I put this together to help new HID installers see where the majority lies when it comes to picking a color of HID bulb. Purely for fun.

Some background first - "HID light sources also produce a blue-white light that is safer because it is closer to natural daylight. The color temperature of daylight is approximately 4200 K compared to 3200 K for halogens. The increased light output from a 35 watt XENON HID lamp is approximately 80% more light then a 55 watt halogen bulb.

Color Temperature is a measurement in Degrees Kelvin that indicates the hue of a specific type of light source. Many people believe the misconception that color temperature is a rating of the brightness of the bulb or HID kit. This belief is completely false. The reality of the matter is that the higher the color temperature, the less useable light output you will obtain. A perfect example would be a black light. This light has a color temperature of approx 12,000k and has almost no useable light or lumens output. Higher K kits such as 7000k, 7500k, etc. have been manufactured for individuals that are more concerned about the actual color output of their lights as opposed to the actual useable light output they produce."



^ (paraphrased from tbyrnmotorsports)

------------------------------ Approximate
Light Source ----- K Temp --- Lumens (output)
Halogen bulb ----- 3200k ------ 1500-2000
Sunlight --------- 4700k
D2S bulb -------- 4100k ------- 3200
D2S bulb -------- 6000k ------- 2800
----------------- 8000k HID --- 2500
---------------- 10000k HID --- 2200
---------------- 12000k HID --- 2100

^ (D2S bulbs above rated off of a Phillips and Phillips Ultinon bulb, respectively)

I would like to reiterate as I have said a few times before in forum, that every HID system with projectors (not reflectors) will have a color shift in appearance (visible as you approach an oncoming vehicle or as seen by illuminating your headlights on a white wall) there is that line of blue/purple (and other colors, however minimal) that is generated as the light source bends around the cutoff in your projector headlamp. Now, the whiter the light, the more definition of a blue/purple cutoff you will have. So, if you have 4300k HIDs installed, that cutoff that you and everyone will see, will have a significant amount of blue/purple and a little gold, (pink perhaps too) at the horizon... very defined and eyecatching.

As you go up the kelvin scale, the less variation in color you will see. If you are in blue territory, you will maybe see a dark blue cutoff, but nothing else. Purple HIDs get the same, all purple and no variation. I personally like 6000k, as it is enough blue to make it stand out in a crowd, and that cutoff makes some beautiful rainbow colors that everyone can clearly see. That's my vote, although from what I researched, the typical OEM D2S bulbs are 4100k.

Cast yours now!

 

6000K

 

K it should be locked there H20boy...and 6k for the win!

 

wow thsoe are the exact color light i want aquill.....6k's....SWEET thanks !!

 

Just out of curiosity...it seems that most everyone on here (and I've tried to read every post I can) agrees that 6000K is the way to go. Knowing that OEM's are approx 4300K, would you all still recommend 6000K's to someone who is mainly concerned with vision rather than appearance? I really want to upgrade and I simply want to see best, but it wouldbenice to "look like OEM xenons" to oncoming traffic. Any suggestions?

 

8k.

 

hey Beelab, I have a vehicle with both the 4300k OSRAM bulbs in the XK8, and a jeep with Philips 6000k bulbs. how about i take a couple pics of each, side by side, perhaps that would help you.

If you are going for vision primarily, the 4300k bulbs will be your best choice. I truly think that if I could do it over, I would also use the 4300s in my Jeep. The Jag still has that 'color' to it, but that could be because Jag uses OSRAM bulbs, and they have a certain appearance to them. you'll be happy either way, honestly. Very little difference in output, but measurable. Wait till it gets dark, and i'll take out the DSLR for some test shots.

