What HID kit to get for your NSX or ANY cars?

[Malibu Rapper]

I did not purchase one of Steve's kits - I did my own using the Mccullough kits (also did the high beams, which are much much much better than the stock -if you do late night, high speed runs then get the high beams). It's a simple mode drilling out the head light caps and isntalling a aftermarket gommet. As a laser physicist, I did extensive research into HIDs. The Mcculoughs used by Steve have the brightest output. The purple output on the right (although it looks cool) is much less brighter than the left. It's totaly obvious from the photos and if you do a little research into HIDs you will be convinced (google HID brightness). If you want a superior headlight get the Mccullough -either use Steve's or DIY.

Those pictures do not show the full story. Blue/green output disappears on pavement, the Philips kit is more white than anything, it's purple on the fringes. It is a very crisp white light. If you saw them side by side in person you would not question it at all. I think the purple is exaggerated when you look at the picture with both headlights at the same time, maybe a color trick. If you look at the isolated picture, it's much more white. 2 witnesses there at the time of the pictures, both came to the same conclusion.

If you do any research on the best 6000k bulb, I recommend HIDplanet forums (Google will get you results from forums not specific to HID), you will see that the bulb of preference for 6000k is the Philips Ultinon. Trust me, I was there taking the pictures. My vision is very good as well, although it has little weight on light/dark perception it's 20-15... 20-10 5 years ago. It was very easy to distinguish which was brighter.

 

[amo]

http://www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/v2/play.php?id=93144

:tongue: :biggrin:

wicked old school
thx amo

 

[cliffud]

...Blue/green output disappears on pavement, the Philips kit is more white than anything, it's purple on the fringes. It is a very crisp white light. If you saw them side by side in person you would not question it at all. I think the purple is exaggerated when you look at the picture with both headlights at the same time, maybe a color trick. If you look at the isolated picture, it's much more white. 2 witnesses there at the time of the pictures, both came to the same conclusion.

This is exactly right. The more color you have in the light, the harder it will be to see the ground since the dark light gets absorbed into the pavement while the white light reflects off of it and allows your eyes to see what is there.

Also, all color temps give off the same amount of light - it's the fact that only VISIBLE light is really useful which is why the higher the color temperature, the less the visible light output.

Over the course of time at different stages, I drove with 4300k, 5k, 6k, and 8k bulbs in my car and the higher the color temperature I went, the harder it was to see at night. The 8k was just about ridiculous and when it rained, I felt like my headlights were off. The 4300k and 5k offer the most visible light output and the 6k is really the highest I would venture for wet weather driving. Believe me, I have all the bulbs and color temperatures one could have at my disposal - and I will always go with a 4300k or 5k. The only difference is that the 5k has a very very minute tint of blue that helps remove the "yellowish" look of the 4300k (the 4300k is truly white but your eyes can fool you and it will look yellow at times- especially in the day when shining on the bumpers of other cars in traffic).

Hope that clears a few things up.

WhiteNSXs - I pm'd you some info about your H4/9003 bulbs not having the high beam functionality... did you get it?

Clifford

 

[pvmike]

I did not purchase one of Steve's kits - I did my own using the Mccullough kits (also did the high beams, which are much much much better than the stock -if you do late night, high speed runs then get the high beams). It's a simple mode drilling out the head light caps and isntalling a aftermarket gommet. As a laser physicist, I did extensive research into HIDs. The Mcculoughs used by Steve have the brightest output. The purple output on the right (although it looks cool) is much less brighter than the left. It's totaly obvious from the photos and if you do a little research into HIDs you will be convinced (google HID brightness). If you want a superior headlight get the Mccullough -either use Steve's or DIY.

I've posted my own personal experience to help others here make an informed decision. My opinions are based on physically looking at the light output of various HID kits and bulbs on our cars, both still and on the road. Unless you've done the same, I don't think you can make a blanket statement that one brand is best, regardless of what research you've done in a lab. And as far as your analysis of the light output of the different HID's in the photo - that's hogwash. The only thing you can substantiate from that photo is that one looks green and one looks purple. I guess we should have taken some photos of the beam pattern on the street that night. That would have been more telling.

In any case, I suggest comparing in person if you are in the area or if there are other Prime members up North who have different HID's. Only then will your comments have any merit.

