DIY: Depo Projector Headlights Retrofit TSX HID

[freelunch]

I purchased the Depo 04-05 JDM projector replicas for my 2002 SiR. Ive been driving with Philips Vision Plus halogen bulbs in my car for 2 years now and I was really looking forward to having a set of proper HID headlights with excellent light output and low glare. I couldnt find anything readily available so I decided to make my own custom set.

The retrofit on these headlights are extremely easy. As a pharmacist by training I have no mechanical training at all but I didnt really have any trouble. I was able to retro the projector with ease, and I'm sure everyone else can as well. The only tricky part was the wiring!

Step 1 - Open the lights

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/f3bcd6de.jpg
I used a heatgun to melt the glue. Go around the edge of the light in a slow and steady fashion and heat up the entire edge of the light. Use a flat head to pry the tabs and twist the screw driver slightly to break glue seal. Continue heating and use a gloved hand and screwdriver to carefully separate the glue and open the light. I started at the bottom as it was the least visible area. Take care to not get glue on the edge of the turn signal area as it is visible from the outside. Smeared glue can be removed with rubbing or isopropyl alcohol.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/94143c9e.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/4bcdfe68.jpg
Original Depo Halogen projector, piece of crap.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/4180b590.jpg
Extraneous glue can be removed with isopropyl alcohol.

Step 2 - Remove the light assembly

Using a 10mm socket, unscrew the 2 aiming bolts at the back of the headlight.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/fa481e53.jpg
Headlight assembly removed from the light housing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/ad61aaba.jpg
Remove 4 screws to free the projector from the bracket. Take care not to scratch the chrome shroud or the hi-beam reflector.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/2ba56d3e.jpg
TSX OEM HID bulb. 4300K of bright daylight goodness.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/0568f747.jpg
TSX projector mounted.
TSX projector HAS THE EXACT SAME DIMENSIONS AND MOUNTING POINTS AS THE DEPO PROJECTORS. NO CUTTING OR MODDING WAS NEEDED TO FIT THEM INTO THE LIGHTING BRACKET!!!

[ep_hatcher_510]

Very nice! hopefully these will be my next mod.

[freelunch]

STEP 3 - Ballast

Before mounting the lighting bracket/assembly back onto the headlight housing, we must first create an opening for the ballast and ignitor wires that power the bulb.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/f5e6ae03.jpg
Bottom of the headlight. Note the circular depression and the three mounting holes that is designed to secure OEM Honda ballasts.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/9a59fdf4.jpg
Drill out the hole and widen with a file. You could probably use a dremel to make a cut too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/252dbb09.jpg
Created a waterproof seal with black silicone sealant. Place the OEM Honda ballast onto the light and bolt it down.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/917c36ae.jpg
The silicon will seal the metal ballast housing to the bottom of the headlight and prevent moisture leaks. On the TSX, they have a rubber seal as well in the same location.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/6ebd291a.jpg
Widen the headlight housing at the rear to create room for the TSX ignitors. Remove the necessary plastic here. I sealed up this opening when I was finished with the bottom part of a yoghurt jar and sealed it with silicone.

Connect the ignitor to the ballast through the hole drilled out in the previous steps. Connect the ignitor and ground wire to the bulb and projector respectively. Replace the light assembly with TSX projectors mounted and bolt back into the housing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/55f679d3.jpg
Close up the headlight and use weight or elastics to keep the 2 halves together under pressure. Go around the edge of the light with a heatgun to soften the glue. Continue heating and close up the tabs. Use your hands to help coax the 2 halves of the headlight together and keep the glue soft and melty as you push the 2 halves together. Once you are satisfied with the seal, keep the elastics on while the glue cools and dries.

[freelunch]

:mfrown:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/775c4320.jpg

Honestly the wiring was tricky as hell. I used the harness supplied by Wayne from SSR, but his harness is designed for US cars. It just didnt play nice with my daytime running lights. It caused the dashboard DRLs indicator to stay on and it sent power to the HIDs and made them turn on as my DRLs. So i was driving around with HIDs on all the time.

Normally, the car uses the hi-beam lights at a reduced wattage as dimmer day time running lights.

In the end, my dad, who is a trained electrician, modified the harness. He wired the hibeams to the car's original hi-beam circuit, and cut the hibeam circuit from the HID harness. He then wired the low beam part of the harness to the cars low beam circuit.

