HID Kit Installation Tips!!

[SneezyPorcupine]

I just recently installed my H11 6000k HID kit on my 2.5s Altima and I have to say it could not have been easier! So I decided to post some tips that might help others.

I should probably start from the beginning by saying that i was very hesitant to do the installation myself mainly because my car is leased and I did not want to damage any part of the electrical system and thereby void my warranty. However, upon getting quotes on installation prices from a few shops around town, I figured its much better to do it myself considering that the lowest quote that I got was $90/hr for a 2 hour job. Even the quote I got from Nissan was huge because they said that they would have to take out the headlight assembly by taking off the bumper and re-adjust the direction of the headlights, which is an utter lie!!!

So upon doing some research, i concluded that there is no reason to take off the bumper. All u need to do is park on a flat surface, turn your wheel opposite the direction of the side you will be working on first and then undo the couple of screws that are holding the wheel well in and ur home free. Once you take out the plastic wheel well, U can simply reach in and pull out the stock bulbs, put in the new HIDs and wire it to the ballast. Then u simply use some 3M adhesive tape to attach the ballast to the top where the bumper meets the body.

Now as for the passanger side, u simply turn ur wheels all the way to the left, again remove the wheel well and replace the bulb. HOWEVER, on this side, you can attach your ballast to the windshield washer fluid since it is adjacent to it. That way, u also warm your washer fluid during the colder months. TRUST ME, this works VERY well. I am in Canada and I have already noticed the difference in the way that my washer fluid no longer smears .

After you are done, just simply put the wheel well back in place and it's good to go! needless to say, it took me a total of 25 minutes to do this and I didn't need to use any of the extra harness cables in my kit as the car is already prewired.

Lastly, you do not need to adjust your headlights IF YOU ARE ONLY INSTALLING LOW BEAMS. The beam height on the low beam housing is fixed and will always point where it needs to. In fact, I have driven by at least 10 cop cars who look directly at it and have done nothing.

Hope you enjoy the tips!

[miami*nissan091702]

you might also want to add that the passenger side headlight is aimed higher than the driver side headlight. after installing my hid's i noticed this and noticed it on all the cars i have driven with hid's. take a close look at your hid's and you will see how the passenger side might be brighter or aimed higher. this is normal. remember in the USA we drive on the right side. just something you should you know before you start to wonder if something is wrong.

[SneezyPorcupine]

Excellent point dude! I did actually notice that, but it is very hard to notice even when u park in front of a wall and stuff, its hard to tell that one is ever so slightly higher.

The only reason that I noticed it was because I was driving on a very narrow street and the trail of light from the side of the headlights was higher on the right when compared to the left. If you look at the beam from the front though, you cannot really tell.

I have found that it is very noticable on some other cars with HID kits. Mainly the 2002-2006 Hondas' where their passenger HIDs are nearly blinding.

Regardless, it doesnt bother me too much, mainly because I have bigger problems now... cracked my windshield in a construction zone ysterday when a freaking construction truck's rear cab chain flew off right on to the hood of my car and cracked my windshield in 9 places... Oh well, at least his insurance is paying for all the replacements (hood, windshield, grille etc.)

[miami*nissan091702]

Originally Posted by SneezyPorcupine

Excellent point dude! I did actually notice that, but it is very hard to notice even when u park in front of a wall and stuff, its hard to tell that one is ever so slightly higher.

The only reason that I noticed it was because I was driving on a very narrow street and the trail of light from the side of the headlights was higher on the right when compared to the left. If you look at the beam from the front though, you cannot really tell.

I have found that it is very noticable on some other cars with HID kits. Mainly the 2002-2006 Hondas' where their passenger HIDs are nearly blinding.

