I know the preferred method for HIDs is retrofitting a projector. However, I have a line on i30t OEM headlights, but cannot tell any difference between my stock I30 halogen housings and the I30t housings. Anybody care to school me on the difference. Thanks.

 

I30 halogens are 9006 bulb, I30Ts are HID which are D2R bulbs with ballasts.

 

Thanks. I understand the difference between the bulbs. However, I'm wondering about the actual headlight housing, not the bulb. Are there any differences between the two housings? I was always under the impression that a headlight designed for a halogen bulbs will create too much glare if you put in a HID bulb, but I can't see any difference between a stock I30t housing and an i30 housing.

 

The housings are same, reflectors should be different as well as bulb holder.

 

how do you know if your halogen headlight assembly is modified with H.I.D's? i askd bcus i jus got this car and my headligghts are really bright and there not the color of a regular halogen light they are really white mayb iys been modified but i opened the hood and saw the bulbs saying sylvania mayb they are some aftermarket halogens.

 

The housings, for the most part are identical. They differ in the low beam area, and really only the rear. Where the halogen headlights have a giant rubber grommet (oval shaped) around the back of the low-beam bulb, the HID headlights have a separate plastic piece that extends further into the engine bay that is glued into the housing. The igniter attaches to that plastic piece. The HID headlights also have threaded studs that extend below the bottom of the headlight where the ballast mounts.

Internally, the reflector, glare shield, and bulb holder is different. Also (and I think this might be dependent also on year and trim level) the trim surrounding the reflectors inside the headlight is slightly different as is the turn signal. All of that is interchangeable though. In fact, it's very easy to convert a halogen headlight to OEM HID-spec provided you have OEM donor headlight parts to work with. The reflectors work interchangeably in each headlight (same goes for I35 internals). Pop the old ones out and pop the new ones in.

That's usually not worth it for the work involved, unless you've just gotten a killer deal on some OEM HID lights with smashed lenses but intact reflectors and other associated hardware.

I'll still recommend a projector retrofit any day though. Head and shoulders better than my OEM reflectors.

And I still can't say enough for the TSX projector. I retro'd a set of FX's in a Pathfinder, and, while better than the OEM halogens, still left me wanting the pattern I get from my TSXs.

 

Thanks MetaOrbit. That's exactly what I was seeking.

 

You probably have Silverstars. They are halogens, but just have a whiter light. I just got some for my car yesterday.