 

[smhrednsx91]

I've posted my own personal experience to help others here make an informed decision. My opinions are based on physically looking at the light output of various HID kits and bulbs on our cars, both still and on the road. Unless you've done the same, I don't think you can make a blanket statement that one brand is best, regardless of what research you've done in a lab. And as far as your analysis of the light output of the different HID's in the photo - that's hogwash. The only thing you can substantiate from that photo is that one looks green and one looks purple. I guess we should have taken some photos of the beam pattern on the street that night. That would have been more telling.

In any case, I suggest comparing in person if you are in the area or if there are other Prime members up North who have different HID's. Only then will your comments have any merit.

With all due respect, your personal observations probably are based on what looks best to your eye and to many peoples eyes including mine. I like the right purple hue (~8000K) much better than left blue-green hue (5600-6000K). However, what our brains find most aesthetically pleasing is irrelevant as to which bulb produces the brightest and hence most useful (from a driving as opposed to an artistic) output. The 8000K purple hue produces ~ 2600 lumens while the 5600-6000K blue-green produces ~ 4600 lumens. A lumen is a measure of luminous flux (i.e. brightness) of useful light that the eye can see. For example a candle produces about 10 lumens and a 60 watt light bulb produces ~ 800 lumens. The purple 8000K bulb is about ½ as bright as the blue-green 5600K bulb. In addition, it does not matter who produces the HID bulb, all 5600K bulbs from various vendors produce the about same lumens (4600) as do the 8000k bulbs (2600). The real difference IMO is the ballest and I think McCullough is a better product based on user reviews. Just the facts.

 

[Malibu Rapper]

With all due respect, your personal observations probably are based on what looks best to your eye and to many peoples eyes including mine. I like the right purple hue (~8000K) much better than left blue-green hue (5600-6000K). However, what our brains find most aesthetically pleasing is irrelevant as to which bulb produces the brightest and hence most useful (from a driving as opposed to an artistic) output. The 8000K purple hue produces ~ 2600 lumens while the 5600-6000K blue-green produces ~ 4600 lumens. A lumen is a measure of luminous flux (i.e. brightness) of useful light that the eye can see. For example a candle produces about 10 lumens and a 60 watt light bulb produces ~ 800 lumens. The purple 8000K bulb is about ½ as bright as the blue-green 5600K bulb. In addition, it does not matter who produces the HID bulb, all 5600K bulbs from various vendors produce the about same lumens (4600) as do the 8000k bulbs (2600). The real difference IMO is the ballest and I think McCullough is a better product based on user reviews. Just the facts.

With all due respect, you are completely wrong. If you were to see them both side by side in person, it would be very clear to you which lights produced the most lumens. I have asked many times that the pictures be observed for what they are worth. The pictures show a UV hue around the Philips which is a well known trait that they have. The output of the bulbs in terms of usable light is honestly barely comparable. The Philips bulbs were brighter, put out more usable light, and anyone who would have been there to observe would have to have been blind to come to any other conclusion. Sorry, I was there, you were not. You are just looking at pictures and making guesses. The difference is not in ballast because after replacing the bulbs with Cliffud's bulbs, the output of the same ballasts is equivalent to Cliffud's kit. Conclusion, bulbs were just not up to par. Just the facts...

Edited because you seem to think the right side is 8000k which it is not. It is the Philips Ultinon 6000k kit so that may be where you are confused. FYI, manufacturers play this game of bulb temp ratings and reality. I have seen no 2 kits alike even when they claim same color temp.

 

[smhrednsx91]

With all due respect, you are completely wrong. If you were to see them both side by side in person, it would be very clear to you which lights produced the most lumens. I have asked many times that the pictures be observed for what they are worth. The pictures show a UV hue around the Philips which is a well known trait that they have. The output of the bulbs in terms of usable light is honestly barely comparable. The Philips bulbs were brighter, put out more usable light, and anyone who would have been there to observe would have to have been blind to come to any other conclusion. Sorry, I was there, you were not. You are just looking at pictures and making guesses. The difference is not in ballast because after replacing the bulbs with Cliffud's bulbs, the output of the same ballasts is equivalent to Cliffud's kit. Conclusion, bulbs were just not up to par. Just the facts...

Edited because you seem to think the right side is 8000k which it is not. It is the Philips Ultinon 6000k kit so that may be where you are confused. FYI, manufacturers play this game of bulb temp ratings and reality. I have seen no 2 kits alike even when they claim same color temp.

