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D2S HID retrofit, E46 projectors, Matsu****a Ballasts, Morimoto 5000K, 35W

103395 Views 205 Replies 27 Participants Last post by  -ForceFed-, 
-ForceFed-
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D2S HID retrofit, E46 projectors, Matsu****a Ballasts, Morimoto 5000K, 35W

Beginning my HID retrofit today. Going to take more time than I thought as there is a lot more involved with tuning the HID output than expected. All parts ordered thru my friends at TheRetrofitSource.com


Parts list:
Matsu****a ballasts 35W setup
Morimoto 5000K D2S bulbs
E46 bi-xenon projector housings
ZKW-R clear lenses
H7 wiring harness converted to work with H11 setup

The wiring harness only uses one of the low beam bulb inputs and then using a relay system attached to the battery runs an extension harness over to the passenger side ballast. An H11 harness kit wasnt available so a H11 female connector just needs to be swapped out for the H7 that comes with it.

So far that ive seen today is due to only using one head light low beam connector connected to the harness theres a bulb out message. Have to figure out how to fake out the passenger side harness.

With nothing installed into the head lights yet I took some comparison pics just to show the difference between a 55W DDM kit with 45000K bulbs and the 35W retrofit with E46 projectors and the factory lenses that came with them.

DDM


E46



Will continue to update the thread as the project goes along. More than likely wont finish this weekend as I need some more supplies.

By adjusting the cut off shield or the "shield mod" as they call it you can alter the cut off line color and clarity. Ill be using a roll of flashing to adjust and alter the output to my liking and then drill out the rivets that hold the RV shield on to mount it.


I also have clear ZKW-R lenses to swap in which changes the clarity and output of the bulbs quite a bit. Did the one side but need to change how it mounts inside the projector a bit more. You can see the difference from the E46 lenses compared to the clears quite a bit just visibly.

E46


ZKW-R



Stock projector to E46 projector comparison





These are the shields that are required for the color modification. Used a roll of thin aluminum flashing and was cut with scissors.




Final results with E46 projectors, ZKW-R lenses installed, Morimoto 5000K D2S bulbs, AMP adapters to DDM 55W ballasts.
Here are the final results of the retrofit









Modified by ForceFed Motorsports at 5:21 PM 12-1-2009

Modified by ForceFed Motorsports at 5:23 PM 12-1-2009

Should also note that if anyone is experiencing issues with aftermarket ballast firing issues, or just plain worried about the wiper module failure, I used https://www.skbowe.com/ harness to eliminate the original issues I was having with DDM.
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M
Re: Re: (ForceFed Motorsports)

Quote, originally posted by ForceFed Motorsports »

Matt at TRS is a great guy, some of the best customer service I have seen and very fair pricing http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

Agreed.
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Re: Re: (ForceFed Motorsports)

Has anyone tried installing Hella's automatic headlight leveling kit in a S40/V50? Can it be done?

http://www.europeanperformance...k5bo0
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-ForceFed-
Re: Re: (mikamars)

Judging by how few have even experimented with retrofits Its safe to say probably not. Very cool idea though. My lights are very very bright underneath the cut off so coming up hills and even sitting at some intersections I get some that will flash me.

This would be a cool idea. Ideally though I cant say I feel bad, all HID's will put out a bright light underneath the cut off. I get blinded now and then by OEM xenons from other vehicles, just something you put up with
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Re: Re: (mikamars)

You don't want that one, it uses an ultrasonic sensor to tell how far off the ground the front of the car is. Ultrasonic sensors suck... Even with redundant sensors (which it doesn't have) and laser range verification (which it doesn't have) and high speed digital noise reduction (which it probably doesn't have) that I use in my robots they are glitchey and are very sensitive to the reflective surface and tangential velocity. That's why Volvo uses mechanical sensors.
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-ForceFed-
Re: Re: (theshadow27)

Thanks for the input, Id never seen one of those installed before and was curious how they would perform. Nothing better than your HID's going bosoms up on you and adjusting all over the place lol.
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Re: Re: (theshadow27)

Quote, originally posted by theshadow27 »
You don't want that one, it uses an ultrasonic sensor to tell how far off the ground the front of the car is. Ultrasonic sensors suck... Even with redundant sensors (which it doesn't have) and laser range verification (which it doesn't have) and high speed digital noise reduction (which it probably doesn't have) that I use in my robots they are glitchey and are very sensitive to the reflective surface and tangential velocity. That's why Volvo uses mechanical sensors.

I never really thought this kit would perform like the factory one. Most likely it would suck, like you said. It's just that this kit would most likely make my aftermarket HIDs legal in the European Union (I need to get the official verification to be sure), because HIDs need automatic leveling, headlight washers and of course xenon optics/projectors to be legal in the EU.

Of course good automatic leveling would be nice to have too, but it might be a bit difficult to get... My Volvo dealer refused to sell me their automatic leveling kit, because it's against Volvo policy to sell the kit to a car without factory xenons. This is a very typical Volvo policy, and of course they always blame VADIS (can't be programmed). I guess I'll just manually adjust my HIDs and keep blinding people if necessary.
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-ForceFed-
Re: Re: (mikamars)

If you step your shields to favor the passenger side over the drivers side oncoming traffic shouldnt be blinded by your lights. I dont have them stepped yet just aimed a bit lower and havent been flashed since I adjusted them. Used to every other night.