Now it behaves like stock. DRLs = hibeams. Turn on the lights to low beam, HIDs on, hibeam turns off. Unfortunately the low beam no longer stays on with my hi-beams, which was the original design of the car. So no flashing hi-beams for me at night, as it'd cycle my HIDs too quickly and damage them:mfrown:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/0eadf090.jpg
Ground point for the HID harness. Behind the driver's side headlight next to the radiator.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/c16265d0.jpg
Harness draws power from the battery positive terminal. It's the little eye connector that I bolted down to the clamp. I replaced the 10W fuse with a 15W fuse as the 10W fuse fried.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/1e4154a1.jpg
Turn signal sockets were cut and soldered to the new ones.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/fff5fd29.jpg
Note polarity of the HID connection wires.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/917c36ae.jpg
OEM Honda/Acura TSX ballasts. Note the +/-, don't wire them up improperly!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/yeedub/HID%20Project/4df143e4.jpg
Looks great even when turned off and parked :mbiggrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM6h12fVn6U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlKL_hJAUH4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKaKueNjHVE

[paulmofyourhand]

very nice !

btw, you can buy the harness plug and pigtail directly from acura for the hid ballast.

[jtyler05si]

very good DIY!!

even a finished up video, damn...

5 gold stars for you sir.

[oneglory]

nice. another retrofitter.

[eurocivic]

Nice..man

[ep3moschini]

nice! I always wanted to know how hard it would be to swap the tsx projectors into the depo's looks like its a basic swap thats great news!

[skoo74]

nice man.. cutoff pix pleazze

[d-unit]

Looks good buddy, sorry i couldnt be of any assistance to you.

The only thing i dont understand is how your DRLs dont turn on when you put the E-Brake down.. i have the same harness as you from Wayne and when i put down the E-Brake the highbeams turn on (not full power obviously)

We both have 02 SiRs too soo...

Need cutoff pics!

[2005rollingegg]

You got any pics of the horizon line?

[v1c10us]

well, if i ever have money for both of these things I will surely use your DIY
5 stars

[Kerby]

i wonder if I put the headlight in the oven if I'll actually ruin the headlight.

I don't see though, how a heat gun can really work.... I don't have that kind of patience....

and is step 3 really necessary? Can't I just mounte the ballast externally, like every other aftermarket kit?

[D3xn2o]

i wonder if I put the headlight in the oven if I'll actually ruin the headlight.

I don't see though, how a heat gun can really work.... I don't have that kind of patience....

and is step 3 really necessary? Can't I just mounte the ballast externally, like every other aftermarket kit?


If you have an OEM kit won't it be smart just to mount them in an OEM location?

The mounting point is already there just do it

this is a great DIY I love the Depo lights i've had them for a few months now

I think this will be my next project looks great


NEED CUT OFF PIX!!!

[Chazwick05]

purrrrrrrty :mbiggrin:

[freelunch]

Haha guys, I'll try to get cut off pics, but it looks EXACTLY like a TSX. Its all over the net. The reason why the horizontal line is perfectly 180 degrees is because it the projector housing is the exact same dimensions and mounts in the exact same location with no modding. The line is as straight as DEPO made the mounting brackets for the lights.

[BaLisTek]

i need to retrofit my headlights. Good job

EDIT: i have the lhd halogen projectors now, isn't the ultimate setup the tsx projector with the halogen shield. I kinda remember it being something like that

[Tortoise]

Where can i get these headlights? God i wanna retrofit but i dont have the skill or patience. I had all the parts to do it on my Lexus but i got scared and sold them kuz i had no idea what to do wit ignitors and ballasts and shit it all scares the shit outta me haha.

[locoep3]

nice i will do this to my boys car .........

[03ep3 stapel]

good plan ill try it

[mattism78]

Good job, the labor I know I can handle. I start getting nervous when electric comes into play. I'm one of those guys who can wire something in the house and the toaster come on.

I apologize if this is a complete newb question, but why can't you just fit HID bulbs to the original projectors inside the Depo lights?

[oneglory]

Good job, the labor I know I can handle. I start getting nervous when electric comes into play. I'm one of those guys who can wire something in the house and the toaster come on.

I apologize if this is a complete newb question, but why can't you just fit HID bulbs to the original projectors inside the Depo lights?

there probably are many reasons such as low quality projector, poor cut off/beam pattern, etc.

[freelunch]

I updated the 3rd post with some videos showing the light output on a pitch black highway road. Ballin!

[Shead]

good job my man!

[macdady678]

Do you guys know the part numbers for the OEM Ballast, Ignitor, bulbs, projectors for the TSX HID setup? I'm looking on Ebay for some of these parts, but I never realized it was this much. My sister knows a guy who works for Honda, so he may be able to get me these parts cheaper, but he needs the part numbers. Thanks.

[K-Shark]

33147-S2A-A11
harness

33129-S2A-J01
ignitor

33119-S2A-J01
ballast

lemme know if you could pass on the deals to me, sir.
i might need the ignitors and harness.

[blackyEP3]

For the DRL, could you just take that fuse out? (is there a fuse for that?)

[vUpac]

thats clean!! Im digging those headlights. Whered you order them from??

[Kerby]

Can somebody photochop me a pic with a red projector housing?:mangel:

also, after the headlight has been taken apart... how the hell can I get the old glue off? completely off. I was planing on using goo-gone on the glass part.

and what silicone/adhesive should I buy to put them back together? Boat/water application grade silicone?

