HID Lighting for the Corolla

[thday]

I'd like to read all the details from those of you who've installed genuine HID headlights in your Corolla. Give lots of details, such as: What year is your Corolla? What brand did you install? What color temp? How does the brightness compare to stock? Are there any glare issues or other problems? Did you convert the low beams only?...etc.

[iBran]

You can not install HID lights in the Corolla's headlamps. The reflector assemblies are designed for halogen bulbs, which are shorter and smaller than HID bulbs. The "hot spot" of an HID bulb is in a different location than the halogen, which greatly affects the beam pattern. You'll create more glare for other drivers, and less light on the road for yourself.

The alternative method to upgrade to HID is to retrofit HID reflectors/projectors (from a HID-equipped car, like an Audi A4 or BMW 3-series) in to the Corolla's headlamp assembly. These units are designed for an HID bulb and will provide the proper beam pattern.

Anybody that claims they have "successfully" installed one of those HID kits in the OEM headlamps does not know what a proper setup looks like. Those $250-500 HID kits are popular because they're cheap, not because they work well -- as I said above, the reflectors in our headlamps are not designed for HID bulbs. (This goes for the aftermarket projectors you can find on eBay -- those are also designed for halogen bulbs)
In addition, those HID kits are illegal (of course, so is the "retrofit" method). Again, despite what the sellers' websites claim, your "DOT-approved" headlamps will no longer provide a DOT-approved beam with HID bulbs.

The only "legal" HID installation is one where you take OEM HID headlamps from a same-model car -- like, swapping the halogen headlamps in a 325i for the factory HID-equipped projectors from a 330i.
Unfortunately, no Corollas were ever sold with HIDs (in North America, anyway), so there is no way to have a legal HID installation.

[thday]

Thanks for the info. I looked around on the internet the other day to try and find out if the Corolla is offered in some other part of the world with a factory HID lighting option. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything.

[iBran]

Yeah, it's unfortunate that they didn't offer HIDs as a factory option as it really limits our upgrade options. What year is your Corolla?

The best we can do is upgrade the headlamp wiring with heavy-gauge wires and a relay setup, and then replace the bulbs with some high-efficiency +30/+50 bulbs like Narva Rangepower or GE Nighthawk. Don't bother with the blue-tinted stuff -- just get some good, clear bulbs.

[HOLLOWMAN]

Hwy Guys I Went With the McCulloch HID Kit On My 06 Corolla S.(1000k)(9006) Bulbs Top And Bottom Head Light's and Gog Light. I Love the Look. Specialy When It Took Me Like 1/2 Hr. to Install Only. Easy To Install Plug and PLay.So far Its Been all Good. Just Working On Turning Off Those Daytime Running Light. Witch I Will Be Doin Soon.

Check Here For HID Kit. http://xenonking.com/10000.htm