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Old 23-02-2005, 07:01 PM   #1
CityEnd
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Post HOW TO: HID installation and review for BA Astina (94-98) *56K warning*!!

ok, Even though I got HIDs in December, I finally got off my ass to finish up this installation guide and review on HIDs for the BA astina, hope you guys find it useful.

Tools needed

HID conversion kit

screw driver (only needed for the hardtop)
10mm socket wrench
stanly knife
nuts and bots(I used M5 x 20mm) or cable ties


Removing headlight
I recommend removing the headlight as it makes it easier to install the bulbs

1. remove parkerlight
this is only required for the hardtop, if you have a hatch skip to the next step


unscrew the parker where shown and then pull parker forward

2. disconnect headlight


unplug the headlights here

3. remove headlight
using the 10mm socket wrench unbolt the headlights where indicated


for the hardtop


the hatch


Removing globe

1. open socket
open socket by twisting it clockwise and then pull

2. disconnect globe

3. undo pin latches




4. remove globe


Installing hid globe

1. remove globe from casing
2. put into headlight housing
3. secure pin latches




Modifying socket
this is needed so that the wires of the hids fit through them


1. remove rubber grommet




2. cut hole large enough for socket to fit through it



3. feed big socket through then smaller socket

4. close socket


Mounting ballast

1. bolt ballast securely to car
find secure places to bolt the ballast



Wiring up

1. connect HID globe to ballast
2. connect ballast to headlight wires
3. connect headlight wires back to car

Reinstall headlight

1. reinstall headlight
2. reinstall parkerlight.


Adjusting headlight
once you have the HIDs install make sure you adjust your headlight so they are aligned properly, so that it doesn't irritate other drivers.


turn clockwise to tilt down
turn anticlockwise to tilt up


turn clockwise to tilt in
turn anticlockwise to tilt out

just a tip to remember which way to turn, just remember that clockwise will make them go down and in


Review



Awesome results, it dramatically improves visibility at night. At first they seems really blue, but I quickly got used to them and they just look white to me now, it was very obvious right before dust I had the headlights on and they just looked like natural light, which means they are easier on the eyes than the normal halogen globes.



Cost was an issue when i was thinking about getting the HIDs, they aren't cheap, and I'm sure a lot of you feel the same way, however what made me finally take the plunge was the fact that it was not just a rice mod, it actually improves the safety of night driving, and now that I have HIDs I will continue to get them in the future when I own other cars, I have seen the light and I can not go back to halogen.

some people have concerns about the annoyance factor on other drivers, I can say as long as you adjust the headlights properly and point them down, then it's not a problem. If you look at the picture below, as long as the line of the light is below eye level then it won't irritae any oncoming drivers.



pros
improves visibility at night
closer to daylight color, easier on the eyes
longer life span then normal globes
low wattage
looks cool

cons
price
a bit of modification to fit into astina

that concludes the review, I hope you found it useful =)
all comments welcome, and I'll try to answer any questions you have.

P.S. admins, would it be possible to upload the pics onto the astinagt server?

Last edited by CityEnd; 23-02-2005 at 07:39 PM.
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Old 23-02-2005, 11:03 PM   #2
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ow the pics hurt my eyes.....
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Old 23-02-2005, 11:14 PM   #3
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Price? My car doesn't take Blue globe as it may have a earthing prob. any blue globe fitted on the right side blows within 3 hours. Would 1 of these kits fix this prob as in earths itself?

Ryan
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Old 23-02-2005, 11:29 PM   #4
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just rewire your lighting earths

and what you doing with blue globes?
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Old 24-02-2005, 10:07 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DeeJay RyRy
Price? My car doesn't take Blue globe as it may have a earthing prob. any blue globe fitted on the right side blows within 3 hours. Would 1 of these kits fix this prob as in earths itself?

