F-Body HID Info - Updated 4/7/04

This information is what I would consider the best configuration to getting a true HID setup in your Firebird or Camaro.  This setup uses projector housings, OEM Mercedes, BMW or Audi D2S bulbs and high quality ballasts and will look exactly like a Mercedes or Audi setup.  There will be a crisp cutoff and not a wild pattern like you would get if you put HID bulbs in your halogen housings.

Note: This webpage was put together in about 45 minutes so please let me know if you find any errors or spelling mistakes, etc.  It will develop as I go through building a system myself.

Projectors:
http://www.rallylights.com/hella/90mm_modules.asp
There are 2 sets of projectors that can be used from this site.  One has a DOT stamp on the lens while the other has an ECE (European) stamp.  Since technically ALL aftermarket HID kits are illegal, it doesn't matter which one you get, but if on the off chance you were pulled over and the cop didn't know all non-oem HIDs were illegal, he would see the DOT stamp and may let you go.  Regardless, if you do everything correctly, there is no reason you should get pulled over.

Item # HL68137 H9 DOT $57
These are DOT approved accept a H9 bulb.  To get the correct D2S bulb to fit, it will require some modification to the housing.  The cutoff will look something like this:

I don't think that these are aimed quite properly and I think that with some work you would be able to level them out a little better but the cutoff plate in the housing has that shape.  I think with proper aiming and leveling, you could get them to look like this:

Regardless, to get the proper D2S bulb in here, the housing requires modification.  Here is what is required:

http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/hella-90mm/  Scroll down about 1/2 way to the section entitled Tweaking: How do I fit an OEM D2S HID bulb into option 5?

After review and hearing some person experience from someone who chose a different option, I have decided to go with this option.  It does require creating a retaining plate but doesn't seem too difficult and will be a more solid setup.  Once I go through the process and make my plates, I may offer making these plates for other as well.  I'll keep you all posted.  Also, this option doesn't require ANY modification to the cutoff shield to produce the US standard pattern.  Me likey.

If you don't want to go this route, there is another option

Item # PL 1BL 008 193-007 H7 ECE $99
These are approved for use in Europe and not the US, but like I said before, once you put the HIDs in, they are all illegal!  This housing accepts an H7 bulb.  To get the D2S bulb to fit, you need to purchase an adapter ring on ebay from a seller by the user name of lexus4jess.  Here is an auction he had before for these rings: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36476&item=2459972807  So for about $43 more than the other housing and about $25, you only have to do minor modification to the housing to get the D2S bulbs to fit.  The cutoff in this housing will look something like this:

Notice the flare on the right hand side.  This will blind people anywhere to the right of your car, so it is recommended that you modify the cutoff plate.  Here are instructions on how to modify the cutoff plate:

http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/hella-90mm/  Scroll down about 3/4 of the way down to the section entitled What changes are needed to make the H7 Hella 90mm optically ready for HID?  Basically you add some aluminum to the plate.

If originally looks like this:

But you add aluminum to make it look like this:

To produce this beam pattern:

Personally, if I were adding aluminum to the plate, I would just make it completely horizontal and not have any bump in it.

NOTE: A friend used these projectors in his Camaro and had more some issues getting the bulb to stay properly in the modified housing and had some problems getting the ring to fit properly.  After hearing his issues, I have decided to use the H9 DOT housing described first.  If you would like more information regarding the issues with the H7 ECE setup, feel free to contact Dan.  He has been very helpful to me in helping me compile my information for my setup and is willing to help anyone else out also!

So those are you options for projectors.

Bulbs and Ballasts:
It was recommended to me by Dan to use these bulbs and ballasts:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20924&item=2986214089  I was told that if you e-mail him directly, he will sell them to you for $295 shipped.  As you can see, these are Audi OEM D2S Philips 4100k bulbs with Hella Ballasts, the best you can get.

UPDATE: I have e-mailed the above ebay seller and he has yet to reply to me and doesn't sell the sets of bulbs and ballasts together as in the above link.  As an alternate, I found another setup.  Go to http://www.hidtech.com/ and click on products.  The third item, product number 1064770050 Hella Type D2 HID Ballast & Bulb Set for $299.99 is almost exactly the same as the above ebay auction.  Same Hella Ballasts and D2S Philips 4300k bulbs.  The 200k color rating makes little difference.  If anything, these bulbs will look more like a BMW HID than the Audi HID.  They may have a bit more blue coloring to them while looking at the projector from certain angles like current model BMW's.  I have decided to go with this setup as I can't read the ebay seller of the Audi bulbs.  Once I get started on my setup, I'll post pics of everything.

Wiring Harness:
You can't just splice the stock power and ground into the HID ballasts.  While HIDs do consume less power than halogens, the initial startup has a high enough voltage spike that it will nuke your fuses.  To not have it do this, you need to wire up a relay that goes straight to the battery, etc.  All the info is detailed on this page: http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/headlamp-harness.html  It has all the info you need to know about wiring harnesses.  Dan found has a guy that made a custom harness for him for $80.  His contact info is below.  If you don't want to wire up the harness yourself, this is a good alternative.  I plan on wiring up my own harness, so once I get around to doing that I'll post up info and pics.

Custom HID Wiring Harnesses $80
Mario Najera

Mounting:
I have a Trans Am so I am going to cut a custom plate what will bolt to the factory screws that hold in the stock lamp and then mount the projector to that plate.  It will look a little funky when the headlights are up, but since that is only at night, no one will see it.  It will look something like this:

If you have a Camaro, I think it is actually a little more difficult because you have to cut the factory housing to mount the projector.  Here is Dan's site for some pics of his setup: http://community.webshots.com/album/116863233uyEamc  You can e-mail him if you have any questions.

Having all 4 lights come on at once:
Another thing to consider is in Camaros when you flash you high beams, it shuts off your low beams.  This is very bad if your low beams are HIDs.  You have to do a little mod to keep them on when you flash your high beams.  You can do it as described here: http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/215971/3  I think in the Firebirds our fogs shut off when we flash our high beams but I could be mistaken.  If you get the harness pre-made from Mario, it will come setup so all lights will stay on properly.

Cost Tally (without shipping or applicable taxes):

ECE Projector route
Projectors = $200
Bulbs/Ballasts = $300
Ring Adaptor = $25
Wire Harness = $80
Total = $605

DOT Projector route
Projectors = $114
Bulbs/Ballasts = $300
Wire Harness = $80
Total = $494

Well that is about it.  If you have any questions, e-mail me.  I'll keep this page updated as I go through my own install which will be beginning SOON!  Dan is going to take some more pics and vids of his setup this weekend (April 9-11, 2004) and once I see the setup finalized, I will be buying my stuff for my kit!

COMING SOON:
Aiming your setup
Info on round Hella halogen high beams
Info and pics of brighter halogen fog lights
Pics and videos of Dan's finalized setup in his Camaro
Pics and exact pricing info for the items I well begin to purchase!

Useful Websites:
http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/hella-90mm/
http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/