The auto level kit could probably be purchased in the states. Most wont ask what car its for or if it even has the feature. However if it does require some sort of SW or calibration via VIDA might be screwed.
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Re: Re: (ForceFed Motorsports)

Quote, originally posted by ForceFed Motorsports »
If you step your shields to favor the passenger side over the drivers side oncoming traffic shouldnt be blinded by your lights. I dont have them stepped yet just aimed a bit lower and havent been flashed since I adjusted them. Used to every other night.

Yeah, it should be fine, especially when I don't even have the shield yet (gonna make it though). It's just the legal problem I don't like.

Quote, originally posted by ForceFed Motorsports »
The auto level kit could probably be purchased in the states. Most wont ask what car its for or if it even has the feature. However if it does require some sort of SW or calibration via VIDA might be screwed.

Oh that's right, VIDA is the newer version. Installing front and rear sensors with the faster motors etc does require software updates from VIDA. According to my dealer, these changes can only be done to a car with factory xenons. Or it might just be the stupid policy.
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Re:

I have my bi-xenon retrofit working now. Thanks for a great thread! http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

High beam controllers seem to be working fine, nice output. I need to start working on my shield, although I think the output is already really good. Does the shield affect only the cutoff or does it make the output somehow better?

E46 projectors have a small notch for the lens. I didn't really remove it like you did, just squeezed it a bit. I might buy a dremel tool and work on that some more. I don't think I will see the output difference though.

P.S. I dropped one of the 3 torx screws inside the housing and lost it. Try avoiding this
I had to find a replacement.
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-ForceFed-
Re: Re: (mikamars)

The shields just made the cut off that much more defined and also produces the brilliant color. Thats awesome you got the high beam function to work, how did you end up doing it? Still on my list of things to do.

Cant remember which side but one of my projectors is only held in by two screws, the one that sits behind the adjuster was a biotch so left it out lol.
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Re: Re: (ForceFed Motorsports)

I think I'll play around with the shields when the weather gets warmer (outside is -10F). I think you can even use shields with the high beams if you don't curve them too much.

I bought the Wolstentech controllers and split the high beam wires for them, a very simple installation. My controller devices are just wrapped in duct tape and loose inside the housing. The controller devices are very lightweight and don't really move at all inside the housing. I just added some cable ties close to the devices.

If you get a normal torx screwdriver you'll be able to get all 3 screws loose and tightened again. You just have to use some force with the one next to the adjuster (bend it aside while screwing).
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-ForceFed-
Re: Re: (mikamars)

Dont make your shields curved. Im changing mine to straight, I noticed the cut off color is greating reduced from the shield curving away from the bulb. Im going to get those wolsentech controllers soon http://********************/smile/emthup.gif
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Re: Re: (ForceFed Motorsports)

Are u still using those Morimoto 5000K bulbs? I have the same bulbs, can you use them with 55W ballasts? I'm considering 55W DDM ballasts, which kit would you recommend? I'm considering this one:

http://www.ddmtuning.com/index...nt=85
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-ForceFed-
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Re: Re: (mikamars)

Yeah I am, they seem to be holding up. I was kind of worried about them burning up with the 55W DDM ballasts but they are still good. Figure they are relatively cheap none the less so not overly concerned.

Lot cheaper than oem at 100+ a piece lol. Matt at TRS has the set for what 50$ http://********************/smile/emthup.gif

I love how the color is legit unlike the aftermarket kits. Its a true 5000k ice white, the color is in the cut off http://********************/smile/emthup.gif
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Re: Re: (mikamars)

Quote, originally posted by mikamars »
Are u still using those Morimoto 5000K bulbs? I have the same bulbs, can you use them with 55W ballasts? I'm considering 55W DDM ballasts, which kit would you recommend? I'm considering this one:

http://www.ddmtuning.com/index...nt=85

For the record, there is no such thing as a 55w HID bulb. All bulbs sold for/with 55w kits are the same as the 35w bulbs... Rebased D2S. The difference is only in the drive current (from the ballast).

That means that running a bulb at 55w will shorten it's life, but at DDM's prices, who cares? They are literally cheaper than Silverstars.
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-ForceFed-
Re: Re: (theshadow27)

Quote, originally posted by theshadow27 »
They are literally cheaper than Silverstars.

Can thank bulk orders from china for that haha http://********************/smile/emthup.gif
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Re: Re: (theshadow27)

Quote, originally posted by theshadow27 »


For the record, there is no such thing as a 55w HID bulb. All bulbs sold for/with 55w kits are the same as the 35w bulbs... Rebased D2S. The difference is only in the drive current (from the ballast).

That means that running a bulb at 55w will shorten it's life, but at DDM's prices, who cares? They are literally cheaper than Silverstars.

Second that. Had to order my (55W) bulbs of a different color from sharphids, had a friend gave me 55w ballasts. Only one type of bulb for both 35w and 55w available.
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M
9
Re:

I made my shields, but I don't really understand the results:






Why is there yellow in the middle?? Here's my shield:






My shields are working great with main beam solenoid controllers though:




Any suggestions why there's yellow in the middle? I didn't really get the nice cutoff color either
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-ForceFed-
Re: Re: (mikamars)

Quote, originally posted by mikamars »


In this picture you see the screw their on the right side? By backing that out you can increase your color. Also the further you move the shield upwards the more the hot spot (the yellow) is covered and brings out more of the blue/purple.

You using the clear lenses or the factory ones?
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Re: Re: (ForceFed Motorsports)

I noticed that screw but didn't really think about adjusting it. Thanks for the tip http://********************/smile/emthup.gif I might have to adjust the shield a bit more upwards too. I'm using ZKW-R clear lenses.

I guess I'll settle with a straight line for the cutoff. It's way easier.
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