Hello fello Maxers,

I have been doing some serious research and I need your help. I have a 05 Max SE. I did not buy it with the HID light but I am now looking for a after market HID kit for a 9012 light bulb. I even called the dealer ship but they were crazy. After all the cost for each lighting unit, labor etc, I was looking at about $2k. Please!!!!! Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

The bulb that fits is a 9006/9007, not sure which. An aftermarket HID kit for these bulbs would likely fit with minimal modifications.

Or you could find some stolen ballasts and lamps from an 04-05 Maxima on Ebay. Of course you'd have to rationalize buying parts stolen from your Maxima-brothers vehicles.

CM.

 

$2k? couldn't you buy what you need from Nissan? or even get them to install it for you?

 

That $2k was from Nissan...

 

So if I ordered a HID KIT, I would order a 9005/9006? What type of modifications would I have to make? Also I did a search on ebay for 04/05 hid ballasts and I could't find anything....

 

I would suspect the o-ring at the base of the bulb may not seal it properly to the lamp housing. You may need to get a larger/smaller gasket. Beyond that I would immagine its just a matter of wiring, finding a place to install the ballasts.

 

There goes my insurance premiums on the 04....!!

 

The bulb is a 9005 and the tabs need to be ground down a bit. I have not done it yet, but this is information that I picked up from the HID forum while it was still up and running.

 

Okay. Let me make sure I understand this correctly. On my 05 Max I have 9012's. At the moment there are no 9012 HID kits. My alternative would be to buy a 9005 HID kit. If I get a plug in play kit would it fit into the 9012 headlight housing? Also if I got the 9005 HID kit etc where would I get the correct gaskets to make sure it sealed properly? I am not a aftermarket car mechanic. I see things I like and pay for what I want done. Is this method simple or is it complicated? Thanks Maxers!!!!

 

Actually all you should really need are 2 sets of these...



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ayphotohosting

Is there alot of this all of the sudden Xenon stuff going up for sale on Ebay....yep, could take that a few ways, either people are actually stealing the new Maxima lights alot....or.....people are wrecking them all the time, well, that torque steer is a beeotch.....

Hope this helps, you just need the guts, not the entire light assembly....at least that is the way I see it. Someone correct me if I am wrong please. Should be plug and play.

 

Is that including the controllers and everything else I need to become Xenon?
Do you have 2 sets?

 

Also I went to carparts.com. I saw different salvage yards across America selling LH/RH assemblies. I am calling tomorrow to see if they come with everything. Modules, controllers etc. I don't want to get into the middle of buying the parts I need and have to end up spending alot of $$$ and can't turn back because I can't return the items...

 

I would think the housing would be different. never looked at halogens on 04, but HID is bi-xenon = one bulb for hi and low. how does the halo work? guess it should at least be close sizing and also one bulb.

All I know the lighting wiring is extremely complex. you better buy a bootleg service manual CD off eBay to help you decide if the work is do-able.

 

Will do. Do want to but I will. Nissan should have offered a base model SE with Xenon...

 

I would dare to say there is only one Xenon bulb and than the non Xenon fog light bulb. If this is a true Nissan harnass, should be plug and play with the bulb and unlike a BMW upgrade that has true BI-XENON as they have both lights, fog lights are seperate....should work.

No one on this board has attempted the upgrade that I know of, what I can tell you is the screw on back is different, they grey piece to accomidate the longer bulb size of the Xenon, the ballast should mount on the stock headlight assembly.

The Maxima is not a true BI-Xenon. There is no room for 2 Xenon bulbs in that small projector. BMW has 2 seperate headlights on EACH SIDE....total of 4 headlights, 2 HIGH and 2 LOW beams....hence the term....BI-XENON.

Hope this clarifies things.

Can you get a damaged Maxima Xenon headlight with broken tabs, remove your headlights and swap the bulbs....with the ballast and wires included, should be all you need.

Now, with aftermarket HID stuff, that is a different story.

Should the Xenon bulb matter if it is a left or right bulb.....not a difference, just a bulb, harnass, and ballast that makes the HID function. The HID is both high and low, there are not 2 bulbs in the projector. Nissan does not have a Maxima HID Xenon in the fog light. If they did, than it would be a BI-XENON.

Not that I am an expert on the matter, but last car was a BMW 3 series convert and was thinking about a true BI-XENON upgrade...now, could you make the Nissan Maxima fog light a Xenon also....I imagine you could...but, that would be where the wiring would be a problem.....

