Xenon HID lighting

[dollenz]

Does anyone have a Xenon High Intensity Discharge Lights kit installed? People are selling kits claiming that they can be adaptable to any car. I'm considering a kit for my NSX but I'd like to have an opinion from members of the group first.

 

[NSEX]

I'm definetly interested
anyone got pix?

 

[Lud]

Here's a shot I took at NSXPO '99. It's hard to judge lights in a photo but we did a side-by-side with stock NSX headlights and the difference is very dramatic.

 

[NSEX]

nice pix!
looks a lot different than my PIAA light bulb

i'll definetly think buying it.
but want to get the front lip first

 

[jkurnawan]

Hi Lud, is the RM nsx Xenon kind of blue or just pure white light?

 

[G-man]

What is involved with installing the kit?

I would do anything to get better lights into this car. I don't know if any of you have tried 100+mph at night, but it is very easy to overdrive the stock headlights in this car. With all the deer we get around here, and no stock fog lights, that is a formula for disaster.

 

[Lud]

The lights looked white to me. I'm not sure what the exact color temp is. They make the stock lights look yellow/orange when you do a side-by-side.

I do not know exactly what's involved in the installation. Call Randy at 480-483-2444 and I'm sure he'll be able to answer any questions.

 

[Huy]

Installing a retrofit HID kit is a relatively simple task. I had a set installed in my Toyota Supra MKIV in about 15 minutes. It also uses the 9006 low beam bulbs as in the NSX.

After installing the kit, the light output was *fantastic*! Forget about those PIAA SuperWhite bulbs...HID *is* super white. Definitely worth the investment.

Now, for those interested in a retrofit kit, I have recently set up a groupbuy with Phoenix Micro-Lite, located near LAX in SoCal. I've negotiated lower priccing. Worst case scenario for the deal is $580 for a complete Philips HID retrofit kit for a vehicle using 9006 bulbs. This is VERY good price, considering someone just mentioned that RM Racing is selling it for $800.

I can assure you that the parts that come with this kit are genuine Philips parts. Each kit comes with a Philips D2S or D2R gas discharge bulb, along with a Philips ballast. Philips is the leading manufacturer of HID lighting equipment.

If you are interested in my groupbuy, the deal will end on April 24. Please visit http://www.groupbuycenter and do a search for Xenon/HID. Please read the details of my posting, and feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

In case you want to know what's involved in the intallation, here's a quick summary of what was involved in my car:

1. remove old 9006 bulb.
2. locate a place for mounting the ballast.
3. plug in the existing wiring harness into the ballast.
4. insert new HID bulb.
5. plug in the wire from the ballast into the HID bulb.

Done! Now, you may need to readjust your headlight alignment. Enjoy the improved lighting!

Feel free to contact me for more information. I've got pictures of what is included in a kit, as well as installation pictures.

Huy
[email protected]

 

[dollenz]

I thought I would keep you posted on my progress to get HID lighting for my NSX. I have found 4 sources who swear that this is a plug and play situation, prices range from $590 to $1100. Huy, said he would fax me some stuff but I have yet to receive it. RM Racing has not responded to my inquiry. I would really like to know if anyone has installed a kit yet. I hear about filing this and that to make it fit, and some stories about how difficult it is to eliminate glare with normal adjustment of the headlights.

 

[Lud]

I just spent some time talking to people who have actually done the HID conversion on their NSX.

First, anyone who says it is a straight plug-and-play operation has clearly NOT done an NSX conversion.

While it is very straight forward on a Supra (as described in Huy's message), the headlights on an NSX are different than a Supra and unfortunately it is NOT a straight plug-and-play operation on the NSX.

Also, I'm not sure exactly what the difference is, but I'm told the RM kit uses Japanese ballasts which are superior to the Phillips one in the kit described. If you have further questions about why I'd suggest you talk to RM.

If you e-mailed RM and have not gotten a response I'm not too surprised. He's not very big on e-mail. Give him a call and he can probably answer any questions in just a few minutes. If you already called he may be out of town at a trade show or something.

 

[NSXY]

Some of us neophytes need some education here. Are Xenon lights the overly bright and obnoxious headlights that nearly blind oncoming drivers and are illegal in many states, or is this something else? What's the purpose to Xenon lighting?

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by NSXY:
Some of us neophytes need some education here. Are Xenon lights the overly bright and obnoxious headlights that nearly blind oncoming drivers and are illegal in many states, or is this something else? What's the purpose to Xenon lighting?

