HID conversion walkthrough

**Maputosimon** · 6-2-08, 7:54

So, I bought a set of H1 6000K HIDs from Mototekc on ebay for a ridiculously low price.

Here's one of the two:

Instructions were a bit over-complicated and confusing, so I used common-sense and my one phone-a-friend, which of course went to Einstein. More on that later.

Step one, remove the covers from behind the main beam bulb and make a hole just big enough for the rubber grommet.

2: Remove old bulb, after first unplugging the wire, then lifting the spring clip. Don't touch the glass, you might need the bulb again, keep it somewhere safe in tissue.

3: Find a good mounting place for your ballasts. I decided to put mine here, just sitting tight and cosy without being fixed, on the ledge

...and here, nearside, making use of holes already in the inner wing and this time, some cable ties.

You can see here that I bent the lug on the caddy to make sure the ballast had no way to slip out...

Plug the connector from the bulb into the ballast, oriented so the lug fits over the small, tapered clip (that was Question One to Einstein).

Very carefully, unwrap the bulb of the HID and slip it through the hole in the lamp cover that you cut. Either insert the bulb in its socket straight away, or first fit the rubber grommet correctly into the hole.

Now, this lot needs earthing (Question Two to Einstein, though precisely where and how to earth it was my own creation). The spring clip is earthed via a lug connector that's hard to get off or unscrew, so I made the hole in the HID's earth connector just a tad bigger, and slipped it over onto the hinge side of the spring clip.

Next, plug in your live feed, adjust the cables so they've got play but fit snugly within the casing, screw the back on, and that's it.

A word of advice, try to make it a habit to turn the engine on before the HIDs.

Et voila'! Job done.

40 minutes for an idiot like me with no technical experience and a healthy dose of nerves.

**Einstein** · 6-2-08, 12:29

Nice writeup Simon....

regarding the earth... use the spade with the white wire..... it will be a bit more secure.

John

**Maputosimon** · 6-2-08, 12:59

*thanks*

Tried to get the connector loose from that wire, but it wouldn't budge and I was trying to be delicate and avoid touching the bulb or knocking it at all costs!

...but if an intermittent connection develops, I'll try again

Come on, Sun, go down! It's not Summer yet!

**kenholland** · 6-3-08, 10:04

Nice job Simon.

One hint - see if you can reposition the ballasts so that their connectors face downwards. Would stop any water ingress playing havoc in a few months.

**Maputosimon** · 6-3-08, 19:20

Good idea, thanks, and 'twas great to see you, though of course a longer chat would have been nice. PM me if the promised regular-ish trips towards my direction materialise!

As I'm a lazy sod, I might try to wrap them in some kind of plastic, neoprene or rubber. Suggestions?

(who's gonna come out and confess to a thorough knowledge of the properties of rubber?!

)

**Davaro** · 6-4-08, 1:47

Nice write-up - also a tad worried about that earth... looks like it could be loose and that could cause you some problems. I would definately secure it better

**Maputosimon** · 6-7-08, 19:58

Lekker, dankie wel!

I'll get on it...might lightly solder it onto that spade.

Am getting used to the bluer colour...basically, reflective things like street lamps stand out a lot - 10x more at least, lots more light on pavement and maybe 5 to 10 metres of road immediately ahead of car, and it reflects really brightly from any house windows, etc. that you pass, but the street further ahead and right side have pretty much nothing.

Just being honest

Guess the real test is to park side by side at night with a Six with stockers, or compare photos of exactly the same bit of road from the two cars.

Now, where would I get another Six from for cheap...?

**Davaro** · 6-9-08, 9:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maputosimon

Lekker, dankie wel!

Ha! lol... Nice try

Ek glo jy sal seker nie elke word ken nie maar dit was n mooi probeerslag. Seker van jou dae in Oos-Afrika?

Try that for size mate...

**Maputosimon** · 6-13-08, 10:24

Yup, I dunno how you knew?!

Oh, my username...d'oh!

All my Afrikaans came from reading both languages on cereal packets in the morning in Maputo, milk cartons, whatever...we used to rent a small plane and fly across the border to get food every weekend to Nelspruit...oh, the joys of civil war!

Anyway, back to topic.....I'll get soldering!

take care,

S.

6-2-08, 7:54	#1 (permalink)
Maputosimon Join Date: May 2003 Location: Carshalton, Surrey, UK Age: 34 iTrader: (0)	HID conversion walkthrough So, I bought a set of H1 6000K HIDs from Mototekc on ebay for a ridiculously low price. Here's one of the two: Instructions were a bit over-complicated and confusing, so I used common-sense and my one phone-a-friend, which of course went to Einstein. More on that later. Step one, remove the covers from behind the main beam bulb and make a hole just big enough for the rubber grommet. 2: Remove old bulb, after first unplugging the wire, then lifting the spring clip. Don't touch the glass, you might need the bulb again, keep it somewhere safe in tissue. 3: Find a good mounting place for your ballasts. I decided to put mine here, just sitting tight and cosy without being fixed, on the ledge ...and here, nearside, making use of holes already in the inner wing and this time, some cable ties. You can see here that I bent the lug on the caddy to make sure the ballast had no way to slip out... Plug the connector from the bulb into the ballast, oriented so the lug fits over the small, tapered clip (that was Question One to Einstein). Very carefully, unwrap the bulb of the HID and slip it through the hole in the lamp cover that you cut. Either insert the bulb in its socket straight away, or first fit the rubber grommet correctly into the hole. Now, this lot needs earthing (Question Two to Einstein, though precisely where and how to earth it was my own creation). The spring clip is earthed via a lug connector that's hard to get off or unscrew, so I made the hole in the HID's earth connector just a tad bigger, and slipped it over onto the hinge side of the spring clip. Next, plug in your live feed, adjust the cables so they've got play but fit snugly within the casing, screw the back on, and that's it. A word of advice, try to make it a habit to turn the engine on before the HIDs. Et voila'! Job done. 40 minutes for an idiot like me with no technical experience and a healthy dose of nerves.
	"Ferrocious" The Mazda MX-6 Racing Project Banjo B Mod, 65mm TB, TwinCAI, 304 s/s zorst (www.exhausts.uk.com), FD wheels w/Toyo T1R, H&R spacers KV85s, Alpine DAB, Sparco pads, Razo titanium pedals/GT weighted gearknob, Gumball3000 livery (yes I did go),green "Fusion" alien (abducted), blue instrument lights, airhorns, strut brace, footwell-mounted DP extinguisher red Silblades, NOS psi gauge, white-blue 5-LED sidelights, 6000K HIDs

