PSCANLON99

Okay, I jumped from the CL side to post this, but I felt it relevant since our cars share a similar problem. Oh and I did have an '03 NBP TL back in '03. I too searched in vain to find a good write up on an HID conversion so I did one myself. LMK what you think. Good luck!
https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-cl-2001-2003-50/diy-ballast-oem-aftermarket-conversion-716617/

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

so your car didnt have hids? or did one ballast burn out and u decide to got this route?

bigeshorte45

iTrader: (3)

....ummmmmmmm yyyyyyyeaaaaaaaaaa im confused

totaledTL

Confused- about what?

PSCAN- Did you happen to try this: https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-problems-fixes-117/fixing-wet-inverter-ballast-714674/

Nice job, thanks for sharing. Only thing I can think of to improve would be solder splices and possibly using a grommet in the holes drilled to get tighter fit for the wires before the RTV.

PSCANLON99

No, I had stock HID's and didn't want to drop the coin for OEM or dealership repair on 1 ballast.

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

gotcha

twistedwedge

good job on the DIY write-up. Thanks for sharing this.

PSCANLON99

No I didn't try that link, wow I figured a ballast was toast once it went out...good to know! Oh well, my thought was if I was going to have to replace 1 ballast then why not do both at once, but the prospect of $1,000 for 2 OEM or $500/$600 for 2 used ballasts was too much for me to accept. I think and hope it works out in the long run.

I agree with you about the grommet and soldering, my father-in-law (former Ford Factory guy) assured me it would be okay. In retrospect maybe a Ford guy is not the best resource for fit and finish...but I couldn't have done it without his help and guidance so no worries. Thanks and have a good one!

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

got a question ..

will the after market hid bulb fit right into the OEM harness?

i am thinking about buyin new ballasts for my foglights but also want to have new bulbs for my low beam as back up.

PSCANLON99

Hmmm, that is a good question. From what I can tell the answer is yes. The aftermarket HID bulbs had the same look as the OEM Phillips bulbs as far as how they would fit the harness. A guy on the CL discussion named CL-SA said he uses factory ballasts and after market bulbs to change from 12k, 10k, 8k, etc to change up his look every couple of weeks. He explained that I could use my stock 4300k's if I wanted since they were still good. I will check it out though since he probably has an OEM harness and I have the new after markets and either post it back or PM you. Hope that helps!

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

thanks, please let me know

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

i ordered the d2r HID kit and they sent me the d2c kit. the d2c has wires coming from the bulbs. this is wrong right?

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

are the d2c bulbs supposed to have these wires? should the d2r bulbs have wires?

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

those are the d2c bulbs i got. what should the aftermarket d2r bulbs look like?

PSCANLON99

The only difference between d2s and d2r is that the d2r has a little metal shield on top of the bulb to cut down glare on our reflector HID's. I am assuming if our cars had projectors it would use d2s instead, doesn't matter.

Is the wiring permanently attached to the back of the bulbs or is that the aftermarket bulb harness? Shouldn't matter though as long as the wires from the bulb plug into the aftermarket ballast.

What kelvin did you get? I got 10,000k's and I must say they are more blue than I thought, but the colors off of signs and stuff are pretty trippy at night...I like! However, the '03 Cl's didn't have foglights for some reason and although they are bright, the visibility kinda blows...fogs would def help.

Good luck with the conversion and keep me posted. You can pm, or call me if you have any questions.

wdptls88

The best place to mount aftermarket ballasts for the low beams would be right under the headlight, where the support bracket for the headlight is.

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

i didnt receive the D2S bulb, i received the D2C bulb, and i wanted the D2R bulb. i think im going to exchange these bulbs since i have no use for them. those wires are attached to the bulb, no way to pull them off.

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

i ordered 5000K .. dont want it to be too blue. i like the white with a tad more blue than stock.

PSCANLON99

That is exactly where I mounted my conversion wdptls:

PSCANLON99

Yeah, 5k is close to stock and good visibility with nice bright white color, I may go 6k (diamond white) or 8k (light touch of blue).

I think d2c is like a hybrid combo of the d2r/d2s bulbs..one of those where you can use the d2c bulb for either application. Not 100% about that though. Post pics when ur done!

fobstylez

iTrader: (3)

I went with 6000k, its just right. Its white but a hint of blue, so its not blue, its white with a hint of blue. ahh yeah

fsttyms1

You do realize brand new the ballast is 324.00, not 500+

PSCANLON99

I'm with you. My Acura dealer in Cleveland quoted me $477 each for OEM. The 500/600 reference was for 2 used ones and the $1,000 reference was for 2 new OEM from local Acura.

PSCANLON99

Sweet, 6k it is. Thanks for the info and your car looks nice! I like the debadged front grille.

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

im not buying the kit for the conversion. i want to buy the kit to replace my foglight ballast and use the D2R bulbs for my low beams.

fsttyms1

That price i quoted was OEM

PSCANLON99

OK...the price I quoted you was OEM as well. $324 v $477 each, I don't make up the prices, that is what MY Acura dealer quoted me not including the $250-$300 install. I still got 2 new A.M. ballasts and 2 new bulbs for $179. So in reality..who cares? I did the DIY to show other 'ziners my way to save money and how it was done since both 2nd gen TL and CL owners always search for DIY's with pics to no avail. Why split hairs on differences on OEM prices when this is about an OEM to A.M. conversion. As a moderator I would assume you would both read and realize the intent of my post...evidently not.

Slow Type S

iTrader: (2)

xentec is a good kit. i have their D2R and their 9006 kit. best bang for the buck

sadly my kaixens blew out

Slow Type S

iTrader: (2)

you ordered the whole replacement kit. unless you are trying to do what the OP is talking about, all you need are the D2R or D2C bulbs (D2C is compatible with both D2R and D2S bulbs), they wont have the wires attached to it like the one in your pic.

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

what did your D2R kit from them look like? did they have wires?

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

also, what was the price on them?

Slow Type S

iTrader: (2)

i didnt buy a d2r kit all i did was buy the d2r bulbs so it didnt have any wires, they were 25 bucks shipped. i bought the 9006 kit and that was 55 bucks shipped.

if anyone wants a kit search for ebay member zgperformance, if you buy a kit tell him you were referred by Slow Type S. im about to order a bunch of kits from him for my friends

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

thanks for the info man. think im gonna put these D2C bulbs up for sale. how much would be a reasonable price do you think?

Slow Type S

iTrader: (2)

you will be better off putting them up for sale on craigslist or ebay because there wont be much of a need for a complete kit on AZ since we all have it stock. id infact get in touch with the guy you bought it from and see if you can exchange it for a 9006 kit for your fogs. if you are putting it up for sale just put it up for the price you bought it at

nhn23

iTrader: (4)

k thanks

PSCANLON99

Did you get the bulbs from the same guy as the kit or was that a different seller?