HID kit Installed...but some concerns

[hyundaiLKsunday]

Finally got the slim ballast HID kit exchanged for the regular ballast version and installed it yesterday. You can see how I installed the ballasts in this HID Install Photo Gallery (http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/gallery2/v/car-hidinstall/), along with some comparison shots against the garage door.

My one concern is that I don't *really* know what color temp these are. The original slim kit I ordered was a 6000K set. The replacement I received didn't indicate ANYWHERE what color temp it is. To my eye, it seems more blueish than "bright white". The most accurate photo in terms of color would be this one:

http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/gallery2/d/204-1/Fog-HID.jpg

What do you think? Did they send me 8000k? If this is 6000k, I might be tempted to get the 5000k kit instead, because I can't tell that it's any brighter than my SilverStars, and driving home in the snow kinda sucked last night with these. I care more about light output/brightness than color.

Lastly...I don't know if this factors in, but I was an idiot and forgot to plug the electrical connections on one side. I didn't realize it until I turned them on for the first time, and only the left side came on. Is this going to f*ck everything up? Once I plugged the other side in, they seemed uniform...

[soullesselantra]

i would go back to the other ballasts and not mess with these...they seem like they are not worth the trouble

[hyundaiLKsunday]

I didn't install the slim ones. Too much extra cable.

FYI, this is the same set iLan has, that a few other people purchased.

[DJ Hellfire]

They look like 8000K to me. Return them. Also, leaving the electrical connection off the other side won't do any harm. Don't worry.

You can clearly see the difference from your own pics:

6000K:
http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/gallery2/d/194-1/Low-Beam-HID.jpg

8000K:
http://www.wasteofbandwidth.net/gallery2/d/206-2/Fog-HID.jpg

[kahunaelantra86]

Whenever I drive in the snow with mine, they never seem very bright, but once the snow is gone, I felt a lot better about them.

[hyundaiLKsunday]

DJ Hellfire...
Those were both taken with the HIDs, within about 3 minutes of each other. The only difference is that I turned the fogs on for comparison for the second pic. The photography/color balance is deceptive in the first shot due to the camera. The shot with the fogs depicts the ACTUAL color that I am getting from the HIDs. Night photography sucks!

If they ACTUALLY looked like they look in the first photo, I'd be VERY happy with them.

That being the case, would say still say they might be 8000k? I don't think they'd even know if I asked them since it wasn't identified on the box.

[DJ Hellfire]

DJ Hellfire...
Those were both taken with the HIDs, within about 3 minutes of each other. The only difference is that I turned the fogs on for comparison for the second pic. The photography/color balance is deceptive in the first shot due to the camera. The shot with the fogs depicts the ACTUAL color that I am getting from the HIDs. Night photography sucks!

If they ACTUALLY looked like they look in the first photo, I'd be VERY happy with them.

That being the case, would say still say they might be 8000k? I don't think they'd even know if I asked them since it wasn't identified on the box.


Interesting! Well, I have 6000K in my fogs and they look closer to the first pic.

[OPZ]

Their 6k. I have a 6k kit and they are that "blue".

But with that, and I'm guessing by your response you do have a small photography background?

Anyways, you kinda answered yourself. The first pic shows it as white because I'm guessing the camera auto-white balanced off the garage door, showing the light as "white". With the fogs on though, the white balance changes, and thus you see the lights as "blue" but the fogs still yellow.

Anyways, all crap aside, it's "blue" only because a bright cloudless sky is 5.6k, which is actually "bluer" light, because of the sky's color etc.

Personally speaking I like the 6k better then the 5. The "blue" makes it a little easier to see things, rather then incredibly bright freaking white.

[04 elantra cvvt]

There is no way that those are 6000k. They have to be at least 8000k. I have a set of 6000k, and they look a lot like the pic with the fogs off. If you look at the front on pic, they are definitely blue, not white. 8000k for sure.

[hyundaiLKsunday]

Their 6k. I have a 6k kit and they are that "blue".

But with that, and I'm guessing by your response you do have a small photography background?

Yeah. BUT...I was also using the auto "Twilight" setting on my mother's Sony camera. I'll try a shot with my Canon camera, although I won't have my parents garage to shoot it against. I'm a little more used to the settings on my camera and maybe I can get a more true white balance. The Sony would auto detect the white balance (a feature that I HATE in any camera.)

Now...had they just labeled the damn box, I wouldn't have the problem to begin with!

