Upgrade to jdm hid on a blob.
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Upgrade to jdm hid on a blob.
I've been driving round this winter and the normal headlights on my Wrx are cack.
I've had company cars and xenons for the past ten years and the headlights were so much better.
I've seen JDM blob headlights are hid as standard, so nice easy swap, plug and play. Are they going to be that much better? 350quid better?
Or do I spend 20quid on decent bulbs and just accept they are what they are?
I've looked about at some of the hid kits, but they don't seem to be plug and play, most list "modifications" required.
I've had company cars and xenons for the past ten years and the headlights were so much better.
I've seen JDM blob headlights are hid as standard, so nice easy swap, plug and play. Are they going to be that much better? 350quid better?
Or do I spend 20quid on decent bulbs and just accept they are what they are?
I've looked about at some of the hid kits, but they don't seem to be plug and play, most list "modifications" required.
#2
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 1,640
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had the same dilemma as you when I brought my STI last may, My everyday car and previous two have had xenons and you kind of get used to them, the STI standard lights seemed naff in comparison plus I don't like the yellow wee stain look of standard lights
I sourced a set of JDM HID Lights for my Blobeye and was lucky enough that the previous owner had gone to the effort of making a custom loom to make them as plug and play as possible into a none JDM car.
The problem is there is no power to the ballasts in a standard loom.
I am trying to remember the loom setup, It has two relays (One per headlight, he said he had done it just in case one fails you don't loose both lights) which connect directly to the battery terminal and he outputs to each ballast, He had even got all the correct plugs, which I think most breakers leave on when cutting from loom.
The inputs were wired into the plug and connected to the plug that would normally go into back of standard headlight so when you put lights on you switch the relay and ballasts get power.
The other side headlight lead was taped off as no longer in use. Other than neatly hiding the wiring, connecting to ground on each side and locating the relays it was a straight swap.
I sourced a set of JDM HID Lights for my Blobeye and was lucky enough that the previous owner had gone to the effort of making a custom loom to make them as plug and play as possible into a none JDM car.
The problem is there is no power to the ballasts in a standard loom.
I am trying to remember the loom setup, It has two relays (One per headlight, he said he had done it just in case one fails you don't loose both lights) which connect directly to the battery terminal and he outputs to each ballast, He had even got all the correct plugs, which I think most breakers leave on when cutting from loom.
The inputs were wired into the plug and connected to the plug that would normally go into back of standard headlight so when you put lights on you switch the relay and ballasts get power.
The other side headlight lead was taped off as no longer in use. Other than neatly hiding the wiring, connecting to ground on each side and locating the relays it was a straight swap.
#5
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (2)
I've only ever done it on a classic, have a look here: https://www.scoobynet.com/technical-...mpler-way.html
Cost at that time was around £200 not inc the crystal lights if you didn't already have them. I didn't, and mine came from ebay, genuine ones with electrical load compensation, for around £80.
2003 WRX? Is that a Bugeye then?
If so, it will use a standard H4 bulb, the projectors I used went easily in place of an H4 bulb, but you DO need to split the light unit.
Cost at that time was around £200 not inc the crystal lights if you didn't already have them. I didn't, and mine came from ebay, genuine ones with electrical load compensation, for around £80.
2003 WRX? Is that a Bugeye then?
If so, it will use a standard H4 bulb, the projectors I used went easily in place of an H4 bulb, but you DO need to split the light unit.
Trending Topics
#8
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (2)
TBH, the single filament bulbs usually convert well to HID, with decent beam pattern and cutoff.
It's the twin filament bulbs like H4 that cause problems: it's impossible to get the focus right
If buying HID aftermarket kits, look out for:
DO buy decent kit, branded if you can.
DO NOT buy cheap Eastern European or far eastern stuff, cheap is NOT cheerful.
DO NOT go above 5000K for colour temperature. Many people wrongly think that a higher colour temp means a higher light output. In fact, it's the reverse: 4300K is OE, 5000K is near enough.
Above 6000K will attract unwelcome attention
As far as the MoT is concerned, they look for beam pattern and cutoff, plus alignment. Get those three right, you'll be fine.
There is NO requirement to fit, or have fitted, self-levelling or headlamp washers. But IF FITTED THEY MUST WORK PROPERLY.
They talked about matching bulbs to reflectors, but the legislation seems to have stopped short of that, there is no mention...and trust me, I've looked.
It's the twin filament bulbs like H4 that cause problems: it's impossible to get the focus right
If buying HID aftermarket kits, look out for:
DO buy decent kit, branded if you can.
DO NOT buy cheap Eastern European or far eastern stuff, cheap is NOT cheerful.
DO NOT go above 5000K for colour temperature. Many people wrongly think that a higher colour temp means a higher light output. In fact, it's the reverse: 4300K is OE, 5000K is near enough.
Above 6000K will attract unwelcome attention
As far as the MoT is concerned, they look for beam pattern and cutoff, plus alignment. Get those three right, you'll be fine.
There is NO requirement to fit, or have fitted, self-levelling or headlamp washers. But IF FITTED THEY MUST WORK PROPERLY.
They talked about matching bulbs to reflectors, but the legislation seems to have stopped short of that, there is no mention...and trust me, I've looked.
#9
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was under the impression that it was an MOT failure to have HID's without headlight washers, but if thats not the case then I will look into doing a HID conversion on my Blobeye too.
#13
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 1,640
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mattybr5@MB Developments
Full Cars Breaking For Spares
28
28 December 2015 11:07 PM
Mattybr5@MB Developments
Full Cars Breaking For Spares
12
18 November 2015 07:03 AM
Brzoza
Engine Management and ECU Remapping
1
02 October 2015 05:26 PM