Sounds like someone has already made up his mind on this one.

Xenon lights are legal in all 50 states and come as standard equipment in many cars, including the Acura TL and CL, the Honda S2000, many models of the German makes, the Lincoln LS, etc.

When properly installed, they have the same beam pattern as conventional lights, so the light is pointed at the road and not in anyone's rear view mirror or front windshield (assuming the road is level).

The purpose is that this type of lighting provides the driver better visibility when driving, pure and simple.

Perhaps your bad experiences were with aftermarket driving lights (the ones that sometimes look like fog lights, but aren't), rather than xenon lights.

 

[David]

I have Xenon lights on my AMG Mercedes C43 and they are fantastic. They are not the blinding obnoxious aftermarket bulbs that annoy other drivers. It is hard to describe the difference and you really need to see it for yourself, but there is just a lot more light and it is very clear vs conventional bulbs, even PIA. They look a bit blue when you see the bulb, but from the driver's vantage point, it is very clear and very nice. I am going to install them in my NSX within the next couple of months. The stock headlights are too easy to overdrive at high speed.

 

[Huy]

Lud, let me follow up on your message...

I've contacted some of the folks at Phoenix Micro-Lite, the company that I mentioned that sells retrofit kits. Now, in my previous posting I stated that a retrofit kit is a simple plug and play deal...seeing that I don't own a NSX nor have I installed it in a NSX, you are right in saying that it's not a simple plug and play installation. I just posted the information that I knew, from seeing the installation done on my Supra.

I spoke to one of the people from Phoenix MicroLite and he mentioned that they have done numerous HID installaitons in NSX's. He mentioned that the installation involves a modification to a metal clip that goes behind the 9006 bulb. What Phoenix Micro-Lite has attempted to do is just order the metal clip from the dealer, but they were told that they'd have to buy an entire assembly, not just the clip. So, in the case of NSX's, people who plan on buying the HID retrofit would have to send in their lamp optics. Expect a 1-2 business day turnaround. If you're in the SoCal area, then you can have them do it for you on the spot, without having to send in your optics.

Now, onto the topic of ballasts. The color of the light from a HID system is influenced mainly by the optics in your headlamp...not the ballast itself. I do not honestly think that there would be any difference if you use a Japanese or German ballast...the color is due to the headlamp design -- not the ballast itself.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but RM's kits use ballasts by Aromat (similar to the ones used by Bellof and other hid retrofitters). Phoenix MicroLite chose to use Philips ballasts b/c they found them more reliable. They used Aromat ballasts 3 years ago, and found that the Philips onese performed better in the following categories:
-faster startup
-more reliable, less failure
-reverse polarity protection.

The Aromat unit uses HID/Xenon technology licensed from Philips (Philips &
Osram Sylvania have all the patents on HID/Xenon and only these 2 companies
make Xenon D2R/D2S bulbs!). Even the Aromat unit uses Philips Xenon bulbs! (As does PIAA & Bellof)

I know of someone who has tried both "Japanese" and "German" ballasts and he commented that there was little or no difference in light output.

Regards,

Huy

 

[jkurnawan]

ATTN David, so what are you saying is that you are going to take out the xenon kits from your C43 and put it on the nsx?

 

[jen]

I am a distributor for Phoenix MicroLite and the person Huy spoke to about the HID retrofits.

We do not need the complete headlight optic for the NSX, just the clip behind the 9006 bulb to modify.

Currently no HID retrofit is "street legal" (with the exception of one-which is a sealed beam replacement). The bulbs themselves are marked "DOT" and "E1" for U.S. & European compliance.

The Philips unit is made by Hella and is the same exact unit used as OEM HID on BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, and other European cars with HID (it is also the same unit used by Hella on their Motorsport HID lights). Aromat is licensed by Philips to make HID controllers (spec sheet is available on my photopoint.com site:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=157682&Auth=false

Only 2 companies make Xenon bulbs: Philips & Osram Sylvania (These 2 companies have all the patents for HID).

The Philips unit is made for automotive applications (unlike the aromat unit-which specifically says non-automotive & specifically requires reverse polarity protection to be installed-I don't know if RM Racing is doing this).

The Philips unit has a built in 9006 plug-meaning you plug your headlight socket directly into it-plus it is a one piece unit not a separate igniter & controller. The Philips unit has built in reverse polarity protection-if you hook positive & negative incorrectly it just won't turn on...do that with the aromat unit & Bzzzz! you've just fried it!

