This forum is for discussion of topics relating to MX-3 lighting such as Headlights, Tail lights, Accessory Lights, Interior Lights, Etc. For example, Rear Euro Altezza Style Tail lights, Headlight units, LED's, HID's, Bulbs, Interior lights, Neons, Strobes, Auxillary Lights/Fogs or anything filament and gas discharge related.
Also anything dealing with the elctrical system.
I'm stuck between two rocks and they're both hard places.
What would give me the better lighting for driving?...
I don't know why but I'm leaning towards HID conversions cause it just seems more cost effective than spending $600+ for something that's not warranteed... vs. the $300 HID conversion kits that you can get.
What would you do and why?... just trying to get a feel for your 2 cents.
JoN - Ex-Automotive Machinist Journeyman/Refrigeration Mechanic Apprentice 1996 Mazda MX-3 RS - Creek Blue Mica
RACING BP fully built with Twin Scroll GT3071R TURBO @ +30psi - Specs and Pictures
Jon, this has been dealt with before and I believe this exact specific question regarding those supposed HID conversions. The short answer there is NO real HID conversion for our lights. Try a search using "HID" or "projector" as your search parameter and within less than 5 minutes you'll have all the answers you need. Those like "tatsu", "Taras", "Patdiesel", "Grants" and a few others are extremely well versed in this area and can be viewed as giving the straight skinny on these flash-in-the-pan gimmicks that mislead individuals that one will achieve HID quality lighting. That simply is just not possible given the headlight shell and it's specific reflective properties, the fluted plastic lense and the oem 9004 bulb set-up. The future bulk buy is probably the best alternative to achieving true HID lights by substituting the intended halogen units for HID ones while maintaining the overall outside integrity of the MX headlight units. Others have done the civic light conversion in an effort to improve their lighting situation, or have utilized the upgaded sylvania 9004 bulb (Silverstar), or have done like me and a few others and sourced the J-Spec headlights (or E-Spec) that gives a slightly better light pattern but offers the opportunity for better bulb selection by utilizing an H4 bulb. #300.00 HID conversion ?? - $300 would barely cover the cost of quality HID light shells not including the bulbs which can be acquired for as cheap as about $100 each and we haven't even got the ballasts for each unit let alone the proper wiring conversions. Achieving true quality HID lighting on a homemade scale for less than $1,000 is unlikely. Then again, the search I recommended to you will tell you all of that anyway.
Great reply J-Beef. He is 100% correct, just to second his statement. There is no HID coversion for the stock headlamps that will be true HID. The supposed HID conversion kits on Ebay and the like will not produce any better lighting than a premuim bulb for the 9004 stock lamps. And again like J-Beef said your best bet for permium lighting is Tatsu's group buy...
ZE -strait neck,headers,2.5 exhaust,pheno spacers,lower cross member,GC coils,MS struts,Brembo slotted rotors,filled MS mounts,SS brake/clutch lines, CAI,to rear bat reloc,Hella headlamps,Hella DE fogs 180WHP
actually if you are creative you can do HID.. my room mate has a protege5 that he took the HID stuff out of a mercedes and installed it and his lights are freaking awesome, it really didn't take that much work
So it sounds like he made a custom HID lighting using his stock housings...
That is what we both said. Unless you use real HIDs from a HID headlamoed car or buy some new then they will not be HID. You cannot change a 9004 bulb into HID.
Although, great job on your buddies lamps. It must have been some work or they might look like crap. Maybe a pic or two would help show this guy what you are talking about and maybe he can get some ideas from it.
ZE -strait neck,headers,2.5 exhaust,pheno spacers,lower cross member,GC coils,MS struts,Brembo slotted rotors,filled MS mounts,SS brake/clutch lines, CAI,to rear bat reloc,Hella headlamps,Hella DE fogs 180WHP
First off sorry for not searching... I'm ususally better than that.
Second, I'm sure you've all see websites like this http://gohid.com/product_4091_397.html. I know that you talk about the shells and lens' that don't shed the light any good. But I know from experience that Xenon light bulbs give off more light, or whiter light.
I was thinking of trying to do a RX-8 or Mazda 6 headlight conversion... but I haven't compare the brightness of the lights when turned on. I do believe those are projectors.
