DB9.1 HID Install.
Discussion
As posted previously, I have now installed the HID conversion to the main beam lamps of the car after the disappointing performance of the H9 65W originals. This is a legal conversion as the car already has headlamp washers and auto leveling, a DOT requirement for the installation of HID headlamps.
Firstly, here is the kit that I will be installing. Just one side shown and I have chosen 6000k colour temperature (Daylight) and 35W lamps, not the brighter 55W.
To install the kit, the first thing to do is lift the carat the jacking point just inside the sill trim.
Then remove the front wheel to expose the arch liner......
and the headlamp access panel at the front of it. This is removed with a quarter turn of the plastic fastener on the outer edge.
Here we see the rear seal covers of the bulbs access holes.
The inner lamp is the high (main) beam so removing the rubber cover exposes the original H9 type bulb.
The bulb is removed by turning approx 1/8 turn anti-clockwise and withdrawing it from the headlamp shell.
You can then unplug the bulb from it's 2 pin connector. We now install the replacement bulb as a reversal procedure by locating the 3 small tabs on the bulb in the bulb holder and then locking in position with an 1/8 turn clockwise.
Luckily, the 2 wires from the kit are the same colour coding as the OEM wiring so it is a simple black to black and red to red connection.
We now need to do the only irreversible modification to the car, and that is cut a 24-25mm hole in the rubber seal with a pair of sharp scissors......
and install the wires through the cover and seal them with the new wiring seal.......
and reinstall it on the rear of the lamp.
Here you can see the original position of the OEM low beam HID ballast.....
So I just attached the new high beam ballast in the same position.
I then refitted the arch liner lamp cover and wheel and took a look to compare the two, the new HID on the drivers side and the OEM 65W H9 on the passenger side. Despite the HID being in the sunlight, you can clearly see it is even brighter than the original.
and turning the car around, we can see the significant improvement on the garage door. Also, the beam pattern and aim is still correct.
So, as they say, repeat for the other side and we are all done. 2 hours comfortably and under £50 for the entire kit, less than just 1 standard HID bulb.
8Tech.
Firstly, here is the kit that I will be installing. Just one side shown and I have chosen 6000k colour temperature (Daylight) and 35W lamps, not the brighter 55W.
To install the kit, the first thing to do is lift the carat the jacking point just inside the sill trim.
Then remove the front wheel to expose the arch liner......
and the headlamp access panel at the front of it. This is removed with a quarter turn of the plastic fastener on the outer edge.
Here we see the rear seal covers of the bulbs access holes.
The inner lamp is the high (main) beam so removing the rubber cover exposes the original H9 type bulb.
The bulb is removed by turning approx 1/8 turn anti-clockwise and withdrawing it from the headlamp shell.
You can then unplug the bulb from it's 2 pin connector. We now install the replacement bulb as a reversal procedure by locating the 3 small tabs on the bulb in the bulb holder and then locking in position with an 1/8 turn clockwise.
Luckily, the 2 wires from the kit are the same colour coding as the OEM wiring so it is a simple black to black and red to red connection.
We now need to do the only irreversible modification to the car, and that is cut a 24-25mm hole in the rubber seal with a pair of sharp scissors......
and install the wires through the cover and seal them with the new wiring seal.......
and reinstall it on the rear of the lamp.
Here you can see the original position of the OEM low beam HID ballast.....
So I just attached the new high beam ballast in the same position.
I then refitted the arch liner lamp cover and wheel and took a look to compare the two, the new HID on the drivers side and the OEM 65W H9 on the passenger side. Despite the HID being in the sunlight, you can clearly see it is even brighter than the original.
and turning the car around, we can see the significant improvement on the garage door. Also, the beam pattern and aim is still correct.
So, as they say, repeat for the other side and we are all done. 2 hours comfortably and under £50 for the entire kit, less than just 1 standard HID bulb.
8Tech.
Edited by 8Tech on Tuesday 9th December 15:34
8tech that's great....been meaning to do this myself but nor got round to it.
A couple of questions...what make system did you buy? I've looked at one in my local motor factors but it's not as good as yours. Also..did you just stick the ballast into the existing. Won't this reduce the cooling of the original leading to premature failure? Thanks for a great post
A couple of questions...what make system did you buy? I've looked at one in my local motor factors but it's not as good as yours. Also..did you just stick the ballast into the existing. Won't this reduce the cooling of the original leading to premature failure? Thanks for a great post
simonpa said:
Seconded!
Are they instant-on? I don't know if that is regulated, but presumably they need to be able to light up quickly for flashing (ooerr)?
Where from (or what do I need to search eBay/Google for)?
I found that when switched-on, they ignite at full brightness for about 1/2 second, then dim and achieve full luminance in about 2 seconds so the ignite should be fine for flashing.Are they instant-on? I don't know if that is regulated, but presumably they need to be able to light up quickly for flashing (ooerr)?
Where from (or what do I need to search eBay/Google for)?
J12MOC said:
8tech that's great....been meaning to do this myself but nor got round to it.
A couple of questions...what make system did you buy? I've looked at one in my local motor factors but it's not as good as yours. Also..did you just stick the ballast into the existing. Won't this reduce the cooling of the original leading to premature failure? Thanks for a great post
If I had made the effort to completely remove the wheel arch liner, then I would have mounted the ballast remotely from the OEM ballast but did not want to drill or otherwise fix it to the plastic headlamp shell. I believe they get warm but do not use either finned heatsinks or face mount so I do not expect them to overheat.A couple of questions...what make system did you buy? I've looked at one in my local motor factors but it's not as good as yours. Also..did you just stick the ballast into the existing. Won't this reduce the cooling of the original leading to premature failure? Thanks for a great post
To be sure though, when the arch liners come out for its spring clean, I may move them to be 100% sure. Some of the amateur fitted kits I have seen fitted to other cars are so bad, I feel the components are rather more robust than we may imagine and some have even been wedged between rubber components and wiring looms completely sealing them from any cooling air.
to test i bought this middle H9 kit 5000K - 1930 lux - 30$ for high beam (see picture on right side versus OEM already 80w Halogen on left side)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G2TMDZG/ref=o...
it works so you could buy the best in the test - 2930 lux - 60$
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ICO77GA/ref=twister_B...
see test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr7jdvJcWL4
for low beam (on the right side only) the best bulb D1S Philips X-treme V
https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Genuine-PHILIPS-D1S-X-trem...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G2TMDZG/ref=o...
it works so you could buy the best in the test - 2930 lux - 60$
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ICO77GA/ref=twister_B...
see test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr7jdvJcWL4
for low beam (on the right side only) the best bulb D1S Philips X-treme V
https://www.ebay.fr/itm/Genuine-PHILIPS-D1S-X-trem...
Edited by Phil57DBS on Wednesday 9th January 15:52
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