HID Fog DIY
07-04-10, 11:10 PM
#1
HID Fog DIY
Finally getting around to making this. This is a DIY more for your hands than your eyes. I did this around 1am in night in the garage and didn't have a camera at the time and it would have been more or less useless since it requires mostly feeling around. I did the install without removing the bumper, so if you do decide to remove the bumper it will be much easier. For my IS I took the bumper off to do the install, it was a breez, but putting the bumper back on wasn't and I didn't get it on 100% perfect, so I didn't want to risk it on the RX.
Onto the DIY:
Driver side is easy. You can access everything you need from the vent holes under the fog lamp, as you can see here.
Looking up, you will find the Fog bulb. I have it circled here in red. If you're lying on your back and looking up through the access holes, this is what you will be seeing. Just rotate the bulb to remove it and replace it with the HID bulb, making sure not to touch the bulb. And leaving the two cables from it dangling.
You can mount the ballast on the metal chassis bumper support (to be honest I have no idea what to call this. haha
It's aluminum rectangular tubing that is in the front that supports the bumper. I used 3M Automotive tape on the back of the ballast and stuck it on and has held on for 2 months still strong haha
Passenger side is a bit harder, requires feeling around for mounting the ballast.
Remove the far passenger side engine cover to show this view.
Here is a closer view of the bulb location. You can rotate it and remove it just like the driver side.
For ballast location, best way to match the other side is just reach down in front of the washerfluid container and reach around for the aluminum tubing. The blue arrow is pointing at the aluminum that you can mount the ballast to.
Hope that helps, and here are some pictures of the finished install, 4300k stock lows + 5000k fogs.
Flash on:
Flash off:
Bad picture of cutoff:
Overall happy with it. From afar it looks to match, but from up close it's clear the 5000k is whiter than 4300k. When it comes time to change the fogs, I'll probably change to 4300k.
Enjoy!
Onto the DIY:
Driver side is easy. You can access everything you need from the vent holes under the fog lamp, as you can see here.
Looking up, you will find the Fog bulb. I have it circled here in red. If you're lying on your back and looking up through the access holes, this is what you will be seeing. Just rotate the bulb to remove it and replace it with the HID bulb, making sure not to touch the bulb. And leaving the two cables from it dangling.
You can mount the ballast on the metal chassis bumper support (to be honest I have no idea what to call this. haha
It's aluminum rectangular tubing that is in the front that supports the bumper. I used 3M Automotive tape on the back of the ballast and stuck it on and has held on for 2 months still strong haha
Passenger side is a bit harder, requires feeling around for mounting the ballast.
Remove the far passenger side engine cover to show this view.
Here is a closer view of the bulb location. You can rotate it and remove it just like the driver side.
For ballast location, best way to match the other side is just reach down in front of the washerfluid container and reach around for the aluminum tubing. The blue arrow is pointing at the aluminum that you can mount the ballast to.
Hope that helps, and here are some pictures of the finished install, 4300k stock lows + 5000k fogs.
Flash on:
Flash off:
Bad picture of cutoff:
Overall happy with it. From afar it looks to match, but from up close it's clear the 5000k is whiter than 4300k. When it comes time to change the fogs, I'll probably change to 4300k.
Enjoy!
07-06-10, 03:10 PM
#5
executive matchup
lol! haven't done the RX jdm fogs yet, but i plan to (it's on the drawing board). 
don't worry, if i do jdm fogs, i promise to post lots of pics. 
on a side note, i would personally change the 4300K headlamp bulbs to 5000K to match the fog lights (rather than the other way around). i think 5000K looks better when matched than say 4300K. something to consider. 2 cents.
don't worry, if i do jdm fogs, i promise to post lots of pics. on a side note, i would personally change the 4300K headlamp bulbs to 5000K to match the fog lights (rather than the other way around). i think 5000K looks better when matched than say 4300K. something to consider. 2 cents.
07-06-10, 03:55 PM
#6
No, I don't play soccer!
Stonefan, nice job. You made it look very easy. Even I could do it Nah, I'll leave it to the professionals. If something goes wrong, at least it won't be my fault.
I'm looking to change out the fogs soon. Just trying to decide whether to go with JDM like Storm is thinking or something less expensive.
Nah, I'll leave it to the professionals. If something goes wrong, at least it won't be my fault. I'm looking to change out the fogs soon. Just trying to decide whether to go with JDM like Storm is thinking or something less expensive.
07-06-10, 05:22 PM
#7
The difference is a factor of 20x haha
JDM fogs ~1k+
HID fog kit from HIDXtra $56 shipped currently.
