hey guys, where is the best place to find cheap Xenon Headlights? even Bi-Xenons...
I've seen cars have the bright bluish purplish tint, and the lights are great for night driving. I have 8000k bulbs but they aren't bright at all.

 

Welcome to the wonder whacky world of aftermarket headlamp bulbs. Where it all comes down to marketing, marketing and more marketing.
There are two measures of how a bulb has been measured
Lumens (Candlepower) (amount of light (brightness)) and
Kelvin (K) (color of light)
It's interesting to note that ALL these aftermarket bulb manufacturers are so quick to quote Kelvin figures but don't offer Lumen values.
A halogen bulb is a halogen bulb, until you get into Infra red reflective technologies. If the bulb you're anticipating installing doesn't require a harness upgrade, rest assured it's close to the industry standard 55/65 watt rule. Regardless of how the hype is worded.
What makes matters worst, the common practice of adding a 'tint' to the bulbs glass to simulate that nifty blue Kelvin color. All this does is cut down on the output of an otherwise standard bulb. And then they charge you God awful amounts for it.

A recommendation?, If you don't mind a white output - Sylvania Silverstars. Either that or a true HID upgrade if your looking for the blue tint

P

 

Maybe they weren't REAL xenons. Xenons are spendy and all that jazz. Are you sure they weren't just tinted bulbs? Another way to tell if they are real xenons is to look at the field of light. On a real xenon light there is actually a straight line where the xenon starts to fade. So if you are looking out the window you will see brightness and you keep looking up and there will be a straight line and then like no light.

Hope you find what you are looking for.

 

I'd look into a true HID retrofit over an HID kit...youd only be spending 200 more dollars, but it is clean, looks nicer, and gives better light output.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PilotForLife86 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hey guys, where is the best place to find cheap Xenon Headlights? even Bi-Xenons...
I've seen cars have the bright bluish purplish tint, and the lights are great for night driving. I have 8000k bulbs but they aren't bright at all.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not sure whether you have 8000K Hids, or halogens that are 8000K, but if you have halogen bulbs P_Adams hit it right on the target, the reason why your bulbs aren't as bright is because the halogen bulbs cannot produce the same amount of lumens like a HID.

Now, if you do have 8000K HIDs, there are a few ways to produce more colore, and still produce a lot of light. First off, I would suggest that you use 4300K bulbs so that you can get the optimal light output. For color, make sure you get a good projector i.e. S2000, TSX and modify the shield. Further, with time the 4300K bulbs will also produce more color.
BTW, if you want more purple go with the 05+ S2000 projectors, green/bluish then modified S2000, and more blue...then 00-04 S2000 projectors.

There are plenty of pictures that comepare color differences, and cutoffs, and mods to cutoff shields at http://www.customlightz.com

 

no matter what anyone else tells you: DONT BUY A HID KIT!! they suck and your stock headlights are not designed for them. people who have them **** me off because they blind me at night. either go with a retrofitted hid system, or just get some colored halogen bulbs(for a lot more money than their worth). i just did a ton of research on lighting because i wanted the HID look or real HID.

retrofitted HID is the only way to go for the real thing and youll spend 500 in the process to do it right

Sylvania Silverstars are very good halogen bulbs, hyper white in color, i have these and i am very pleased, i decided to get more functional white bulbs over the cosmetic colored bulbs, plus they are only $35 bucks at walmart

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by P_Adams &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Welcome to the wonder whacky world of aftermarket headlamp bulbs. Where it all comes down to marketing, marketing and more marketing.
There are two measures of how a bulb has been measured
Lumens (Candlepower) (amount of light (brightness)) and
Kelvin (K) (color of light)
It's interesting to note that ALL these aftermarket bulb manufacturers are so quick to quote Kelvin figures but don't offer Lumen values.
A halogen bulb is a halogen bulb, until you get into Infra red reflective technologies. If the bulb you're anticipating installing doesn't require a harness upgrade, rest assured it's close to the industry standard 55/65 watt rule. Regardless of how the hype is worded.
What makes matters worst, the common practice of adding a 'tint' to the bulbs glass to simulate that nifty blue Kelvin color. All this does is cut down on the output of an otherwise standard bulb. And then they charge you God awful amounts for it.

A recommendation?, If you don't mind a white output - Sylvania Silverstars. Either that or a true HID upgrade if your looking for the blue tint

P</TD></TR></TABLE>


Couldnt have said it better myself.... i went through two pairs of the "super bright 8000k bulbs" before a rock hit me on the head and i came to my senses. The first pair blew out within a month and i took the second pair out a day after i put them in because they were so dim, my stock lights were brighter and i dont know about you guys but i like to see where i am going at night. Now i use silverstars and they have been in for a long time If you are worried about the price maybe look on ebay

 

If your ride has any manner of milage there's something often overlooked with headlight performance: the lexan headlamp capsule lens that your headlamp bulb shines thru.
I learned this thru long, hard and PIAA expensive attempts at improving output on my 5th Gen Accord.
It's the continual sandblasting of the lens that over time cuts down on the amount of light passing thru the lens. Every pit, every scratch degrades its optical properties of that plastic and stops a good portion of the light from projecting down range.
Mine, at 154,000 miles were too far gone and I opted for two OEM replacements from 1aAutoparts (79.00 each). I gained (by estimate) 30% improvement.
An alternate method is wet sanding the lens with 1200 or finer wet/dry sandpaper and polish with either jeweler's rouge or SemiChrome polish.
If, when you turn on your headlights (looking from the side) and the lens looks white, you're loosing efficiency.

