Is there a way to upgrade xenon lights?
08-13-2010, 02:27 AM
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2005 CL65 (current), 2001 CL600 (chopped)
Is there a way to upgrade xenon lights?
The OEM xenon headlights on my 01 CL600 are pretty decent, but I drove in a 2009 rental Toyota Camry, and honestly the Camry's headlights completely blow mine away. It was rather pathetic. It was complete and utter night and day difference.
Are there any high performance upgraded ballasts or bulbs available for our cars? Or maybe my bulbs are just too old and fading?
Are there any high performance upgraded ballasts or bulbs available for our cars? Or maybe my bulbs are just too old and fading?
08-13-2010, 07:37 AM
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'13 ML63 Performance Pack
You can keep upgrading temperature of your xenon bulbs. Standard on yours I guest is 4500, try 8000 or 10000 and you will notice you will start blinding everyone 
08-13-2010, 10:26 AM
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2005 CL65 (current), 2001 CL600 (chopped)
I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with you there. Color temperature only affects color, not brightness output. Higher color temperature just makes it bluer and eventually purple. The white ranges are typically brighter (4000-5000 Kelvin).
08-13-2010, 12:45 PM
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Try 6000K, I think you will like it. I have it on my hi-beam for my SL500 and you can read newspaper about a block away LOL.
I think the Acura TL has the best lights (in term of brightness) out there. My neighbor has one, I might just steel them tonight LOL.
I think the Acura TL has the best lights (in term of brightness) out there. My neighbor has one, I might just steel them tonight LOL.
08-14-2010, 01:42 PM
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2003 Lincoln LS V8
HID bulbs colorshift (become more blue and lose output) as they age, so if you're on your original bulbs new bulbs will definitely help. If you're looking for the most light output (lumens), blue is not the way to go. Higher color temperature bulbs generally produce less light. Most 6000K bulbs usually produce around 2800 lumens.
The brightest (most lumens) HID bulbs I've seen is the Philips 85126+ (not the same as 85126). They're rated for 3400 lumens and 4200K color temperature (IIRC; I've seen the spec sheets but I can't find them anymore). They're also designed to resist colorshift over time. The bulbs look white when viewed head-on, but the light on the road definitely has a yellowish tint.
If you're looking for a high output pure white bulb, the Philips 85126CX is probably your best bet. They looks white when viewed head-on (they make the 85126+ look slightly yellow when viewed side-by-side), and the light output from them is as close to pure white as you're going to find (no discernible blue or yellow tint). They're rated for 3200 lumens and 5400K color temperature, and are also designed not to colorshift. They achieve their color by using neodymium glass (same as the Reveal/daylight incandescent bulbs), which filters out yellow light.
Edit: 85122+/CX is for the D2S bulbs in the 2003+ CL's, 85126+/CL is for the D2R bulbs in the 2000-2002 CL's.
The brightest (most lumens) HID bulbs I've seen is the Philips 85126+ (not the same as 85126). They're rated for 3400 lumens and 4200K color temperature (IIRC; I've seen the spec sheets but I can't find them anymore). They're also designed to resist colorshift over time. The bulbs look white when viewed head-on, but the light on the road definitely has a yellowish tint.
If you're looking for a high output pure white bulb, the Philips 85126CX is probably your best bet. They looks white when viewed head-on (they make the 85126+ look slightly yellow when viewed side-by-side), and the light output from them is as close to pure white as you're going to find (no discernible blue or yellow tint). They're rated for 3200 lumens and 5400K color temperature, and are also designed not to colorshift. They achieve their color by using neodymium glass (same as the Reveal/daylight incandescent bulbs), which filters out yellow light.
Edit: 85122+/CX is for the D2S bulbs in the 2003+ CL's, 85126+/CL is for the D2R bulbs in the 2000-2002 CL's.
Last edited by StarPower; 08-14-2010 at 01:47 PM. Reason: Clarify part numbers
08-14-2010, 02:07 PM
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04 CLK 320 > CLK32K
HID bulbs colorshift (become more blue and lose output) as they age, so if you're on your original bulbs new bulbs will definitely help. If you're looking for the most light output (lumens), blue is not the way to go. Higher color temperature bulbs generally produce less light. Most 6000K bulbs usually produce around 2800 lumens.
