what color hid's/xenon to get?
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From: Los Angeles, Ca
Sean's Sister--
what color hid's/xenon to get?
i need to buy another set of the hid kit for my car. my old kit was a 4300k and a kind of white/bluish color but more on the white.. it was bright but i'm thinking of going to 9000k or maybe 2 kits of 4300k for both headlights and fog lights?????
i also like the purple color which i think they have only for 9000k
what color you think would look nice?????
i also like the purple color which i think they have only for 9000k
what color you think would look nice?????
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From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
4300 is standard is is pretty nice overall...
4300K is the brightest bulb you can get...
anything higher than that, the lumens are decreased... the only thing you notice is a deeper blue/purple color, but in fact, your amount of light emitted is actually reduced.
the best compromise is to get something that is 6000K in color. You get good color without sacrificing too much luminance.
4300K is the brightest bulb you can get...
anything higher than that, the lumens are decreased... the only thing you notice is a deeper blue/purple color, but in fact, your amount of light emitted is actually reduced.
the best compromise is to get something that is 6000K in color. You get good color without sacrificing too much luminance.
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From: HK (but constantly travelling)
98 W210 Advantgarde
This a legit question: I've noticed Halos come in 5000K to 8500K already, so what's the point of getting HID's if you're staying as low as 6000K instead of 12,000K+ on some HIDs I've seen on the market? Are HID's more pure or soemthing?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
Originally posted by Whitey
This a legit question: I've noticed Halos come in 5000K to 8500K already, so what's the point of getting HID's if you're staying as low as 6000K instead of 12,000K+ on some HIDs I've seen on the market? Are HID's more pure or soemthing?
This a legit question: I've noticed Halos come in 5000K to 8500K already, so what's the point of getting HID's if you're staying as low as 6000K instead of 12,000K+ on some HIDs I've seen on the market? Are HID's more pure or soemthing?
they are merely painting/coating the glass with color dye to reproduce a color with that temp rating... you are actually getting less luminance with those bulbs.
TRUE HID systems with those higher ratings use a similar tactic to achieve higher color temperatures... again, 4300K is the optimal color. 6000K is the best compromise for luminance & cool-factor.... anything over 6000K is uneccessary and is a waste of money cause you will only cause LOTS of glare for vehicles in front of you & offer less visibility...
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From: HK (but constantly travelling)
98 W210 Advantgarde
Ahhhh! So the "K" metric is one of the light color/temp, nothing to do with brightness (which I assume Wattage is the key measure here). Thanks man, very educational. I'm running Super White 4500K halos (claimed 100-120W equivalents) - they're very white and already blinding all the head-on traffic 
mmgrad, just one more so what actually determines the brightness on HID's - I've noticed some are annoyingly blinding whilst others are Ok on the eyes. Are you saying its a combination of the wattage and the color temp?
mmgrad, just one more so what actually determines the brightness on HID's - I've noticed some are annoyingly blinding whilst others are Ok on the eyes. Are you saying its a combination of the wattage and the color temp?
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From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
Originally posted by Whitey
Ahhhh! So the "K" metric is one of the light color/temp, nothing to do with brightness (which I assume Wattage is the key measure here). Thanks man, very educational. I'm running Super White 4500K halos (claimed 100-120W equivalents) - they're very white and already blinding all the head-on traffic
mmgrad, just one more so what actually determines the brightness on HID's - I've noticed some are annoyingly blinding whilst others are Ok on the eyes. Are you saying its a combination of the wattage and the color temp?
Ahhhh! So the "K" metric is one of the light color/temp, nothing to do with brightness (which I assume Wattage is the key measure here). Thanks man, very educational. I'm running Super White 4500K halos (claimed 100-120W equivalents) - they're very white and already blinding all the head-on traffic
mmgrad, just one more so what actually determines the brightness on HID's - I've noticed some are annoyingly blinding whilst others are Ok on the eyes. Are you saying its a combination of the wattage and the color temp?
halogens that say they are 80/100W is full of crap too... your housing/wire is only made to run 55w, and any bulb that burns hotter that than will just burn out quickly, or burn your wires...
some HIDs are brighter than others.... couple reasons could justify this:
- they aimed their lights higher than OE specs(like me.... hehehe)
- they have retrofitted projectors in the housings
MOST LIKELY ANSWER
- they have high "K" rated bulb (ie., 8000K, etc)
these blue/purple bulbs promote the idea of higher luminance... but what it really does it projects intense glare... and the human eye interprets glare as a bright light. This bright glare translate to eye fatigue for drives approaching you and drivers ahead of you.
If you measure the amount of lumens emitted, you will see that the 4300K bulb offers better luminance than 8000K bulbs, etc....
Oh yeah, Lumens is what measures how bright a bulb is...
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98 W210 Advantgarde
Thanks bro, really, excellent lesson in light physics!
