa so I'm guessing its tough plastic. The info on the ballasts sure helps. This project sounds like it'll come in the early summer and after the CAI project.

Models eh? Wish I had the skill and time. Last model I built was a monster Mikado 4-8-8-2 steam locomotive which was HO gauge.

Anyways hope to check out either your Miata or your Civic sometime or maybe when Wayne gets the Park Avenue meet up.

Oh yeah, btw anything I should do or know before I go and adjust my lo-beams up a bit. Lowering the car makes my lo's point a little to low.

Regards
Rob

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"01" CL Type-S
White\Black
Comptech Springs
Comptech Sways
Navigation System
Burlwood Shifter
Guards+Fenderwell Trim
PIAA16969
Smokers Package
My Car

 

Hey Rob:
ok the bulbs are made up of a double walled glass ampule attached to a metal base,this metal base is in turn molded into a plastic connector body in to which the electronics are connected via a flexible cable about six inches in length.The plastic appears to be about the same material used in conventional halogen bulbs.To adjust your lights is simple the only thing that is critical is that you always use the same procedure for setting the lites.I use a local school parking lot at nite.I always park in the same spot and adjust the lite in small steps followed by a road test to determine if they are set to my satisfaction without blinding everyone.I will most likely use the Miata for the meet but it is very weather dependent as I prefer not to take the car out in bad conditions.Meantime stay safe,Jens

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1992 mazda Miata lowered with Eibach springs KYB AGX adjustable struts Sparco racing buckets 4 point safety harnesses Momo steering wheel lo profile headlite system with PIAA superwhite bulbs Custom audio system Custom gauges Jackson racing supercharger with header and Greddy cat back exhaust and a ton of other stuff 2000 Honda Civic on APEX coilovers Full Alpine Audio system factory fogs with Piaa bulbs Catz ZETA headlamp system tinted custom taillites and on and on