HID colour

86JR · 26 Nov 2009 at 20:34

But isnt that cool ? I like mine (6000K)

I find if anything light output is more green, this might be due to the yellow sidelights.

Jez · 26 Nov 2009 at 20:38

That doesnt look blue at all, infact i definitely wouldnt want any yellower than that.

:/ Undecided.

86JR · 26 Nov 2009 at 20:39

Porsche is more likey to have 6000k. I have seen them with purple tinge (8-10k) as standard.

86JR · 26 Nov 2009 at 20:41

You can see that in this when he turns off the full beam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbzxWukvfls&feature=related

[TW]Fox · 26 Nov 2009 at 20:44

twoblacklines said:
Porsche is more likey to have 6000k. I have seen them with purple tinge (8-10k) as standard.

There is absolutelty no way a factory Porsche has 8k HIDs!

james.miller · 26 Nov 2009 at 20:49

Jez said:
That doesnt look blue at all, infact i definitely wouldnt want any yellower than that.

:/ Undecided.

they look closer to 4k!

http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/colour/colour-temperature.html

86JR · 26 Nov 2009 at 20:49

Theres one in plymouth that blinds me when its behind me, it has a funny plate something like 8G 1D (with that spacing) and its definetly purpley blue tinge.

Jez · 26 Nov 2009 at 20:55

twoblacklines said:
Theres one in plymouth that blinds me when its behind me, it has a funny plate something like 8G 1D (with that spacing) and its definetly purpley blue tinge.

Could perhaps be modded?

Dandle · 26 Nov 2009 at 21:08

I think most OEMs use 4300k temp as standard because it puts out the most usable light onto the road. The reason a lot have the tinge of colour at certain angles is due to the projector lens.

chipperhead · 26 Nov 2009 at 23:16

Seems a lot of people have this problem when choosing hid lights.
They should make something like a 5100, don't know why they dont :confused:

Actually thinking about it, that may produce a pukey green type light.

Sin_Chase · 26 Nov 2009 at 23:22

4300K will be OEM.

I think Philips make the only road legal (e marked) 6000k HID bulb and this was only recently afaik.

I considered upping to 6000K but it's not worth the compromise in loss of light output, it's a fair amount less. 6000-6500K may be more appealing to the eye on the tarmac but 4300K will put more lumens out regardless of colour trickery.

Lenses in projectors also play a big part on what kind of a hue the bulbs appear from different angels when viewed from outside the car.

mrk · 26 Nov 2009 at 23:47

What are E46 xenons by default? mine are pretty much pure white once warmed up, there's no hint of yellow/pukey green only a twinkle of purple/blue from certain angles.

I read that higher colour ranges lose out on road illumination, is this true?

Edit*

Ah, ^ Guess it was true

Flukester · 27 Nov 2009 at 07:38

Sirrel Squirrel said:
I have 4300Ks and they still have a blue/puple tint.

If you have purple tint in your 4k3 HIDs that I'd suggest that maybe your using a very cheap ebay kit ?, poor quality bulbs suffer from this. Also poor lenes in projectors or old reflectors can give this effect.

stoofa · 27 Nov 2009 at 09:12

If I had to guess I'd say your Merc OEM was around 6k - they do have a blue tint to them.
But I'd say 99.9% of the market seem to use 4300k OEM.

Confused · 27 Nov 2009 at 09:46

OEM is 4300K.

Only Philips and Osram make HIDs for OEMs, and they are all 4300K.

Any colour discrepancies are due entirely to the design of the projector lens.

My Prelude has a Philips D2S on one side and an Osram D2S bulb on the other, and in the identical projector units, they are an identical colour.

The two separate Porsche units they originally came from gave different light colours, and when I swapped the bulbs around, they still output the same colour difference - the bulbs had no effect.

And one of the bulbs in question:

Jez · 27 Nov 2009 at 10:10

Hmm this is not getting any easier. I guess i can swap bulbs around between various HID systems though?

Lopéz · 27 Nov 2009 at 10:44

Flukester said:
thats not true, the extra blue in 6k helps night vision. even though slightly down on output it still produces better night vision

I think the main reason for this is white lines / signs / road furniture react better to that colour... and glow back at you

We fitted 6k HID spotlamps to a Mk2 Escort road rally car and actually found the extra blue to be a hinderance - the extra glow from lines/signs etc was very distracting and on balance both of us preferred standard halogen Super Oscars.

Sin_Chase · 27 Nov 2009 at 10:46

Jez - Yes you can, assuming the fitment type is the same.

Dangerous Dave · 27 Nov 2009 at 10:53

Jez said:
Hmm this is not getting any easier. I guess i can swap bulbs around between various HID systems though?

You can swap bulbs around. If you want OEM go for 4300k if you want a bluer light go for 6k. I have tired 6k bulbs in my factory Xenons and it did reduce the output to the road but made signs brighter I personally prefer having more light on the road as signs are still clear with 4300k bulbs so put the OEM 4300k bulbs back in.

Jez · 27 Nov 2009 at 10:59

So the question is, will a 996 look good with 6000's or will it look like i have obviously "modded" it. (I hate modded cars). I am not sure about 4300, if my S-class runs 4300 as people think then they are too yellow.