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upgrade to HID lights from Halogens

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by gottagetone, May 18, 2007.

  1. gottagetone

    gottagetone Member

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    Can you upgrade the standard lights that come on a Prius to the HID lights by only replacing the bulbs?
     
    #1 gottagetone, May 18, 2007
  2. DaveG

    DaveG Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GottaGetOne @ May 17 2007, 08:04 PM) [snapback]444639[/snapback]</div>
    No, the HID lights also require a high voltage transformer/ballast to bump the car's normal 12v power system up enough for HID bulbs.

    There are some kits available online to do halogen -> HID conversions, however since they're not official Toyota parts, you're more or less on your own. Expect to pay $100 or so for the cheap no-name kits (likely of dubious quality), and a few hundred for higher-quality conversion kits.
     
    #2 DaveG, May 18, 2007
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Also, there'll be glare from the halogen headlight compound.
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, May 18, 2007
  4. dir

    dir New Member

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    Doesn't one of the U.S. 2007 models come with HID headlights? It's not an option here in Au and I was thinking it must be possible to order all the parts from the U.S. or Japan and simply install them. All the connectors and mount points would likely be there. I know there'd be ballast and auto-leveling motors and loads of other stuff, and probably not worth the money.

    But isn't it possible?

    D
     
    #4 dir, May 18, 2007
  5. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    I'd imagine even if you could get the entire lens and ballast assembly (perhaps off of a totaled Prius that sustained only side or rear impact damage), there might be some ECU considerations since there are warning indications that will display on the MFD if a HID fails to strike after 3 attempts. I'm not sure the harness would be present in the halogen equipped Prius.
     
    #5 HTMLSpinnr, May 18, 2007
  6. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    If you wanna become a bigger theft target, sure...
    .
    _H*
     
    #6 hobbit, May 18, 2007
  7. TRStahl

    TRStahl New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dir @ May 18 2007, 09:40 AM) [snapback]444830[/snapback]</div>

    I just got a 2007 Touring Edition with HID lamps. Very white and light the road well but not blue like some.
     
    #7 TRStahl, May 18, 2007
  8. telegraph

    telegraph New Member

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    #8 telegraph, May 31, 2007
  9. Betelgeuse

    Betelgeuse Active Member

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    One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that the Prii with HID headlights also have an auto-leveling sensor on the rear axle to keep you from blinding other drivers with your headlights. You shouldn't install the headlights without that sensor, and I suspect that would add some significant extra cost to the mod.
     
    #9 Betelgeuse, Jun 1, 2007
  10. statultra

    statultra uber-Senior Member

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    u can buy a ebay kit for the socket that works with the prius headlamps, all it is is the ballast and plug to plug in the bulb for the standard light, and on the other end u plug the HID bulb in and stick it in the headlamp. I recently installed a kit on a 05 GTO and it was great, the cut off was amazing, but that car had stock projector lenses.
     
    #10 statultra, Jun 3, 2007
  11. faith2walk

    faith2walk Upgraded again

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    #11 faith2walk, Jun 3, 2007
  12. kdk84

    kdk84 New Member

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    My 2007 pkg 6 also came with HID lamps (that auto-level) for the person asking about it.
     
    #12 kdk84, Jun 3, 2007
  13. aponteluis

    aponteluis Junior Member

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    #13 aponteluis, Jun 17, 2007
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