HID PnP Kits

[engee]

Information on lighting:

First and foremost, PnP kits are illegal according to USA DOT standards. That aside, let's start:

Putting a HID bulb into a halogen projector is bad. This has been proven many times that it is probably the worst thing to do and you will probably blind other people on the road due to the poor cutoff. If you really want HID's, please just do a complete retrofit. If you are going to bring up the fact that money is an issue, then why did you buy a $25k car to begin with.

If you truly want a better light output, it would be better to upgrade to higher output halogen bulbs. This would result in higher lumens coming from your halogen projectors than if you were to put in a HID bulb.

Here's a good read for anyone remotely interested in lighting:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html

For the most part though, people are probably getting these kits for the color output. In regards to color output, more info can be found here:
http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/show...uths-and-Myths

I'm sorry, but this "mod" irks me the most as I'm constantly blinded by this PnP kits where I live. I especially hate the people that put these kits in SUV's and Jeeps due to a higher ride height. It's nice to see that the FR-S is going to join the masses of Civics, Integras, and all the other cars with this mod though. Kudos!

[Longhorn248]

Don't we already have an entire thread about this.

[engee]

Originally Posted by Longhorn248

Don't we already have an entire thread about this.

Probably. Mods can delete if needed. I just posted something new because I saw that PnP kits are now being offered for the FR-S.

I also didn't see any threads on it in the Cosmetic section. People might have discussed it in other areas of the forums as well.

[acro]

I'm looking at getting one myself. I thought that the halogen projectors would have handled the hid kit without any issues

[wparsons]

IMO, get something like this:

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=254

$300 gets you the new projector lens, bulbs, ballasts and it's all plug and play. You just have to open up the headlights to install the new lenses.

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by wparsons

IMO, get something like this:

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=254

$300 gets you the new projector lens, bulbs, ballasts and it's all plug and play. You just have to open up the headlights to install the new lenses.

^ +1000000

[wbradley]

Hey I am sure removing your front bumper cover and headlight assys and baking open the enclosures is a huge pain, time consuming and way beyond the skill set of the average person. Plus baking the lights is risky too.

I did a HID install and *easily* bent down the squirrel finders with my finger.
The cutoff looks perfect and I have checked it thoroughly.

Too bad the squirrel finder in my xB isn't bendable.

[wparsons]

Even with a bent squirrel finder, you'll still get more noticeable scattering with the stock lenses. IMO, if you can't afford to modify something properly, don't do it. There are some cars that are fine with HID's in stock housings (and these aren't terrible), but the only difference you'll get with HID's in the stock lenses is more scatter and possibly a different light temperature. You won't get more light output or improve visibility really.

[wbradley]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Even with a bent squirrel finder, you'll still get more noticeable scattering with the stock lenses. IMO, if you can't afford to modify something properly, don't do it. There are some cars that are fine with HID's in stock housings (and these aren't terrible), but the only difference you'll get with HID's in the stock lenses is more scatter and possibly a different light temperature. You won't get more light output or improve visibility really.

I definitely get way better visibility with the HID kits I have installed. On the FR-S the light thrown seems just fine. My only suggestion is make sure you choose the right colour temp. I used 6000K but next time maybe would go 5000.

Since we are both in Thornhill you are welcome to take a look...but she's garaged.

[deucethemoose]

PnP kits in the stock FRS headlights aren't bad - it isn't anything like a HID kit installed in a frosted housing on a 95 Civic. Bend the squirrel finder down and don't put anything higher than 5k and it is completely fine.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by wbradley

I definitely get way better visibility with the HID kits I have installed. On the FR-S the light thrown seems just fine. My only suggestion is make sure you choose the right colour temp. I used 6000K but next time maybe would go 5000.

Since we are both in Thornhill you are welcome to take a look...but she's garaged.

Any pictures I've seen look the same for output, just a difference in temperature. Could just be the pictures though.

[wbradley]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Any pictures I've seen look the same for output, just a difference in temperature. Could just be the pictures though.

The highest luminosity is at the 4300 colour temp so I have read.

The 6000K looks fine optically as far as I have tested it but I am just pondering if it is my favourite esthetically.

The 4300K is the OEM colour by MB and other manufacturers. My Acura TSX looked like it had around 5000K as it was a tiny bit blue. With 6000K the blue tint might just be a bit more conspicuous than I wanted to be. I might just try another bulb colour.

I have a brand new set of Silverstar Ultras as well and I deliberately invested little in the HID kit as I dont really value them very high to begin with. Just experimenting a bit.

Again wparsons, I am in Thornhill too and I am curious if you saw my headlights if you would find them unacceptable. I checked them thoroughly and I am conscientious regarding not wanting to blind/piss off other drivers.

[SkAsphalt]

I did this all myself in one day and the extent of my automotive "skill" or experience is pretty minimal, tire changing, oil changing, installing 2 stereos and simple things. I am VERY happy with my properly installed HID's

Originally Posted by wbradley

Hey I am sure removing your front bumper cover and headlight assys and baking open the enclosures is a huge pain, time consuming and way beyond the skill set of the average person. Plus baking the lights is risky too.

[wbradley]

Even though I have never attempted this job I know I could do it successfully. I don't think it's worth my time to do it as I'd rather just go back to the halogens if the stock projectors are unacceptable. Also, I prefer not to take apart things I dont really feel I have to since I'm hardly experienced and prefer not finding rattles, leaks, etc later.

This was a $60 dollar experiment for me and I can "afford" to buy euro spec GT86 lights, or a freaking GTR if i really had to (on credit) but its just not a priority.