NJ Aftermarket HID Retrofit and PnP Laws and Regulations

[dt98gsr]

I have already posted this on the "Ask the Law" section here on TST but I have seen you here on TST and on HIDplanet.com and I'm sure you are pretty knowledgable on HID's so I figured I would ask you here also.

Well I have spent some time doing research on retrofits and PnP HID kits for my '98 Integra but soon after I decided I really wanted to go ahead with a retro fit but I then questioned what the laws were about them in NJ.

After doing some reading doing many searches I have come up with no conrete answers as to what the laws are regarding aftermarket lighting whether it be a PnP "kit" or a Retro fit.

I would really like to find an answer to this question because if any type of aftermarket HID's are indeed illegal then I would prefer to go with a plug and play kit and not have to do a retrofit and purchase a second set of OEM headlights simply to pass insepction.

I have done plenty of reaserch on Retro fits and there benefits over PnP kits but I simply don't want to invest that much time and money into a retrofit if I am going to have to purchase a secondary set of OEM headlights simply to pass inspection.

Can anyone offer me some information on the laws and regulations. I have heard many different things. I have heard that laws vary from state to state or county to county, and I have also heard that the laws are the same in every US state.

Helpful Thread on HIDPlanet.com

Read tlordon's post towards the bottom of the linked thread. If this information is true I will definitely be doing a retrofit for the spring! (BTW let me know if the link doesn't work and I can just copy and paste his post here)

Thanks for any help in advance.

-Dave

[SmokeyBandit]

The Integra doesn't really have good projectors to begin with-- so PnP HID kits are not really worth it. Many threads on HIDplanet.

When it comes to inspections, inspection stations & personnel vary. I've passed with "illegal" lights recently at the Wayne MVC inspection station.

[LightWerkz]

When I do a retrofit, I make it so it looks closest to a factory headlight. I want people to say, "oh look, I didnt know the 04/05 STi came with projectors!"

If anything, a PnP kit is much more noticeable, in a sense that it adds alot of glare, and the biggest give away is the recent trend in blue lights...people add in like a 8000k kit and think they have nice lights, wrong.

Both options are considered illegal, however in your integra, chances are in you went with a 4300k/5000k setup, no one would notice the difference appearance wise. As long as you dont have ricey bulbs such as white/blue blinkers, you will be fine.

[dt98gsr]

Originally Posted by SmokeyBandit

The Integra doesn't really have good projectors to begin with-- so PnP HID kits are not really worth it. Many threads on HIDplanet.

When it comes to inspections, inspection stations & personnel vary. I've passed with "illegal" lights recently at the Wayne MVC inspection station.

I have done my reasearch and understand the benefits of a retrofit and OEM parts as opposed to a PnP kit, the only reason I would even consider a PnP kit at this point is for ease of removal to pass inspection. However I am up for inspection this spring so I may just end up waiting to do the retrofit.

It's weird, I have heard many people say they passed inspection at a NJ DMV and others who haven't.

It would be interesting to hear what the DMV or NJ police have to say about aftermarket HID lighting.

[LightWerkz]

As mentioned all "hid conversion kits" are illegal, due to the glare, and especially the temperature people buy them like such as 8000k...

A properly done retrofit should no even raise a questions for an inspection person.

[dt98gsr]

Originally Posted by LightWerkz

When I do a retrofit, I make it so it looks closest to a factory headlight. I want people to say, "oh look, I didnt know the 04/05 STi came with projectors!"

If anything, a PnP kit is much more noticeable, in a sense that it adds alot of glare, and the biggest give away is the recent trend in blue lights...people add in like a 8000k kit and think they have nice lights, wrong.

Both options are considered illegal, however in your integra, chances are in you went with a 4300k/5000k setup, no one would notice the difference appearance wise. As long as you dont have ricey bulbs such as white/blue blinkers, you will be fine.

The OEM look is pretty much what I would be going for if I were to do a retrofit. I have just heard people say that with DOT or ECE approved projectors and a D2S bulb you are in fact actually legal, where as PnP kits are illegal regardless of their make. I just want to clarify that and find out if indeed that is true.

And please, no rice for me haha.

I guess from what everyone is saying so far though, ALL aftermarket HID's are illegal but depending on the person you have inspecting your car or the DMV station you go to you may be lucky enough to pass inspection.

[Jourdan]

PM sent to Lightwerkz!