P

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by P_Adams &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
An alternate method is wet sanding the lens with 1200 or finer wet/dry sandpaper and polish with either jeweler's rouge or SemiChrome polish.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I heard someone say this the other day. I'm gonna try it, but has anyone done this alreaD?

 

Good idea to wait until others chime in to reflect on their success (Or Failure).
I'm a little leary about wetsanding lexan, You might want to polish them first.

An Idea: if any of your fellow motorheads (car club or other) has a used headlamp capsule lying around, practice on that b4 you start attacking your daily ride first.

Just a thought

P

 

ebay.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tcteg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ebay.com </TD></TR></TABLE>

???

 

Why, yes. 1aAutoparts does sell thru EBay, as well as their website:

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/Front...31756

Their hdlamp capsules have been repriced. Now $64.95 each side for the 5th gen versions. Manufactured by Eagle Products, I've had no issues with them for over a year.

P

Tcteg is better known as "Man of Few Words" among Native Americans

 

Hey P_Adams.......couldn't it also be said that blue is one of the WORST lights in the entire spectrum? (Especially to be used as seeing at night while driving..?)

Here's some food for thought.....I had Nokya blues in my '91 accord. I was driving at night and looked at my dad and said, "Dad, are my lights on?" To which he replied "Double check the switch". I then flicked the switch off and then back on and said in "dismay"...."Holy **** dad, they WERE on!"

Now I only run either white or yellow. Those are the only two colors which go into ANY of my cars.

 

Sounds like you got the "Blue color by tint on an otherwise oem bulb" treatment.
In all honestly, I've seen some really 'honkin" HID systems which had the 'hint' of blue, but gave great output. But you're not going to get it with a Halogen bulb to any satisfaction.
In order to do so, they would have to increase the lumen output by making the element longer (more area)(more light), thus raising the resistance of the bulb(higher Watt) rating. Now you're into Harness upgrades, etc.

P

Edited for poor effort at spelling, Duh!


Modified by P_Adams at 4:08 PM 10/12/2005

 

Tcteg is better known as "Man of Few Words" among Native Americans


what can i say i dont like to type im sure this is the most i have ever typed so im stoping now....

 

You're right about blue being bad for output. Most HID kits come in at 4300k, and from 4-5k is the best range for light output. Below 4k light starts to turn to red, and above 5k light starts to turn to purple. Red is the best color (according to science) to cut through rain and fog since it doesnt refract like white light would. Blue light has a lot less output and is horrible in rain and fog.

The problem with Halogen 'HID' bulbs is that they're bulbs painted blue....which allows only the blue light through....which means you're losing the rest of the spectrum....and better light output.

 

As a reference, this is what 4300K look like.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by accordselux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Red is the best color (according to science) to cut through rain and fog since it doesnt refract like white light would.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I actually heard yellows the best for contrast in rain/fog....I've never seen anyone with red colored headlights/foglights in other countries that have inclement weather...just yellow/amber colors. I know in France they use yellow and so does UK.

 

yellow is between red and white so thats what he meant.

 

True. Thats why Hella and the serious Aftermarket lamp manufacturers always chose Yellow (amber) fluted lens for fog Light Application; and clear non-fluted lens for Driving Lights.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MestizoRacer310 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I actually heard yellows the best for contrast in rain/fog....I've never seen anyone with red colored headlights/foglights in other countries that have inclement weather...just yellow/amber colors. I know in France they use yellow and so does UK.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's against the law for red headlights. Thus the closest color in the spectrum is yellow

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by P_Adams &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why, yes. 1aAutoparts does sell thru EBay, as well as their website:

http://www.1aauto.com/1A/Front...31756

Their hdlamp capsules have been repriced. Now $64.95 each side for the 5th gen versions. Manufactured by Eagle Products, I've had no issues with them for over a year.

P

Tcteg is better known as "Man of Few Words" among Native Americans </TD></TR></TABLE>

is that what a new 5th gen. stock headlight is suppose to look like.... if so *looks at his 97* damn i need some new ones like that lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by accordselux &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's against the law for red headlights. Thus the closest color in the spectrum is yellow </TD></TR></TABLE>
I know for a fact in CA the only acceptable front lights can be white or yellow...at one point I even had the CA Vehicle Code number memorized for the damn cops that were bored .....never had to "use that information" yet.....thank god