HIDs

[Rednex]

So - realizing there is a glass corrosion inside the headlamps - I had no choice, but going for HID for better road view (while searching for new head-lamps starts right now!). Got this kit locally: http://paleto.lv/shop/product_info.p...roducts_id=108 (Price 170Ls = ~320USD, all taxes included (It's not an attempt to steal your business, Tony, just info 4 pals! ))



Installation was not a second - took some 2 hrs 4 beginner like me, but note that this was 1st time I laid my hands on my VX.
Final set-up is:
Driver side:
- ballast box beneath air filter box (had to remove it just to get bulb removed, so selection of place was kind of automatic, as front wall of engine compartment is blocked by what seemed to me air conditioner pipes). Had to drill couple of holes in wheel arch to bolt the holding bracket down;
Passenger side:
- relay squeezed under original motor compartment relay box,
- ballast mounted to front wall (existing holes fitted perfectly ballast holding bracket)
- fuses hanging between windows washer fluid can and battery - bad, bad, bad...
- both "+" & "-" cords go directly to battery (good, good, good)

To pull the regulating mechanism in place of original bulbs, had to cut off lowest (tightest) part of rubber covers.

Cabling from one side to other I ran through the front wall bellow the lamp, in front of the radiator (upper side, fixing cable in three places - at both sides to metal parts holding plastic grill in place, and in the middle to hood lock mount), and back into engine compartment under other lamp.

What I had to do:
- remove battery,
- remove stock air filter box
- remove front grill (just "honey-comb" part, not whole face cladding)
- remove stock bulbs
- cut rubber covers' middle ring (tightest one)
- place new HID bulbs in place (rather uncomfortable part - hard to place springs in place. 4 rehearsal put original bulbs in place couple of time s w rubber covers removed)
- place ballast holding brackets in place (needed drilling on driver side), & insert ballasts
- pull the wiring, fix long cable in front of radiator (c above), connect all the setup as shown in manual (don't forget the RTFM phase in very beginning! )
- place the battery in place, bolt the mass & "+" wires to battery clamps, replace the clamps to battery. U can test the set-up now.
- if it works (did for me ) - replace grill & air filter.
- if not - start the trouble-shooting.... (can't do any suggestions on this part, as I got lucky...)

Effect is tremendous - "I can see now!!!"

As you can guess (or in case link above is broken), I went for 6000K lamps (was planning for 5KK, but those were just on order, w 1 month lead time). Not disappointed - almost the same effect as w my old company car - fully beefed up Ford Mondeo Ghia 2004 Station Wagon had projection HID headlamps, which I loved (and missed) so much.

As I have done replacement of all other lamps w LEDs all around (except front parking lights and rear parking+brake lights), now will start looking for nice, small, round HID auxiliary fog lights, to replace front parking lights (no need for parking lights until next registration check, right? ), and hoping to get any suggestions on rear parking+braking light LED replacement.