Add HIDs to canadian STi?

STi-Mulation · 04-28-2003, 05:25 AM

We all know that the Canadian STi is coming without the HIDs.

What do you guys think is the best way to ractify this oversight?

1) Order the original HID kit form the US or Japan and do a direct swap.

2) Buy a Philips HID kit for ~C$1,000 and install it yourself/at your garage/at dealer.

3) Order it through your local Subaru Dealer.

Comments?

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Toast · 04-28-2003, 06:18 AM

By saying "the best way", do you mean:
1) the most cost effective way, or
2) the way which yields the best results?

If you're after #1, then just get a philips HID kit locally. The'yre not $1000, more like $600 installed. But since the headlight housing is not designed for the HID system, you may result in unsatisfactory lighting.

And you run the risk of being pulled over by cops and geting ticketed.

If you're after #2, then suck up the cost and order the lights from a US dealer (don't get the JDM ones, they have way different meab patterns). Sure it costs a boatload of $, but it gives you the best results and since it is DOT approved, its technically legal in Canada.

If I were you, I'd skip lunch for a few months and get the real deal, since you're getting an expensive car already.

I guess that's it, enjoy your new car!

AllWheelDrift · 04-28-2003, 01:13 PM

I agree. A philips HID kit is really just a bandaid to add so you can say you have HIDs. I'm sure the real deal is vastly superior since the assemblies were designed with HID in mind. Lights are very carefuly designed and things like fillement placement are critical to getting a good beam pattern. I just don't believe a drop-in HID kit will work anywhere close to optimally with stock optics.

etam · 04-28-2003, 06:32 PM

go to ebay and buy yourself a set of bixenon hid projectors and hid hardware ~US$500 and retrofit into your stock headlights and you will be bright and legal and unique!

Toast · 04-28-2003, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by etam
go to ebay and buy yourself a set of bixenon hid projectors and hid hardware ~US$500 and retrofit into your stock headlights and you will be bright and legal and unique!

Is this a joke? Cutting up your existing headlight housing and adding ANYTHING to it is far from legal.

And I would think Bi-xenons will be ten times harder to retrofit than normal xenons, siince you need to wire the motor behind the lamp to move up when you switch on high beam.

Unique? Probably...
Bright? Probably, but you could blind other drivers if not aimed properly...
Legal?

STi-Mulation · 04-28-2003, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toast
By saying "the best way", do you mean:
1) the most cost effective way, or
2) the way which yields the best results?

If you're after #1, then just get a philips HID kit locally. The'yre not $1000, more like $600 installed. But since the headlight housing is not designed for the HID system, you may result in unsatisfactory lighting. And you run the risk of being pulled over by cops and geting ticketed.

If you're after #2, then suck up the cost and order the lights from a US dealer (don't get the JDM ones, they have way different meab patterns). Sure it costs a boatload of $, but it gives you the best results and since it is DOT approved, its technically legal in Canada.

If I were you, I'd skip lunch for a few months and get the real deal, since you're getting an expensive car already.

I guess that's it, enjoy your new car!

I believe that the Kit which is C$600 is the 4100K kit. From what I know, the 6000K kit is much more expensive and give out a more "blue" beam.

Doing a reasearch for the current 02 WRX, the Original Subaru HID kit is around ~ 3G CAD. Humm... so the total sticker is somewhere around 59-60Gs after taxes and including HIDs... ouch!

etam · 04-28-2003, 06:55 PM

oops.. I forget to say it is not easy.. and btw, those are DOT approved bi-xenon projectors as used in BMW and I am sure they are legal!

etam · 04-28-2003, 07:28 PM

a local guy putting bixenon in his bugeye!

http://www.pbase.com/honzy/car_pictures

etam · 04-28-2003, 07:43 PM

don't waste money on anything more than 4100 or 4300k, 6000k looks cool but they are not as bright as 4x00k. Also, 6000k sucks in foul weather. All OEM car come with 4x00k, some of them look blue when look right in front because of the projector len/shield effect. Also, as the bulb gets more burn time, it will up to ~5000k.

AllWheelDrift · 04-28-2003, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by etam
oops.. I forget to say it is not easy.. and btw, those are DOT approved bi-xenon projectors as used in BMW and I am sure they are legal!

Yeah, the are legal but... ONLY ON THE BMW.

etam · 04-28-2003, 10:56 PM

some more retrofit in gallery section: http://www.illusion-lighting.com/

I don't know why it makes you think it is illegal on other car when the projector is exactly the same as those in BMW.

