HID debate
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 0
I had 4300's in my 2000 factory style headlight and is one of my fav's. When I went tp the 05 headlight had to get the newer style bulb. The set up I went with only went down to 5000. The 4300 has a very slight hint of yellow to it. Some outfits say 4300 is pure white others say 6000 in pure white?? I have seen some ricers around here with blue almost purple.. Don't know how they are able to see with those?
As far as headlights go it is just a matter of preference. I like cool almost to blue, higher color temp, like 7000K.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 209
Wattage also affects color. A 55wt 6000K lamp will look whiter than a 35wt 6000K. Here's a pic to show the difference. The H/L's are 55wt and aux lights are 35 wt. All are 6000K lamps.
For my X, I've had 4300K in both the fogs(35wt) and H/L's(55wt high/low). They will have a slight yellow tint, which I don't like. I switched to 5000K lamps, with the original ballasts, and the light is white(what I want). 6000K will have a slight blue tint. The amount of light cast from anything between 4300K-6000K is so close it's almost imperceptible. When you go above/below that range, the amount of light starts to drop off pretty quickly.
For my X, I've had 4300K in both the fogs(35wt) and H/L's(55wt high/low). They will have a slight yellow tint, which I don't like. I switched to 5000K lamps, with the original ballasts, and the light is white(what I want). 6000K will have a slight blue tint. The amount of light cast from anything between 4300K-6000K is so close it's almost imperceptible. When you go above/below that range, the amount of light starts to drop off pretty quickly.
You'll shoot your eye out
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,281
Likes: 4
From: San Antonio, TX
I love mine, I have the 14,000k. Just kidding, I have 5000k and I do like them alot, no blue tint and very bright. I have hi/lo set up and don't think I will ever need the Hi beams. I had 5000k in my Land Rover and when I got my X I really missed the light output.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,440
Likes: 1
Personally I don't like the projector perfect cut off. Load one more person in the back seat and that cutoff is now above the mirrors of the car ahead of you blinding them with 100% of the HID output. Same with going over bumps and stuff, I hate when a car behind me is bouncing along constantly "flashing me". I always think someone is flashing their lights at me because there is a problem or something.
Read this if you are open to learning something:
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
Same in reverse for the driver of the car. Can't see anything above the cutoff line so if you have your lights aimed even a little to low you can't see whats down the road ahead of you. I have ridden in these cars and noticed you can't even see pedestrians on the road ahead of you because they aren't lit up, only their shoes are lit up and if they aren't reflective you would never know the person is there. The same goes for deer, bears, moose, etc. Also opposite deal with going over bumps while being in the car with projectors, going over bumps you think to yourself "I can see, I can't see, I can see, I can't see."
I'd rather blind a few people with little cars and see everything rather than blind everyone on bumpy roads or if I have a person in the back seat and NOT see that kid riding his bike on the side of the road.
I'd rather blind a few people with little cars and see everything rather than blind everyone on bumpy roads or if I have a person in the back seat and NOT see that kid riding his bike on the side of the road.
The HID FAQ Thread - Read before posting your questions - Page 12 - NASIOC
The post of significance is post #283
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
Yes I agree lots if not most halogen cars converted to HID have bad blinding spots, some vehicles shouldn't have them at all. However some housings do a good job of controlling the light and I believe the 05+ superduty housings do a pretty good job. I never had a problem being flashed by any of the HID converted SD's I see on the road and I do allot of driving. Now the chevy trucks on the other hand just plain suck even with the stock halogens! They are always blinding.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 29,909
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
Well I ordered Recon 2008-2010 Projector headlights for the EX. I still have my old 9007's so I think I will do a test with halogens in the projector lenses and then the same HID kit in the projector lens just for giggles. Why not huh?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,440
Likes: 1
That would be a nice comparison.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,396
Likes: 1
From: Crowley, TX
without knowing much about HID i appericate all the links yall have givin out. However, with as much as some of this goes over my head I am grasping some. As a person that is a Commerical driver that covers about 110k miles a year and 95% of that being at night I do see lots of headlights and know were everyone that has posted on both sides of this come from. I belive I will be putting the xtreme power halogens in my commerical vehicle. Have decieded about the X but it sees 95% of daytime driving.