2013 RSS SE5 After Market HID install

[papacubanlover]

Hello,
I am new to the forum and I just purchased a 2014 RSS and have had it for about two weeks. Unfortunately I have already been caught in a down poor on the back roads and I knew I needed better lighting. I purchased a H7 kit from ebay and went to install this kit last night. To my dismay there were so many issues when I attempted this I had to revert back to the stock lights. The kit I purchased has slim digital ballasts and after removing the original lights I started to realize the problems I was going to encounter.

When I removed the original lights there was a metal ring that allowed the stock lights to lock into the housing. I attempted to use the HID light housing, but there wasn't any way the light would lock in to place. I found one thread stating that he purchased a retainer clip from ebay and used that along with his HID lights. The next problem I see is that the cover that protects the lights and wiring from the elements will prevent the wiring to go to the ballast unless cut.

If someone has done this conversion and not the $400.00 route that BRP offers please help me with the best procedure to get these installed.

 

[Bumblebee67]

Im not sure how much has changed from the 08's to the 13/14's year models in the lighting department (other than the obvious shape of them) but Lamont had done a great video on the installation of the HID lights. It may not be exact on yours but it might be able to steer you in the right direction :thumbup: http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?5306-ESI-HID-install-GS-RS

 

[Highwayman2013]

Welcome

 

[ARCTIC]

First off,
It's not too late to reconsider buying a brp kit.

Those metal retaining clips that hold the light bulb have to be cut so you can get them over the plugs into the backside of the bulb or you have to disassemble the light bulb plug so you can feed that retaining clip over the wire. I never did like how the bulb fit in the housing with those clips.
You won't be able to mount the ballast inside the light housing you have to punch a hole in the rubber dust cap and run the wire through it. You gotta find a location to mount the ballast. The HID kit I purchased had rubber grommets that you installed into your dust cap.
AND.... When you get done hopefully your spyder still runs. If not I guess there's some can bus add on that you need to purchase:dontknow:
This is much fun I had: http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?53543-Installed-HID-lights-and-spyder-went-CRAZY!!! As you can see others had similar issues and I bought what I saw as the premium aftermarket kit.
The BRP kit retails for $900+. It's not really worth THAT much IMHO but Here's what you don't realize: it comes with complete headlight assemblies designed for the HID bulb. All the wires plug in nicely and there's a specific location for the ballasts and the bike runs when you're done. No cutting gluing and jerry-rigging involved. My shameless plug: I have a used set that I'll sell. I traded my RS and the kit isn't compatible with my ST

 

[billrob71]

Congrats on the new bike and welcome to the forum.

I did a BRP Hid kit on my 13 RSS and while it was not just as simple as plug and play it wasn't to difficult . I'm not sure if the 14s are the same as my 13 but can't imagine it has changed a lot .

If you can swing the BRP kit it is the way to go hands down and like Arctic stated the kit has new headlight assemblies with the correct wiring.

 

[r1100rider]

First off,
It's not too late to reconsider buying a brp kit.

Those metal retaining clips that hold the light bulb have to be cut so you can get them over the plugs into the backside of the bulb or you have to disassemble the light bulb plug so you can feed that retaining clip over the wire. I never did like how the bulb fit in the housing with those clips.
You won't be able to mount the ballast inside the light housing you have to punch a hole in the rubber dust cap and run the wire through it. You gotta find a location to mount the ballast. The HID kit I purchased had rubber grommets that you installed into your dust cap.
AND.... When you get done hopefully your spyder still runs. If not I guess there's some can bus add on that you need to purchase:dontknow:
This is much fun I had: http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?53543-Installed-HID-lights-and-spyder-went-CRAZY!!! As you can see others had similar issues and I bought what I saw as the premium aftermarket kit.
The BRP kit retails for $900+. It's not really worth THAT much IMHO but Here's what you don't realize: it comes with complete headlight assemblies designed for the HID bulb. All the wires plug in nicely and there's a specific location for the ballasts and the bike runs when you're done. No cutting gluing and jerry-rigging involved. My shameless plug: I have a used set that I'll sell. I traded my RS and the kit isn't compatible with my ST

The problems with nanny and the after market kits can be overcome I ended up using a 20 second delay relay so the lites didn't load the system for a few seconds the hid kit make way better lite and will be worth it in the end there is several threads from the past on this topic

 

[papacubanlover]

Thanks for the kind welcome and advice

I just saw these posts! Earlier tonight I went back at the install and dove into it a different way. It was so difficult to see any of the connections and wiring so I removed the cowl and top housing to get a better picture. I was able to modify the retaining clips on the lights to make the after market HID lights lock in place. There is concern on how these will do in the weather, but I plan on silicon the cover where I made the tiny slit to allow the wires to pass through. I have always had HID lights on my vehicles from 1995 Mustang to factory equipped vehicles and never had to pay 900 dollars for them. I appreciate the advice and concerns with the kit and hopefully this will not cause any issues. Since this is all new to me I am still definitely learning all the ins and outs of it so I hope I can catch if something isn't working the way it should be.

 

[papacubanlover]

How much for your kit?

First off,
It's not too late to reconsider buying a brp kit.

Those metal retaining clips that hold the light bulb have to be cut so you can get them over the plugs into the backside of the bulb or you have to disassemble the light bulb plug so you can feed that retaining clip over the wire. I never did like how the bulb fit in the housing with those clips.
You won't be able to mount the ballast inside the light housing you have to punch a hole in the rubber dust cap and run the wire through it. You gotta find a location to mount the ballast. The HID kit I purchased had rubber grommets that you installed into your dust cap.
AND.... When you get done hopefully your spyder still runs. If not I guess there's some can bus add on that you need to purchase:dontknow:
This is much fun I had: http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?53543-Installed-HID-lights-and-spyder-went-CRAZY!!! As you can see others had similar issues and I bought what I saw as the premium aftermarket kit.
The BRP kit retails for $900+. It's not really worth THAT much IMHO but Here's what you don't realize: it comes with complete headlight assemblies designed for the HID bulb. All the wires plug in nicely and there's a specific location for the ballasts and the bike runs when you're done. No cutting gluing and jerry-rigging involved. My shameless plug: I have a used set that I'll sell. I traded my RS and the kit isn't compatible with my ST

If the price it right it might be a better option to switch to OEM option. The current setup I have now I am absolutely loving how I can actually see down the country roads

 

[ARCTIC]

If the price it right it might be a better option to switch to OEM option. The current setup I have now I am absolutely loving how I can actually see down the country roads

$340+ shipping. I used them for 3 months and they look like new.