Ryan
the price of these HIDs are $550

does your normal globe have any problem with the right side? if not then the hids won't have any problem either, and the ballast regulates the power going into the globe.

and i just want to clear things up that these are not the same as the blue globes. blue globes are still just halogen with a tint to make them look blue, hids are xenon globes. they work under different principles.


normal globe on the left and xenon on the right
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Old 24-02-2005, 10:22 AM   #6
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If I wasn't planning on selling the 'Stina (or if I'd have known how easy it was), I'd have dons this, especially for highway driving at night.
Isn't it illegal though to install HID on cars that don't come with it from the factory? I remeber reading about it in a Silicone Chip mag. It was either HID or another technology...
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Old 24-02-2005, 10:45 AM   #7
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yeah ... but if you make the install look professional hows the cops gonna know

anyway looks really good ... and from being in twiggys car i know what a difference they make

Quote:
Originally Posted by CityEnd
so that it doesn't irritate other drivers.
RAOFLMAO ... is that possible
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Old 24-02-2005, 10:52 AM   #8
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HID's rock. simple as that
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Old 24-02-2005, 10:56 AM   #9
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especially on the ridgeway... what was the count??
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Old 24-02-2005, 10:57 AM   #10
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7 i think
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Old 24-02-2005, 11:02 AM   #11
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was that all?

for the uninformed, we went across one of my local roads with a full twiggy mobile... this pointed the headlights up a little bit, coz we are all fat, so people kept flashing us - so then of course we had to flash the high beams!!
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Old 24-02-2005, 11:16 AM   #12
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with HIDs , do you need to get one to match the original globe type ( eg H3 , H4 ) or is it one-size-fits-all.

the main reason being I'm wondering if I could keep them and put them into my next car.
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Old 24-02-2005, 11:23 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ahb11m
was that all?

for the uninformed, we went across one of my local roads with a full twiggy mobile... this pointed the headlights up a little bit, coz we are all fat, so people kept flashing us - so then of course we had to flash the high beams!!
remember the alarms in the car park :P
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Old 24-02-2005, 12:21 PM   #14
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yes you do need to get the same type bulb, otherwise the part of the bulb that lights up will be in a different position and your beam pattern will suck
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Old 24-02-2005, 12:30 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrShadow
If I wasn't planning on selling the 'Stina (or if I'd have known how easy it was), I'd have dons this, especially for highway driving at night.
Isn't it illegal though to install HID on cars that don't come with it from the factory? I remeber reading about it in a Silicone Chip mag. It was either HID or another technology...
I think in europe they r illegal if they don't have a self leveling unit thing, but in aus there is no law saying they r illegal, i have not heard of anyone get done for them either

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dogo
with HIDs , do you need to get one to match the original globe type ( eg H3 , H4 ) or is it one-size-fits-all.

the main reason being I'm wondering if I could keep them and put them into my next car.
globes need to match the orginal size, so you can't bring them over to your next car, however you can still transfer the ballast, which is the most expensive part, and get globes to fit your new car
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Old 24-02-2005, 12:32 PM   #16
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damn i read the title as HUD, not HID

very nice Chris, good install.
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Old 27-03-2005, 07:52 PM   #17
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Hi I saw some of the products on ebay
which one is recommended and also are they for high beam as well as driving?
do you have to get the H3 size?
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Old 28-03-2005, 01:52 AM   #18
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chris, they require a self leveller here too...

but as long as they are adjusted properly, all should be good... to be extra safe you'd be best off working out where the old cut offs were first hand, and change the globes with out moving the car or of course measuring properly, light is meant to be at the same height from 9 metres or feet??? i can't remember which one...

might be an idea to adjust them with a weight in the back too... get a big buffioon mate to sit on/in the boot to alter the weight of the car
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Old 30-03-2005, 03:13 AM   #19
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Thay, you will need to get the H3, and that will only be driving light.

h4 are both hi and lo beams

james, i think I'll need to look into that more...

yeah the hight of the light should be the same or lower at any distance away, i just tweaked it after every time i went for a drive until i was happy, making sure the light never shone onto the rear window of the car infront of me.
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Old 30-03-2005, 09:31 AM   #20
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mmmm H4....

my light comes just to the top of the number plates in front of me...
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