Look at the guys with stock Xenon lights, the ones who got the SL or the SE option, they talk about the fog lights not matching....because the fog lights are not Xenon....just a projector beam with a normal bulb.

Hope this clarifies things. What I imagine though, get the stuff from a wrecked Xenon equipped Maxima, remove your stock headlight....careful not to break a headlight tab since they seem fragile, and once removed....put the Xenon guts in the headlight, mount the ballast....should work. Now, BMW would throw up a check light error on the computer....the dealer had to activate a Xenon upgrade....I do not think this is needed with the Maxima.

Just my 2 cents, hope this helps. Now...anyone going to take the plunge?

Another thing though, hell with just touching any bulb and making a hot spot, rubbing alcohol is best to clean it so it does not burn out from a fingerprint...will these bulbs make it to you INTACT? The ballast will be no problem, but I imagine....one wrong drop during shipment.....the Xenon will have a bad day....than, replacing the bulb....not cheap.

Another question, if you take a NON-XENON equipped Maxima that you just upgraded yourself to the dealer a month later under warranty when a XENON goes out....will they notice your car did not come with them? I think if you just showed up and said "My headlight is burnt out and under warranty, replace it" They would say no prob, but if they dug deep in the computer and ordered the part, realised you have a XENON in there....probably would say, "Hey, wait a minute....we will not replace this bulb, your car came with halogen." Just a few things to think about.

Any other input? Would love to hear from you all.

Could you get the guts and bulb cheap...yep, should it fit, yep, will it take some work removing your stock headlight assemblies...you bet....careful, do not break a mounting tab, than go to the dealer.....you know what I am getting at.

Damn, if they were just easier to get to....

 

bi-xenon = 1 bulb, even BMW
http://www.carlist.com/autoglossary/...ossary_44.html
http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/models/2002/pr10.html
http://www.hidkits.com/products_bixenon.htm
http://www.germancarfans.com/news.cf...e/6/bmw/1.html

and of course fogs are not xenon, they would not be fog lights.

 

.....not a difference, just a bulb, harnass, and ballast that makes the HID function. The HID is both high and low, there are not 2 bulbs in the projector. Nissan does not have a Maxima HID Xenon in the fog light. If they did, than it would be a BI-XENON.

So when I call the salvage yard tomorrow, I should just ask for just a bulb, harnass, and ballast and that should complete what i am trying to achieve? Or is there additional equipment I need to buy....

 

So you are saying that the BI-XENON is just a 2 filiment bulb....I get that. ON the BMW you can use Xenon in each bulb aftermarket on each side though. 2 Xenon per side, one for high and low. Would not be the stock setup, but a true dual Xenon.

Thanks for the info though....good stuff. The Maxima should only have ONE bulb in the headlight socket. Either a Halogen or the Xenon.

So, by being BI-Xenon on the Maxima, just means ONE bulb in the projector with high and low capability.......an I right?

And I agree on using xenon for a fog light, would not work as a true fog light....but is not a yellow beam better for fog?

Personally, I use my fog lights on the Maxima, I call them driving lights.....always use them. To me, fog lights....well, showing my age of 34.....fog lights are bright yellow, and assist in the fog.

What is the difference between a true fog light and a driving light?

 

it is not 2 filiment. there is a shutter: down for low & up for hi




http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/car-oem-hid.htm

 

I love my yellow, work fantastic in wet and fog conditions were HIDs vanish.

basically you're right yellow and/or amber = fog (short, wide beam that penetrate moisture) white and/or Xenon(bluish) = daytime (long, narrow beam that refracts moisture [disappearing])

but our halogen fogs are somewhat functional, better than most, but once u go yellow, you see they belong for day only.

 

then there would be more sold on eBay "slightly used".

Once again we have True BI-XENON projectors. one Xenon bulb with 2(bi) settings, shutter up and down. this is why some have posted about getting a bulb stuck in hi beam, the shutter is stuck up on their BI XENON headlight.

 

ive got one light ill sell u ...with HID

 

take it had something to do with the problems leading to selling your 04? How much do you want for it? I'd be interested in purchasing the bulb.

 

That is for the E46, I had a E36 that was a bit different, a 97. Nice pics though and now I can see what you are talking about first hand. Does the Maxima have a shutter?