Only ~5000k bulbs were the Tom's 5500k bulbs which are >$150.00 last time I checked. Are there any other quality bulbs that come in that range? I could go 6000k lows and fogs, but my mom's eyesight at night is already bad enough, so something 4300k or 5000k would be safer for her.
Storm I can't wait to see the JDM fogs when you do install, should look slick!
JDM fogs ~1k+
HID fog kit from HIDXtra $56 shipped currently.
Only ~5000k bulbs were the Tom's 5500k bulbs which are >$150.00 last time I checked. Are there any other quality bulbs that come in that range? I could go 6000k lows and fogs, but my mom's eyesight at night is already bad enough, so something 4300k or 5000k would be safer for her.
Storm I can't wait to see the JDM fogs when you do install, should look slick!
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07-06-10, 07:19 PM
#9
Storm, talked to Carson about Tom's 5500k bulbs, $300 for a pair!
I'm fine with matching 4300k's, although that's already going to be anywhere from $100-$160 haha. Although they won't be that sexy, my mom will be happier with the price.
For my 2IS I just did HID install in the reflective housing, and am looking at Junack LED Fog Inserts, closest thing to JDM fogs but over $1500 less!
Last edited by JDKane527; 07-06-10 at 10:11 PM.
07-06-10, 08:57 PM
#10
On a 350, you will have enough room to put your hand down and replace the bulbs, but on a 450, you won't be able to do that without removing the bumper.
Rating on a scale of 1-5(5 being most difficult).
350 is 1.
450 is 3.
Rating on a scale of 1-5(5 being most difficult).
350 is 1.
450 is 3.
07-06-10, 09:46 PM
#11
executive matchup
Still at around 2k, goodluck finding enough buyers for a groupbuy haha
Storm, talked to Carson about Tom's 5500k bulbs, $300 for a pair!
I'm fine with matching 4300k's, although that's already going to be anywhere from $100-$160 haha. Although they won't be that sexy, my mom will be happier with the price.
For my 2IS I just did HID install in the reflective housing, and am looking at Junack LED Fog Inserts, closest thing to JDM fogs but over 1k less!
Storm, talked to Carson about Tom's 5500k bulbs, $300 for a pair!
I'm fine with matching 4300k's, although that's already going to be anywhere from $100-$160 haha. Although they won't be that sexy, my mom will be happier with the price.
For my 2IS I just did HID install in the reflective housing, and am looking at Junack LED Fog Inserts, closest thing to JDM fogs but over 1k less!
yeah, matching the fogs to the headlamps should be fine, you'll get more usable driving light. but 5000K would look more awesome i think.
as for $2K price for jdm fogs, don't forget this is before install, unless you plan on installing it yourself lol!
07-06-10, 10:11 PM
#12
no need to go with Tom's 5500K bulbs, a good philips (or reputable brand name) should be good enough, especially if it's for your mom.
yeah, matching the fogs to the headlamps should be fine, you'll get more usable driving light. but 5000K would look more awesome i think.
as for $2K price for jdm fogs, don't forget this is before install, unless you plan on installing it yourself lol!
yeah, matching the fogs to the headlamps should be fine, you'll get more usable driving light. but 5000K would look more awesome i think.
as for $2K price for jdm fogs, don't forget this is before install, unless you plan on installing it yourself lol!
Everyone that gets the JDM fogs should throw a JDM fog installation party!!
Correction on the LED Fog Inserts, for having pseudo JDM HID fogs w/ DRLs, I save $1665+
07-07-10, 09:39 AM
#13
executive matchup
see this ebay link:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-50W-5000K-H7-...item3c9ae7df1e
it's probably not the exact same headlamp bulb for our RX, but you could probably find one for ours for around that price range. for $50, you can't really beat the price. mind you, that's probably not a name brand bulb, you will be paying more for that.
contact xenon depot, CL approved vendor here. they sell bulbs and should be able to get you what you need. you can also cross shop prices with other approved CL vendors to get the best price. good luck!
lol at the jdm fog installation party! sounds like a good idea!
http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-50W-5000K-H7-...item3c9ae7df1e
it's probably not the exact same headlamp bulb for our RX, but you could probably find one for ours for around that price range. for $50, you can't really beat the price. mind you, that's probably not a name brand bulb, you will be paying more for that.
contact xenon depot, CL approved vendor here. they sell bulbs and should be able to get you what you need. you can also cross shop prices with other approved CL vendors to get the best price. good luck!
lol at the jdm fog installation party! sounds like a good idea!
