RX-8 Spirit R Headlamps
 

A few members have asked me about installing the RX-8 Spirit R (2012) HID (D2S) Headlamps in USA (North American) Series II's.

The Spirit R RX-8 has the 'black backing' of Headlamp lens body instead of the chrome backing look, plus a few other differences when compared to USA S2's.

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1384119908

These are only for Series II's, and were made only for Right Hand Drive specification models, which has the extra hole (total of 3, excluding D2S Globe) in headlamp for it's separate clear parking/running lamp globe of 12v5W...(Same lamp globe as in your doors interior light).

North American S2's use one globe socket hole for the twin combined yellow parking/running and flasher globe 12v27/8W.

So will the Spirit R's fit and work that is the question......?

Yes they will fit, however the small Headlamp Wiring Loom (see pic) is definitely different, as it has an extra lamp socket (#1) and a separate flasher lamp socket (#2) to the US models which has only the 2 lamp globe sockets.

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1384120822

AFAIK the (RHD) F189-51-155A Wiring Loom (in above pic) should fit into your existing US (LHD) main wiring loom, this F189-51-155A has the orange 8 pin (wire) plug main connector, The US loom FF16-51-155 (below) also has a 8 pin orange main connector.

Here it is...

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1384422125

Anyway, for those interested who have LHD HID Headlamps in USA will need to buy 2 x F189-51-155A small Headlamp Wiring Looms plus the two Spirit R Headlamp bodies and these other small parts (see list below).....

Only available outside of North America.

1 x F190-51-031 Headlamp (HID only) Spirit R RH.
1 x F190-51-041 Headlamp (HID only) Spirit R LH.
2 x F189-51-155A Wiring Loom small for Headlamps.
*2 x E115-51-064 Holder Socket Globe (for Indicator/Flasher #2)...about $8.50 each.
*2 x 9970-06-210Y Globe Yellow 12v21W (for Indicator/Flasher #2)...less than $5 each.
*2 x 9970-16-050 Globe Clear 12v5W (for Parking/Running Light #1)....about $1 each.

* These OEM Parts are available in North America.

All your existing parts (High Beam and D2S Globes/Ballasts, bolts and clips, etc) transfer over.

Perhaps we can call on Paul from Mazmart to look at a 'group buy' deal for a good price?

Hmmm... Ash - would these fit the UK RHD market (as a direct drop-in, no looms or different bulbs required?)

Was not aware we had a "Parking" light - though we do have the separate "side" lights as we refer to them. (Do not stay on when parked and ignition off, unless I am missing a trick?).

What kind of cost for the light units?

Any other "Spirit R" parts which could be ordered and retro-fitted to UK RHD models?

Nice find. I'm sure i could work out the wiring. More interested in pricing.

Definitely interested in these as well, as you know, Ash. I've been doing some research, and it seems as though the wiring harness does have the same connector between the Australian/JDM headlamps and the US market headlamps...however, without being able to look at the two looms side by side or the wiring diagrams, it's hard to say whether the Japanese harness would be 'plug-and-play' with a US market RX-8, with full functionality of all lamps. I'm also curious about the halogen headlight harness, as my car doesn't currently have HIDs, and I would love to swap to factory HIDs if this harness would be a plug-and-play manner of doing so. Along these lines, I've found this post on Minkara that seems interesting:

フãƒ*ント後期化計画 Vol.2 ãƒ�ラストæµ�用篇｜RX-8/MAZDA｜Maintenance Handbook｜よã�Ÿã�¯ã�¡ï½œMinkara - The Car & Automobile SNS (Blog - Parts - Maintenance - Mileage)

Apparently NC Miatas and RX-8s use the same ballast/igniter setup...this might be a way of saving some money for all of us. I'm also curious about what this particular person did in this post (as in, was his car previously not HID), as he purchased the same wiring harness we're discussing.

Paging Paul from Mazmart here....I'm sure you have a few looms around the shop?

My primary interest is if I could plug this new harness in, and have full functionality for the Spirit R lamps...if so, I'm definitely in on a group buy. I'm not into the idea of cutting up my wiring harness, so my increasing curiosity of whether this would be 'plug in the new harness, and now you have HID lighting ability, sans leveling' is sticking in my mind. Input, anyone?

Auto Leveling will not work unless you have the 2 suspension levelers, plus control unit and wiring, etc, add another $1500 for all new...