6-2-08, 12:59	#3 (permalink)
Maputosimon Join Date: May 2003 Location: Carshalton, Surrey, UK Age: 34 iTrader: (0)	thanks Tried to get the connector loose from that wire, but it wouldn't budge and I was trying to be delicate and avoid touching the bulb or knocking it at all costs! ...but if an intermittent connection develops, I'll try again Come on, Sun, go down! It's not Summer yet!
	"Ferrocious" The Mazda MX-6 Racing Project Banjo B Mod, 65mm TB, TwinCAI, 304 s/s zorst (www.exhausts.uk.com), FD wheels w/Toyo T1R, H&R spacers KV85s, Alpine DAB, Sparco pads, Razo titanium pedals/GT weighted gearknob, Gumball3000 livery (yes I did go),green "Fusion" alien (abducted), blue instrument lights, airhorns, strut brace, footwell-mounted DP extinguisher red Silblades, NOS psi gauge, white-blue 5-LED sidelights, 6000K HIDs

6-3-08, 10:04	#4 (permalink)
kenholland Ex-Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Dorset, UK iTrader: (0)	Nice job Simon. One hint - see if you can reposition the ballasts so that their connectors face downwards. Would stop any water ingress playing havoc in a few months.
	Ken

6-3-08, 19:20	#5 (permalink)
Maputosimon Join Date: May 2003 Location: Carshalton, Surrey, UK Age: 34 iTrader: (0)	Good idea, thanks, and 'twas great to see you, though of course a longer chat would have been nice. PM me if the promised regular-ish trips towards my direction materialise! As I'm a lazy sod, I might try to wrap them in some kind of plastic, neoprene or rubber. Suggestions? (who's gonna come out and confess to a thorough knowledge of the properties of rubber?! )
	"Ferrocious" The Mazda MX-6 Racing Project Banjo B Mod, 65mm TB, TwinCAI, 304 s/s zorst (www.exhausts.uk.com), FD wheels w/Toyo T1R, H&R spacers KV85s, Alpine DAB, Sparco pads, Razo titanium pedals/GT weighted gearknob, Gumball3000 livery (yes I did go),green "Fusion" alien (abducted), blue instrument lights, airhorns, strut brace, footwell-mounted DP extinguisher red Silblades, NOS psi gauge, white-blue 5-LED sidelights, 6000K HIDs

6-7-08, 19:58	#7 (permalink)
Maputosimon Join Date: May 2003 Location: Carshalton, Surrey, UK Age: 34 iTrader: (0)	Lekker, dankie wel! I'll get on it...might lightly solder it onto that spade. Am getting used to the bluer colour...basically, reflective things like street lamps stand out a lot - 10x more at least, lots more light on pavement and maybe 5 to 10 metres of road immediately ahead of car, and it reflects really brightly from any house windows, etc. that you pass, but the street further ahead and right side have pretty much nothing. Just being honest Guess the real test is to park side by side at night with a Six with stockers, or compare photos of exactly the same bit of road from the two cars. Now, where would I get another Six from for cheap...?
	"Ferrocious" The Mazda MX-6 Racing Project Banjo B Mod, 65mm TB, TwinCAI, 304 s/s zorst (www.exhausts.uk.com), FD wheels w/Toyo T1R, H&R spacers KV85s, Alpine DAB, Sparco pads, Razo titanium pedals/GT weighted gearknob, Gumball3000 livery (yes I did go),green "Fusion" alien (abducted), blue instrument lights, airhorns, strut brace, footwell-mounted DP extinguisher red Silblades, NOS psi gauge, white-blue 5-LED sidelights, 6000K HIDs

6-13-08, 10:24	#9 (permalink)
Maputosimon Join Date: May 2003 Location: Carshalton, Surrey, UK Age: 34 iTrader: (0)	Yup, I dunno how you knew?! Oh, my username...d'oh! All my Afrikaans came from reading both languages on cereal packets in the morning in Maputo, milk cartons, whatever...we used to rent a small plane and fly across the border to get food every weekend to Nelspruit...oh, the joys of civil war! Anyway, back to topic.....I'll get soldering! take care, S.
	"Ferrocious" The Mazda MX-6 Racing Project Banjo B Mod, 65mm TB, TwinCAI, 304 s/s zorst (www.exhausts.uk.com), FD wheels w/Toyo T1R, H&R spacers KV85s, Alpine DAB, Sparco pads, Razo titanium pedals/GT weighted gearknob, Gumball3000 livery (yes I did go),green "Fusion" alien (abducted), blue instrument lights, airhorns, strut brace, footwell-mounted DP extinguisher red Silblades, NOS psi gauge, white-blue 5-LED sidelights, 6000K HIDs