PS. I forgot that I made this thread.
JoN - Ex-Automotive Machinist Journeyman/Refrigeration Mechanic Apprentice 1996 Mazda MX-3 RS - Creek Blue Mica
RACING BP fully built with Twin Scroll GT3071R TURBO @ +30psi - Specs and Pictures
he really didnt' have to spend all that much.. he pulled everything from a junked mercedes and just cut the stock housing part that holds the light out and glued the same size piece from the mercedes in and you can hardly tell that he did it... he was very careful and precise in his cuts.. and the result is amazing looking headlights...
Shades wrote: I know that you talk about the shells and lens' that don't shed the light any good. But I know from experience that Xenon light bulbs give off more light, or whiter light.
Bearing in mind that experience, than you must also know or be quite familiar with the overall design, layout and configuration that these HID/Xenon are integrated with. You already know how the shell, lense and optics are all layed out or designed SPECIFICALLY for that Xenon bulb. Our headlights were designed with a certain reflective/refractive properties that are liken to the 9oo4 bulb (NA Spec of course). The big key to all of this is the focused light - the beam pattern and dispersal. The reflective lense inside accompanied with the fluted clear covering lense are carefully matched to to provide a specific beam pattern and dispersal of light that's designed to be used with a 9004 bulb. The mere substituting of the 9004 bulb does in no way guarantee that you will have similar Xenon/HID produced light patterns and dispersions because of the oem clear lense and reflective lense. Yes you will have a different colour light to some degree. Yes you will have a brighter light to some degree. But what is also going to be part n parcel with that type of retro-fit is that you will have such a scattering of light generated by this overwhelming new source that it will not be effectively focused as in the case of true HID/Xenon manufactured units. It will be so distorted that your beam pattern will be vastly scattered and not focused as needed. A lot of money spent for such little accomplisments. Not to mention that every other person will consistantly flashing their high beams at you because of the excessive scattering effect.
Shades wrote:I was thinking of trying to do a RX-8 or Mazda 6 headlight conversion... but I haven't compare the brightness of the lights when turned on.
Sounds like you've got some pretty aggressive aspirations. Since you're pretty keen on improved lighting why not consider Tatsu's upcoming Group Buy on projector lights for our car. As mentioned before, a swap of the halogen projectors for HID projectors is a very simple swap-over (same sizes). You will then be able to accomplish your goal of having correct and effective HID/Xenon lighting while still , maintaining overall externall integrity. Unless you have the exclusive services of a body shop/man, an electrical wiz for the wiring and an excellent source for acquiring those RX-8 or Mazda 6 headlights, you can count on spending well over $2,500 for evreything to achieve a finished, painted, polished product. Have you priced a setof Mazda 6 or RX-8 lights yet, or is this all just wishfull thinking and thinking out loud? Like mentioned before, this issue if HID/Xenon and paople thinking that there's this oh so new product that's going to give you "True HID" performance. If it looks to good to be true .... guess what ........
*John*
6000k
7000k
9000k
12000k
conversion kit (necessary components for HID excluding correct lense units)
Then you must have something similar to whats in this link to the video on true HID conversions.
86mb movie that will be inspirational to a few. These are true applications of HID conversions on different vehicles. http://www.haknslash.com/videos/final2_hidplanetvid.wmv
I have the HID bulb in the stock housing. I not enough of a baller to do all that. I don't have a camera or else i'd gladly take some pictures for ya. The cutoff lines of the light is not nearly as good as with projectors of course but for $200 i'm not complaining. I don't even want to know how much they spent on some of those retrofits. They are awesome though. This guy is asking for advice and I say if you want better lighting and can't afford other options like the ones on that video buying the simple plug and play conversion gives great results!
1992 mx-3, a couple mods, i'm still a n00b
---Don't try and church your car up, MX-3's aren't fast---
Shades wrote:I'm stuck between two rocks and they're both hard places.
What would give me the better lighting for driving?...
I don't know why but I'm leaning towards HID conversions cause it just seems more cost effective than spending $600+ for something that's not warranteed... vs. the $300 HID conversion kits that you can get.
What would you do and why?... just trying to get a feel for your 2 cents.
Jon, have a look at the new addition to the FAQ's. It may help you in your decision.
