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Hi everyone, I'm looking to upgrade my factory D2R HID's to the Cree LED lights in my 02 TL-S. I can find any info on what size LED package I would need to do the swap. I know the high beams are 9005/HB3.
I would install aftermarket LED `units` in the fog light holes or under the bumper
Once committed to the actual low beams, you will be faced with many oncoming cars giving you the high-beams!!
LED has a different color, intensity and spread than other drivers are used to and they mistake it for your high beams
as aux lights LED units are badazz and overpower the stock lighting~
Great for the motorcycle! That's my opinion
for technical info see makers website for all parts required to do the install
Its more than pop in different bulbs
Side note: our high beams are 12 volt and the lows are HID 20,000 Volt systems
if you want to replace all the old HID parts and bulbs, kits are available from several suppliers- see the ads that pop up on here
a good cheap source is HID Kits | Conversion Kits | Xenon Headlights | HIDeXtra, or morimoto or hidexpress....
you want 35 watt ballast in the regular size ( no need for mini) with 5000K color bulbs
kits come with 2 ballast, 2 bulbs and igniters, they say `conversion from plain to HID` but don't worry- we already have all the needed relays etc, just get the kit and a pack of connectors
pretty simple diy
What do you expect to accomplish? People change the Stock HID system to aftermarket because the OEM ballast fries and its ludicrous expensive, Not to gain more light output.
If your stock HID system is running don't waste your money on new ballast/igniter you wont gain more output. Change the bulbs to a more suitable color and call it a day.
rare is the ziner without the moisture inside headlight lens problem
If you are the lucky 1, then new bulbs will do, but beware the TL system is picky about what bulbs it will ignite and run
to me, its just as easy to do a `kit` and swap in all new parts, fix a problem or prevent one in the making
I use the bumper cover removal method to access bulbs, so no difference to install all new parts in the area
If you can do the bulbs with the housings installed= cover removal would be more work
I also don't swap bulbs or parts side to side, it fails one place its going to fail somewhere else! replace all and have no worries
rare is the ziner without the moisture inside headlight lens problem
If you are the lucky 1, then new bulbs will do, but beware the TL system is picky about what bulbs it will ignite and run
to me, its just as easy to do a `kit` and swap in all new parts, fix a problem or prevent one in the making
I use the bumper cover removal method to access bulbs, so no difference to install all new parts in the area
If you can do the bulbs with the housings installed= cover removal would be more work
I also don't swap bulbs or parts side to side, it fails one place its going to fail somewhere else! replace all and have no worries
I'm the lucky 1 215K on the Stock Ballasts.
You now I tested lots of KV ratings, I never had a Bulb not Igniting because it was "not compatible". HID Ballasts are basically all the same. If an Aftermarket Ballast ignites a Bulb the Stock System Will.
Stick to what our headlights are designed for - D2R HID. Anything other than that will not illuminate the road properly and will more than likely cause you to have less visibility at night and more glare for oncoming drivers.
As an example, here is an output pic from a friend's Honda Civic with an LED headlight retrofit kit with bulbs using CREE LEDs.
The headlights were designed for halogen bulbs and sticking LED bulbs in them resulted in two blobs of light (hot spots), some glare above the "cut off" and very little useful light off to the sides. Ironically enough, he probably would have had better night vision by simply upgrading his halogen bulbs.
^ Actually that's the problem of LEDs only..
HIDs bulbs would have a shit load of side/frontal and road Light Output. But the glare above would be also higher. If he upgraded his Headlights to Projectors BAMM problem solved! HID ready.
LEDs need some kind of focusing to achieve the same Lm Output so they sacrifice Side Output.. LEDs for Headlights are a Gimmick and should not be used for such tasks.
I tried to convince him to get an HID projector retrofit done, but to no avail. When he bought the car used, it had an HID P&P kit. When it started to go bad, he went with the LED kit, so he's been kind of lost for a while. LOL!
^ Steer him to the Good Side!
Funny thing: They are not even expensive and Ready Available!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/for-HONDA-06-11-CIVIC-2DR-COUPE-LED-DRIVING-DRL-PROJECTOR-HEADLIGHTS-LAMP-BLACK-/301434835861?fits=Make%3AHonda%7CModel%3ACivic&hash=item462eea9395&vxp=mtr
Im sticking with `add some LED units as supplemental lighting`- they are available in a number of spread patterns (degrees) for straight ahead or side lighting
My experience in only with motorcycles for them, but wow they blow away the dual H4 halogens the bike came with.
Stockers look pale and dim in comparison when all are On.
But-
on the bike the intent is light up the road directly ahead, the corners ahead, and annoy oncoming traffic, err, I mean make myself highly visible to cars trying to pull out of a side street directly in to my path
I'm running different degree of spread patterns on each side, for different coverage on roadway
215K on the Stock Ballasts. 
