How to Install HID Headlights on a C5 Corvette in 10 Steps

If you have a few hours to spare and want to upgrade your C5 Corvette’s headlights, you can certainly use that time to install high-end HID headlights.  You may not need to upgrade a Corvette in most other areas, but improved headlight light coverage and functionality can be achieved with a simple HID installation.  Here’s how to get it done in just 10 steps:

1 – To begin, you’ll need to have the headlight covers on the C5 lifted into the up-position.  To get them to stay open, turn the vehicle’s lights on, and then set them to their driving lights setting.  Once this is done, pop the hood and carefully disconnect the negative battery hookup while the driving lights are still up. 

2 – Now you’ll need to disassemble your vehicle’s current headlight assembly.  Start by taking off the plastic casing from the lens by removing the three screws holding it in place.  Then, with a wrench (13mm), remove the hood stop bolt.

3 – Carefully take out the bulb from the low beam setup, which is the one on the outside.  You can now sever its connection to the power harness.

4 – Take the new HID ballast from your HID kit, and secure it to the inner portion of the vehicle’s fender.  You can use multi-sided tape or some other bolt assembly to ensure it has been properly secured.

5 – Remove the housing surrounding one of the HID bulbs, being careful to avoid skin contact with the exterior of the bulb.  Connect the HID bulb into the socket on the low beam assembly.

6 – You’ll now need to hook up both HID ballast plugs to the bulb connectors.  After that’s been done, connect the power plug from the ballast to the vehicle’s power harness, by connecting the brown and red wires, as well as both black wires, together.

7 – You don’t want to leave all these wires hanging and exposed thanks to the tight fit, so use ties to lasso all of the loose wires together.

8 – Repeat all previous steps on the other side of the vehicle.  You’re more likely to encounter materials under the hood that are in your way on the driver’s side, so you should start on that side and switch over to the passenger side assembly later.

9 – To ensure the new setup works, reset the headlights back to their off positions.  You’ll need to reconnect the battery’s negative cable, and then you can start your C5 up again.  Turn on the lights.

10 – On C5 Corvettes, you should notice a slight sound emanating from the HID ballast setup within the first minute or so of turning on the lights.  This is normal, and if you’ve properly installed everything, should turn to silence within minutes.  If the noise persists for some time, for longer than say 10-15 minutes, you’ll need to make some adjustments to the ballast setup until it’s properly hooked up.