Nice work, but...

Reflectors are designed for one specific bulb. There is a lot of science that goes into this. When you keep your reflector and switch to a bulb that it was not designed for (HID or not), you can have serious issues. Light can scatter to the point that no amount or re-aiming will fix it. The pattern can be washed out. Other drivers can be blinded.

For these reasons, after market HID kits have been banned in the US. If you do a good job, then there is no issue. Especially if the kit comes with new reflectors (not likely). If you do a poor job or the kit is not designed right, you will blind other drivers.

At this time, the only way to guarantee the upgrade is to get the Nissan HID lamps. Combine this with your kit and the PROPER bulb and you will have no issue.

While I have nothing against HIDs at all (I have them), I do have issue with idiots (no. not you) that do bad upgrades or that do not aim their lights correctly. Glaring lights can blind other drivers and make the road unsafe. Lights are not just for your safety, but for the safety of others too.

Just want to make sure everyone understands the implications. Most people do not realize that modern reflectors are designed for one type of bulb and that is it.

 

peptidbond, your comments are very correct. However, in our case (350Z owners) there is really no difference between the HID headlight housing and the base Halogen one, except for the H7 connector.

I also compared where the Halogen filament sat in the hosing and where the HID bulb sat, and they were exactly the same.

I also did tests with a friend of mine, to verify that I was not blinding him or creating glare. No issue.

So all in all, I think I was pretty responsible in my upgrade, and I also feel that other 350Z base owners would be safe with an upgrade.

 

Good, the research is done. My only point is that people should not assume "all will be well". They need to look and see and study the solution.

Good work.

 

hey Dave....any more pics of the hids?
I went ahead and got the 6500k kit from them btw.

 

Its cool Dave. I just installed my kit. Thanks for ur help though.
I really want to see urs so I can compare it with mine.
Heres some early pics. Sorry I couldn't fit both headlights all in one pic. Im standing as far back as I can in my garage.

 

other side

 

headlight charging up

 

sorry for the messy garage.

 

Did you put D2S or D2Rs in? I put D2S in mine, and I get a slight light splash above the cutoff. Nothing terrible. We are supposed to have D2Rs in ours. In your last pic, see the faint line of light above the cutoff? That's what I am talking about.

If you got d2S's, then that solidifies in my mind that D2R's get rid of that.

But nobody has flashed me yet, so it must not be too offensive.

 

Thanks Dave. Ur output is just the same as mine. I think urs is much more brighter than the stock hids. Did u have to correct ur beam pattern. i noticed mine is pointing towards the right.

 

I own a 2003 Nissan 350Z (Base Model) and don't want to be one of those guys installing HID's without consideraton for other drivers. However I fear I may be that guy, but it's only because I'm having a problem and need help. I recently purchase an inexpensive low-beam HID headlight conversion kit (H7, 8000). The installation was a snap; however, the lights seem dim and the illumination on the road show chris-crossing beam patterns like several people pointing flashlights in a single direction but from different angles. I took some pictures of the light beam pattern and showed them to the owner of the store where I bought the HID kit. The owner claimed the lights are functioning but had no explanation as to why they are dim and had a chris-crossing beam pattern. She gave me a replacement ballast thinking one of the two included in the kit might be defective.

Ironically while I was driving back home (early evening) with the lights on, the light on the drivers' side went completely out. I pulled over and turned the lights on and off a few times and checked the fuses. None of the fuses appeared to be blown but when I re-started the car I immediately noticed the passenger side HID headlight lit up twice as bright as before illuminating like an HID is expected to light up. The driver side light is still out. In my mind this suggests a possible voltage regulation problem. When I got home I immediately replaced the non-functioning drivers side HID bulb with the stock Halogen bulb but it didn't work either although the passenger side HID was still shining like a champ. Due to my limited knowledge and skills I'll have to take the car in for the dealer to diagnose and tell me what the problem is that's causing the drivers side light not to function at all. I'm also hoping they can also tell me why the HID lights only work at 50% (or less) of their capacity when both were on at the same time.

Having outlined the scenario, can any offer suggestions on why my HID appears to only function correctly when one light is operational? Am I perhaps using the wrong type HID kit? If so, could someone please suggest a supplier or tell me what type of HID conversion kit works on a Base Model 2003 350Z? I lack the skills and tools to handle a kit that requires any modifications, soldering or fancy wiring. A simple plug-n-play HID conversion kit (that functions properly) is all I'm looking for. Your assistance in this regard would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

hi fellow z owners... i just installed my hid conversion kit today H7 6000k. same thing is happening to mines. it is dim and and the pattern are chris-crossed. im also wondering why this is... any comments or suggestions will be great... thanks

 

I also have this same problem can anyone help me. My left headlight are crossed any way to fix it.

 

I found the problem with mine was a faulty ballast so I returned the whole HID converstion kit for a full refund and ordered from a different supplier. The HID's I'm running now are fantastic! I had them installed at one our local Auto Alarm & Alarm Centers. I had to turn the beam adjustment dial at the rear of the headlight fixture a little to bring the beam down a bit but I haven't had any problems with chris-crossing light patterns or any of the problems I was experiencing with the first conversion kit. A lot of the conversion kits sold (espeically those sold on Ebay) seem to be made in China or Taiwan from inferior components. The one's I ordered were purchased on Ebay but were made in Germany. Unfortunately I don't recall the sellers name but if you do a bit of reading on the product description before placing the order you should be okay so long as you stay away from the Chinese / Taiwanese stuff. Please note, I'm not hatin on my Asian brothers I'm merely speaking from experience Good luck!