what HID bulbs should i use
what HID bulbs should i use
my wife has the 08 SL and i'm thinking of replacing the stock headlight bulbs with HID's. knowing that they are both high and low beams, which bulb should i use to replace the stock ones?
Re: what HID bulbs should i use (Shiryuu)
Are you talking bulb type or color?
First off, what are your motivations for the HID's? Look cool? Improve lighting?
I can tell you right now, it'll look cool and improve the lighting somewhat but it'll be at the cost of other drivers. Most reflectors aren't designed to deal with HID output. Most reflector based cars retrofit projectors into their headlights to account for this. Retrofitting allows you to run HID's and reduce glare.
That being said, I don't recommend HID's. You'll get other drivers always flashing their high beams because they think you have yours on. That'll get irritating to you after the 50th car does it.
Here's the best way to illustrate it.
HID's installed in a Reflector headlight
HID's installed in a Projector headlight
One alternative to HID's, as far as USEABLE light is concerned are Sylvania Silverstar Ultras. I have a set and they produce a whiter light with a more useable light area. If you don't care about useable light they always have the cheap, colored bulbs that produce the color of HID's without the cost and glare issues.
If you're still deadset on HID's and blinding oncoming drivers then I recommend a 6000k kit. It has a light blueish hue and still produces a ton of illumination. The best way to illustrate bulb temps is this chart.
EDIT: Here's a good explanation from Omegaxenon.comQuote »What is Kelvin (K) ? :
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.
Omega Color (K) and Lumen (lm) chart :
3500K Gold Yellow 3,600 (lm)
6000K Pure White - Blueish 3,200 (lm)
6000K Pure White - Blueish 2nd Gen 4,200 (lm)
8000K Purple White 2,600 (lm)
10000K Pure Blue 2,400 (lm)[/quote]As far as bulb type, you'll need H4. That's the stock halogen bulb style. Any replacement bulbs or HID's will need to be this style to work with the stock wiring.
Another thing, with the H4 style, it has both low and high beams in 1 bulb. Unless specified, the H4 HID's only come with low beams. If a Hi/Lo kit is specified be sure to pay attention to price. A $100 dollar kit will have the HID for low beams, but will have some cheap halogen, that's actually worse than stock, for the high beam. A kit that is more expensive, and is usually specified as such, is Bi-Xenon. These will have HID's for both the high and low beam in 1 bulb. Here's a site that sells decent kits.
http://www.omegaxenon.com/page/page/2271500.htm
Thats it as far as I can recommend. If you haven't made up your mind please take heed. Take other drivers and legality issues into mind when deciding to go HID or not. It may look cool to you, but other drivers eyes will not appreciate it.
Modified by Red Devil at 2:57 AM 1/10/2009
Modified by Red Devil at 2:59 AM 1/10/2009
First off, what are your motivations for the HID's? Look cool? Improve lighting?
I can tell you right now, it'll look cool and improve the lighting somewhat but it'll be at the cost of other drivers. Most reflectors aren't designed to deal with HID output. Most reflector based cars retrofit projectors into their headlights to account for this. Retrofitting allows you to run HID's and reduce glare.
That being said, I don't recommend HID's. You'll get other drivers always flashing their high beams because they think you have yours on. That'll get irritating to you after the 50th car does it.
Here's the best way to illustrate it.
HID's installed in a Reflector headlight
HID's installed in a Projector headlight
One alternative to HID's, as far as USEABLE light is concerned are Sylvania Silverstar Ultras. I have a set and they produce a whiter light with a more useable light area. If you don't care about useable light they always have the cheap, colored bulbs that produce the color of HID's without the cost and glare issues.
If you're still deadset on HID's and blinding oncoming drivers then I recommend a 6000k kit. It has a light blueish hue and still produces a ton of illumination. The best way to illustrate bulb temps is this chart.
EDIT: Here's a good explanation from Omegaxenon.comQuote »What is Kelvin (K) ? :
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.
Omega Color (K) and Lumen (lm) chart :
3500K Gold Yellow 3,600 (lm)
6000K Pure White - Blueish 3,200 (lm)
6000K Pure White - Blueish 2nd Gen 4,200 (lm)
8000K Purple White 2,600 (lm)
10000K Pure Blue 2,400 (lm)[/quote]As far as bulb type, you'll need H4. That's the stock halogen bulb style. Any replacement bulbs or HID's will need to be this style to work with the stock wiring.
Another thing, with the H4 style, it has both low and high beams in 1 bulb. Unless specified, the H4 HID's only come with low beams. If a Hi/Lo kit is specified be sure to pay attention to price. A $100 dollar kit will have the HID for low beams, but will have some cheap halogen, that's actually worse than stock, for the high beam. A kit that is more expensive, and is usually specified as such, is Bi-Xenon. These will have HID's for both the high and low beam in 1 bulb. Here's a site that sells decent kits.
http://www.omegaxenon.com/page/page/2271500.htm
Thats it as far as I can recommend. If you haven't made up your mind please take heed. Take other drivers and legality issues into mind when deciding to go HID or not. It may look cool to you, but other drivers eyes will not appreciate it.
Modified by Red Devil at 2:57 AM 1/10/2009
Modified by Red Devil at 2:59 AM 1/10/2009
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Re: what HID bulbs should i use (Red Devil)
I agree with Red Devil. I had a guy come up behind me yesterday on the interstate before dusk and I had to switch my mirror to the night setting and then it still hurt my eyes. The Versa has better stock lights than most other cars I've ever driven. HID's will make other drivers do things I only thought about with that idiot yesterday!
Re: what HID bulbs should i use (Red Devil)
This is the answer i needed, thank you for the detailed input.Red Devil wrote: you'll need H4. That's the stock halogen bulb style.
Re: what HID bulbs should i use (Shiryuu)
The cheap ones.... Ive owned two pairs so far. One Mcculloch (too lazy to google he correct spelling...) and one EbAy brand. Both are EXACTLY the same but the name brand cost me $150 more...
I spent $100 on ebay bi-xenons and $250 on single beam McCulloch...
I spent $100 on ebay bi-xenons and $250 on single beam McCulloch...
Re: what HID bulbs should i use (CodeRed)
I bought Bi-Xenons for something like $125 or so had them about 2 months now never been happier installs a pain in the ***, at least the ballast location is. If you want my opinion go with Bi-Xenon, bulb type H4. You won't regret it, they work flawless and it has a small glare shield that moves to change hi or lo works to.
Bi-Xenon is just 1 bulb for both hi and lo with a moving glare shield.
1 tip adjust the height of the headlight housing very simple to do. Once I found a good spot for both great visibility and reduce glare to drivers I haven't been high beamed by on coming traffic once.
Oh yea I bought 5K little blue (some though) but great output!
Happy hunting
Bi-Xenon is just 1 bulb for both hi and lo with a moving glare shield.
1 tip adjust the height of the headlight housing very simple to do. Once I found a good spot for both great visibility and reduce glare to drivers I haven't been high beamed by on coming traffic once.
Oh yea I bought 5K little blue (some though) but great output!
Happy hunting