Ford Mustang V6 and Mustang GT 2005-2014: How to Install HID Headlights
Upgrade your head lights to HID's for a sharper light beam and see the road with true clarity.
This article applies to the Ford Mustang V6 and GT (2005-2014).
Most standard halogen headlamps are good with the job of lighting up the road in front of you. But, these halogen bulbs burn out often and deteriorate in brightness until they finally die out altogether. Luckily, with the advancements in electronics and automotive technology, HID's or "High Intensity Discharge" were introduced. They appear like your normal bulbs but are paired with "ballasts," which are basically individual batteries that power the bulbs and allow them to emit very sharp as well as crisp lighting.
Most vehicle's headlights are normally plastic or glass housings and are not meant to house HID's. These types of lights should be installed in headlights that contain "projector bulbs," because they will emit the brighter light in a more distinct pattern. The risk with installing HID's into normal headlight housings is that the brighter light will scatter and cause a glare for oncoming traffic. This can be dangerous to you, your passengers and other drivers on the road. Proceed with caution when taking on this modification and consider buying the headlights made for your vehicle, which contain built-in projectors. Luckily, 2008+ model Mustangs got HID's from the factory. Therefore, their headlights and harnesses could be used to upgrade your pre-2008 Mustang to have HID's.
Materials Needed
- Ratchet set with various sockets
- Flat tip screwdriver
- Solder and solder gun
- Heat shrink
- Electrical tape
- Wire cutters/strippers
- Zip ties
Step 1 – Remove front bumper
Before the new headlights can be installed and wired up, the old ones need to come off. The front bumper needs to come off to allow them to come out.
- Unscrew six radiator shroud bolts.
- Unbolt two upper bumper bolts.
- Remove the fender liner screws.
- Remove two side mount bolts on each side of bumper.
- Disconnect the harnesses from back of headlights and fog lights (if applicable).
Figure 1. Upper bumper bolts. 
Figure 2. Inner bumper bolts.
Pro Tip
Since you will be handling wiring and connections from this point forward, you can also disconnect the negative battery terminal (black).
Step 2 – Remove headlights and harnesses
Because you will be swapping out headlights and the harness, both will need to be removed appropriately.
- Use a flat tip screwdriver to release the push pin.
- Remove three bolts holding the headlight into recess.
- Repeat on the opposite side.
- Disconnect harnesses from standard bulb connectors.
Figure 3. Headlight removal diagram. 
Figure 4. Removing the headlight connector.
Step 3 – Connect HID's and install headlights
Now that the old headlights are out, bulbs are disconnected and connectors are separated, the new components can be installed.
- Install projector headlights with the three bolts.
- Insert the HID bulb block wise into opening on back of headlight.
- Connect the ballasts.
- Mount the ballasts on a bare surface using supplied brackets.
- Ground the ballasts.
- Reconnect the battery's negative terminal.
Figure 5. Connect the HID ballast. 
Figure 6. Secure the ballast.
Pro Tip
Be careful not to touch the glass on the HID bulb. You can use the plastic bracket bolts on the headlights as a way to ground the wires.
Step 4 – Test your connections
Now that everything is wired up and mounted, you can put everything back together and test the connections.
- Reinstall front bumper and bolts.
- Reinstall fender liner bolts.
- Reinstall radiator shroud bolts.
- Turn on the headlights.
Pro Tip
You may also opt to install Relays at this point to address any flickering of the HID's and to allow an even load of power across the harness.
Featured Video: How to Install HIDs on Your 2005-2009 Mustang
Related Discussions
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