headlights upgraded to HIDs - (large pics & longwinded text inside)

Disclaimer: Yes, the OEM litronic kit would be how I'd say ANYONE should go about it. Even if you dont care about the auto leveling (you should, pls dont blind me), or other features of it being plug and play ease to install... I'm fairly sure this didn't need a new post but figured I'd share. I spent two days chatting a few kind folks at theretrofitsource about how the upgrade would work, the quality of the components they sell and how the install would go. I was probably driving them nuts given the relatively low entry price to this stuff. anyway... I finally ordered and had the parts overnighted up so I could get them in the car this weekend. I did not upgrade the OEM Hella projectors to a newer unit that would swap out the older E55 projector design with one which had a pure clear front lens. I figured this was overkill though looking back I almost wish I had to get a D2S socket/bulbs. Kit included: - Bulbs/harness with H7 base (I wasn't upgrading the Hella E55 projectors that take an H7 bulb to a D2S style projector/bulb) - Canbus harness - Ballasts and test leads Tools I needed: - 7/8" drill bit - pliers - cojones to drill into a perfectly good OEM Porsche headlamp Saturday I drove up to a buddy's house to do the install as I have no garage. Headlamps out, I laid everything down on a table and got to connecting up all the components... it's really an easy thing to figure out, you're basically just connecting the dots. Wiring goes, existing H7 bulb socket to lead that goes out the housing to a the ballast, ballast goes back in the housing through the same passthrough. Bulb goes in the projector and..... well, I had to think on the fly a little here. The HID bulbs have fixed leads, these fixed leads go through a provided grommet and are terminated to a connector that goes into the ballast. This means that the little circular clip that held the H7 socket and secured bulb and socket wouldn't work. Hacksaw to the rescue (my nerves were basically shot at this point, it was getting dark and I was hacksawing OEM headlights with no replacement)! I cut 1/4 of the circular clip out being careful not to eliminate one of the 3 tabs that secured the bulb to projector housing. This allowed the fixed bulb leads to pass through and have the clip and bulb be used without issue. It's not as snug as stock but works fine as the bulb to clip fitment is very snug and well insulated from vibration/rubbing. The setup of a fixed lead on a bulb is a little cheapo/hokey to me but @ $40 to replace harness/bulbs it's really not a big deal if they do blow out. It's just not as easy as replacing a single bulb. Hole drilled in the back of the headlamp access panel and cut up bulb holder done, everything went back together pretty quickly. I did one headlamp and put everything back on the car to check my work. The second headlamp took about 5-10 min to do. Also popped in the smoked sidemarkers I got... muuuuch better than the orange. A whopping 10 seconds to replace. Overall it's a HUGE upgrade to lighting and massively improves drive-ability at night. The cutoff is fine. I see the ground wire cast a little shadow but it's only noticable when you're pointing at a wall. Is it a super high quality OEM type kit? nope, not by a long shot. Does it do the job perfectly fine for a whopping 4% of the cost of the OEM litronic parts? yeah, absolutely. I'll see how it does long term but so far so good! modified retaining clip to accommodate the wire passing through. drilled hole for wires to get out to the ballast and back in (w grommet). 4300k just fired up Hella clear sidemarkers Overexposed shot of low beams on at night with new HID kit.