[elantra1012]

I have the ultra high performance sliver stars which are the best ones they sell. The about $45 I am thiking about doing the hid conversion. Is it worth doing the conversion or staying with my silverstars. I want the output more than the color. I know my friend has a 350z and nissan has them stock in that car at 6000k and that would be probably the one to choose.

[hyundaiLKsunday]

Based on others experience, I'm thinking their answer would be "hell yes!"

Based on my experience so far...I hate to say it, but other than the color, I can't tell a difference in light output/brightness. Hopefully they actually did send me 8000k by accident...

[soullesselantra]

i have 5500-6000K HIDs in my del Sol, and 12000K HIDs in my F250, they are both amazing...the 12s are a little too colorful for me though

[maral01]

I have the ultra high performance sliver stars which are the best ones they sell. The about $45 I am thiking about doing the hid conversion. Is it worth doing the conversion or staying with my silverstars. I want the output more than the color. I know my friend has a 350z and nissan has them stock in that car at 6000k and that would be probably the one to choose.

If you plan on going with output before looks, it is highly suggested that you stay below 6000k and going preferably with a 4300k, which is the industry standard in all HID equiped vehicle (OEM) and the brightest. Unless I am mistaken, your friend with the 350Z must have 4300k in his vehicle (unless they started to put 6000k in the nissan, which I doubt because as far as I know, 4300k is the only DOT approved color temp).

[04 elantra cvvt]

Based on others experience, I'm thinking their answer would be "hell yes!"

Based on my experience so far...I hate to say it, but other than the color, I can't tell a difference in light output/brightness. Hopefully they actually did send me 8000k by accident...

You should be seeing a HUGE difference. There is not an incandescent bulb on the market that even comes close to the output of HID's. Hopefully they sent you some 8000K or even 10000K. You should try to contact them and see about a swap.

[OPZ]

If you plan on going with output before looks, it is highly suggested that you stay below 6000k and going preferably with a 4300k, which is the industry standard in all HID equiped vehicle (OEM) and the brightest. Unless I am mistaken, your friend with the 350Z must have 4300k in his vehicle (unless they started to put 6000k in the nissan, which I doubt because as far as I know, 4300k is the only DOT approved color temp).


4300k Is a little whiter, not much more then Halogens. Finally, I've found a good chart that explains this:

http://www.gthid.ca/images/kelvinchart.gif


OK! So as everyone can see, the chart shows that 4300k, is JUST shy of going over neutral tones. NOW! Remember, this chart shows only COLOR! HID's will by nature GUARANTEED IMPROVE LIGHT OUTPUT OVER REGULAR HEADLIGHT BULBS OF ANY MAKE/KIND! THE DIFFERENCE OF 6k, 8k, 12k, whateverK, makes NO DIFFERENCE ON THE LIGHT OUTPUT!

So anyways, 6k, is just tipping into the bluer tones of the color output, which will render everything caught in its light in "cooler" tones. Lots of people prefer this, but really, its up to the individual. You can even tell on most LCD monitors where you prefer. Do you leave it at the 4.3k (I think) preset, or the 2.3(I think) preset. I'm a fan of the cooler looks, and even in my video's tend to make them look a little cooler, as I feel its more natural.

ANYWAYS! This is not an attack on anyone or anything, just a final explanation as to everything just to make all said and done and final.

But I still say those are 6k. If you look at pics of my car (second link in my sig) I believe I have pics of mine.

[04 elantra cvvt]

These are 6000k's

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p13/camaro_thunder92/hid08.jpg

[KeWLKaT]

Wow. You guys are making me jealous. I have the Bosch HID kit here waiting to go in my car, alas I need to finish putting it back together first to install these...

[04 elantra cvvt]

Felix, you need to get them in there... it's for your own safety! :)

[KeWLKaT]

Well my safety isn't in danger since the car isn't moving :D

BTW, I know you made you own glare shields... would you make me a pair? Munky doesn't seem like he's going to come up with any anytime soon...

[04 elantra cvvt]

PM sent.

[hyundaiLKsunday]

Found a pic that's actually representative of the colors I'm seeing:
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i146/eglobaltrading/Techone/TechoneColors.jpg

Mine are definitely 6000K...and too blue for my tastes. I plan on exchanging for 5000k.

[OPZ]

It must be me then, because I have the 6k, labeled as 6k, but they are white. I'll see if I can get a video or something...

[Munky]

I have 6000K and it's not as blue as that picture.

[04GTboySC]

here are my 8k hids just for reference i know the pic sucks i plan to get a better one soon maybe tonight if i remember my camera

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/04gtboyVA/HIDkitIceBergBlue-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/04gtboyVA/2007_1215newcarpics1215070005.jpg