Write-Up: HID Conversion

AA wrote:

I don't think so, but you could use a relay to turn on the HID brights day or night. They would be at full power during the day.

...and that would be a bad thing. My 2 cents' worth: Unless you do a lot of night-time driving across the plains, I can't really see adding HID hi-beams on top of HID lo-beams... Especially with having to muck around with the DRL system.

The DRL system is kind of a PITA from what I could see when I was looking at the schematic with Billboost. Seemed there was a module inline for the lighting so we couldn't figure out how to have the highs on at the same time as the lows. I dunno. But as everyone else said previously, low beam HIDs (9006 bulbs) should be more than sufficient. Almost every who's installed HID lows has said they stopped bothering with high beams after.

DEMonte1997 wrote:

Seemed there was a module inline for the lighting so we couldn't figure out how to have the highs on at the same time as the lows. I dunno. But as everyone else said previously, low beam HIDs (9006 bulbs) should be more than sufficient. Almost every who's installed HID lows has said they stopped bothering with high beams after.

That's exactly what I was thinking... However, keeping the HID lows on at the same time as the regular highs, is also a good alternative to putting HID high beams in. Please check this schematic that Timo & I worked up:

LINK

OOOOH! That's good stuff Mark. Thanks for providing that link.

Quote :

Almost every who's installed HID lows has said they stopped bothering with high beams after.

That bothers me some. If you are getting that much light from your low beams, it's got to be glaring to oncoming drivers. I guess that's why every OEM HID bulb uses a lens to properly focus the light below a certain level.

It is annoying to get blinded by someone with HID's without proper reflectors.

I have yet to be flashed by anyone with my HIDs. I was flashed all the time with my fogs though, even with them tuned to shine only at the very front of the car. I don't really use my fogs with my HIDs anymore though, there's not much need. My fogs have huge lens reflectors and they seem really efficient at focusing the light, so I guess that could be the issue. I only run 55W "xenon charged" pilot bulbs in them. I do know headlights need to be adjusted though.

I got to the point with my lights that I just accepted the fact that I'll get flashed once in awhile. I drive so many back roads here that it's worth it to spot that one deer. I just flick my "brights" on quickly to show I can't really do much about it. Not the most moral thing to do, but....

I guess I'll give up on the HID high beams for now...

Did this a few days ago but just got around to uploading pics. It's a cosmetic mod not a performance but a mod nonetheless. Installed some 5000k HID's and they look and perform great.

Next are some go fast mods that should be on their way as we speak.

Wow, what a difference from stock, even with higher output halogen's that looks like it would blow them away.
Looks like a nice clean bright white also, no blue. Which is good in my opinion. But photo's can't always capture the true color of light.
Did you have adjust the aim on them to prevent blinding oncoming cars.?

What I love about HIDs and Rivieras is that they look like they belong on our vehicles. It's funny seeing a truck or some Honda with them on there but they look perfect in a Riv. I might think about switching from the blue bulbs I have to HIDs now. Those are bright!

Which HID's did you buy?
There are so many different one's and can get mind boggling until you start getting up there in price, then it starts to get limited.
I wouldn't mind having an expensive set-up, but I have other priorities.
Although I'm noticing, more and more, that my nighttime vision is going down the toilet and headaches are more prevalent after only 1/2 hr of nighttime driving.
I noticed a nice improvement in nighttime visibility by installing the PIAA 4,000K extreme whites a couple of years ago, but I'm curious to see how much better my vision would be with some HID's

Looks good man

AWESOME

I'm waiting for mine to arrive. Should be here from DDM later this week.

Rickw wrote:

Wow, what a difference from stock, even with higher output halogen's that looks like it would blow them away.
Looks like a nice clean bright white also, no blue. Which is good in my opinion. But photo's can't always capture the true color of light.
Did you have adjust the aim on them to prevent blinding oncoming cars.?

Ya I tried 6000k on my other car which was a little more blue but it killed the useable light output so I went back to 5000k. Its white with a slight blue hue. 4300k they say is the whitest and most useable light. I didn't adjust them yet but yes I'll probably have to do that. Don't want to piss off other drivers. 100% better then any halogen. I love them!

ZEP wrote:

What I love about HIDs and Rivieras is that they look like they belong on our vehicles. It's funny seeing a truck or some Honda with them on there but they look perfect in a Riv. I might think about switching from the blue bulbs I have to HIDs now. Those are bright!

I highly suggest the switch. The Riv was the easiest car to date that I've done the conversion on. Took maybe an hour tops. I agree it does look very classy on the Riv!

Rickw wrote:

Which HID's did you buy?
There are so many different one's and can get mind boggling until you start getting up there in price, then it starts to get limited.
I wouldn't mind having an expensive set-up, but I have other priorities.
Although I'm noticing, more and more, that my nighttime vision is going down the toilet and headaches are more prevalent after only 1/2 hr of nighttime driving.
I noticed a nice improvement in nighttime visibility by installing the PIAA 4,000K extreme whites a couple of years ago, but I'm curious to see how much better my vision would be with some HID's

I got these off Ebay for $40 shipped with a one year warranty. You cannot beat that price and I feel that they perform just as well as the high end kits. This is the third kit I've bought from Ebay and the others are going strong. I love the PIAA bulbs and used them exclusively until I could get my hands on the HID's. These will def help you out with night vision. I'm starting to get the same night time headaches and these help, now if there was a way to get other drivers to stop using their friggin highbeams while coming at me that would be great.