Anyway, I will sure enjoy my new found lighting when I got it done.

Toast · 04-29-2003, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by etam
some more retrofit in gallery section: http://www.illusion-lighting.com/

I don't know why it makes you think it is illegal on other car when the projector is exactly the same as those in BMW.

Anyway, I will sure enjoy my new found lighting when I got it done.

Umm... let me get this straight. The reason why the lights on the BMW are legal may be because of the fact that they are factory options?

Actually, what makes you think its legal? Some guy please point this clown to the motor vehichel act.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your new lights, but don't be pissed off and argue with the cop when you get pulled over (touchwood). IT IS ILLEGAL.

Toast · 04-29-2003, 03:27 AM

To save you some footwork, here's what the site you posted says:

Quote:

From phase 1 to phase 3, all of our retrofits are designed to offer our customers the most effective lighting available on the market whether for show, race, or off-road.

If you're still convinced that these are legal, good for you.

edit: After looking through the photo gallery of the site, a lot of lights has been retrofitted with BMW E39 (5 series) projectors. Has anybody ever wondered where did all those lights came from?

etam · 04-29-2003, 11:17 AM

A lot of people have connections with junk yard.. and 5 series has been around for quite a while.. actually, I won't comment on where they get the OEM projector units.

Why I think they are legal? That's because they are DOT approved and those projector units are designed for the HID bulbs from the beginning.

It is illegal to just slap in HID kit into your OEM reflector headlights because they are designed for halogen not HID and the beam pattern will cause glare to on-coming traffic.

edit: are those morrette headlight legal? I believe they have DOT or E-code lens too and should be legal.

edit again: after doing some more search and looks like morette are NOT dot and so they are illegal.

I guess if you really want hid, then go buy US unit then.

-S- · 04-29-2003, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by etam

edit: are those morrette headlight legal? I believe they have DOT or E-code lens too and should be legal.

edit again: after doing some more search and looks like morette are NOT dot and so they are illegal.

Ahh, the halfassed researching skills

Morettes (for the GD at least), are not DOT approved. You're absolutely correct. The next part is where you messed it all up

E-codes are legal in BC, if not Canada.

kgb · 04-30-2003, 02:02 AM

My Morettes have both DOT and E-Code marking on the outer lens, but only E-Code marking (I believe) on the inner lens.

STi-Mulation · 05-02-2003, 05:31 PM

I was informed few days ago that the reason the STi in Canada does not have HIDs is that it is a LAW here that the driving lights are turned on once the engine is started.

If that is so, why are there so many cars with original HIDs in Canada? One may argue that there are daytime driving lights but visually I can see 2 sets of bulbs in the light clusters of the 04' Imprezas. Also most Jap Imports I know of have driving lights just that in Asia, you have to activate it yourself manually.

Is there something which I am missing out??

kgb · 05-02-2003, 07:06 PM

Technically, what Subaru should have done is to drive the DRL on low-powered high beam, leaving the HIDs off which is exactly how the European cars here do it. That's a difference coming from a manufacturer that's much much more concerned about the bottom line.

04-29-2003, 11:17 AM	#14
etam Scooby Specialist Member#: 439 Join Date: Oct 1999 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: yyz Vehicle: www	A lot of people have connections with junk yard.. and 5 series has been around for quite a while.. actually, I won't comment on where they get the OEM projector units. Why I think they are legal? That's because they are DOT approved and those projector units are designed for the HID bulbs from the beginning. It is illegal to just slap in HID kit into your OEM reflector headlights because they are designed for halogen not HID and the beam pattern will cause glare to on-coming traffic. edit: are those morrette headlight legal? I believe they have DOT or E-code lens too and should be legal. edit again: after doing some more search and looks like morette are NOT dot and so they are illegal. I guess if you really want hid, then go buy US unit then. Last edited by etam; 04-29-2003 at 11:58 AM.