 

I used the pic tp show the basic function of bi-xenon bulb: shutter moves up and down for high and low on one bulb. may not be exact, but how our HID also works. some had one bulb stuck on high, and dealer pointed out the shutter was stuck up. Projector is the type of HID system we have the link below the pic is where I got them and it lists just about every car and its HID system.

the shutter is what makes the blue line on our cut-off when in low setting.
I do not believe this conversion will at all be simple.

 

Yes the 04 Maxima's have a "shutter" system. I've had my drivers side headlamp assembly replaced twice now due to the shutter being locked in high beam mode.

CM

 

Well, guess that settles the issue of an EASY swap to the Xenon just with the bulbs....I have learned more from this thread than most of the normal ones....
Thanks to you ALL!!!!

Guess the swap will not be that easy....but still imagine you can do it with the harnass some how, but without a shutter....will it be in high beam all the time....talking about just putting the ballast and xenon bulb in a stock OEM non-xenon Maxima setup.

 

I really appreciate all the input. So let me just ask this one question. I have found some salvage yards that sell the Xenon ballast etc from existing wrecked Maximas. If I get the complete headlight assembly and install it in my none xenon car, should that work?

 

i you have all the necessary parts, but you really need to look at how complex the wiring is for the HID. only comcern i have if there are different fitting parts needed. I would THINK you need the whole headlight assembly , or be creative to make it fit.

buy the service manual CD on eBay first. the diagrams are overwhelming for me, but sure can be figured out.

You are truly a pioneer if attempting this.

 

The shutter system is present in all the 04+ Maxima lamp housings. Its still just a matter of getting the xenon bulbs, harness, and ballast.

 

CanadianMoFo is correct. It sounds like people are making this out to be a bigger deal than it really is. If you do not want the expense of getting the complete HID housings from Nissan, you can source the parts (wrecks, salvage yards, ebay, etc) or get a 9005 conversion kit (they are everywhere).

 

You might want to try

http://www.hidexpress.com/index.asp?...ATS&Category=2

as a potential after-market option. I have used them for my bike lights, and they were very good to deal with. Their kits are 400 bucks.
I havent looked thru the site for your needs, but you may be able to call them.

good luck.

 

So in other words, the parts that I posted in one of the first pics should be all you need to get it to work. No need to buy an assembly as all it should be is plug and play as I origionally thought?



I do understand better about the Bi-Xenon though. I considered a true Bi-Xenon as different.....my BMW E36 had 4 headlights, 2 high beams, 2 low beams and 2 driving lights...kinda like this

00 00
- -

Now really confused, if the stock non-xenon needs just what is in the picture, must be different from the BMW setup as I imagine, the shutter must be all electrical....not as mechanical. Just trying to see if we can get a cheap way to upgrade....easy, plug and play without getting other housings....gutting a stock wrecked light...using the parts in the pic.

 

The shield has nothing to do with the ability to convert to HID/Xenon. The cars equipped with xenons from the factory have the very same shield that we do (bi-xenon). All that you need are the HID bulbs, the ballasts, and the wiring. You can use original parts or an aftermarket kit.

 

Cool i was planning on doing the samething, thx for the info.

 

The shutter system is present in all the 04+ Maxima lamp housings. Its still just a matter of getting the xenon bulbs, harness, and ballast.

Okay above is what you have said. So when I order the my HID kit from a salvage yard, in essence I need to tell them I need the xenon bulbs, harness and ballast? I just want to make sure if I buy something that doesn't work I won't be stuck with it. I really appreciate everything.....

 

[B]The shutter system is present in all the 04+ Maxima lamp housings. Its still just a matter of getting the xenon bulbs, harness, and ballast.[/B]

Okay above is what you have said. So when I order the my HID kit from a salvage yard, in essence I need to tell them I need the xenon bulbs, harness and ballast? I just want to make sure if I buy something that doesn't work I won't be stuck with it. I really appreciate everything.....

 

mmotown, you are correct. You only need the bulbs, ballasts, and harness.

 

My Max (SE) with Elite package was delivered from the factory with HID on passenger side and Standard on the driver's side - when the dealer changed out the driver's side, he said that to do that you needed to buy the entire assembly because the reflectors are different in the HID lamped headlight. Make sure because if that's true the beam spread will be wrong and may not light the night like you expected.

 

I call dealer BS on that one.