Abaddon wrote:

Looks good man

Thank you! Those are cellphone pic, I'll try to get some better ones with my digi cam later this week.

Vinny,
Are other drivers hitting you with their High Beams because these ones aren't aimed correctly.?
In other words are the HID's blinding them because of poor alignment.?

DEMonte1997 wrote:

AWESOME

I'm waiting for mine to arrive. Should be here from DDM later this week.

Pretty cool, post pics when your done installing them!

Rickw wrote:

Vinny,
Are other drivers hitting you with their High Beams because these ones aren't aimed correctly.?
In other words are the HID's blinding them because of poor alignment.?

Rick, I honestly haven't even had a chance to use them yet at night. I've only driven during the day since I've put them in so I can't answer your question. I took those pics the night I installed them but didn't go anywhere after. I plan on leveling them tomorrow to correct any potential problem with oncoming drivers.

Why are you guys wasting your money on a useless upgrade? It's not only illegal but doesn't give you any better lighting.

96RIVMANN wrote:

Why are you guys wasting your money on a useless upgrade? It's not only illegal but doesn't give you any better lighting.

What other mod could I have done for $40? In my eyes this was worth it and not a "useless" upgrade. It improves night driving at least ten fold which is why I installed them. Not to look cool but that does help some.

Since when are HID conversions illegal?

Also, last time I checked HID light output is extremely better than any bulb you could put in there.

I guess all the auto manufactures are putting useless illegal headlight systems in their cars??

To each their own I guess.

Thats good money spent. That looks damn good. I need to get a set. Do you remember what the name of the seller was on ebay?

96RIVMANN wrote:

Why are you guys wasting your money on a useless upgrade? It's not only illegal but doesn't give you any better lighting.

How could better lighting (increased Lumens) be seen as a useless change or upgrade to a car.?

Rickw wrote:

96RIVMANN wrote:

Why are you guys wasting your money on a useless upgrade? It's not only illegal but doesn't give you any better lighting.

How could better lighting (increased Lumens) be seen as a useless change or upgrade to a car.?

Anything altering the OEM headlights can be determined illegal. It's not like the old H4065 bulb where it didn't really matter what it was installed in, the light pattern was the same. Today every headlight housing gives off a different pattern of light. Many of these HID replacement fit kits do not aim the bulb or light pattern, so the end result is you blind oncoming drivers, which by all means should be illegal and you should be run off the road into a fucking tree for it. If you have taken the care to redesign the reflector so the light pattern does not blind oncoming drivers, good for you you don't need to be run off the road. But the rest of these assholes do.

Take a look at a car that came with OEM HIDs and look at the light output. I'll be happy to show you our Passat anytime Rick, the light pattern has a very clear cut line cutting off the upper left portion of light so it doesn't shine into oncoming traffic.

Rickw wrote:

Vinny,
Are other drivers hitting you with their High Beams because these ones aren't aimed correctly.?
In other words are the HID's blinding them because of poor alignment.?

What causes you to think a re alignment of the headlight aim is required on an up date to HID? do you re align after you fit new "normal" filiment bulbs????

The glass envelope that is used is set in its holder by some sort of epoxy such that the bit where the light is comming from is at the focal point for that style of fitting.



and the epoxy...



No adjustment should be required

OR it need adjustment before fitting the new HID's!

if it needs any form of adjustment its because you didnt fit it correctly.

One point you need to remember is the headlight glass (out side) should be really clean. This is why the HID's were normaly only seen on high end cars that had washing headlight systems!

Nigel

I've had HID's for over three years on the riv and have not gotten the flash from oncomming drivers. I didn't adjust them except to bring one side down a hair because it wasn't exactly lined up with the other side. As long as you don't run into Derek on the road, you should be alright.
The reflector lenses on this car are pretty forgiving. It seems like the most dangerous headlights to retrofit aftermarket HID's to are cars and a few trucks that have tall reflector bodies rather than flat ones like the rivieras and it's worse if they use a multi-filiment headlight like a 9003 (since youre usually putting a single beam HID into a lens that has high beam function - be careful with that). The trucks are just bad because they usually have massive lenses and are sitting higher up so there's just no escaping the light.
My last car was a 2000 mitsubishi eclipse that I put HID's into and unfortunately, those headlights were quite a bit less under control than the riv's are. I did get flashed in that car from time to time. If I still had that car today, it would long since have gotten projector headlights, but then of course, they actually make them for eclipses...[/img]

i like the look of them also,my question is can u gust plug them in ,or will they blow fuses?

no James sorry!

There is a unit called a balast which goes in between the lamp and the car wiring. It is just plug and play but needs an additional part which has to be mounted. the balast comes with it own mounting brackets and are small enough to mount almost anywhere. They are the size of a packet of 20 ciggies (fags to us english )