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04-28-2003, 05:25 AM	#1
STi-Mulation Scooby Newbie Member#: 34722 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Westside, Vancouver Vehicle: 05 BMX Black	Add HIDs to canadian STi? We all know that the Canadian STi is coming without the HIDs. What do you guys think is the best way to ractify this oversight? 1) Order the original HID kit form the US or Japan and do a direct swap. 2) Buy a Philips HID kit for ~C$1,000 and install it yourself/at your garage/at dealer. 3) Order it through your local Subaru Dealer. Comments? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

04-28-2003, 06:18 AM	#2
Toast Scooby Newbie Member#: 11163 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC Vehicle: 2010 Mercedes C300 Calcite White	By saying "the best way", do you mean: 1) the most cost effective way, or 2) the way which yields the best results? If you're after #1, then just get a philips HID kit locally. The'yre not $1000, more like $600 installed. But since the headlight housing is not designed for the HID system, you may result in unsatisfactory lighting. And you run the risk of being pulled over by cops and geting ticketed. If you're after #2, then suck up the cost and order the lights from a US dealer (don't get the JDM ones, they have way different meab patterns). Sure it costs a boatload of $, but it gives you the best results and since it is DOT approved, its technically legal in Canada. If I were you, I'd skip lunch for a few months and get the real deal, since you're getting an expensive car already. I guess that's it, enjoy your new car!

04-28-2003, 01:13 PM	#3
AllWheelDrift Scooby Specialist Member#: 9191 Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC Vehicle: 2002 Impreza 2.5TS Blue Ridge Pearl	I agree. A philips HID kit is really just a bandaid to add so you can say you have HIDs. I'm sure the real deal is vastly superior since the assemblies were designed with HID in mind. Lights are very carefuly designed and things like fillement placement are critical to getting a good beam pattern. I just don't believe a drop-in HID kit will work anywhere close to optimally with stock optics.

04-28-2003, 06:32 PM	#4
etam Scooby Specialist Member#: 439 Join Date: Oct 1999 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: yyz Vehicle: www	go to ebay and buy yourself a set of bixenon hid projectors and hid hardware ~US$500 and retrofit into your stock headlights and you will be bright and legal and unique!

04-28-2003, 06:55 PM	#7
etam Scooby Specialist Member#: 439 Join Date: Oct 1999 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: yyz Vehicle: www	oops.. I forget to say it is not easy.. and btw, those are DOT approved bi-xenon projectors as used in BMW and I am sure they are legal!

04-28-2003, 07:28 PM	#8
etam Scooby Specialist Member#: 439 Join Date: Oct 1999 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: yyz Vehicle: www	a local guy putting bixenon in his bugeye! http://www.pbase.com/honzy/car_pictures

04-28-2003, 07:43 PM	#9
etam Scooby Specialist Member#: 439 Join Date: Oct 1999 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: yyz Vehicle: www	don't waste money on anything more than 4100 or 4300k, 6000k looks cool but they are not as bright as 4x00k. Also, 6000k sucks in foul weather. All OEM car come with 4x00k, some of them look blue when look right in front because of the projector len/shield effect. Also, as the bulb gets more burn time, it will up to ~5000k.

04-28-2003, 10:56 PM	#11
etam Scooby Specialist Member#: 439 Join Date: Oct 1999 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: yyz Vehicle: www	some more retrofit in gallery section: http://www.illusion-lighting.com/ I don't know why it makes you think it is illegal on other car when the projector is exactly the same as those in BMW. Anyway, I will sure enjoy my new found lighting when I got it done.

04-30-2003, 02:02 AM	#16
kgb Scooby Specialist Member#: 1366 Join Date: Apr 2000 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Delta, BC, Canada Vehicle: 2000 RS-T -> RSTi-8 Blue Ridge Pearl	My Morettes have both DOT and E-Code marking on the outer lens, but only E-Code marking (I believe) on the inner lens.

05-02-2003, 05:31 PM	#17
STi-Mulation Scooby Newbie Member#: 34722 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Westside, Vancouver Vehicle: 05 BMX Black	I was informed few days ago that the reason the STi in Canada does not have HIDs is that it is a LAW here that the driving lights are turned on once the engine is started. If that is so, why are there so many cars with original HIDs in Canada? One may argue that there are daytime driving lights but visually I can see 2 sets of bulbs in the light clusters of the 04' Imprezas. Also most Jap Imports I know of have driving lights just that in Asia, you have to activate it yourself manually. Is there something which I am missing out??

05-02-2003, 07:06 PM	#18
kgb Scooby Specialist Member#: 1366 Join Date: Apr 2000 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Delta, BC, Canada Vehicle: 2000 RS-T -> RSTi-8 Blue Ridge Pearl	Technically, what Subaru should have done is to drive the DRL on low-powered high beam, leaving the HIDs off which is exactly how the European cars here do it. That's a difference coming from a manufacturer that's much much more concerned about the bottom line.