HID Xenon Driving Lights -How to.. - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Ccmano · 08-09-2009

I have recently been investigating the possibility of converting my headlights with one of those HID kits sold on EBay. Thought it might be nice to have some modern lighting on the Z and it would help my aging night vision at the same time. My buddy Don (karterdon) ordered up some Xenons and proceeded to attempt the conversion on his car. We found that you need a new H4 bulb and lens housing, a Bi-Xenon kit (so you have high beams and low beams) and you need to wire it so that the driving lights still function properly. In all about a $200 project. Not too bad.
However, since I often drive at dusk with just my driving lights and marker lights on I thought it might be cool to try a Xenon conversion of the driving lights only. Maybe there's enough light that you don't even have to use the headlights.
In researching I found that you can indeed buy an 800 series configuration Xenon setup that fits the driving lights. It's cheap too...
So I ponied up the $49 and ordered a set off of Ebay from a US distributor (still made in China of course)
I decided to take some pictures and do a little "how to" at the same time. Hope you find this useful.
What I am showing here is for a 90'. Access to the driving light bulbs is different in the 91'+ cars but the wiring should still be the same. Access to the 91+ bulbs is via 2 trap doors under the front of the bumper.

Here's the Xenon setup, you get 2 of these in the kit. Everything is tidy with weatherproof connectors and as I found out it turns out to be plug and play.
The access to the bulbs is located under the hood on either side of the radiator just below the hood hinge.
You have to feel your way under there but this is the bulb plug. You rotate it about a quarter turn and pull it out.

The wires are somewhat short so getting it out without breaking the old bulbs (like I did) is tough.
When you get it out the bulb holder looks like this. I removed bulb already. Disassemble the holder and remove it. It comes apart easily.
Without the holder the plug looks like this. For reference later the purple wire has the power. The other is ground.
Back at the workbench you set up the HID bulb on the holder. Make sure the bottom of the bulb is snug in the top of the holder. Run the wires through and put the seal ring back in place.
The ballast/ignitor is a nice sealed unit. Hook up the plug, the upper one on the unit. It's the wiring to the new bulb. The spade connectors shown will hook to the car wiring plug noted earlier.

Now install the bulb holder with the new Xenon bulb. I goes in much easier that it came out. Be careful not to touch the bulb it will burn out early from the oils on your hands. When you slide it in make sure it's all the way in. Then turn it gently clockwise to lock it in place. A light tug will confirm it's locked. Hook up the wires from the ballast, they only go one way. Inserted and hooked up it looks like this.
Insert the spade connectors, noted earlier, into the plug. Red to purple and black to black. Insulate the connection, I used electical tape. I may go back and buy the correct weatherpak connector later.

Everthing is now connected. Zip tie the wiring to the Ballast for neatness.
You can tuck everything in next to the radiator housing. I used the velcro fasteners provided and mounted the ballast there. Make sure it sits low enough so the hood hinge doesn't hit it when you close the hood. It comes with actual brackets that I may use if this location works out.
So there you have it. Took it out last night and the light output is fantastic and it only uses 35watts, the same as the original bulb. I can actually drive the car at night with only the driving lights and without the headlights on.
Here are some shots with and without the Halogen headlights. I'm jazzed...

H

XfireZ51 · 08-09-2009

Hans,

Has anyone ever told you you should be a "hand model"?

Nice work and great write-up.

secondchance · 08-09-2009

Thank you.
I bookmarked this thread so I can refer to when I finally pull the trigger.

4DSZR1 · 08-10-2009

Great write-up... looks like a nice update for us 'drivers'. How do they work at night? Do you need the headlights?

Rick

4DSZR1 · 08-10-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4DSZR1

Great write-up... looks like a nice update for us 'drivers'. How do they work at night? Do you need the headlights?

Rick

woops... I saw your comment on driving at night

Do you have the link to the ones on ebay that you used? Thanks

Ccmano · 08-10-2009

Glad you enjoyed the post. I used this outfit...
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Xtreme-H...__W0QQ_armrsZ1
You want the 800 series kit.
By the way, if I didn't mention it I am not affiliated with the seller in anyway.
Good luck!
Hans

4DSZR1 · 08-10-2009

Thanks :-)

I was looking at their items..... 29.99 for shipping? Seems a little steep, oh well, have to pay to play I guess.

Ccmano · 08-10-2009

Yes, but the total still only comes to $49. Actually $47 on one I looked at.
H

DMark · 09-19-2009

hans,

I looked at the ebay listing.

Which color bulb did you use?

Thanks!