Regardless, it doesnt bother me too much, mainly because I have bigger problems now... cracked my windshield in a construction zone ysterday when a freaking construction truck's rear cab chain flew off right on to the hood of my car and cracked my windshield in 9 places... Oh well, at least his insurance is paying for all the replacements (hood, windshield, grille etc.)

only way to see more clearly is by parking in front of a store... glass store. u know how the storefronts are nothing but glass...well park in front of it and you shall see the difference...especially at night. im satisfied with my hid output. i used gen3 hella ballast (german) and phillips rebased to h11 bulbs (german) when it comes to hids...i try to use only OEM equipment. i dont rely so much on aftermarket parts/ballast/bulbs. i get the 4300k bulbs since thats as close to OEM look. once you the aftermarket 7k 8k 10k 12k you are just asking for a cop to stop you...because honestly u just showing color not brightness. and when i say OEM i mean what benz/bmw/lexus/infinity/etc use on their OEM hid equipment. i shall be posting pics of my hid output along with LEDS this weekend.

[Pirat11]

No pics?
But thanks for the tip. I still shopping around for HID kit. Your tip will be helpful when I'll get kit. Can you please tell me what kind and where you got your HID kit?

[fishbone]

Here's another tip. If you want to avoid glare and hotspots and have a propper spread and beam pattern, don't do a HID kit without HID headlamps, such as the ones off factory HID-equipped Altimas.

[Pirat11]

Originally Posted by fishbone

Here's another tip. If you want to avoid glare and hotspots and have a propper spread and beam pattern, don't do a HID kit without HID headlamps, such as the ones off factory HID-equipped Altimas.

I have heard that they cost about $700. I don't think I'm ready for this.

[miami*nissan091702]

Originally Posted by fishbone

Here's another tip. If you want to avoid glare and hotspots and have a propper spread and beam pattern, don't do a HID kit without HID headlamps, such as the ones off factory HID-equipped Altimas.

those are projectors...any OEM application will use projectors instead of the reflector type hid OEM. that will cost you tons of money or you can simply do a retrofit. a retrofit is not easy to do but can be done. back in 2002 i did a retrofit on my 2000 accord. i couldnt drive the car for over 1 week since i got it professional made. they basically take your headlights apart and integrate OEM projectors and re-customize the headlight. when i got it done i added projectors of acura TSX. and let me tell you when i got headlights it looked sweet. theres websites online that are popular in doing this type of work. i believe i spent about $550 in total. but the looks and output was that to of acura tsx. i wouldnt mind in the future retrofitting the altima with honda s2000 projectors. if you want to know more about this go to HiDPlanet.com :: Index here you know more about this retrofitting process and get better knowledge of HID

[1hawaii50]

Originally Posted by Pirat11

I have heard that they cost about $700. I don't think I'm ready for this.

Yeah, about $700 PER SIDE...the cheapest I could find them was about $675 per side. I'm hoping an aftermarket company will step up before long and turn something out for us!

[miami*nissan091702]

Originally Posted by 1hawaii50

Yeah, about $700 PER SIDE...the cheapest I could find them was about $675 per side. I'm hoping an aftermarket company will step up before long and turn something out for us!

aftermarket projectors headlights are badly made and beam pattern is never perfect/quality of projector is very bad...best way to go its either oem headlights or professional retrofit using OEM projectors

[RockenZ]

I'm pretty sure the OEM HID Headlight housing of the Altima is NOT a projector... its a reflector housing... designed for reducing the HID glare...

[t0e]

stupid question - i currently own a 2.5SL which didn't come with hids. i was wondering if i need to replace the housing if i decide to buy a hid kit.people tell me i might have to because the hid will be very blinding for others on the road

[fishbone]

t0e, read my first statement in this topic

[1hawaii50]

The "BEST" way is to do a retrofit to put a projector in your reflector housing. Another way is to purchase the HID assemblies. The cheapest alternative is an HID Kit. I would stay away from the 50 watt kits for street use, but there are many here who are using the 35 watt kits without any problems. Just be sure that you know that putting HID's on a car that came with halogens is illegal.

[bina12834]

i believe someone on the NICO forum sent their lights in to this company (Welcome to LightWerkz.net) for their retro fitting work. Looks like they do really really good work.....check out this link to see some of their work.... Various Projector Info + Output + Picture Gallery - High-Intensity

they use factory projectors from other cars (TSX, S2000, etc.) to do their retrofitting.

i cant wait to hear back and see how it goes