Phoenix MicroLite is Philips largest customer of HID/Xenon in the western region. Bob, (my boss) is an automotive engineer with over 30 years experience, including the development of HID/Xenon technology with Philips. He has actually been to Germany to inspect the production line of HID/Xenon bulbs and we are direct OEM with Philips. That is why we are able to offer a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty on both the bulbs & ballasts! Nobody can even come close to that! In fact, we offer more HID applications than anyone-including an underwater HID light, plus numerous government, industrial, commercial, and custom applications. We have done over 125 BMWs including all 3, 5, 7, 8, M, series and Z3. All our retrofits are priced at $600, Huy is doing the Groupbuycenter.com with a starting price of $580 all the way to $550.

Beat that Rmhid.com!

Our sites (email: [email protected] or call 626-524-4650:
www.galaxymall.com/auto/microlite
www.galaxymall.com/business/worklights
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=157682

 

[Lud]

Hi Jen, welcome to the message forum.

I am not trying to start a "this vendor is better than that vendor" war, I am just trying to inject some NSX-related facts into the discussion. I didn't want to see NSX owners getting in on the group buy expecting to just plug-and-play the HID kit. We also need to figure out the final cost of going with this kit vs. solutions from other vendors.

You said you do not need the entire headlight assembly, just the clip. That brings up four questions:

1. How long does it take the average person to disassemble their headlight assembly and remove the "clip"?

2. Do you have an instruction sheet showing people how to do this for the NSX or should they have their dealer do it?

3. How much do you charge to do the work and return the parts that are sent for modification?

4. What is your turnaround time? Is it guaranteed? Since the car is not drivable at night until the parts are returned this may be important for anyone using the car as a daily driver.

Finally, it is great that you have done so many BMWs and provide underwater and industrial HID soultions, but I am curious how many NSX HID conversions you have done? Can refer the members of this forum to some of your satisifed NSX customers?

Thanks for your input.

[This message has been edited by Lud (edited 18 April 2000).]

 

[JChoice]

Well, Jen is coming by tomorrow to take a look at my NSX so I think he'll be better able to answer the questions after he looks at my car. I'll let you guys know!

 

[JChoice]

Okay, Jen came by today and showed me the kit.

It's an easy install - real easy. The only modification needed is that the little metal clip that holds in the bulb needs to be filed slightly to fit the slightly larger Xenon bulb housing. Otherwise, it goes right in. It looks like the ballast can be attached to the back bottom side of the headlight housing keep it from view.

Same ballast and bulbs used in the 5 and 7 series BMWs.

If anyone's interested, Jen's # is listed above. I'm going to get a kit in the next month right after I pay my NSX-sized tax bill!

 

[Lud]

That sounds great. Would you consider taking pictures of the install? I'll post them on the website.

 

[jen]

I posted the NSX headlight diagram on photopoint.com, the part that needs to be modified is in front of part #3.

The chrome clip that holds the 9006 bulb in. Anybody doing a HID retrofit will need to modify this clip.

Sorry, don't have time to say anything more right now, I'm driving to San Francisco. Anybody between LA and SF wanting to see the kit of test fit on their car, truck, SUV can call me at: (626) 524-4650

 

[Tetsuo]

I was looking at the NSX lights yesterday...i saw that there was a cover that you needed to remove to gain access to the lightbulbs....now if i am assuming this correctly...we need to take the harness from the nsx to connect to the HID unit and harness from the unit onto the new hid light bulb...if we do so...i don't believe there is any room to install the cover back...are there any ill effects to this...i wouldn't want water getting in and ruin my $600 lights

thanks

 

[dollenz]

The only reason I haven't bought an HID kit yet is the fact that I cannot get a clip (the one that holds the bulb in place and needs to be modified) without buying the whole light assembly from Acura (at $600 each). You see, my concern has to do with wanting to go back to original lighting if Xenon HID is not satisfactory for any reason. Does anyone know of any car/brand/manufacturer that uses the same clip on their lights and that is currently available for sale without having to buy the whole assembly?

 

[JChoice]

Dollenz - from what I saw, modification of that clip WILL NOT prevent you from returning it back to the original bulb setup.

 

[jkurnawan]

Well I bought the HID kit from the mercedes and I install it into the nsx. But the problem is the light do not beam out so in the night I can't see clearly. From my undersatding is the clip, because when i had the kit installed the mechanic took out a silver clip. They said they can't put it there.