UncleFodder

Went and bought some HID foglight bulb replacements from a famous auction site, to compliment the HID headlight low beams I installed a couple weeks ago (wife said I had to! Can't have yellow fogs with 6000k HID headlights she says!)

Gonna do the swap by going thru the headlights, so first disconnect the headlight connection while the lights are up.


Remove the black headlight surround and painted cover:


HEADLIGHT REMOVAL SECRET HERE! If you want easy access to your headlight, fog or running lights, this is for you. The pics below show two bolts/nuts that, when removed, allow almost total removal of the headlight assembly. The only thing holding it in afterwards is one bolt connecting it to the motor:



The only gotcha is that these are on with locktite, so it will be tough to loosen the first time. Use a 15 torx and 8mm wrench. Turn only the wrench, otherwise the torx driver will likely break:


Nice and loose, giving lots of room for big hands:


Bulb comparison, old vs. new:


One concern with the kit - the kit connectors that attach to the existing fog wiring are simple spade connectors. They are not insulated at all when plugged in. Lots of electrical tape to be used here (so I can return to stock if wanted also):



Shots of the ballasts (one each for fogs and headlights) on one side. Getting crowded in there!


HEADLIGHT MOTOR FIX HINT! So your epoxy won't hold after your brass gear install? Try twisted wire! These are actually paper clips, but they work!


Okay, back on topic... Here's a side-by-side of old and new. Passenger is HID, driver is halogen. Pic is less dramatic due to very sunny day outside the garage:


Final pic after all buttoned up - HID headlights and now FOGS:




One final pic of the vert's home:


Hope this info helps anyone else looking to jump into HID. -- Gary

mtm87tx

looks great, im wanting to do the HID kit in the headlamps

UncleFodder

I got my headlight HID's from forum member NTRBL33. Great guy and great product, made to work specifically with C5 connectors.

Specter

I love write ups like this, make things so easy for somone doing it for the first time! What color temp are those?

UncleFodder

Fogs (and headlights) are 6000k color temp. White with a hint of blue - I love the color!

Specter

The fogs allmost look purple to me from the pics, do they look that way in person? I have a set of 5300K ones in my VR4, they are a great mod on any car IMO.

UncleFodder

Pics are a bit deceiving I guess - no purple when looking at them in person.

Black C5 Z06

How did you get these bulbs? Thanks man!

UncleFodder

Via Flea-Bay. Do a search on CORVETTE HID FOG and you will find generic listings. You get to pick the bulb type (C5 fog bulb types are known as '881') and color (went with 6000k).

Z06ufgrad2002

Looks good.

What adhesive did you use for the ballasts? My HID ballast have fallen off and I need something stronger to hold them on.

Specter

Mine came with some double stick foam pad things and a bunch of black zip ties but I have brand name ones.

UncleFodder

My headlight kit came with large double-sided sticky foam pads. Some alcolhol cleaning of the inner fender and on she went.

The fogs only came with the bracket, so I loosened a nut from a stud which holds the headlight apparatus and attached the bracket to it.

Specter

So are you liking the extra light? Was it a noticable upgrade in light output from your view driving?

jdmvette

thanks for the writeup. can you post some nitetime pics to show the cutoff and light output? if it looks as good as some that i've seen, i will ditch my PIAA 1100x's and go with these bulbs and stock fogs.

you cannot modify the PIAA's to take any other bulb than their own.

5ltrEATER

Awesome writeup! This may just be my next mod...

Bill Curlee

How much did the project set you back??

BC

Specter

I've seen hid sets on ebay for as low as 130 or so. Find out what size bulb the stock fog housings take and search ebay for "HID H10" or whatever the bulb is, might be H10 look on sylvanyas site.

UncleFodder

Thanks for everyone's comments!

For the questions above:

- I'll get some night pics asap! Bummer the PIAA's are proprietary...

- With both headlights and fogs HID, the illumination is just amazing...I actually enjoy driving the vert at night now (though I don't get to too much).

- These came to about $160 w/ shipping. Be aware, these are not specifically for a 'C5 Corvette', but are somewhat generic. Meaning, you are ordering by bulb type and color. You will want to watch for polarity and proper connection insulation once wired in.

ZishanM

Can you get us a pic of the fog light with the headlights closed?

If you could only pick doing the headlights or the foglights, which do you think would be the most effctive?

jdmvette