LS1 Firebird Headlight Upgrades - General Guide
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TECH Enthusiast
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From: Anheuser Busch, Houston Texas
I am doing this 90mm projector mod but I am keeping the H9.
However...someone does make an HID kit for our cars now, AND is a site sponsor.
LS1_SS (Nate) at LEDGAUGES has kits for everyone. I have not got it myself, but I have bought some stuff from him and read up on the feedback of people who have. At the very least, you do not have to piece together an HID kit, he did all the work for you. Check it out.
However...someone does make an HID kit for our cars now, AND is a site sponsor.
LS1_SS (Nate) at LEDGAUGES has kits for everyone. I have not got it myself, but I have bought some stuff from him and read up on the feedback of people who have. At the very least, you do not have to piece together an HID kit, he did all the work for you. Check it out.
I know this thread is old but I need some help. I am doing a custom HID install. Does anyone know where I can get any projector headlght housings? Or any like the ones in JasonWW's post. Thanks.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
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From: Hou. TX.
I still don't know if your talking about a fixed headlight on just adding projectors to the stock flip ups. It you want it to look like this:
you'll need the Hella projector and then make your own mounting bracket.
The link to where to buy them is in post 2. The housings that accept the D2S bulb run $167 ea, but its cheaper to get the H9 projectors for $60 ea. and modify them to fit your HID bulb.
One source:
www (dot) rallylights.com/hella/90mm_modules (dot) asp
We can't post a clickable link as they are not a sponsor here.
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Eastern MA
I have the Hella 90mm H9 projectors and a 4300K HID kit in them. They are a definite improvement over stock, but there are options with better light output (ex: FX, TSX, S2K, LS430.... unfortunately, they all require much more custom work). I went with the Hella 90mm H9 projectors because they have decent output and are the easiest to mount in the 1998-2002 Firebird. If I were to do it again, I'd give the FX a second look and try to figure out a way to enclose them (SCRWS6 did use them, but he didn't seal them up as well as I'd like).
You can see my install and others in the Lighting FAQ:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/710357-lighting-faq.html
You can see my install and others in the Lighting FAQ:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/710357-lighting-faq.html
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
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From: Hou. TX.
There is a list of bulbs here.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...ulb_types.html
Basically the D2R is the same as the D2S except it has a sheild covering one part of the bulbs output. It was designed for OEM reflector housings, not projectors. It should still work, though. It's' just that you lose a little output due to the sheild.
Last edited by JasonWW; Apr 29, 2008 at 12:06 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 3
From: Hou. TX.
On my car I decided to cut out the entire upper + lower radiator braces. This means I have all the depth I need to mount whatever projector I want.
I've already got Some E46 units which are super sharp, but I think I'd rather buy some bi-xenon units than convert these to hi and low beam.
So now with depth not a factor, do you guys have any recommendations?
I've already got Some E46 units which are super sharp, but I think I'd rather buy some bi-xenon units than convert these to hi and low beam.
So now with depth not a factor, do you guys have any recommendations?
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
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From: Hou. TX.
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
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From: Eastern MA
With the Hella 90mm H9 projectors you can modify them to use D2S HID bulbs or use a H9 HID kit.
D2S is a real HID bulb (also D2R, D1S, D1R, D4S, D4R --- S = Intended for HID Projector housing, R = Intended for HID Reflector housing). All the other numbers (H7, H9, 880, etc) are halogen part numbers. HID kits that use that number are rebased, meaning its a HID capsule with the base of a halogen bulb so that it fits where the halogen bulb used to fit. Putting HID into a halogen reflector housing is usually a bad idea because you'll usually get a bad beam pattern and glare. Putting HID into a halogen projector can work (sometimes very well), but you give up some beam width. HID in an HID projector is the optimal solution, but typically costs more or is the most work (custom retrofit).
There is a lot more to discuss on this topic. Check out the university section on www<dot>hidplanet<dot>com/forums/. I'm on there too with the same screen name.
You might also want to check out the following topics in the Lighting FAQ:
* Headlight Upgrades - General Info
* Projectors - Firebird
D2S is a real HID bulb (also D2R, D1S, D1R, D4S, D4R --- S = Intended for HID Projector housing, R = Intended for HID Reflector housing). All the other numbers (H7, H9, 880, etc) are halogen part numbers. HID kits that use that number are rebased, meaning its a HID capsule with the base of a halogen bulb so that it fits where the halogen bulb used to fit. Putting HID into a halogen reflector housing is usually a bad idea because you'll usually get a bad beam pattern and glare. Putting HID into a halogen projector can work (sometimes very well), but you give up some beam width. HID in an HID projector is the optimal solution, but typically costs more or is the most work (custom retrofit).
There is a lot more to discuss on this topic. Check out the university section on www<dot>hidplanet<dot>com/forums/. I'm on there too with the same screen name.
You might also want to check out the following topics in the Lighting FAQ:
* Headlight Upgrades - General Info
* Projectors - Firebird
Last edited by VIP1; Apr 29, 2008 at 10:23 PM.
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Eastern MA
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2005
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Digging up this thread from the dead yet again since I'm in the process of retrofitting E46 bixenon projectors in my 1994 Trans Am. I'm looking at using H7 or H9 bulbs until I can afford HIDs. Can anyone tell me, with pictures preferably, exactly what I would have to modify on the bulb to sit in the E46 projectors? Jason's original post mentions he is using H7 bulbs in E46 projectors, but I would really like to use H9 bulbs instead since they are much brighter.
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
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From: Eastern MA
There is also an Osram Hyper H7 which is a H9 capsule on a H7 base. You might want to look into that.
Also, I don't know how an H7 can be made to fit in place of a D2S. Maybe that particular E46 projector had an H7 socket or a replaceable socket that could be swapped to accommodate a H7 or D2S.
Also, I don't know how an H7 can be made to fit in place of a D2S. Maybe that particular E46 projector had an H7 socket or a replaceable socket that could be swapped to accommodate a H7 or D2S.
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 400
Likes: 2
There is also an Osram Hyper H7 which is a H9 capsule on a H7 base. You might want to look into that.
Also, I don't know how an H7 can be made to fit in place of a D2S. Maybe that particular E46 projector had an H7 socket or a replaceable socket that could be swapped to accommodate a H7 or D2S.
Also, I don't know how an H7 can be made to fit in place of a D2S. Maybe that particular E46 projector had an H7 socket or a replaceable socket that could be swapped to accommodate a H7 or D2S.
