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#1
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HID Conversion
Folks,
I am planning on upgrading my headlights from stock to HID in the spring. I did a search on the forums for a "how to" but nothing that was all encompassing. I did, however, pull up a bunch of old threads from like 7 years ago talking about conversions requiring using Audi HIDs and replacing the reflectors and it costing hundreds of dollars to do so. Recently, I did some research and found out that HID retrofit kits can now be had for about $50 or so. I specifically looked at DDM Tuning. http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Cat...hting/HID-Kits I belong to a Mazda 6 forums and fellow posters have had great success retrofitting their Mazda 6 with these kits. However, I know that SVXs are "specialized" cars and aren't as easy to retrofit as other cars. Anyone have any idea whether these DDM kits (or any other) be used on the SVX without the major surgery that was described by previous posters? Thanks for your continued help! Yoshi
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Yoshi [B]1995 SVX L AWD - Original Owner 65k - Brilliant Red Mods: K&N Drop In Filter, Sony aftermarket CD/MP3 Stereo and Speakers, Sumitomo HTR+ Tires 2004 Mazda 6S 5-door - Steel Grey - 5 speed manual transmission - Daily Driver 2011 Mazda CX-9 - Wife's ride |
#2
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Re: HID Conversion
The DDM Kits work just fine. I've got a set in my car right now.
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#3
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Re: HID Conversion
I installed OT's (svxfiles) kit in my car 3 years ago and they've worked flawlessly ever since. No surgery required. Remove old bulb, put in HID bulb, find somewhere to mount ballasts (two screws), connect wires (all direct plug in, no splicing or other crap), enjoy. The SVX already has projector headlights, so the beam pattern and cut off are perfect.
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Chris 92 Ebony Mica LS-L "A Rolling Restoration": 223,250 KM - Sleeping 2007 STi 6MT, Stance GR+ coilovers, PWR Rad, JDM hood badge, svxfiles 6000K HIDs, JDM Clear Corners, $15/15 min mod, $20/20 min mod, Energy Swaybar Bushings, Hella Supertones horns, Gold STi BBS rims, Group A lightweight crank pulley, A/C system removed, Custom header-back exhaust, Hybrid carbon/metal rear sway bar, restored headlights with CCFL halos 2008 Subaru Legacy Spec B - Diamond Grey Metallic - Sold 2020 Ram 1500 Longhorn - Red Pearl |
#4
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Re: HID Conversion
Excellent! Straight plug in or cutting and splicing required? Which wattage 35w or 55w? Did you use the Slimline or Raptor? Where did you mount the ballasts?
Thanks! Yoshi
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Yoshi [B]1995 SVX L AWD - Original Owner 65k - Brilliant Red Mods: K&N Drop In Filter, Sony aftermarket CD/MP3 Stereo and Speakers, Sumitomo HTR+ Tires 2004 Mazda 6S 5-door - Steel Grey - 5 speed manual transmission - Daily Driver 2011 Mazda CX-9 - Wife's ride |
#5
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Re: HID Conversion
Quote:
Where did you get the OT's from? I am very interested since you say it a straight plug in, I am worried about having to cut and splice. Does the SVX use a universal Subaru connector? How much did they run if you don't mind me asking? Where did you mount the ballasts? Did you have to remove the front bumper to do so? Did you get the 35w or 55w? Sorry for all the questions! Thanks much! Yoshi
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Yoshi [B]1995 SVX L AWD - Original Owner 65k - Brilliant Red Mods: K&N Drop In Filter, Sony aftermarket CD/MP3 Stereo and Speakers, Sumitomo HTR+ Tires 2004 Mazda 6S 5-door - Steel Grey - 5 speed manual transmission - Daily Driver 2011 Mazda CX-9 - Wife's ride |
#6
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Re: HID Conversion
The DDM kits are plug and play, most people get the 35w kits but if you want extra bright the 55w would be ok. you can mount the ballast right behind the headlights, there is a flat area right there. no removing anything open the hood pull the old bulbs plug that connector into the ballast wiring put in the hid bulb and connect the wires.
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#7
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Re: HID Conversion
Which DDM kit is the right one for our cars?
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'94 Laguna Blue LSi ~159k.......JDM ultra short-geared 3.900 STi Version 7 6-speed w/ Cobb shortshifter, ECUtune 244,8.1mm/256,9.1mm i/e cams, group N motor mounts, '97 grille, JDM clear corners, Momo JDM Legacy GT steering wheel, apkarian's LED tails, silver STi BBS wheels, PWR radiator, redstuff pads f/r, drilled/slotted rotors, bontragerworks rsb #18, Koni/GC 450f/375r coilovers, Megan Racing adjustable lateral links, KMac c/c plates, Stebro exhaust, ECUtune 1v5, Optima battery in the trunk where it belongs. Turbo project '97 Ebony LSi ~137k #036.......Power mode mod, JDM clear corners, BBS wheels. AUX/pocket mod Now a mod "over there" ............Photo album |
#8
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Re: HID Conversion
I picked mine up through OT as well. I placed the ballasts inside the fenders, forward of the tires. Existing threaded holes come in handy!
