Question about headlight replacement

"WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe" (wesbarton89)
11/15/2014 at 21:00 • Filed to: None

Ok, Oppo, so I'm likely to buy a 2000 Infiniti I30 in the next couple months. It has the standard halogen headlamps, but the higher trim is available with HID xenon lamps, and it's an upgrade I'd want to make. Do I have to replace the whole assembly, or can I just find HID bulbs?

I'm looking to go from this:

to this:

It looks much better and more premium with the HIDs, and I just want to know what it would entail.

DISCUSSION (5)

Vimto > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
11/15/2014 at 21:01

You will need the entire housing unless you're planning on opening up your existing housings and retrofitting projectors into them. Please don't put HID headlights into reflector housings, it just blinds other drivers.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Vimto
11/15/2014 at 21:06

I figured it would be a new housing, considering there's a completely different look. I don't want to blind anyone for sure. I figure replacing the housing should be relatively simple.

thebigbossyboss > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
11/15/2014 at 22:17

You can put HID headlights into reflector housings if you want. It's annoying (for me) but people do it.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
11/15/2014 at 23:38

You would need new headlamp assemblies, bulbs, igniters, ballasts/control units, wiring, and maybe software if it has bulb failure indication. That's if you want the full factory setup. It's not a small thing.

Your best bet might be to get the factory headlamp assemblies and an aftermarket HID kit. Plugs right into the factory harness. But the rest of the lights in the headlamps may be wired differently also. More modification may be required.

I would avoid HID's in your factory reflector housings, the light just scatters and doesn't help you or oncoming drivers. You would be better off just getting brighter bulbs like Silverstars.

GTI MkVII > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
11/15/2014 at 23:48

OEM HID housings may need additional components like the xenon ballasts and bulbs. OEM housings won't be able to use the generic HID kits and require specific bulbs/ballasts.