 

Before I bought my 6k kit I wanted to get a 5k kit but they didn't have one. I wanted to get as close to the stock hid color as possible but didn't want to be disappointed with the 4300k so I went 6k. Personally I'd still go with 6k now that I have them. When I first got them I was like wtf I didn't want to go with the fake looking blue bulbs but once I drove with them and looked at them and drove by some cadillacs I appreciated the color. The other thing to keep in mind is that the light output from projector to regular head lamps changes the look. If I end up getting a mercury mountaineer I will get a 4300k kit and call it a day. In stock headlamps w/out projectors the hids don't look quite as flattering. Most people around me in Michigan think the bluer the better and I think they look stupid. The 4300k kit is what I'd get in a non projector vehicle. The 6k kit I think looks better than the 4300k because it doesn't look fake but its more dramatic than all of the freaking cadillacs around me so it sets me apart from them. My buddy has 6k's in his 03' bonneville with fogs and mains and thinks mine look way better than his, but his look sweet as well they don't look like fake blue. I think the problem too is that people around me have been getting the 8000k kits and if you do that you might as well get the regular blue bulbs as the light output blows. I sold some subs to this kid with a 07' civic and he had 10k kit in and he hated it, the light output is terrible! Although he had the super white leds for interior lights and that looked freaking awesome!

 

Thanks for your input, guys. I'll wait for h20's pics, before I order my kit (probably from mydepots). But at thispoint, I'd have to say I'm leaning toward the 6k's. Areany of you using theHID's in your fogs as well? They may be a better candidate for the 4300's since the colors are realatively close.

 

Well, what i wanted to do didn't work out as well as I had hoped, but maybe this will help you make a decision.

Remember, the Jeep has Philips Ultinon 6000k HIDs and the XK8 has Osram 4300k (or so).

Looking at both of these, I really see very little difference in the light output from one to the other. There is a slightly different cutoff patter on each, but again, that is projector dependent as well. But each cutoff still produces the purple/blue colors that you see from those oncoming cars.

I would gladly put the 4300's in my Jeep. Osram 4300's are a little pricier, but have a color tint already, but produce that nice, bright beam pattern. If money isn't really an object Beelab, find some new Osrams...you'll get the best of both worlds.

Oh, some pics.

This is the beam patterns of each car on my garage. Jeep on the left, Jag on the right.



See the beam cutoff for the XK8...lots of purple and blue right at the horizon (along with the yellow light, which pretty much is overpowerd by the purple to onlookers)



Even on the Jeep HIDs, the cutoff creates the same rainbow pattern.



Looking at them head-on, this one taken at the Jag's cutoff level to show that visible color around the lamp...

Since the Jeep is higher, we're already in the 'white' light of its projector, therefore, the jeep looks totally normal.



Closeup of the XK8 at beam cutoff level...



Now from the cutoff level of the Jeep's HID...see the same color around the bulbs (a little uneven due to slight offset at close distances)



And a closeup of the Jeeps 6000ks

 

Thanks h20, that really helps! I thought for sure I'dhate the 6000K's but after seeing your Jeep, they seem like exactly what I want.I went ahead and ordered the 6000K's from mydepots on ebay, since that seems to bewhat everyone recommends. The icing on that cake is that at $69.95 shipped, the price is definitely right!I'll keep you all updated once they come in and I'll gladly post some pics if anyone is interested in them. Since I'll be doing thejob myself, I'm open to requests forinfo if anyone is interested in pictures of any specific part of installation (ballast mounting, bulb installation, etc).

Thanks again for taking the time to post thosepictures!

 

No problem, it is a ralatively easy project. Definately drop by after installing them with some obligatory wall and road pics.

 

Beelab excellent choice

 

I think they both look sick. I think personally, I'd go for the 4300K just because I'd like to keep my car looking more "stock" to other cars. By any chance, does anyone know how the light output is affected, with projector vs halogen housing's? I know I've heard that the halogen housing (of course) isn't as nice, but how much worse is it comparatively? I have the stock halogens now, but I want to go to the HID in order to have better light output (while still keeping the stock appearance in case the rest of the fam wants to drive).

 

8,000K, just because myX-Type is blue.

 

Gotti,
Did you install Casper shield etc. or anything else to adjust the cutoff? Or did your car come with projectors stock?

 

I have 8000k also. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm too lazy to post pix now at nearly 1AM...I'm a bit sleepy

 

Anyone seen the digital version of the HID, the brain is digital? Is this a gimmick or just progress? There are some on ebay but not sure if they are any good. The box is smaller though!

The ballast measures 3in X 2.5in X.5in

 

Grim, you place your vote while on this thread?