2005 Z with HID lights, leave them alone or swap to LED or halogen?

What is the process or is there a plug adapter out there to convert them?

 

Get the 2006+ projector headlamps that use D2S HID bulbs and never look back. My personal preference on the Bulbs are D2S - Osram Xenarc 66240CBI (5000k *white*). LED conversions for the main headlights can create a lot of problems. Go ham converting signal lamps, reverse lamps, lic plate bulbs, etc. But I still believe the best option all around are the OEM 06+ projector housing/headlamps with D2S HID bulbs.
Cheers!
-Icer

 

Totally this. ^^ If you want a bit higher output without blinding other drivers, get the '06+ lights, open 'em up and replace the ballast and bulbs to higher output (50w or 55w) and while you're in there, swap the lenses for STI lenses for a super sharp beam and cutoff. (But honestly, the stock '06+ lights, with a good bulb is more than most need.)

Install 'em (plug n' play HID to HID or 6pin halogen (Base model Z only in US) to 8pin adapter - buy or make), AIM PROPERLY, then forget 'em (but thank them out on the road or backroad). If you need more output than that, you'll be in the "irritate oncoming traffic" zone and likely need some auxiliary driving lamps and boy are those irritating to look at unless you're in a rally prep Z.

 

This made a huge improvement.

 

They are good headlights, but look to be out of production for a while now.

https://www.courtesyparts.com/v-2006...amp-components

 

The short answer is that your 2005 HID headlights using the D2R bulb has better performance than halogen or a "drop-in" LED bulb which attempts to mimic the output of your D2R bulb.

The long answer is that the 2003-2005 headlights use a projector but also a reflector bowl behind the projector. Currently, any type of LED bulb that you mount inside the projector will not produce as much usable light. HID will always outperform halogen bulbs. Now, if you're making a true swap to LED, then go with a retrofit and install a dedicated LED projector which is designed to maximize the output of the LED. Something like this: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/bi...ED2?quantity=1

The above recommendations of changing to a 50w or 55w ballast will also require the corresponding HID bulb to handle that kind of increased power. You cannot use a 35w HID bulb with a 50w ballast and vice versa. OEM is 35w ballast mated to a 35w D2R bulb.

An STi-R lens swap is available on the larger 06+ projectors but not the stock 03-05 projector. The 3" STi-R lens is a clear lens as opposed to the 06+ OEM fresnel lens and it will improve the focus of the light output.

If you're in the crowd where you're not really looking for increased performance and you just want to change the appearance of the light to a "whiter" white instead of the OEM 4300K color, then you can simply swap out your HID bulbs to something in the range of 4500K-6000K. While your '05 stock projector uses a 4300K D2R HID bulb, it is possible to use a D2S bulb in its place with a higher kelvin rating. Once you exceed 6000K, you are decreasing the amount of light that your eye will perceive at night decreasing the usable light since you are getting into a bluer color spectrum (which actually "blinds" your eyes at night).

 

O.K., using the D2S bulb, will the 2005 ballast handle this bulb or do you need to upgrade it.

 

You'll be fine with a D2S bulb and the OEM ballast as long as the bulb is 35w.

 

Where does one procure said magical STI lenses?
-Icer

 

I know they're available from TRS.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/st...TIR?quantity=1

 

Works and looks great. Thanks for the info.

 

Perfect. Glad it worked out for you!