Your purple tint photos led me to believe you were using 8000K bulbs my apology. 6000K bulbs produce a more blue tint output – may be due to camera. By the way I have seen a variety of xenon HIDs with different temperatures (degrees K) – they are used for calibration of spectrometers (devices used to measure wavelengths of different sources i.e. lasers). However, your assessment of the 6000K bulbs being brighter than lower temp bulbs is just wrong. If you check out the various HID internet suppliers they will push the higher temps >= 6000K because many users want bling rather than usable brightness. For example check out http://www.omegaxenon.com/index.html:

“Color Temperature is a measurement in Degrees Kelvin that indicates the hue of a specific type of light source. Many people believe the misconception that colour temperature is a rating of the brightness of the bulb or Hid kit. This belief is completely false. The reality of the matter is that the higher the colour temperature, the less useable light output you will obtain. A perfect example would be a black light. This light has a colour temperature of approx 14,000k and has almost no useable light or lumens output. Higher K kits such as 12,000k, 14000k, etc. have been manufactured for individuals that are more concerned about the actual colour output of their lights as opposed to the actual useable light output.”

If you check out McCullouch & Philips web sites you will find that the outputs (lumens = useful quantity of light i.e. brightness)

Philips 4300K 3200 lumen
Philips 6000K 2800 lumen
McCulloch 3000K 3200 lumen
McCulloch 5000K 3200 lumen
McCulloch 6000K 2800 lumen
McCulloch 8000K 2550 lumen
McCulloch 10000k 2200 lumen

Another thing people should consider is: HID retrofits are illegal. Using blue or purple tinted bulbs are advertising to the authorities: Hey I’m using HIDs – bust me – I’m dum (sic). My advise is to stick to <5000K although 6000K would be a reasonable option.

 

[Malibu Rapper]

However, your assessment of the 6000K bulbs being brighter than lower temp bulbs is just wrong.

What thread are you reading now where you can say that is my assessment? I don't think anyone is stupid enough to say that, you need to stop staring directly into laser beams. You seem to be pulling things out of the air. I never said my bulbs were 8000k and I never said that high temp bulbs are brighter. Please don't put words in my mouth.

It's well known that bulbs with the same temperature rating from different manufacturers of kits are not equal. They vary in both color and brightness. I don't understand why you are trying to spread misinformation. I suggest you stop using Google and getting hits on random HID vendor websites. Go to www.hidplanet.com and do some reading.

 

[gdae]

Wait. HID retrofits are Illegal?

 

[davidf]

Technically yes.

 

[gdae]

Well, I've read a lot of HID threads but this is the first time anyone has mentioned that it is illegal.
I guess I'd better hurry and get mine before there's a crackdown.:biggrin:

 

[Jim]

Well, I've read a lot of HID threads but this is the first time anyone has mentioned that it is illegal.
I guess I'd better hurry and get mine before there's a crackdown.:biggrin:

I believe they became illegal around late 2003/early 2004.

 

[cliffud]

Yes, they are not DOT approved and for that reason I sell my kits on the premise that they are for exhibition use or track use only.

In fact, here is my official disclaimer:

Disclaimer: All HID conversion kits, no matter the source, are not DOT approved if installed outside of the factory. Moreover, in the U.S, this is not street legal for use on public roads. As a result, we officially endorse the kit for exhibition and off-road use and will only sell the kit to be used for these purposes. We are not responsible for buyers who violate the terms of sale. They will assume all responsibilities for any unauthorized or unintended use other than exhibition or off-road use.

But to be fair... how many mods are actually DOT approved? :biggrin:

 

[old_S13]

Yes, they are not DOT approved and for that reason I sell my kits on the premise that they are for exhibition use or track use only.

In fact, here is my official disclaimer:



But to be fair... how many mods are actually DOT approved? :biggrin:

I dont want to bump an old thread.... but.......................................


its near 2008 now, and you guys still havent realized that hid retrofit kits are banned for sale here in the US? even in other countries, these things are illegal for on-road use and/or sale.

besides, the type of light output you get from rebased retrofit kits (as shown above) are flawed, and cannot be compared in NO WAY to factory xenon headlamps.


if you're going to do it, do it right. either retrofit yourself some OE xenon projectors, bulbs and ballasts.... or if you want a simpler, more cost effective solution, upgrade to HIR-spec bulbs - they're available in high and low beam applications.

whatever you do, just stay away from that cheap rebased made in china junk.

mike / clearcorners.com

 

[ffffanman]

Give me a break or is it brake!!!
Next your going to tell me that your high intensity brake lights are good since they blind the heck out of me and I won't see whats coming as I slam into your car blindly.
I'm sorry but I'm having a bad day or maybe week and your paying for it.
Trev