headlights
#1
01-14-2007, 11:26 PM
headlights
i got some used one piece headlights for my 98 a4 that came out of a 01 a4. they did have HIDs in before but did not come with the blubs or ballasts. so now i want to put in HIDs. i am looking at just buying a kit buy what kit do i need to buy? i have looked around and found that the d2s bulbs were in there so can i just buy a d2s conversion kit?
#2
01-15-2007, 02:06 AM
RE: headlights
You need D2S bulbs (since that denotes bulbs that are meant for projector headlights), and you need to order them in the bulb style that originally went in those headlights (ie, H7, H1, whatever it is). Then you need to select color temperature. There's a ton of info in search, and even in my past posts (I talk HIDs a lot LOL), but get something from 4300k to 6000k. Going higher than that is going to start considerably diminishing the output of the lights. As you go higher, the light becomes more and more blue, and blue is awful for visibility. Natural sunlight is very close to 4300k, and those do give the most intense light. I've had those, as well as 5000k and (currently) 6000k, and I would definitely NOT go any higher than 6000k. They work well, but I can see a difference between them and the 4300k kit I had before. PM if you want to discuss further.
#5
01-15-2007, 02:52 AM
RE: headlights
In the picture the higher k one look brighter but you say from real world experience they are less bright? Has anyone ever had higher and lower ones to give a comparison? I have been having troble trying to descide what to go with.
#6
01-15-2007, 03:25 AM
RE: headlights
its the entire theory... its been proven, they do not yield as much light as a lower temp bulb will
#7
01-15-2007, 03:47 AM
RE: headlights
They LOOK brighter maybe as you stare at the lens, but the light they emit, as it lights the road, dims out more and more the higher in the Kelvin range you go. As Lazer Viking said, it's proven - you can even check the luminosity of the kits (go to eBay and take a look at some of the sellers' ads - they'll list the output intensity in lumens) - you'll see that a 4300k kit emits at about 3300 lumens (the brightest), a 5000k kit is around 3250 lumens, and the 6000k kit is still above 3000 lumens. Then take a look at the 10,000k and 12,000k kits - they're significantly lower yet. They're still more intense than halogens, which have a luminosity of about 750 lumens, but the light they emit will appear bluish, which will negate some of the advantage that a higher luminosity would suggest. At least the jaundiced white of halogens is more "visible" than the very blue light emitted by the high-Kelvin HID kits. Stick with 4300-6000k and you won't have any trouble. Higher luminosity, whiter light than halogens. Search my old posts on HIDs - I've posted output pics of my 6000k kit numerous times - you'll see how bright and white they look to the driver. Go higher than 6000k though, and output definitely suffers.
#8
01-15-2007, 05:03 AM
RE: headlights
ORIGINAL: UpstateNYA4
They LOOK brighter maybe as you stare at the lens, but the light they emit, as it lights the road, dims out more and more the higher in the Kelvin range you go. As Lazer Viking said, it's proven - you can even check the luminosity of the kits (go to eBay and take a look at some of the sellers' ads - they'll list the output intensity in lumens) - you'll see that a 4300k kit emits at about 3300 lumens (the brightest), a 5000k kit is around 3250 lumens, and the 6000k kit is still above 3000 lumens. Then take a look at the 10,000k and 12,000k kits - they're significantly lower yet. They're still more intense than halogens, which have a luminosity of about 750 lumens, but the light they emit will appear bluish, which will negate some of the advantage that a higher luminosity would suggest. At least the jaundiced white of halogens is more "visible" than the very blue light emitted by the high-Kelvin HID kits. Stick with 4300-6000k and you won't have any trouble. Higher luminosity, whiter light than halogens. Search my old posts on HIDs - I've posted output pics of my 6000k kit numerous times - you'll see how bright and white they look to the driver. Go higher than 6000k though, and output definitely suffers.
They LOOK brighter maybe as you stare at the lens, but the light they emit, as it lights the road, dims out more and more the higher in the Kelvin range you go. As Lazer Viking said, it's proven - you can even check the luminosity of the kits (go to eBay and take a look at some of the sellers' ads - they'll list the output intensity in lumens) - you'll see that a 4300k kit emits at about 3300 lumens (the brightest), a 5000k kit is around 3250 lumens, and the 6000k kit is still above 3000 lumens. Then take a look at the 10,000k and 12,000k kits - they're significantly lower yet. They're still more intense than halogens, which have a luminosity of about 750 lumens, but the light they emit will appear bluish, which will negate some of the advantage that a higher luminosity would suggest. At least the jaundiced white of halogens is more "visible" than the very blue light emitted by the high-Kelvin HID kits. Stick with 4300-6000k and you won't have any trouble. Higher luminosity, whiter light than halogens. Search my old posts on HIDs - I've posted output pics of my 6000k kit numerous times - you'll see how bright and white they look to the driver. Go higher than 6000k though, and output definitely suffers.
the stock xenon hid's from factory on an '01 2.8 are 4300k right?? Theyre pretty blue when just looking at them, and appear blue when you turn the lights on against a white wall, but when your on the road they look an awesome white and light up the road nicely, and from others drivers views they still give out a nice crystaly (sp?) blue..
#9
01-15-2007, 06:09 AM
RE: headlights
ateurv8 is right. I drive an 01 with the xenon and they are really nice to have. so much better then stock halogens. Get the conversion kit with the D2S and you will not regret it. Go to the AF sponsor visionbulbs
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