Advice please.HID fogs with Hella ballasts.

[four.8is]

I'm looking to buy new projector fogs from the dealer( pre facelift-valeo), and install HID's in them.
I have two 35W Hella ballasts off a E39...any way I can make them work?
They take D2S bulbs so I'm not sure if they will fit.What other cables should I purchase?Is it worth the hassle or just sell these ballasts and get the right ones for the application?
I appreciate all the help I can get..

[SMOKEY53]

I believe the OEM projector fogs are H3.

The E39 ballasts have a D2S connection on the end. There is no easy way to convert the d2s bulb/connector to fit into the H3 socket. And because the D2S connecting is hard wired to the ballasts, you can't just get a H3 ballst-to-bulb cable. See below:



Where as the projector fogs take a H3 bulb:





My advise would be to purchase an H3 PNP kit, globes and ballasts. I recommend the Morimoto units from The Retrofit Source. Either keep your Hella balasts as spares for your main beams, or sell them online - they're worth quite a bit and should go a ways towards paying for your PNP kit.

[four.8is]

Yeah been reading a few older threads looks like the Morimoto is a good choice.
I'm not sure the E53 uses same ballasts as E39...I thought the ones on the X are the newer design(maybe same thing though?)they'll probably go tonight on CL
In any case, I'd need the Valeo projectors, h3 Morimoto HID kit and H11 to H3 connectors am I right?

[Ricky Bobby]

You have it right four8, you need the Valeo housings, Morimoto H3C kit, and make sure to get the canbus modules with an H11 connection.

Pre facelift E53 used same Hella Gen 3 ballasts as E39, but again you'd need to convert those to AMP connectors for use in fog light application.

Facelifted E53 used Hella Gen 4 ballasts with integrated igniters on the back of the D2S bulb so slightly different, if you were wondering.

Glad to see you doing the HID fogs properly , pm me with any questions bro

[four.8is]

RB, thanks for that.Yeah I figured if I do it then I better do it well the first time..
I had an attempt of doing HID in the current halogen fogs up until you told me how stupid an idea that islol
I'll def shoot you a pm if I have any more questions

[mam4.6]

Hey, I call first dibs on those ballasts if the price is right! Are they an exact fit for the pre-facelift ballast holders? Be sure to post up pics of the HID fog process and finished product. I'm doing the exact same setup, just haven't had time to get everything ordered yet!

[four.8is]

Originally Posted by mam4.6

Hey, I call first dibs on those ballasts if the price is right! Are they an exact fit for the pre-facelift ballast holders? Be sure to post up pics of the HID fog process and finished product. I'm doing the exact same setup, just haven't had time to get everything ordered yet!

Pm me with an offer.they were on a E39 so I suppose they'll fit your 4.6 if what RB said is true .(it is) lol...I can PM you back with some pictures of them if you wish.
I will start a new thread of the install once I receive all the parts ..I modified the current fogs (cut the back/epoxied a custom fitting) to be able to get a tight fit of the D2S connector to the fog light housing(it worked pretty good), and since I gave up on that idea, I get water in my fogs and they just look nasty.
Gotta be done sooner than later.

[Ricky Bobby]

Haha good to hear. Matt those ballasts are basically what we have on our pre facelifts, only thing is you'd need to figure out how to swap that rubber bellows/grommet on the power line from your stock ballasts so that you can keep the housing water tight, E39's just plug into the back of the housing so they have no grommet (bulb holder is external)