The brightest (most lumens) HID bulbs I've seen is the Philips 85126+ (not the same as 85126). They're rated for 3400 lumens and 4200K color temperature (IIRC; I've seen the spec sheets but I can't find them anymore). They're also designed to resist colorshift over time. The bulbs look white when viewed head-on, but the light on the road definitely has a yellowish tint.
If you're looking for a high output pure white bulb, the Philips 85126CX is probably your best bet. They looks white when viewed head-on (they make the 85126+ look slightly yellow when viewed side-by-side), and the light output from them is as close to pure white as you're going to find (no discernible blue or yellow tint). They're rated for 3200 lumens and 5400K color temperature, and are also designed not to colorshift. They achieve their color by using neodymium glass (same as the Reveal/daylight incandescent bulbs), which filters out yellow light.
Edit: 85122+/CX is for the D2S bulbs in the 2003+ CL's, 85126+/CL is for the D2R bulbs in the 2000-2002 CL's.
The brightest (most lumens) HID bulbs I've seen is the Philips 85126+ (not the same as 85126). They're rated for 3400 lumens and 4200K color temperature (IIRC; I've seen the spec sheets but I can't find them anymore). They're also designed to resist colorshift over time. The bulbs look white when viewed head-on, but the light on the road definitely has a yellowish tint.
If you're looking for a high output pure white bulb, the Philips 85126CX is probably your best bet. They looks white when viewed head-on (they make the 85126+ look slightly yellow when viewed side-by-side), and the light output from them is as close to pure white as you're going to find (no discernible blue or yellow tint). They're rated for 3200 lumens and 5400K color temperature, and are also designed not to colorshift. They achieve their color by using neodymium glass (same as the Reveal/daylight incandescent bulbs), which filters out yellow light.
Edit: 85122+/CX is for the D2S bulbs in the 2003+ CL's, 85126+/CL is for the D2R bulbs in the 2000-2002 CL's.
Anything for the D1s bulbs?
08-14-2010, 04:19 PM
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2005 CL65 (current), 2001 CL600 (chopped)
HID bulbs colorshift (become more blue and lose output) as they age, so if you're on your original bulbs new bulbs will definitely help. If you're looking for the most light output (lumens), blue is not the way to go. Higher color temperature bulbs generally produce less light. Most 6000K bulbs usually produce around 2800 lumens.
The brightest (most lumens) HID bulbs I've seen is the Philips 85126+ (not the same as 85126). They're rated for 3400 lumens and 4200K color temperature (IIRC; I've seen the spec sheets but I can't find them anymore). They're also designed to resist colorshift over time. The bulbs look white when viewed head-on, but the light on the road definitely has a yellowish tint.
If you're looking for a high output pure white bulb, the Philips 85126CX is probably your best bet. They looks white when viewed head-on (they make the 85126+ look slightly yellow when viewed side-by-side), and the light output from them is as close to pure white as you're going to find (no discernible blue or yellow tint). They're rated for 3200 lumens and 5400K color temperature, and are also designed not to colorshift. They achieve their color by using neodymium glass (same as the Reveal/daylight incandescent bulbs), which filters out yellow light.
Edit: 85122+/CX is for the D2S bulbs in the 2003+ CL's, 85126+/CL is for the D2R bulbs in the 2000-2002 CL's.
The brightest (most lumens) HID bulbs I've seen is the Philips 85126+ (not the same as 85126). They're rated for 3400 lumens and 4200K color temperature (IIRC; I've seen the spec sheets but I can't find them anymore). They're also designed to resist colorshift over time. The bulbs look white when viewed head-on, but the light on the road definitely has a yellowish tint.
If you're looking for a high output pure white bulb, the Philips 85126CX is probably your best bet. They looks white when viewed head-on (they make the 85126+ look slightly yellow when viewed side-by-side), and the light output from them is as close to pure white as you're going to find (no discernible blue or yellow tint). They're rated for 3200 lumens and 5400K color temperature, and are also designed not to colorshift. They achieve their color by using neodymium glass (same as the Reveal/daylight incandescent bulbs), which filters out yellow light.
Edit: 85122+/CX is for the D2S bulbs in the 2003+ CL's, 85126+/CL is for the D2R bulbs in the 2000-2002 CL's.
Also, I guess there aren't any ballast upgrades available? The Japanese ballasts just seem to be so superior
