HIDs + Kelvin...A New Question

[cobraBLACK]

As I've mentioned before my S4 has single xenon headlights - the headlamp unit consists of 1 D1S projector (dipped) and 1 H7 bulb (dipped/main).

I want to upgrade the H7 but does anyone know what K rating the OEM D1S is? I was hoping not to have to look for the rating on the bulb as they look a biyitch to get at.

If I can't be sure, has anyone seen two bulbs in each headlamp mismatched (i.e., a 4000K and a 6000K in each unit, symmetrically)? I was thinking it might look OK since both would be predominantly white. A picture to illustrate:

 

[Broken Byzan]

std HID bulb will be around 4300k .

The higher the number, the bluer the bulb, the bluer the bulb the least usable light they throw on the road

 

[J7USS]

What Mark says mate but Ive heard someone on here saying the standards are 3500k too but only heard it the once so from what the majority of the forum said before id go with the 4300k!!

 

[cobraBLACK]

I thought they'd be around 4000 K. I might have to check the bulbs out myself.

 

[golf]

Any standard D1S/D2S bulb from Philips or Osram will be 4300k. This is the industry standard as it produces the most lumens (useable light).

People are often mislead into thinking that the newer cars use higher kelvin bulbs because of the purple and blue colour from the projectors, but all OEM xenons will have 4300k bulbs from the factory. They do tend to colourshift after a few years though, so they end up being nearer 4700k after extensive use,

 

[BahnStormer77]

Pretty sure they're 4300K, but do go very slightly bluer with age... as mentioned above: 4300K will give the most usable light and they'll very obviously be "NOT Halogens" - not sure why people would want to go any higher than 4300K unless you're after some sort of "Need For Speed Underground" points or something along those lines.

If they're definitely OEM bulbs, but have a distinctive blue/purple hue this could be bacause of some other bulbs in the cluster (e.g. the highbeam / sidelights) have a special "Xenon-look" couting because they're filament bulbs but want a "pure" white look to the light... usually happens when the light form the sidelights goes through the side of blue-coated highbeam bulbs that aren't switched on...

 

[quattrojames]

I'll confirm oem xenons as 4300k (not that it's needed)!

If you bought 6000k main beam bulbs in my opinion you wouldn't notice the difference between the them and the 4300's. I have xenon 'look' H7 bulbs in my mains and they match my 6000k HID's fine. From outside you can detect a slight colour change if you look at the bulb - (but who ever looks at them illuminated at the same time) - and from inside you can't detect the change in beam colour at all.

 

[cobraBLACK]

How do your 'xenon look' bulbs perform in relation to your HIDs?

Is there a gap in the overall beam?

Is there much difference in brightness between dipped HID and main H7?

 

[Broken Byzan]

Myself and others have already told you they were 4300K, no need to remove them to check. Sometimes its the stlye of projector that causes the blue/purple hue.

 

[quattrojames]

How do your 'xenon look' bulbs perform in relation to your HIDs?

Is there a gap in the overall beam?

Is there much difference in brightness between dipped HID and main H7?

The bulbs aren't as bright as the HID's - but they cover the upper half of the beam pattern so it's less crucial than the brightness needed to illuminate the verge/road as supplied by HID's.

The upper half of the beam pattern isn't as crisp or as white as the HID's - but in reality it's really no concern. The HID's are clearly brighter, but my mains are pretty good (they are 100w bulbs).

 

[paul20v]

but my mains are pretty good (they are 100w bulbs).

I hope you have relayed main at 100watts each the standard wiring and switch gear isnt upto that increase also a relay will supply better voltage to the bulb and therefore give you better light .

 

[quattrojames]

I hope you have relayed main at 100watts each the standard wiring and switch gear isnt upto that increase also a relay will supply better voltage to the bulb and therefore give you better light .

No I havent done any of those things. Its been discussed on here in the past, maybe it's not ideal, but all I can say is I fitted them almost three years ago now .... It's only the main beams that are 100w's and they are never on for 'that' long.

 

[paul20v]

No I havent done any of those things. Its been discussed on here in the past, maybe it's not ideal, but all I can say is I fitted them almost three years ago now .... It's only the main beams that are 100w's and they are never on for 'that' long.

Definately worth doing , the voltage drop on OEM wiring and switches is terrible compared to your own wiring and relay it will give you more light as youve gone down the 100w route :thumbsup:

 

[BahnStormer77]

hmmm... any updates on info around using HID's as highbeams?

I know the initial warm-up isn't THAT great, but given the extra light they give within a second, is it worth it?

As this would get around the voltage/current issue since HID's draw a lot less current due to their lower wattage.

 

[cobraBLACK]

hmmm... any updates on info around using HID's has highbeams?

I know the initial warm-up isn't THAT great, but given the extra light they give within a second, is it worth it?

As this would get around the voltage/current issue since HID's draw a lot less current due to their lower wattage.

The H4s on my Impreza work fine - they illuminate instantly and get brighter over the course of about 3-5 seconds. Not being full brightness when they first come on doesn't make a difference really.

 

[BahnStormer77]

The H4s on my Impreza work fine....

Aren't H4's, by definition filament-based Halogen bulbs, so should get to full brightness VERY quickly?

I was asking about the fluorencent/arc-based Xenon HID bulbs....

 

[cobraBLACK]

They're H4 fitment anyway. They act the same as the OEM projectors on my S4.

 

[BahnStormer77]

They're H4 fitment anyway. They act the same as the OEM projectors on my S4.

Highbeams are normally Halogen projectors (so that sounds like what you've got).. I was just querying whether it was worth trying to get change these over to Xenon (HID) bulbs and the corresponding high voltage AC ballasts.

 

[cobraBLACK]

...I was just querying whether it was worth trying to get change these over to Xenon (HID) bulbs and the corresponding high voltage AC ballasts.

Which is what's in the Impreza and what I was thinking about doing for the S4 - I think the question is whether it's worth doing this or just going with a white halogen (although websites don't seem to publish a colour temperature for comparison to HIDs).