2003 Halogen to OEM HID headlight conversion
09-24-2006, 05:58 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
2003 Halogen to OEM HID headlight conversion
Hopefully this will help out a few people. I searched the forums for a post that explained how to make an OEM HID headlight work in a base model 350Z, but didn’t have any luck. There were a few pictures of people who had done it, but no comprehensive wiring help.
I have a 2003 base model 350Z and purchased a set of HID headlights off ebay. The HID headlights have an 8-pin connector, whereas the base model only has a 6-pin connector. I traced the wires on both headlights and found besides the obvious addition of the HID ballast, the parking lights were actually wired differently. On the HID housing, the orange parking light on the side and the clear parking bulb in the bottom have their own power leads. On the halogen housing, these two lights share a common power lead.
When I did this conversion to my own car, I wanted to order and re-pin factory 8-pin connectors, replacing the existing 6-pin connectors in the car. I went to two local dealers and checked with a couple more on-line, but was told the connectors were not available. I also tried a number of junk yards with no luck, so I ended up finding a couple 8-pin waterproof male-female connectors from another car in the junk yard and used those.
After replacing the headlight connectors on both the headlight and car side, and rewiring a few things, the lights worked perfectly. If I was to do it again, I would keep the 6-pin connector on the car side untouched, then cut off the 6-pin connector from the halogen light housing, and rewire it as follows. It would make for a little simpler plug and play installation. Contact me if anyone needs pictures. Hope this helps!
See Attachments for wiring table and a couple pictures.
I have a 2003 base model 350Z and purchased a set of HID headlights off ebay. The HID headlights have an 8-pin connector, whereas the base model only has a 6-pin connector. I traced the wires on both headlights and found besides the obvious addition of the HID ballast, the parking lights were actually wired differently. On the HID housing, the orange parking light on the side and the clear parking bulb in the bottom have their own power leads. On the halogen housing, these two lights share a common power lead.
When I did this conversion to my own car, I wanted to order and re-pin factory 8-pin connectors, replacing the existing 6-pin connectors in the car. I went to two local dealers and checked with a couple more on-line, but was told the connectors were not available. I also tried a number of junk yards with no luck, so I ended up finding a couple 8-pin waterproof male-female connectors from another car in the junk yard and used those.
After replacing the headlight connectors on both the headlight and car side, and rewiring a few things, the lights worked perfectly. If I was to do it again, I would keep the 6-pin connector on the car side untouched, then cut off the 6-pin connector from the halogen light housing, and rewire it as follows. It would make for a little simpler plug and play installation. Contact me if anyone needs pictures. Hope this helps!
See Attachments for wiring table and a couple pictures.
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Tay (12-04-2020)
12-04-2020, 06:42 PM
#5
Registered User
Hopefully this will help out a few people. I searched the forums for a post that explained how to make an OEM HID headlight work in a base model 350Z, but didn’t have any luck. There were a few pictures of people who had done it, but no comprehensive wiring help.
I have a 2003 base model 350Z and purchased a set of HID headlights off ebay. The HID headlights have an 8-pin connector, whereas the base model only has a 6-pin connector. I traced the wires on both headlights and found besides the obvious addition of the HID ballast, the parking lights were actually wired differently. On the HID housing, the orange parking light on the side and the clear parking bulb in the bottom have their own power leads. On the halogen housing, these two lights share a common power lead.
When I did this conversion to my own car, I wanted to order and re-pin factory 8-pin connectors, replacing the existing 6-pin connectors in the car. I went to two local dealers and checked with a couple more on-line, but was told the connectors were not available. I also tried a number of junk yards with no luck, so I ended up finding a couple 8-pin waterproof male-female connectors from another car in the junk yard and used those.
After replacing the headlight connectors on both the headlight and car side, and rewiring a few things, the lights worked perfectly. If I was to do it again, I would keep the 6-pin connector on the car side untouched, then cut off the 6-pin connector from the halogen light housing, and rewire it as follows. It would make for a little simpler plug and play installation. Contact me if anyone needs pictures. Hope this helps!
See Attachments for wiring table and a couple pictures.
I have a 2003 base model 350Z and purchased a set of HID headlights off ebay. The HID headlights have an 8-pin connector, whereas the base model only has a 6-pin connector. I traced the wires on both headlights and found besides the obvious addition of the HID ballast, the parking lights were actually wired differently. On the HID housing, the orange parking light on the side and the clear parking bulb in the bottom have their own power leads. On the halogen housing, these two lights share a common power lead.
When I did this conversion to my own car, I wanted to order and re-pin factory 8-pin connectors, replacing the existing 6-pin connectors in the car. I went to two local dealers and checked with a couple more on-line, but was told the connectors were not available. I also tried a number of junk yards with no luck, so I ended up finding a couple 8-pin waterproof male-female connectors from another car in the junk yard and used those.
After replacing the headlight connectors on both the headlight and car side, and rewiring a few things, the lights worked perfectly. If I was to do it again, I would keep the 6-pin connector on the car side untouched, then cut off the 6-pin connector from the halogen light housing, and rewire it as follows. It would make for a little simpler plug and play installation. Contact me if anyone needs pictures. Hope this helps!
See Attachments for wiring table and a couple pictures.
12-04-2020, 07:42 PM
#6
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
Using these takes about an hour or more out of your installation. So, the question is: Pay $90 one and done or spend an hour or two rewiring. Both work.
12-05-2020, 05:16 AM
#7
New Member
Not to take away from the OP's original ingenuity years ago but there's an easier way now.... Plug n' play connectors: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Headlight-A...EAAOSwqxdcAfS1
Using these takes about an hour or more out of your installation. So, the question is: Pay $90 one and done or spend an hour or two rewiring. Both work.
Using these takes about an hour or more out of your installation. So, the question is: Pay $90 one and done or spend an hour or two rewiring. Both work.
Interested as well. It is a upgrade i will like to do also but no technical expertise here.
The harness is a must for me. Now i have to check for the Headlights to see the cost factor to upgrade.
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12-05-2020, 09:38 AM
#8
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
OE Genuine replacements are over $1200. (If you can find them.)
The ‘06+ lights are much better than both pre-06 halogen OR HID original headlights. (And 06+ hot rodded lights - 50w, STI lenses - are even better!) You almost need to be traveling at race speeds to overdrive them.
12-05-2020, 10:56 AM
#9
New Member
A set of Depo replacement Bi-Xenon (AKA “2006+ Headlights”, only “accepted” non-OE replacements) run about $400-450 on eBay. (And there’s a set of black ones WITH the adapter cables for halogen equipped Zs)
OE Genuine replacements are over $1200. (If you can find them.)
The ‘06+ lights are much better than both pre-06 halogen OR HID original headlights. (And 06+ hot rodded lights - 50w, STI lenses - are even better!) You almost need to be traveling at race speeds to overdrive them.
OE Genuine replacements are over $1200. (If you can find them.)
The ‘06+ lights are much better than both pre-06 halogen OR HID original headlights. (And 06+ hot rodded lights - 50w, STI lenses - are even better!) You almost need to be traveling at race speeds to overdrive them.
12-05-2020, 05:04 PM
#10
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
Thanks @MicVelo I really appreciate all the input given. I will check Depo right now. Thanks...
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