Plus the Ballasts which are new OEM about $380 each...if you don't buy them correctly, plus another $105 for each Ballast to D2S globe Loom (the mesh silver looking one).

I will repeat, these S2 Sprite R's Headlamps are only made new for HID D2S complaint S2's, anything else requires modding.

In the end there will be 4 holes in the back of the SR headlamp body where as the US 8 S2 has 3, plus the globe sockets and sizes are different...hence the requires new F189 loom for easier changeover.

Good luck! ;)

I mainly started thinking about doing the Spirit R lamps since I've wanted to convert my Sport over to full OEM HID lighting, but without the self-leveling system. Something about hacking in an aftermarket HID setup doesn't sit right with me. After looking into it, I found out about the different headlamp wiring looms. After seeing the (apparent) necessity to switch housings and all that, as well, I figured I might as well spend the same amount of money and get the Spirit R assemblies. I've got a bit more research to do, and the cost is prohibitive if it weren't a group buy, but it's more to me than just shitting out money on black-housing headlights. I'd certainly consider buying a US Touring/GT/R3 HID setup from a rear-ended car if it were available, but this is another interesting route to go as well.

Also, just to mention, as far as legality goes....technically, drop-in HID kits in our cars are illegal as well. This is all splitting hairs, though. With my current ride height, the average person would probably hardly notice a difference in the cutoffs.

My thought is to install without the auto-leveling, to avoid the cost, drilling, and added electronics :].
I figured the ballasts and ballast-to-globe looms would be pricey...that seems to be the average cost for any manufacturer's setup.
Should be interesting to see if a group buy could help. I'd certainly love the new look, including the switch to HID.

I get you if others don't, we are not all the same, thank CH.

Interestingly the Ballast makers-supplier is one of the many Japanese CEO COO who have been recently jailed in US (around 12-18 months) and heavily fined for price fixing to many car makers like, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, BMW, etc..

All sorts of OE suppliers were done, Seat Belt makers, Coils, Electronics, Wiring Looms, all the expensive car parts, I am just waiting for Lamp maker Koito to be next.

Honestly, if I stick with the US assemblies, I'd probably just work with Paul for whenever he got in a wrecked S2, as I'd need the different wiring harness, ballast, igniter, etc anyway. I don't like the idea of baking my headlights, that's just my personal feeling on it. I appreciate you looking out, though, as I know it's nice to find ways around how prohibitively expensive everything for the S2 is.
We'll see...if this group buy works out, I'll stick with the Spirit R approach. If not, I can talk to Paul about acquiring the necessary parts from a donor S2 that has HIDs.

I actually can do these at $675 per lamp vs $1175 retail for US spec.

I have a few shipping now for a special client :uhh:.

Paul :)

if im in nyc, i get a pair no questions asked :(

That's an incredibly good price, Paul. Is there any way you could get a price on the wiring loom Ash posted the part number to, as well?

$150 for the 2 sides.

Paul.

Has anyone tried this swap yet? Is it legal for the North American, LHD vehicles? How about the wiring? Are there any extra wires dangling around?

Series II only with HID Headlamps.
 

These OEM Headlamp Parts are ONLY used in 2009-2012 S2 RX-8.

All electrical parts used are identical for ALL S2 RX-8 for either (USA/NA) LEFT HAND DRIVE and all RIGHT HAND DRIVE IN UK, AU, NZ, JP, HK.
Apart from Parking and Flasher Globe configurations.

Both HID Headlamp front and rear mechanical Arm Levellers plus Lamp Ballast's are also identical by Mazda (OEM) supply Part Numbers.

The one Electrical Headlamp Module (black box, under dash) which are S2 exclusive and are not interchangeable between LHD and RHD is the electrical Headlamp Levelling Control Module itself.

FF16-51-225 Levelling Control Module (all L.H.D.)

F189-51-225 Levelling Control Module (all R.H.D.)

Sorry for the bump, but I didn't want to make a completely new thread.

I too am in a similar boat. I have the Series 1 but will be upgrading the front end to the Series 2 very soon. As my car doesn't come with HIDs, I'll have to buy the OEM kit but I'm not entirely sure exactly what to get.

The two headlamps are a given. I'll have to also purchase the two wiring looms (2x F189-51-155A). What else? The ballasts that screw into position on the headlamp and also the loom from the ballast to the globe? Seems simple enough. If so, I'll head over to the wreckers soon and pick up the parts needed.