55W HIDs, anyone have? BTW Where are stock ballasts?
03-13-2008, 01:55 AM
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55W HIDs, anyone have? BTW Where are stock ballasts?
Anyone here running 55W aftermarket HID kit on their Z? The OEM 35W is fairly weak I think, and the hybrid reflector/projector headlamp on the 03-05's probably doesn't help either. So i've purchased a 55W 5000K kit to replace the stock. I'm just wondering if anyone else has done this? How much brighter is it? I'm asking because I havent received yet...
Also anyone have any pics as to where the stock ballasts are located? Hopefully this install will be easy, i'd like to just add the 55W ballasts and not remove the 35W in case I sell the car.
Also anyone have any pics as to where the stock ballasts are located? Hopefully this install will be easy, i'd like to just add the 55W ballasts and not remove the 35W in case I sell the car.
03-13-2008, 01:06 PM
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The ballasts are held in by three screws under your headlight. Once you get those off, it'll have the igniter wires held in by one little screw as well. I've never tried to remove one with the headlight still on the car, so my guess is you'll need to remove the bumper and headlights. Maybe i'm wrong though? Good luck!
03-13-2008, 03:52 PM
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Ahh thanks, are the ballasts attached to the headlamp or to the body? Also think there is room to mount another ballast nearby without removing the OEM?
03-13-2008, 07:35 PM
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Cesar from Lightwerkz posted this comparisson pic(s) on a HID enthusiast forum: http://www.high-intensity.org/forums...read.php?t=455
It looks to be a fair bit brighter. I'm quite certain the HIDs in my 04 are the original capsules so they are kinda dim. I'm expecting 40-60% light output increase after upgrading to 55W, but we'll see what I get. New 35W bulbs would probably get me about a 20-25% increase.
I'll take some comparrison pics myself and inform you all once I know. I posted this thread mainly to see if anyone else had experienced this and to find out where the OEM ballasts are mounted.
It looks to be a fair bit brighter. I'm quite certain the HIDs in my 04 are the original capsules so they are kinda dim. I'm expecting 40-60% light output increase after upgrading to 55W, but we'll see what I get. New 35W bulbs would probably get me about a 20-25% increase.
I'll take some comparrison pics myself and inform you all once I know. I posted this thread mainly to see if anyone else had experienced this and to find out where the OEM ballasts are mounted.
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03-13-2008, 08:49 PM
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Ooop, sorry, wrong copy & paste. It's here: http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=40182
But it appears you have to be a member to see, i'll put the pics in this thread:
I'll take some pics once I get my 55W kit, i'll set everything on the camera to manual to get as accurate a representation as possible. From what I understand though this does shorten the life of HID capsules, so they wont last as long as they would on a 35W ballast.
But it appears you have to be a member to see, i'll put the pics in this thread:
I'll take some pics once I get my 55W kit, i'll set everything on the camera to manual to get as accurate a representation as possible. From what I understand though this does shorten the life of HID capsules, so they wont last as long as they would on a 35W ballast.
03-14-2008, 09:31 PM
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Looks like its gonna bit a bit of time before I get the 55W kit, some supply issue apparently.
Like I said though, I will post before/after pics once i'm done.
Like I said though, I will post before/after pics once i'm done.
03-14-2008, 09:53 PM
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Originally Posted by g35sedan5at
is there a significant difference in light output between our stock 35w and aftermarket 55w?
03-15-2008, 08:34 AM
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^^ I would assume so, but never messed with one. If it doesn't, you'd have to leave the stock ballast in or you'd have a big hole to cover up and allow for moisture to get it. Not good.
03-15-2008, 09:41 AM
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I think you *might* be able to put the 55W ballast in place of the OEM 35W... Maybe, all ballasts are different size and the screw holes on the Z headlamp may be in different spots than any 55W aftermarket you buy. I'm not sure, havent taken the headlamp out yet..
Personally, I hope to just double-stick tape and zip-tie the 55W ballast in another location, hidden... I want to leave the OEM stuff in there if I can in case I end up selling the car (don't know why I would but yeah...)
Personally, I hope to just double-stick tape and zip-tie the 55W ballast in another location, hidden... I want to leave the OEM stuff in there if I can in case I end up selling the car (don't know why I would but yeah...)
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