[detonatror_x]

any tips on swapping the headlight bulbs? I just tried it but there is literally 0 space for my hand.

[RedDragon16]

I just did it last night! P.I.T.A. for sure! but doable. take off the covers for the headlights, and I found taking out the OEM bulb first then in plugging it. Then to put the new HIDs in its even harder. I put the bulb in first then I plugged it in once in place. A couple cuts in each hand later they were installed!

[kropscamaro16]

why are you upgrading?

[BamBam2SS]

http://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=473432

Good luck sir, I intend to do this for a little bit more of a whiter headlight output. (5000K instead of the 4300K)

[bpang1234]

Philips Xtreme Vision +50% are what I like to use. They are a lot brighter than your standard HID bulbs which is pretty incredible. The color changes over like 40 hours of use to a bluer white but never ricer-ish.

[steve-a-reeno]

I replaced the driver's side HID bulb in my 2016 RS V6. The first indication that my bulb was burning out was that the color turned pink:



Step 1: Disconnect battery.

Step 2: Understand the bulb. The OEM HID bulb has a square base, a male connector, a glass bulb, and circular bezel that secures to the bulb socket of the headlight casing.



Step 3: Locate the cap for the HID bulb. You should be able to easily reach the cap following the arrow labelled 'Cap location'.



Step 4: Use the tabs on top of the cap to turn counter-clockwise and remove.



Step 5: After removing the cap, you will see the square base of the HID bulb and a (female) connector to the vehicle. Disconnect the vehicle connector by gently prying it from the HID connector with a small screwdriver. Note the orientation of the HID connector (the HID connector should be facing directly down toward the floor).



Note that there are two very small tabs on the inside of the vehicle connector that secure it to the HID connector. If there is not enough room to remove the vehicle connector from the HID connector, grab the square base of the HID and turn it counter-clockwise a few degrees until it no longer turns. Before pulling the bulb out of the socket, note the orientation of the HID base as you will want to insert the new bulb into the socket at this exact position. Next, pull the HID bulb out of its socket to more easily access and disconnect the vehicle connector from the HID connector.



Step 6: If you haven't already done so, remove the HID bulb by turning it counter-clockwise and pulling it out of its socket. Note the orientation of the bulb when pulling it out of the socket in order to insert the new bulb into the socket at this same position.



Step 7: View information on the OEM HID bulb to correctly identify and purchase new bulb. The OEM bulb is model D3S 35w.



Step 8: Purchase OEM HID bulb. I bought this from Pep Boys. For some reason, the box shows "Philips D3S C1" and not simply "Philips D3S"; I am not sure what the "C1" is for, but the SKU matches the original "Philips D3S" product.



The back of the box shows additional information:



Important: Note that counterfeit Philips bulbs exist in the market. Please check the bottom of the box to verify authenticity.




Step 8: Insert new HID bulb into the socket and turn clockwise to tighten. Do not touch the bulb glass; only touch the square base of the bulb when installing. Reconnect vehicle connector to HID connector and reinstall cap.

Step 9: Reconnect battery.

Step 10: Turn on headlight and test.

[arpad_m]

@steve-a-reeno, thanks a lot for this excellent writeup. Will be great to remember when the time comes.

[aland12345]

For what it is worth if the knuckles are just too big. Jack up car remove front tires. The inner liner is a fiber material. Just unscrew retainers and pull back. While your at it you can change the running lights paint or clean calipers.

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by steve-a-reeno

I replaced the driver's side HID bulb in my 2016 RS V6. The first indication that my bulb was burning out was that the color turned pink:



Step 1: Disconnect battery.

Step 2: Understand the bulb. The OEM HID bulb has a square base, a male connector, a glass bulb, and circular bezel that secures to the bulb socket of the headlight casing.



Step 3: Locate the cap for the HID bulb. You should be able to easily reach the cap following the arrow labelled 'Cap location'.



Step 4: Use the tabs on top of the cap to turn counter-clockwise and remove.



Step 5: After removing the cap, you will see the square base of the HID bulb and a (female) connector to the vehicle. Disconnect the vehicle connector by gently prying it from the HID connector with a small screwdriver. Note the orientation of the HID connector (the HID connector should be facing directly down toward the floor).



Note that there are two very small tabs on the inside of the vehicle connector that secure it to the HID connector. If there is not enough room to remove the vehicle connector from the HID connector, grab the square base of the HID and turn it counter-clockwise a few degrees until it no longer turns. Before pulling the bulb out of the socket, note the orientation of the HID base as you will want to insert the new bulb into the socket at this exact position. Next, pull the HID bulb out of its socket to more easily access and disconnect the vehicle connector from the HID connector.



Step 6: If you haven't already done so, remove the HID bulb by turning it counter-clockwise and pulling it out of its socket. Note the orientation of the bulb when pulling it out of the socket in order to insert the new bulb into the socket at this same position.



Step 7: View information on the OEM HID bulb to correctly identify and purchase new bulb. The OEM bulb is model D3S 35w.



Step 8: Purchase OEM HID bulb. I bought this from Pep Boys. For some reason, the box shows "Philips D3S C1" and not simply "Philips D3S"; I am not sure what the "C1" is for, but the SKU matches the original "Philips D3S" product.



The back of the box shows additional information:



Important: Note that counterfeit Philips bulbs exist in the market. Please check the bottom of the box to verify authenticity.




Step 8: Insert new HID bulb into the socket and turn clockwise to tighten. Do not touch the bulb glass; only touch the square base of the bulb when installing. Reconnect vehicle connector to HID connector and reinstall cap.

Step 9: Reconnect battery.

Step 10: Turn on headlight and test.

Do you have to disconnect the battery first?

[Ohji-san]

Steve-a-reeno. Man, your photos and instructions were extremely helpful. Good advice to loosen the car battery holder if replacing passenger side HID headlight. Tight fit is right! Thanks for taking the time to instruct the mechanically-challenged types like me.

[TRZ06]

Once I wasn't afraid of getting shocked to shit and trying several times and chickening out, I finally was able to do it in like 15 mins.


I didn't remove anything, but my hands are not plus sized either. I took the cover off, twisted the bulb and pulled it mostly out of the socket, used a plastic pumpkin scraper (I just knew I kept it for a reason after Halloween) to pry the connector from the bulb, reconnected the new bulb connector and then twisted the bulb in place, and put the cover back on.


Also because I was paranoid about shocking myself, used medical plastic gloves, although not sure that would have actually helped if there was a voltage that run thru, lol.


I worried for nothing, but I had never swapped out an HID bulb before, only halogen ones.


I used the Diode Dynamic bulbs sold from Wildhammer Motorsports. They work great. They raise the beam slightly from stock, not enough to blind oncoming traffic, but enough to see much further than the stock bulb cut-off line.

[SSport16]

What color temp bulbs are you guys using? I don't like the original stock color temp, too low for me. Thinking of changing to higher temp, 5000K is usually perfect for my many times of working with HID lights/bulbs.

[ChangerOfWays]

I went with 6000k bulbs from diode dynamics - super happy with them, but they do have an ever so slight blue tint to them, which doesn't bother me, but some people may not prefer it.

[TRZ06]

I got the 5K bulbs and they are a much truer white than the stock bulbs, however every time I am on the freeway and next to a car with LED lights (which I believe are more around 6K color temp.) I suddenly feel like I am back to halogens, so I just picked up the 6K ones, although I have not installed them yet.