I recently purchased a 2003 350z from chicago, but it was obvious that they didn't know a whole lot about the car's specifics. I am being mailed the title, so I can't reference that to see what trim the car is, although i'm suspecting enthusiast or performance. The headlamps produce a yellow-white light, and I'm looking for more of the xenon variety. I need to find out whether I have HID headlamps, or standard incandescent headlamps. In the event that I have the non HIDs, what are your opinions on swapping to the 2006 HID headlamps for about $600 per headlight?

 

If they are yellow/whitish they aren't HID, the HID is a noticeable diff color.
Ask around here on the forums see if you can find someone that will sell you a pair
It also depends on what model you got, if you have the base 350z then it more then likely
didn't get the HID from factory.

 

Look for the ballast (I think thats what its called) under the hood. People switch to the blue lights to think they have HIDs.

 

I have dual exhaust, and i thought base models only had single exhaust...is that wrong?

 

all models have dual

 

All models come with dual exhaust.

As for your lights, when you turn them on does the light gradually get more intense?

 

First this...
Then this...
I think someone is just messing around with us...i hope!

 

Look on your steering wheel. If there are no buttons for cruise control, then you have a base model ---> base model has regular halogens, no HID's. So unless the previous owner did a conversion, i would just look at the steering wheel.

 

again as I stated earlier, the question hath been answered.

 

You don't need to buy brand new headlights to do an HID conversion.

gNarKiLL sells HID conversion kits for an awesome price

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224445

PM him if you want a set.


Congrats on your new Z!

 

Cruise control = HID.

 

Cruise Control = Hid, Not Always True Since Hid Is A Factory Option, Best Thing To Do Is Open The Hood And Look For Ballasts. Or Take Youre Car To A Shop To Upgrade The Bulbs And Have Them Look At It If You Still Cannot Tell. Also If A Shop Installs A Good Set They Will Carry A Warranty And You Can Have The Bulbs Swapped With No Hassle If Something Happens. Fiddling With Hid Bulbs Is Best Left To Someone Else Since They Are So Damn Expensive.

 

Look on your steering wheel and if you have buttons on it for the cruise control then you should have hid's.

 

If you can see good at night, you have HIDs. If your lights are like most other cars, you don't. Also, when you turn the lights on, watch the lighted area. It should increase in brightness in a second or 2. If not, you don't have HIDs.

 

At night, put your car next to a wall with the lights switched on. There should be a clear line defining the lightend area. It should lit up whithish and the cut off line is white/blue, very clear to see. Normal lights don't have this sharp cut off line, it blurs out more or less.

Hope you know what I mean .

 

LOL. They are lying to you! If your lights go a bluish bright colour, that's normal! Not HID.

 

Wrong. On the 03-05 Zs the base models did not come with HIDs. There was no option to add them. You had to get an enthusiast or higher model to get HIDs.

 

^^ so is the 06 base optional for HIDS or comes stock with hids??

 

Yeah, and if you have a subwoofer behind the seat you have a flux capacitor also so watch out when you get on the highway, if you go to fast you will end up in a diff year and if you are really unlucky you will be on a bridge that wasn't there in the year you are travelling to...poor Z.

 

easiest thing for you to do is
#1 take a plastic garbage bag
#2 place it over your head
#3 duct tape it in place
#4 duct tape your hands together
#5 breath deep