RotorNutFD3S

If they're the same as the headlights used by a local Miata owner, the headlights in the first link you posted (the 7" "projectors") aren't true projectors. They have projector lenses, but nothing controlling the cutoff pattern, so they scatter light just as badly as normal halogens. Just some potential information on that part.

DIY is more difficult but it is a very rewarding project. Search in the second link that Track provides for a user named MattV, he was offering retrofit services for NAs and NBs on CR.net, but then was suddenly banned, not sure why. Anyway, he is/was active on HIDPlanet and might have a thread related to retrofitting the NA housings or might be willing to answer questions via PM if you go the retrofit route. If you search on CR.net, he had finished or close to finished photos posted of his NA retrofit.

The other projector option for NAs is the $500 Colbalt low profile headlight kit that Moss Motors sells. The Hella projectors on that kit work very well with HIDs, that's what I had on my NA. I was lucky and snagged the kit on eBay for next to nothing but I probably wouldn't buy a kit at full price, it's a solid kit and works very well, just on the expensive side IMO.

Probably the most simple and price efficient option is what Doppelgänger suggested: eCodes and higher wattage bulbs. Might not be the HIDs you wanted, but they definitely light things up very well.

Those are the lights I assembled after seeing the retrofits that MattV, referenced above, built. They turned out great and I couldn't imagine going back to halogens again.

RyanRaduechel

I don't know much about HIDs and projectors or cut offs etc. But can a NA pop up light be fitted with projectors? I'm sure there is no kit and would be DIY, but could it be done? Or even worth it?

drkknt05

Yeah, I would make sure to have the projectors first. I got hid on euro headlights... working on retro fitting lexus is 250 projectors on to euro to fix that problem.

Track

Rotor just answered that question....Which btw, I have to say thanks for putting in some feedback here Rotor, as I am not in the know as far as HIDs. I am a lazy bastard when it comes to looks, so I bought the NB2 lights and will put them on my NB when I get a new bumper.

Eitherway, I think that sets Sid on track, maybe we can pitch in our resources and do the first unique MF How-To.

RotorNutFD3S

No problem! I'm going to copy my 99-00 retrofit thread over here in a new thread, might be helpful here for those who aren't on mt.net. Maybe someone will create an NA retrofit walkthrough, I've been wanting to try that out, just haven't had the time yet.

I did some searching for Matt V's NA retrofit thread on CR.net, it seems to have disappeared. So I found his photobucket album which only has his first design in it. The first design used eBay housings and the Morimoto Mini projectors and as I recall the housing lens wouldn't fit over the projectors when installed, so he started work on a new design, most likely one that involved cutting a hole in the housing to recess the projector, which is a little more work.







You can see here how the projector sticks out a little too far:

RyanRaduechel

I must have read right over that NA section. I think it would look alot better if the back of the housing was opened up and the projector recessed in there. That way you would be able to leave the glass on there and it wouldnt be poking out. Maybe thats how the finished project came out. What exactly does the projector do? Is it like an overhead projection unit from elementary school where it just projects the light more?

Track

pretty much. think of a regular incandescent light bulb in a dark room (light is everywhere) and then think of the projector in that same dark room.

You don't want the incandescent style light with HIDs as its blinding to oncoming traffic, so you use a projector to cut off light past a certain point and focus it towards the area you most need it, which is the road ahead of you.

RyanRaduechel

So the reflector part of the housing could just be blacked out since the light is being projected threw the projector? I think it would look kind of cool, but it might come out funky. I think I will look into giving it a try. Maybe go out to a junk yard and find one and play with it.

RotorNutFD3S

Yep, the reflectors will not be doing anything for lighting anymore. You could probably get a set of these housings (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/7-ROU...Q5fAccessories), bake them open, take out the fake projector assembly, and begin retrofitting a proper set of projectors in there.

If you do paint the reflectors, you can paint the projector shrouds as well so it all matches. Or leave them chrome and have an eyeball effect of sorts.

bigx5murf

Hmm, lots of info but no HID kit recommendation. I recommend DDM slim kit. I'm currently using them, I've had $500 JDM phillips kit before. The only difference, the DDM kit sometimes only 1 side fires up, just turn lights on and off, and they're fine.

Can't speak for longevity, the DDM kit is on my weekend car. I had the phillips in my daily, it survived 7 years, got moved from one car to another. At one point, bulb was exposed to the elements (blizzard) since head light was cracked from a fender bender.

I definitely recommend a relay harness, even though everyone says its not needed.