DIY: HID Retrofit in an EK
 

Hello all,

I decided to do a HID retrofit because besides the cool look I also do a lot of backroad driving and I hate my shitty aftermarket headlights. I had bought them because I wanted projectors (stock output blows). The output on those headlights were OK, but the housing was way too flashy. Anyways, hope you guys find this helpful.

What you'll need:
- D2S bulbs
- D2S projectors (I used a pair from a TL)
- Wiring harness
- ZKW lens or replica clear lens (optional)
- Shrouds (or you can make your own)
- Ballasts (I used a pair from a TL)
- LED rings (optional)
- Flat head and philips screwdrivers and 10mm socket wrench
- Primer and paint (optional)
- Adhesive/glue
- About 7 hours

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...o/Retrofit.jpg



1) I had to start off with some splicing so my TL projectors can plug into the ballasts without any trouble.

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j.../Retrofit1.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j.../Retrofit3.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j.../Retrofit2.jpg

2) I took my stock headlights apart (by putting them in the oven at 375 degrees for 4min each). I had to cut the stock housing to fit the projectors. I used a jigsaw to cut the housing and a drill press to drill a 3.25" hold in the reflector.

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j.../Retrofit5.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j.../Retrofit6.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j.../Retrofit7.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j.../Retrofit8.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j.../Retrofit9.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit10.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit12.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit13.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit16.jpg


3) Then I tested the projectors in my basement

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit18.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit19.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit20.jpg

4) As you can see in this pic, the projectors stuck out too much and wouldn't fit into the car.

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit17.jpg

5) To fix this, I had to cut into the reflector more which kinda sucked because I didn't want to make a shroud. No, biggie though. Eventually I got it to fit, then I mounted the reflector back to the headlight housing.

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit21.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit22.jpg

6) Now to cover the projector, I had to make a shroud. I used a top piece from those lawn lamps that you can put infront of your house.

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit23.jpg

7) I used a drill press to drill a hole into it

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit24.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...Retrofit25.jpg

8) After some more cutting, it fit nicely into the reflector

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit26.jpg



9) Here's what it'll look like with the LED ring around it

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit28.jpg



10) I primed the shroud and painted it with chrome spray paint to match with the reflector

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit36.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit30.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit31.jpg




11) For fun, I also decided to mount these red LED's into the shroud. I quickly drilled some holes into the shorud and mounted them. I ended up applying another layer of paint after I drilled the holes.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit32.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit34.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit35.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit38.jpg



12) Next I mounted the LED ring to the shroud

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit40.jpg



13) Then I mounted the shourd to the headlight reflector

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit41.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit48.jpg



14) Next you have to disassemble your front bumper. There is a screw in each wheel well, 7 plastic screws around the grill and 2 bolts under the bumper.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit49.jpg



15) Remove the headlights. Each headlight has 4 bolts holding it.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit50.jpg



16) I mounted the HID's to make sure they fit okay (and they did)

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit51.jpg



17) Then I took my aftermarket headlights apart by putting them in the oven for 375 degrees for 4 min. My reason for doing so was because I wanted to use their cover since it was cleaner and more clear than my stock ones. So I just swapped them from the aftermarket headlights to my stock headlights.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit52.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit53.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit54.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit55.jpg



18) Here you can see the difference between both covers.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit56.jpg



19) Mounting it is easy, there's only 1 secrew required for the aftermarket cover

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit57.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit58.jpg


20) Then I mounted it on to the headlights. Use any strong adhesive/glue to do this.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit59.jpg



21) After I mounted the retrofitted headlights I had to do all the wiring which took a bit of time. I wired the red LEDs and the LED rings to the ignition wire that way they light up as soon as I start the car instead of the day time running lights (which are required in Canada)

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit62.jpg

22) Put the bumper back on and then you're all done! This DIY might make this project seem easy, but its quite time consuming. It took me a little over 6 hours.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit69.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit63.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit64.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit65.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit66.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit67.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit68.jpg


Hope you guys enjoyed this! I really like the way it turned out because the stock headlights are so much nice than the POS ones I had on.



Before:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...IMGP1270_2.jpg



After:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Retrofit69.jpg


Here are some more pics of the finished product:

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...etrofit052.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...etrofit055.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...etrofit059.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...etrofit065.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...etrofit067.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...etrofit072.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...etrofit074.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...etrofit075.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...etrofit080.jpg

https://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j...etrofit082.jpg

pictures don't work.

yeah, it appears i've exceeded my monthly bandwidth traffic on my photobucket account. You'll have to wait until the 18th until it resets.

pics should be working again.

Turned off the LED rings/angel eyes the other day:

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...etrofit070.jpg



Here's a day time pic for those interested:
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...honda009-1.jpg


... and cutoff (sorry, pavement was a little uneven):

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ro/Done005.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ro/Done007.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ro/Done013.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ro/Done014.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...ro/Done017.jpg

this is a awsome diy man, where did you get those covers?

Thanks... which cover are you referring to?

Could you give us an update on how these lights are doing? I feel like they might fog up. Just curious.