Factory HID for pop-up headlamps

[djdrock]

I received the NSX book over Christmas, and have read a fair portion of it. I recall reading somewhere that it said that the NSX had factory HIDs in Japan in 1997. Can anyone confirm this?

If this were the case, I am wondering why I have not read about this conversion being done by a prime member.

 

[Veleno]

It's true, the pop-up headlights did have HID starting in '97 (I rode in a '97 with HID in Japan). I believe the reason why you haven't read much on it is because it's too costly a conversion to do. Over 1k I think.

 

[ediddynsx]

Can you get some more info on it? I would be interested in doing the full conversion. Thanks.

 

[djdrock]

It's true, the pop-up headlights did have HID starting in '97 (I rode in a '97 with HID in Japan). I believe the reason why you haven't read much on it is because it's too costly a conversion to do. Over 1k I think.

Just what I was thinking. I would imagine that the projectors are different, in that they were designed for HID's. Grantid, ours do a nice job with a retrofit.

I wonder how much the projectors/housing are? I would imagine that the other HID components could be found cheaper elsewhere etc...

 

[Osiris_x11]

insights...

In the US, the 1st Acura vehicle to have projector-HID lights was the '03 TSX, followed by the '04 TL and '05 RL.

Here is a great source for components (projectors, ballasts, etc.) for OEM conversions, not just HID-installation...

http://www.hidplanet.com/oem.html

Simply find out what type of projectors the JDM NSX HID OEM headlights came w/ (Bosch, more than likely). The Acura OEM D2S HID bulbs are Philips 4100K. I assume Hella (Philips) ballasts/igniters are used. Newest Gen IV. ballasts are 1/4" thin, easily fit into flip-up assembly!

I'm totally pleased w/ how the NSX's halogen projectors perform w/ D2S HID bulbs w/ the cut-off 'Z' line being on par w/ the premier OEM HID systems from the factory for BMW, AUDI, and others.

 

[ChrisK]

I think one of the main reasons why none has done it is because the beam patter for the JDM HID headlights will be opposite of what we need here in the US for left had driving. Personally, (I have thought of doing this myself) it would be easier to just retro fit some USDM OEM projectors like those out of a BMW or other car with similar sized projectors into the NSX headlights and go from there. I've seen this done on an NSX already.

 

[sugoi]

I have installed JDM oem HID headlights on my 93 NSX. PM me if you want more info.

 

[sugoi]

The following is the part list that I used for complete JDM HID changeover.

1) Right & left HID headlight housings. Only low-beam is HID (sorry I forgot which bulb: D2R or D2S) and hi-beam is halogen H3 bulb.
2) Right & left igniters that bolts on back of HID headlight housings.
3) Right & left inverters.

It costs me around $1300 for all these new parts from Japan not including international shipping. Btw, I may sell another new HID set (ordered by mistake) for $1,300 shipped once I get last missing part from Japan within next 2-3 months.

The oem HID bulb rated at 4300k, which I believe it is the best brightness comparing to the higher color temperature HID systems (eg. 8000K, 10000K, 12000K).

All parts are straight bolts on except you need make your harness adapter to connect both HID headlight housings and main harness in the front bay.

The pop-up headlight motors works fine w/ extra weights. However, due to JDM and USDM headlight wiring differences, I could not get hi-beam works after few tries. I left it disconnected because I did not want spend too much time fixing it.

You don't have to retro fit anything since low-beam has projector same as USDM's. I was able to align the headlight beam to where no on-coming cars give me hi-beam yet.

Hope this info will be helpful.
Thanks

 

[ediddynsx]

can you post some pics please? I have 4300k phillips in the oem headlights but I want to see the difference with a true conversion.

 

[markc]

Chaps,

I have a '97 built JDM NSX Type-S that came with the factory fit HID's.

I can tell you that the headlamp assemblies, like the most of the other electrical components, are made by Stanley and the low beam unit has a HID projector lamp assembly using a D2S bulb. The high beam uses a HB3.

I'll try to attach a pic of the back of the headlamp assembly....

However, the ballasts and/or ignitors in my car had obviously failed or played up prior to me purchasing the car and Hella Gen 4 ballasts with separate ignitors had been fitted.

I have tried in vain to locate a Workshop Manual or even a wiring diagram for the car to try and understand the system, even going so far as removing the replacement Hella parts to determine what the factory system was. The wiring is nothing like the one contained in the US Version Workshop Manual available here on Prime.

I'm not sure that the factory ballast/ignitors are not in-fact built down in the wiring loom well away from the headlamps!
My reasoning for this is that while measuring the wiring for signal voltage, I was measuring 40V (unloaded) on what I reasoned to be the HID bulb supply, perhaps this could be the 80V supply when correctly loaded?
Also, when my wife turned the headlamp witch on while I monitored this same wire with my handheld voltmeter I received a large shock not inconsistant with the 23KV startup voltage. Bought back memories of similar voltage shocks received during my Computer Monitor repair days.

Either way the output on my car would not ignite and run the HID bulbs.:frown:

So, I'm still intrigued to know what the factory system is comprised of and how it's supposed to work so if anyone does locate the wiring diagram I'd love a copy/scan.

I can say that the factory HID projectors with HID bulbs do work fantastically well though.:smile:

Cheers

Mark

 

[sugoi]

Here are some night pics of my JDM HID headlights : http://ken.ravingpsycho.com/NSX/JDMHID/

 

[markc]

Thanks for the pics Sugoi, I can now see what parts I need.

Do you have the part nos. for the ignitor plates and ballasts or even better a scan of the headlamp wiring diagrams for the JDM car?

Cheers

Mark

 

[sugoi]

markc, PM sent.