Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

Is it correct to assume the 5.5 OEM HID ballasts are 35 watt ballasts knowing the OEM HID D2R bulbs are 35 watts themselves?

That being said is it correct to say when using any kind HID bulbs you want to match the wattage of the bulbs with the ballast?

Or am I looking at it all wrong?
Thanks for any info.

03VQMAX

iTrader: (46)

Yes, you should have the same 35W bulbs paired with the 35W ballast, I've personally never mismatched them like 55W bulbs with 35W ballast or the other way around so I am not sure what will happen, and yes the oem ballast have a 35W output 85V.

glockfanbob

I'd be interested to hear what other people have (i.e if anyone uses 55w bulbs in the 35w ballast).

n3985

iTrader: (36)

55W bulb with 35W ballast = same thing as if it were 35W bulb

35W with 55W ballast = over driven bulb which outputs more light but shortens life, this is done frequently with OEM 35W bulbs as aftermarket ones overheat and destroy chrome in the projectors/reflectors

grip1968

Can the 2003 Headlights fit on my 2000 maxima, I love the projector
headlights on the 2003.

n3985

iTrader: (36)

1. Yes
2. 02-03 are REFLECTOR style headlights, the glass ball is projector

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

Thanks 03VQMAX.

Thank you n3985 makes sense.

I am thinking about using an extra set of OEM ballasts I have for a fog light set up.

n3985

iTrader: (36)

You could re-use the OEM ballasts if you buy D2R to AMP converter cables, since the plug going to the bulb on OEM ballats is different than aftermarket ones.

03VQMAX

iTrader: (46)

Not a problem, I'm actually in the process of doing that same conversion also, I'm just waiting for my oem fog lamps to arrive so I can do it in one shot.

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

Awesome. Also something I definately needed to know. Thanks
Interesting, Lets get in contact when we both are closer to doing it then.


So it seems that all I need would be 35watt H3 HID bulbs, the D2R-AMP convertor cables, and additional wires for power supply to the ballasts.

03VQMAX

iTrader: (46)

Exactly, What type of OEM ballast are you going to use?

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

ones straight from 5.5 headlights. What are you using?

03VQMAX

iTrader: (46)

Oh OK, I'm using the dark gray Matsu s h i ta Ballast from the 04-06 Maxima's and are on many other Nissan and Infiniti vehicles as well. The 5.5 gen ballast looked complicated to I didn't even bother.

nalc

iTrader: (11)

02-03 ballast is a second generation Matsu****a.

It's not super complicated, there's just that extra black box on the cable.

On the 04+ maxima, it's a third generation Matsu****a ballast, which has that extra black box integrated into the main box. So it's a bit more compact.

Performance should be identical.

The rounded grey one from 04+ is waterproof except for the connector on the top. The square silver one from the 02-03 may not be waterproof, I'm not sure. Hit it with some silicone to be safe.

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the info, good to know. Knowing that I will definately silicone to be extra safe I would guess the 04+ Ballasts are more $$ too.

03VQMAX

iTrader: (46)

Depending who you get them from, ebay has a bunch of them for sale.

zzmmrx0xmzz

you can put aftermarket hid bulbs onto the oem ballast without a problem
as long as theyre d2r bulbs

03VQMAX

iTrader: (46)

Yea we know, but we are talking about retro fitting other aftermarket bulbs like H3, 9006 etc.. to make them work with OEM Ballast.

nalc

iTrader: (11)

Ballasts are a crapshoot. I've seen some matsu****as sell for $30, other identical ones sold the same day for $150.

$100 per pair is about average though.

03VQMAX

iTrader: (46)

Got my pair for $70, but yea they have a big range of prices.

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

+8