Ccmano · 09-20-2009

I used the 6k...
H

08-09-2009	#1
Ccmano Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,852	HID Xenon Driving Lights -How to.. I have recently been investigating the possibility of converting my headlights with one of those HID kits sold on EBay. Thought it might be nice to have some modern lighting on the Z and it would help my aging night vision at the same time. My buddy Don (karterdon) ordered up some Xenons and proceeded to attempt the conversion on his car. We found that you need a new H4 bulb and lens housing, a Bi-Xenon kit (so you have high beams and low beams) and you need to wire it so that the driving lights still function properly. In all about a $200 project. Not too bad. However, since I often drive at dusk with just my driving lights and marker lights on I thought it might be cool to try a Xenon conversion of the driving lights only. Maybe there's enough light that you don't even have to use the headlights. In researching I found that you can indeed buy an 800 series configuration Xenon setup that fits the driving lights. It's cheap too... So I ponied up the $49 and ordered a set off of Ebay from a US distributor (still made in China of course) I decided to take some pictures and do a little "how to" at the same time. Hope you find this useful. What I am showing here is for a 90'. Access to the driving light bulbs is different in the 91'+ cars but the wiring should still be the same. Access to the 91+ bulbs is via 2 trap doors under the front of the bumper. Here's the Xenon setup, you get 2 of these in the kit. Everything is tidy with weatherproof connectors and as I found out it turns out to be plug and play. The access to the bulbs is located under the hood on either side of the radiator just below the hood hinge. You have to feel your way under there but this is the bulb plug. You rotate it about a quarter turn and pull it out. The wires are somewhat short so getting it out without breaking the old bulbs (like I did) is tough. When you get it out the bulb holder looks like this. I removed bulb already. Disassemble the holder and remove it. It comes apart easily. Without the holder the plug looks like this. For reference later the purple wire has the power. The other is ground. Back at the workbench you set up the HID bulb on the holder. Make sure the bottom of the bulb is snug in the top of the holder. Run the wires through and put the seal ring back in place. The ballast/ignitor is a nice sealed unit. Hook up the plug, the upper one on the unit. It's the wiring to the new bulb. The spade connectors shown will hook to the car wiring plug noted earlier. Now install the bulb holder with the new Xenon bulb. I goes in much easier that it came out. Be careful not to touch the bulb it will burn out early from the oils on your hands. When you slide it in make sure it's all the way in. Then turn it gently clockwise to lock it in place. A light tug will confirm it's locked. Hook up the wires from the ballast, they only go one way. Inserted and hooked up it looks like this. Insert the spade connectors, noted earlier, into the plug. Red to purple and black to black. Insulate the connection, I used electical tape. I may go back and buy the correct weatherpak connector later. Everthing is now connected. Zip tie the wiring to the Ballast for neatness. You can tuck everything in next to the radiator housing. I used the velcro fasteners provided and mounted the ballast there. Make sure it sits low enough so the hood hinge doesn't hit it when you close the hood. It comes with actual brackets that I may use if this location works out. So there you have it. Took it out last night and the light output is fantastic and it only uses 35watts, the same as the original bulb. I can actually drive the car at night with only the driving lights and without the headlights on. Here are some shots with and without the Halogen headlights. I'm jazzed... H __________________ 90'ZR-1 #1461 Red/Black Ported Intake, Degreed Cams, OBX Headers & Exhaust, Fidanza FW, Secondary Delete, Custom tune, C6 GS Wheels. Sold 08 C6 Z51 Crystal Red Metallic Sold Vararam Intake, Tune, Sold 05 C6 Z51 Red/Black Sold 90'ZR-1 #1723 Black/Gray Sold but not forgotten 91' Z51 L98 White Vert. My First, you always remember your first. Sold. Last edited by Ccmano; 08-09-2009 at 03:02 PM.

08-09-2009	#2
XfireZ51 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 9,709	Re: HID Xenon Driving Lights -How to.. Hans, Has anyone ever told you you should be a "hand model"? Nice work and great write-up.

08-09-2009	#3
secondchance Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: McLean, VA Posts: 3,723	Re: HID Xenon Driving Lights -How to.. Thank you. I bookmarked this thread so I can refer to when I finally pull the trigger.

08-10-2009	#4
4DSZR1 Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Re: HID Xenon Driving Lights -How to.. Great write-up... looks like a nice update for us 'drivers'. How do they work at night? Do you need the headlights? Rick

08-10-2009	#6
Ccmano Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,852	Re: HID Xenon Driving Lights -How to.. Glad you enjoyed the post. I used this outfit... http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Xtreme-H...__W0QQ_armrsZ1 You want the 800 series kit. By the way, if I didn't mention it I am not affiliated with the seller in anyway. Good luck! Hans __________________ 90'ZR-1 #1461 Red/Black Ported Intake, Degreed Cams, OBX Headers & Exhaust, Fidanza FW, Secondary Delete, Custom tune, C6 GS Wheels. Sold 08 C6 Z51 Crystal Red Metallic Sold Vararam Intake, Tune, Sold 05 C6 Z51 Red/Black Sold 90'ZR-1 #1723 Black/Gray Sold but not forgotten 91' Z51 L98 White Vert. My First, you always remember your first. Sold.

09-19-2009	#9
DMark Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 197	Re: HID Xenon Driving Lights -How to.. hans, I looked at the ebay listing. Which color bulb did you use? Thanks! __________________ [IMG]http://i16.tinypic.com/4ig0b3a.jpg[/IMG] D. Mark Gentleman Farmer, U.S. Army-Retired LS3,LS6,LT1,LT5,L98,L82,L36,L79,L76

09-20-2009	#10
Ccmano Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,852	Re: HID Xenon Driving Lights -How to.. I used the 6k... H __________________ 90'ZR-1 #1461 Red/Black Ported Intake, Degreed Cams, OBX Headers & Exhaust, Fidanza FW, Secondary Delete, Custom tune, C6 GS Wheels. Sold 08 C6 Z51 Crystal Red Metallic Sold Vararam Intake, Tune, Sold 05 C6 Z51 Red/Black Sold 90'ZR-1 #1723 Black/Gray Sold but not forgotten 91' Z51 L98 White Vert. My First, you always remember your first. Sold.