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Disclaimer: The above post is on the internet. |
#9
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Re: HID Conversion
I used the 9006s, 55w, 5000k. Plenty of room to mount the ballasts, plug and play with no cutting or anything like that. Just make sure you seat the HIDs properly in the headlight housing - makes all the difference in the world. - Only $35 for the 55w Kit with a good warranty to back it up as well. New bulbs, only $12!
I went with the regular, non-slimline. Ballast on the passenger side, mounts right by the ABS pump. The other ballast, Pegdrgr of PDXTuning made an aluminum mount that screws into the side of the driver's side inner frame, so it mounts sideways...but I'm sure there are other ways to do it. Alcohol and 3M double sided tape are your friend. Last edited by Geoff; 01-08-2011 at 08:47 PM. |
#10
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Re: HID Conversion
OT is Old Tom, "SVXfiles" on the board. He used to sell an HID kit. Not sure if he still does??
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Dave - 03 Baja - 92 SVX - 86 Brat - 08 OB 3.0 |
#11
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Re: HID Conversion
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I used to the zip ties that came with them to tie the ballasts to random things in the engine bay...like the A/C lines
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-Jason (8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95 Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod, svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar, silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear (1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver (12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k) I have a bad feeling about this. -Obi Wan Kenobi |
#12
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Re: HID Conversion
You can make a clean installation without much work by removing the headlights and hanging the ballast below the headlight inside of the front bumper.
- Use needle nose pliers to squeeze the 2 tabs holding the top of the grill to the rad support, lift the grill out of the way. - There is one phillips headed screw holding the corner light to the headlight, remove that and pull the corner light forward to remove. - 4 10mm headed bolts hold the headlight into place. 2 behind the grill and 2 behind the corner light.
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Dave - 03 Baja - 92 SVX - 86 Brat - 08 OB 3.0 |
#13
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Re: HID Conversion
When svxfiles installed mine, we put them inside the front fender. Just pulled down the inner fender liners. Easy to install using existing bolts there, out of the way, protected from engine heat and moisture. I prefer the ballast brackets to be well secured to eliminate vibration or stress on the wiring.
DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER'S SIDE Since I am running HID fog lights also, the two ballasts for these are well protected and invisible inside the engine compartment. .
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. Subaru Ambassador 1996 Polo Green LSi #216..138,100 miles...SOLD JFICX8659TH100216.....Date of Manufacture: November 16, 1995..... Fuji Heavy Industries..Ōta North Plant....Ōta City,. Gunma Prefecture, Japan In-Service Date: January 2, 1997 "The Pristine Green Polo Machine” First Polo Green on the Network First Clear front turn signals, JDM Alcyone hood emblem, rear panel, and BOXER engine cover on the Network (US) (2000) First 5000K HID factory fog lights (2007) First SVX JDM BBS wheels on a USDM SVX (2013) HID lighting (5000K) for headlight and H3 fog lights, PIAA SuperExtreme 120W high beams, rebuilt EG33 longblock, Cometic head gaskets, Phase II flexplate, AMR aluminum radiator with custom silicone hoses, 160A high-output alternator in aluminum-ceramic coated case, new design alternator wiring upgrade v.4, rare factory headlight protectors, refinished JDM BBS mesh aluminum wheels and custom, polished billet aluminum new hex center caps, LED grille mod, R1 Concepts high-carbon cryo slotted rotors, Akebono ceramic pads, Goodridge S/S braided brake lines, Smallcar Stage 1 shift kit, ThermalTech aluminum/ceramic-coated valve covers, Energy Suspension urethane front & rear swaybar bushings, Bontrager22 rear swaybar with QS Components Chromoly Teflon/Kevlar endlinks, "$15.00/5 minute" suspension mod. Hella Supertone horns, Custom stainless steel exhaust system with 2" headpipes, Magnaflow cats, AeroTurbine AR25 resonator /AWD "Bullet" muffler. R.I.P. 2010 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5 CVT...338,000 miles. Totaled by a 1,300 lb. COW March 4, 2016 2014 Hyundai Avante Limited ...178,000 miles. Actually quieter and smoother than the Outback 2007 Mazda Miata MX-5 PRHT...102,000 miles. Plenty of parts, service and windshields. 4th Registered Network member —2/21/2001 My NEW locker..I...My Email..I..Wikipedia/SVX . . |
#14
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Re: HID Conversion
^^ Ah, good. I don't need to take pics of mine now!
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Disclaimer: The above post is on the internet. |
#15
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Re: HID Conversion
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Cheers! Gordon 1997 Ebony #308 113k "The Black Diva"SOLD 1992 Black over Liquid Silver 152k SOLD 1992 Ebony 251k 444 SOLD 1999 Silver SLK230 134k SOLD 1997 Green Outback 137k SOLD 2013 Honda Accord I4 SOLD 2015 Subaru Crosstrek 30k 2018 Tesla M3 30k |
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