OEM HID's - What colour temperature

MikeHunt79 · 30 Jul 2009 at 14:47

Rilot said:
I've got 55W 6000K HIDs in both my car and bike. Can't say I've noticed them being blue when compared to the OEM HIDs I had in my 540i, RX8, A8 and GS430 before.

Are you sure they're not 35W HID's? I don't think 55W HID's are legal for road use...

MuvverRussia · 30 Jul 2009 at 17:07

Isn't the Octy projector only for the foglamps? Dipped/Main beam are reflector (at least it is on my 03 vRS).

Rilot · 30 Jul 2009 at 17:45

MikeHunt79 said:
Are you sure they're not 35W HID's? I don't think 55W HID's are legal for road use...

They are 55W

lordrobs · 30 Jul 2009 at 18:27

MuvverRussia said:
Isn't the Octy projector only for the foglamps? Dipped/Main beam are reflector (at least it is on my 03 vRS).

I think he's talking about the mk2.

MikeHunt79 · 30 Jul 2009 at 18:42

Rilot said:
They are 55W

Hmm, I'd imagine they'd be very bright as most HID's are 35W. Still, I don't see anything wrong with using them as long as the beam pattern doesn't blind other road users.

Westyfield2 · 30 Jul 2009 at 18:50

MikeHunt79 said:
Hmm, I'd imagine they'd be very bright as most HID's are 35W. Still, I don't see anything wrong with using them as long as the beam pattern doesn't blind other road users.

I was under the impression that all factory fit HID's are 35w, and only 35w's are recommended for retro-fitting as 55w will be too much for the stock wiring.

Flukester · 30 Jul 2009 at 18:58

I have 6k 35w on bike, love the colour and though lose abit of light I think the blue tint adds to night visibility (I thought this had been proven)

How 6k can be seen as 'ricer' I don't know... it's the fools going higher than that I cant understand like 8k+

Also swapped out sidelights for LEDs that give similar colour..

Flukester · 30 Jul 2009 at 19:01

Dogbreath said:
The lower the number the more light you get, and the less silly they look.

the lower the number the more yellow and more silly it looks

it's just down to taste I guess

Rilot · 30 Jul 2009 at 19:31

Westyfield2 said:
I was under the impression that all factory fit HID's are 35w, and only 35w's are recommended for retro-fitting as 55w will be too much for the stock wiring.

Well, I have 2 running on the bike and it's fine. Has been fine for ages too.
The bike and car both have projector lamps and I've set the beam well low. They are crazy bright so I don't want to be dazzling people.

MikeHunt79 · 30 Jul 2009 at 22:24

Westyfield2 said:
I was under the impression that all factory fit HID's are 35w, and only 35w's are recommended for retro-fitting as 55w will be too much for the stock wiring.

55w is fine for stock wiring, halogens are 55w after all.

stoofa · 31 Jul 2009 at 01:33

MuvverRussia said:
Isn't the Octy projector only for the foglamps? Dipped/Main beam are reflector (at least it is on my 03 vRS).

Aye - we're talking the MkII so Projector on the Dipped/Main.

The Octy is a little picky about after-market sets due to the "Blown Bulb" detectors.
Neither of the two suppliers of kits have recommended we attempt to use the 55w kits because of this (yer I know the halogen lights are 55w, but I'll assume they know what they are talking about).

Looking to upgrade the side-lights to LED too - that's expensive as need to buy some with inline resistors, again to stop the "blown" warning.
So looking at around £20 just for the two side-lights.
Still undecided on the 4300k or 6000k option.

It's going to be annoying as I know once we've fitted them to my friends car I am going to think they look really nice and want them on my own.
But just too worried about the potential legal implications - however I'll only be laughing if my friends car fails it's MOT in November