For everyone else's information, my bulbs aren't 110W+, they are just claimed to be equivalent to 100-120W in power (they're actually 55Ws - I made sure of that). mmgrad is right, 100W bulbs will burn out your system in no time (and the damage could be quite expensive) - if any ricer shops try to tell you otherwise, tell them to shove the bulbs up their sorry ricer a$$es :p
For everyone else's information, my bulbs aren't 110W+, they are just claimed to be equivalent to 100-120W in power (they're actually 55Ws - I made sure of that). mmgrad is right, 100W bulbs will burn out your system in no time (and the damage could be quite expensive) - if any ricer shops try to tell you otherwise, tell them to shove the bulbs up their sorry ricer a$$es
:p
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From: Columbia, SC
E300
MBWorld Fanatic!
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98 W210 Advantgarde
Thanks Mich, useful link but I can't stand waiting ages for a response (especially with my time difference) and I like the "intimacy" of interactive, know what I mean?
Last edited by Whitey; Dec 23, 2003 at 11:17 AM.
Super Member
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From: Los Angeles
IMO, 6000k are classy looking. Not too blue, and no tint of yellow.
Anything above 8k is just plain ricer. And yes, you will get pulled over for purple lites. And no, it doesn't matter if it's in a mercedes.... you will get pulled over.
Anything above 8k is just plain ricer. And yes, you will get pulled over for purple lites. And no, it doesn't matter if it's in a mercedes.... you will get pulled over.
Member
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From: CA
I am really confused about new light bulbs.
Is it possible to put on HIDs for a 96 W210?
I think mine are just regular lights.
If I can, do I need a special kit or can I just out in a new set of HID bulbs?
Any recommendations?
Is it possible to put on HIDs for a 96 W210?
I think mine are just regular lights.
If I can, do I need a special kit or can I just out in a new set of HID bulbs?
Any recommendations?
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From: NY
2014 E550 4matic,, sold 2012 E 350 4matic,,sold 2010 e350 4w,sold 2002 e320 se
2 cents
For those who want a closer match to the Xenon headlites,Ive found that PIAA has extreme white plus bulbs that illuminte lite blue in color,just a shade lighter than the headlites,w/o being annoying.They are 4000k--55w.The side view,in cornering is brighter,a big help in the city.On a country lane,awesome and they closely match the Xenons.
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From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
Originally posted by AlBoston
dont forget that D2S xenon bulbs are brighter than the D2R bulbs. I think D2S put out 400 more lumens than D2R.
dont forget that D2S xenon bulbs are brighter than the D2R bulbs. I think D2S put out 400 more lumens than D2R.
D2R are for regular reflector light housings
D2S are for projector housings
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
Originally posted by MB Life
I am really confused about new light bulbs.
Is it possible to put on HIDs for a 96 W210?
I think mine are just regular lights.
If I can, do I need a special kit or can I just out in a new set of HID bulbs?
Any recommendations?
I am really confused about new light bulbs.
Is it possible to put on HIDs for a 96 W210?
I think mine are just regular lights.
If I can, do I need a special kit or can I just out in a new set of HID bulbs?
Any recommendations?
just look on ebay, and it should be good to go..
if you buy an aftermarket kit, you will be bombarded with a constant error message of 'light malfunction' because the HIDs draw less power than standard 55W bulbs...
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From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
"if you buy an aftermarket kit, you will be bombarded with a constant error message of 'light malfunction' because the HIDs draw less power than standard 55W bulbs..."
Nah, I have them in my E430 with the halogen lens and they work fine. In fact, the light output is much better than the factory Xenon's of my E55. I have never been flashed for my lights being being too bright in the eyes of oncoming drivers, so not only is the pattern good but the light output is great.
Nah, I have them in my E430 with the halogen lens and they work fine. In fact, the light output is much better than the factory Xenon's of my E55. I have never been flashed for my lights being being too bright in the eyes of oncoming drivers, so not only is the pattern good but the light output is great.
Last edited by BlownV8; Dec 23, 2003 at 06:40 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: So Cal
W213 '17 E43 ///AMG - W211, W208 no more
Originally posted by BlownV8
"if you buy an aftermarket kit, you will be bombarded with a constant error message of 'light malfunction' because the HIDs draw less power than standard 55W bulbs..."
Nah, I have them in my E430 with the halogen lens and they work fine. In fact, the light output is much better than the factory Xenon's of my E55. I have never been flashed for my lights being being too bright in the eyes of oncoming drivers, so not only is the pattern good but the light output is great.
"if you buy an aftermarket kit, you will be bombarded with a constant error message of 'light malfunction' because the HIDs draw less power than standard 55W bulbs..."
Nah, I have them in my E430 with the halogen lens and they work fine. In fact, the light output is much better than the factory Xenon's of my E55. I have never been flashed for my lights being being too bright in the eyes of oncoming drivers, so not only is the pattern good but the light output is great.
or, if the car's computer was reprogrammed to read 'xenon present'...
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From: Columbia, SC
E300
Originally posted by AlBoston
dont forget that D2S xenon bulbs are brighter than the D2R bulbs. I think D2S put out 400 more lumens than D2R.
dont forget that D2S xenon bulbs are brighter than the D2R bulbs. I think D2S put out 400 more lumens than D2R.
