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Rock Slide
05-08-2008, 11:27 AM
Following in the steps of Bruce, I converted my set of Hella 4000s to HID :D. Only difference being, I opted for the Hellas with the Cornering Beam pattern and choose to run 4300K bulbs.

Thanks Bruce for the great write up! (For his install, check it out here: http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=2678.msg33207"] (http://"Click Me[/B])

These are 8” round, 100wt halogen lights with the Cornering Beam pattern. I chose this pattern over the Driving Beam pattern simply because I wanted a wider light spread. I got a deal on the lights and picked up the set brand new for $150. The Hella wiring harness is sold separate, but since I already had an existing wiring harness from my previous lights, I was able to reuse what I already had. I also purchased an inexpensive 35wt HID kit off ebay for around $75. It is a H1 kit with 4300K bulbs.





Picture of the HID kit I purchased. Please note, this is just a universal picture of the kit I used. I used H1 bulbs.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/HIDKit.jpg




Install was very easy. I removed the lense from the housing and simply removed the stock 100wt halogen bulb:

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1178.jpg




Next, I inserted the new HID H1 bulb:

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1179.jpg




Like Bruce, I also drilled a hole in the back of each housing to accommodate the new HID bulb. I decided to leave the stock-wiring plug in place in case I ever decide to convert these lights back to a halogen set up. Therefore, I just covered up the existing pin connections with tape and zip tied it off:

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1180.jpg


With the bulbs installed, I sealed the grommets with black RTV silcone to further prevent water from leaking in through the new holes:

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1187.jpg



I sealed each ballast to prevent water from entering. I disassembled each one and placed a bead of silicone inbetween the top and bottom covers. Once the covers were reinstalled and the silicone had dried, I wrapped each ballast in tape. I also siliconed both areas of the ballasts where the wires plug into it.


To mount them, I just zip-tied them in place. I may ditch the zip ties and upgrade to hose clamps in the future, but for now, this works.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1185.jpg

(You will also notice I have 4 ballasts mounted…the other 2 are wired for small fog lights that I’m in the process of adding.)


http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1186.jpg




Lights mounted. I also added a set of clear covers to the lights to protect the lenses:

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1190.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1191.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1192.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1193.jpg




Darkness was approaching, but here they fired up:

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1195.jpg




That night, I took a few more pictures of them:

Approx 10ft back:

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1278.jpg


Approx 40ft back: (And yes my headlights are still on. I will say that the camera deceives you a little though. In this picture, both lights are on, but it appears as though only one is. From this distance, I could clearly make out both lights even though the camera could not. Although, if I looked at them too long, I could not see anything afterwards. They are very bright):

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1277.jpg




On the trail with just my headlights on (photo taken thru the sunroof):

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1284.jpg



Same spot with just the Hellas on:
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/HID%20Hella%204000%20Retro/CIMG1288.jpg



Notice the ridge in the background…that is approximately 300ft away. :D


I'm digging these new lights. The light output is amazing. With this Cornering Beam pattern, the light spread is almost a complete 180 degrees and reaches very far out on both sides. I could not stand back far enough to get a good enough picture to show the side-to-side light spread, but believe me, it is WIDE.

Now I can honestly say I have a pair of Hella HIDs :clap:

I'll post a video soon of them warming up...it's really cool to see too.

04 Rocko Taco
05-08-2008, 11:41 AM
These look great! AMAZING amount of light output from those things! Keep up the good work!

oly884
05-08-2008, 12:34 PM
I definitely agree. My Lightforce 240's in HID are unreal in the light output.

jokeplayer
05-08-2008, 12:59 PM
WOW! Nice light output!

Rock Slide
05-08-2008, 07:43 PM
Here's a quick vid of them warming up...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWfSjmDzgFo

BruceTS
05-08-2008, 07:55 PM
Dang now I'll need to get another set just for the corner beams...

NC994Run
08-04-2008, 07:15 PM
I was looking into doing the HID conversion for some Hella 500 driving lights. I was wondering whether it would be as straightforward as the 4000's and if I could re-use the stock fog light wiring for this (I am currently using the stock wiring for the pair of 500's I have on my bumper).
Thanks

Whitey
08-05-2008, 12:31 PM
I was looking into doing the HID conversion for some Hella 500 driving lights. I was wondering whether it would be as straightforward as the 4000's and if I could re-use the stock fog light wiring for this (I am currently using the stock wiring for the pair of 500's I have on my bumper).
Thanks

Just be aware that the HID H3 bulb is about 3x longer than the halogen H3 bulb so it will be a tight fit between the bulb and the Hella 500 lens.

oly884
08-05-2008, 12:39 PM
I was looking into doing the HID conversion for some Hella 500 driving lights. I was wondering whether it would be as straightforward as the 4000's and if I could re-use the stock fog light wiring for this (I am currently using the stock wiring for the pair of 500's I have on my bumper).
Thanks

Just be aware that the HID H3 bulb is about 3x longer than the halogen H3 bulb so it will be a tight fit between the bulb and the Hella 500 lens.


http://www.retro-solutions.com/h3minibulbkits.html

There is a company that actually makes/sells HID lights that mimic the size of an H-3 bulb.

But you are right, most H-3 HID bulbs are simply D2S/D2R bulbs with an H-3 mount and they are much longer.