Non-standard bulb for aftermarket sedan headlight/angel eye?

[SilentJay]

So I recently sold a set of aftermarket 04-09 sedan headlights that I had originally picked up from another member over a year ago. He apparently hadn't ever used them and nor did I. Unfortunately his username escapes me, but all I can remember about him was that he sold his 3 to get a Ford Escape to tow a boat.

Anyhoo, fast forward to the present, the person I sold the headlights to contacted me to say that the bulb "opening" isn't the standard H7. He then took it to Nextmod (where the original owner apparently purchased them from) who couldn't find a fitting bulb, denied ever selling the product, and suggested that the opening be "dremmeled" open.

Does anyone have any insight or information about this? I've obviously refunded the other member his money, but now i'm stuck with brand new but useless headlights.




Thanks!

[Noisy Crow]

Looks like there is an insert in there?

[gabbygenier]

cant seem to find pics online of the H7 socket. but that looks fine to me to fit the bulb. the 2 notches on the bottom to hold the bulb in. the 2 slots at the top, the dimples (or whatever you want to call them) would fit in those.

seems to make sense. or am i way off here?

[SilentJay]

Just got home, so I'm going to play with it some more.

[Manpreet]

Happened to me had to dremel the inside to make it

[Stathakos]

^ how did you do it to avoid the least amount of debris getting into the lens though?

[SilentJay]

Still haven't had a chance to take a closer look but I wonder if that circular metal piece can be unscrewed to be dremmeled?

[omalak]

Cant really tell from pics, but remember the bulb also needs a base adapter

http://www.mazda3forums.com/showthread.php?t=398454

[sp3GT]

Jay, I looked at the headlights with Stathakos. An H7 bulb does fit but doesn't sit flush to the base.

I tried putting in a HID H7 bulb, the hole is barely big enough to fit the HID bulb and scratches the return wire.

[SilentJay]

Was just about to post my findings. As stated, the hole for the bulb is too small... I couldn't even get the entire bulb to go in without damaging it. I think I'm going to dremmel out one of the holes with a super strong neodymium magnet right next to it while holding the headlight upside down to eliminate shavings.

[Manpreet]

^ how did you do it to avoid the least amount of debris getting into the lens though?

Should have mentioned my head light was opened

[sp3GT]

Was just about to post my findings. As stated, the hole for the bulb is too small... I couldn't even get the entire bulb to go in without damaging it. I think I'm going to dremmel out one of the holes with a super strong neodymium magnet right next to it while holding the headlight upside down to eliminate shavings.

Before you do that, I think the "correct" bulb for this set of headlights is an H3 bulb.

[SilentJay]

Before you do that, I think the "correct" bulb for this set of headlights is an H3 bulb.

I thought nextmod tried H3 (amongst other sizes) for Stathakos, but came up empty?

[sp3GT]

^I believe H3 halogen bulb is the one that fits perfect. So for HID, it'll likely need the shorter version - H3C bulb.

[Stathakos]

I saw them put another bulb in it, it was a shorter yellow eurolite, looked like an H3.. but they weren't even talking to me, they were speaking mandarin the whole time to each other...

[SilentJay]

^^ That certainly deserves a face-palm... Did the other bulb fit properly with the retainer clip installed? I wish I had access to different sorts of bulbs to get this cleared up...

Kelvin, I was looking at pictures of H3/H3C bulbs, the base seem completely different. They have a series of curved cutouts as opposed to the H7's perfectly round base with the single rectangular tab, which the headlights seem to have built-in retainer arms for. Oh, and thank you very much for the help thus far btw!

[Stathakos]

Jay, I don't think they even tried the clip, they stuck the bulb in and then cheered for joy as if they've conducted a miracle.

[sp3GT]

^^ That certainly deserves a face-palm... Did the other bulb fit properly with the retainer clip installed? I wish I had access to different sorts of bulbs to get this cleared up...

Kelvin, I was looking at pictures of H3/H3C bulbs, the base seem completely different. They have a series of curved cutouts as opposed to the H7's perfectly round base with the single rectangular tab, which the headlights seem to have built-in retainer arms for. Oh, and thank you very much for the help thus far btw!

Jay, Stathakos and I put in a H7 with the stock bulb base from the 3 in it. Tried clipping it and it's not possible....
From what I remember, there's no specific insert for the the H7 rectangular tab to sit into.

I mentioned the H3 because it's a round base and generally shorter than the H7.

[SilentJay]

There appears to be placeholders on the bottom (shown as the top in this pic) for the rectangular tab found on H7 bulbs. I was playing with an HID H7 bulb to see if I could get it in, but wasn't brave enough to push it very hard

I'm not afraid of dremmeling out the opening but is there any way I could borrow an H3C bulb (if you've got one) for about 5 minutes? That'd pretty much solidify whether I need to enlarge the hole or not.

[sp3GT]

^Sorry Jay, I only have H3 halogens. You can borrow if you like.