Where can i do HID conversion LEGALLY in southern california

[mysterious]

yeah i didnt get the xenon option on the car, and now i regret it, heh. Anyways, i was wondering if you guys know where i can have it done legally? I know it's possible to do it yourself, but i wanna go legit with the manual leveling device and all. I go to school at riverside, so i was wondering if there's a shop or something that will do the conversion for me, i called the dealers, and they said they cant do it legally.

Thanks guys

 

[ROSB]

same here!

I want to know

 

[goldwing2000]

If it's an available option, why on earth would it be illegal? (uhm)

 

[mysterious]

it's legal if the HID are stock, came with the car. But it's illegal to install them yourself AFTER the car is bought, mainly because a manual leveling device. HID must have a manual leveling device and must be either stock or installed by professional to be legal on the road.

There was a thread about this new law a while back, i think it was effective Sept of 03.

So guys, you know any shops that'll do the conversion legally in socal? thanks

 

[ssinstaller]

it's legal if the HID are stock, came with the car. But it's illegal to install them yourself AFTER the car is bought, mainly because a manual leveling device. HID must have a manual leveling device and must be either stock or installed by professional to be legal on the road.

There was a thread about this new law a while back, i think it was effective Sept of 03.

So guys, you know any shops that'll do the conversion legally in socal? thanks

It is illegal if you install them yourself, but, the projectors on the mazda3 without HID's are identical to the projector on the Mazda3 with the HID's factory installed. The cutoff of the stock projector looks perfect with my aftermarket HID's. If you don't get some super purple 120000k HID's a cop will never be able to tell the difference.

The law is meant to stop someone from putting HID headlights into a normal reflector type housing, and blinding the hell out of everyone they drive by at night.

 

[mysterious]

what about the manual leveling device? dont i need that?

 

[ssinstaller]

what about the manual leveling device? dont i need that?

The non hid housings do have a height adjustment, it's just adjusted from under the hood. I Adjusted mine after I installed the hids, and haven't had any problems.

 

[95ProLeila]

why not just get the OEM part from the dealership? That's probably the only way you're gonna get it legally. It'll cost you out the ass, but if it's what you want. . .

 

[mysterious]

exactly what part(s) do i need? and can i get the part # for them? if any of you guys know that'll be great, thanks!

 

[ssinstaller]

exactly what part(s) do i need? and can i get the part # for them? if any of you guys know that'll be great, thanks!

I don't think that this can be accomplished easily. To swap all the factory pieces you would need, both the housings $~1000, two bulbs~$400, two ballasts~500, headlight/leveler wire harness ~?(if it's not part of the engine harness--if it is think>$500), underdash harness assembly~?~?(if it's not part of the main harness--if it is think>$500), leveler switch~?, misc pieces for underdash fuse box~?(or possibly new box entirly), misc pieces for underhood fusebox~?(or possibly new box entirly). It would probably cost you less money to trade your car in for one factory equipped with HID's.

Or you could spend $400.00 for an aftermarket kit, and no one would know the difference.

 

[uclap5]

i doubt you will find any place to get it installed legally besides paying out your ass for a factory setup.

 

[mysterious]

hey ssinstaller, you said the switch is underneath the hood, exactly where is it? thanks!

 

[ssinstaller]

hey ssinstaller, you said the switch is underneath the hood, exactly where is it? thanks!

 

[95ProLeila]

The aftermarket kits are illegal because the light patterns aren't regular or something like that, there was a thread on CP about this a while back. . . you get pockets of brightness and darkness, if I can find the thread I'll post a link

 

[ssinstaller]

The aftermarket kits are illegal because the light patterns aren't regular or something like that, there was a thread on CP about this a while back. . . you get pockets of brightness and darkness, if I can find the thread I'll post a link

You don't get any glaring or irregular light patterns with the 3's projector. The cutoff is perfectly flat about 40" off the ground.

 

[mysterious]

just out of curiousity... what are the stock xenon bulbs? 4k? 5k? 6k? i heard i heard 5k from somewhere but dont really remember, thanks!

 

[mysterious]

and does this installation void my warranty? cuz car companies are getting pickier and pickier..

 

[ssinstaller]

just out of curiousity... what are the stock xenon bulbs? 4k? 5k? 6k? i heard i heard 5k from somewhere but dont really remember, thanks!

Stock HID bulbs are usually 4300K, but I don't know the exact value for the 3

and does this installation void my warranty? cuz car companies are getting pickier and pickier..

Simply installing the hid kit wont void your waranty. If it is installed correctly using seperate relays and fuses for both of the HID ballasts there shouldn't be any problems with the headlight housing or the wiring.

But if the kit is installed wrong and damages the headlight, or the wiring under the hood Mazda wouldn't be obligated to fix it.

 

[95ProLeila]

You don't get any glaring or irregular light patterns with the 3's projector. The cutoff is perfectly flat about 40" off the ground.

I know, I was speaking generally though. Since the Maz3 had HID's as a factory option you don't run into that problem. DOT hasn't approved any aftermarket kits for that reason, that's all I was saying.

 

[Ramo3]

yeah i didnt get the xenon option on the car, and now i regret it, heh. Anyways, i was wondering if you guys know where i can have it done legally? I know it's possible to do it yourself, but i wanna go legit with the manual leveling device and all. I go to school at riverside, so i was wondering if there's a shop or something that will do the conversion for me, i called the dealers, and they said they cant do it legally.

Thanks guys

As one of the guys said, you won't get pulled over for adding aftermarket hid's that is 6000k or lower. If you have reflector housings and did it, that will be a different story. However the cut off line on the non-hid projector is perfect, thus no glare onto oncoming traffic. For opitmal OEM performance, get the 4100K kit. If you live in cali and want a little more show with a nice hint of color, [cali streets aren't that dark] get a 5800k or 6000k kit, just make sure it's a legit company such as phillips, mcintosh, or catz. (boom05)