[!@#$%]

Can somebody photochop me a pic with a red projector housing?:mangel:

also, after the headlight has been taken apart... how the hell can I get the old glue off? completely off. I was planing on using goo-gone on the glass part.

and what silicone/adhesive should I buy to put them back together? Boat/water application grade silicone?

I figured you would use Hondabond; if you can find it.

[Blue03Si]

How much did it cost in the end to do the project. I'm considering it, but it needs to be cheaper than 500 in the end.

[Civicvtec1ps]

How much did it cost in the end to do the project. I'm considering it, but it needs to be cheaper than 500 in the end.

It will cost you more than $500.

[Blue03Si]

It will cost you more than $500.

Yeah, that is what I'm seeing while looking around on ebay. I think if I take out the cost of the headlights themselves I could probably piece it together just the retrofit parts for about 500. Total cost of project would probably be 750 to 1000 depending on the deals found on ebay.... this will have to wait for a year or so.

[kbzon01]

i wonder if I put the headlight in the oven if I'll actually ruin the headlight.

I don't see though, how a heat gun can really work.... I don't have that kind of patience....

and is step 3 really necessary? Can't I just mounte the ballast externally, like every other aftermarket kit?

I have put headlight housings in the oven with no problems. They were the halo projector housings. Use the lowest setting on the oven usually 200 degrees and put it in for 5-10 mins. Be sure to use oven mitts!!!:mbiggrin:

SWEET diy, BTW! Someday, someday....

[Kerby]

It will cost you more than $500.


Depo lights - $275
TSX projectors - $180
HID kit - $140

= $595

price verified!:mcool:

[Civicvtec1ps]

Depo lights - $275
TSX projectors - $180
HID kit - $140

= $595

price verified!:mcool:

Yea i guess if you want to use some cheap hid kit along with it.
If you use oem kit like most others (So you can mount them underneath for cleanness), then it will be bit more, along with harness.

[Rayme]

I plan on putting those depo headlight, but use HIR bulbs instead of HID's cheaper and gives tons more light than any other halogen out there...I'll post pics If I ever get to do it

[ep-unit]

this came in handy..!!!

[ep-unit]

got pics of the back of housing i wanna see how the back was closed up

[ep-unit]

what does the ground wire from the ignitor ground to?

[nolaEp3]

This was a big help. I actually finished one side tonight, can't get much easier, freelunch is the man !

[McTaggart34]

Good job, the labor I know I can handle. I start getting nervous when electric comes into play. I'm one of those guys who can wire something in the house and the toaster come on.

I apologize if this is a complete newb question, but why can't you just fit HID bulbs to the original projectors inside the Depo lights?

has anyone tryed putting hid's in the depos ?

[McTaggart34]

would THIS (http://www.showstoppersusa.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_21_24&products_id=327) not be cheaper than buying depo s and fittin tsx

[oneglory]

would THIS (http://www.showstoppersusa.com/product_info.php?cPath=26_21_24&products_id=327) not be cheaper than buying depo s and fittin tsx

no. probably another $200-$300 more to buy those.

[McTaggart34]

no. probably another $200-$300 more to buy those.

but but but but

[rayearth021]

I want to see your projector facing the wall, did u have to swap any lenses? did u have to re-aim these retrofitted projectors? would it be better to use matsushita gen 3 ballast and phillips bulb 4100k?

[ef9jeff]

Ya I just bought the tsx projectors, but I have yet to buy the ballasts and bulbs and ignitors... just wondering if anyone has any detailed pics of the ballast installed... Also what are people using to cover the ignitors and projectors in the back? Anyone order the backplates and gaskets from a tsx or an s2000 and made them fit at all?

[Supaduck]

curious, would i need a different harness if i have an 04 ep?

[EP3Noob]

Awesome job! I used this thread for my retro as well...went much easier than I thought..do you have any issues with the lenses fogging up, since you re-used the grey glue that came originally on the lights? I ask because the original Depo projector assemblies have a different backing, where the bulb connector wiring goes, so the rubber gaskets that came with the lights fit. For me, using TSX projectors with D2S adapters, the gasket didn't fit, so I had to take it off. Every time I wash the car, condensation/fog builds up behind the lenses (the actual headlights, not the projector lenses). Really annoying....I did what you did, as far as re-using the glue sealant, but I used the oven method (250 F for 7 minutes), and I also went around the housings with black Permatex sealant (gasket maker) where spots appeared exposed like you used to mount the ballasts on the underside of the headlights. I'd post a picture, but I took them out for the winter and put the OEMs back in. I'm actually going to re-do the retro again with another set of lights, but this time I'm going to attempt to remove all that grey glue. I picked up some OCI Butyl Sealant from a company that I bought the projector assemblies from (TheRetrofitSource). Apparently, this sealant is supposed to be the best available, so we shall see. Maybe I'll post a thread up here once they are done, assuming everything works this time around.