HID Conversion Question

HID Conversion Question

Hey everyone, I'm new to this board and this is my first post.

I've searched the forum and found that have been a number of posts regarding HID upgrades and the conversion process, but I still have a few questions.

From what I've read, it seems as though some people have retrofitted their corollas stock headlamp housing with HIDs, is that street legal in the US or must you use projector headlamps? If you must use projectors, is there a place that sells them for the 2003's or do you have to make your own?

For those who have used their stock headlamps, do the D2R lights come sheilded or must you modify them with a sheild? I read that they have a strip on the bottom which is supposed to stop the glare, but I do not know if that alone is enough or if they all even come with that strip.

Lastly, is there a need to increase the amps on the fuse for the lights or will the stock fuse and harness hold up with the ballasts?

Any information you have on the conversion process is greatly appreciated.

I just want to know as much as possible before spending the money.

BTW, can anyone recommend an online store to order a kit?

Hello and welcome to the board!

According to FMVSS 108 no retrofitted HID's are legal. Only OEM HID's are legal in the US (mostly because of glare issues with retrofits-- reflector design is different for HID's than regular halogen headlamps).

As for most who have purchased a HID kit, it's an HID capsule that has been re-based to a 9006 base (the capsule's focal point is "tuned" to where an OEM halogen bulb would be).

If you would like to read up on HID's, I would suggest visiting the HID Forum. You can browse through the various threads here.

Good luck with your HID quest. If you'd like to try to sidestep FMVSS 108, I'd try to obtain a set of Tawainese Altis OEM HID's. They should fit and since they're OEM (to an Altis) and you might have a better argument with the Feds.

Thanks for the info, I've obviously still got some homework to do but I'll post back when I've converted.

hey bimmernut,,, id like to clarify that "retrofitting and rebased hid" are two seperate things.
usually "Hid Retrofits" refer to OEM HID projectors or reflectors using d2 hid capsules(bmw, mercedes, lexus) being mounted inside halogen headlamps where as "hid rebased kits" have a 9006 halogen bulb rebased.

a friend of mine does these "HID Retrofits" usubg OEM HID Componets that you supply him with (ebay search :"hid projectors")
below is his website of some cars he has done.
www.hidretro.com

here is a picture of a Civic HID Retrofit that i did using BMW X5 hid projecotrs:
http://photos.yahoo.com/distantxtremes


thank you.

Ok... you have me there I mis-used the term retrofit