Xenon Question...
#1
08-19-2003, 02:45 AM
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Xenon Question...
After doing a bit of night time driving with my new G35C, I have realized that the HID Xenon headlights are good, but they could be better. BMW and Mercedes Xenons light up the road much better (wider, more even beam pattern, and overall brighter). At i-m-racing.com, they are selling 6000K HID Conversion kit and 8000K HID Conversion kit. So should I assume that our G35C's are 4000K HID's? Also, does anybody have these installed? Are they significantly brighter and worth their $400-$450 price tag? And how about brightness for other drivers? I have gotten quite a few complaints from other drivers from the G35C stock HID's, as they flash their high-beams at me as if I have my high-beams on...=(
#2
08-19-2003, 03:16 AM
Re: Xenon Question...
the higher temperature bulbs (6k and up) don't give out as much light as, say a 4700k blub. It just makes it a bluer hue, but not more light. What makes BMW, mercedes, Audi's light so good is that they use a projector type housing, We use a reflector type housing. Do a search, and you can find out about all the differences between Projector/Reflector.
I would like to get a Projector type housing for my lights, but no one makes them, yet.
Anyway to answer yoru question in short, Our stock bulbs will just about give the most amount of light possible. The higher temp bulbs are just bluer, not brighter.
2003.5 6MT Coupe || Black/Graphite || Premium || Aero || Tint || Al. Pedals
I would like to get a Projector type housing for my lights, but no one makes them, yet.
Anyway to answer yoru question in short, Our stock bulbs will just about give the most amount of light possible. The higher temp bulbs are just bluer, not brighter.
2003.5 6MT Coupe || Black/Graphite || Premium || Aero || Tint || Al. Pedals
#3
08-19-2003, 03:37 AM
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Re: Xenon Question...
Thank you for the response. I just did some research and found out the differences between reflectors and projectors. I think for now I am going to try a simpler solution: replace the bulbs that are the fog lights/high beams with those Xenon imitation bulbs. The instruction manual says that these bulbs are HB2, but I see some people buy 9003 bulbs. What is the correct fog light/high-beam bulb size? And I can choose between 60W/50W bulbs or 100W/80W replacement bulbs...can I safely use the 100W/80W bulbs, or will that create a heat problem (and potentially melt the wiring harness, etc.)? Thanks very much for your help, I appreciate it.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by MrElussive on 08/19/03 12:45 AM.</EM></FONT></P>
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by MrElussive on 08/19/03 12:45 AM.</EM></FONT></P>
#4
08-19-2003, 11:46 AM
Re: Xenon Question...
HB2 is same as H4 so you can use any H4 bulb of which there are hundreds probably. I replaced mine with H4 aftermarket and it works great.
I would go with a reputable aftermarket name - PIAA or Phillips or Osram. Stay away from the lesser known ones even if they seem like a great deal - they probably are not. PIAA is very popular but some have complained about burning out quick. Expensive too. Phillips Silverstar seems to work real well, and I went with Osram Silverstar (same company, but Osram is sold in Europe and doesn't have the blue tint so it is a bit yellower and brighter) and like them very much.
Some have used 80/100W w/ no problem. Do it at your own risk - if you burn out wiring, relay or fuse, you are SOL if you take it to a dealer because you didn't use the original wattage bulb and there is the potential (albeit I haven't heard of anyone personally have problems) for problems due to the higher wattage bulb pulling a greater load through the stock wiring. Personally, if you want to make even an aftermarket 55/60 watt bulb even brighter, go with the Catz Zeta system. Often times you can pick them up on E-bay for $100. I just installed one on the fog lights on the G35 and it works great. Definitely makes them brighter ( I compared one light w/ and one w/o in my garage) and now I am much happier with the lighting at night. It's as good as it will get from a reflector bulb - but I wish we had projectors and it would be even better.
I would go with a reputable aftermarket name - PIAA or Phillips or Osram. Stay away from the lesser known ones even if they seem like a great deal - they probably are not. PIAA is very popular but some have complained about burning out quick. Expensive too. Phillips Silverstar seems to work real well, and I went with Osram Silverstar (same company, but Osram is sold in Europe and doesn't have the blue tint so it is a bit yellower and brighter) and like them very much.
Some have used 80/100W w/ no problem. Do it at your own risk - if you burn out wiring, relay or fuse, you are SOL if you take it to a dealer because you didn't use the original wattage bulb and there is the potential (albeit I haven't heard of anyone personally have problems) for problems due to the higher wattage bulb pulling a greater load through the stock wiring. Personally, if you want to make even an aftermarket 55/60 watt bulb even brighter, go with the Catz Zeta system. Often times you can pick them up on E-bay for $100. I just installed one on the fog lights on the G35 and it works great. Definitely makes them brighter ( I compared one light w/ and one w/o in my garage) and now I am much happier with the lighting at night. It's as good as it will get from a reflector bulb - but I wish we had projectors and it would be even better.
#5
08-19-2003, 01:11 PM
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Re: Xenon Question...
Thanks for the advice, guys. After doing research, I found this out:
The fog lights are rated at KB2, which is the same as H4 (as TooFast4U said), and are also referred to as 9003 bulbs. I just purchased a pair of H4 Xenon-imitation bulbs off of eBay from this company called KOBA. They are actual 65W/55W bulbs, but on the box and in the description they are rated to act like 135W/125W bulbs. Altogether including S&H, I paid $15. I figure that if these bulbs are just a gimic and are only as bright as 65W/55W, at least they will provide that blue Xenon look that will match the car's real HID's. Again, thanks for the advice, and I will let you guys know how these bulbs work out for me.
The fog lights are rated at KB2, which is the same as H4 (as TooFast4U said), and are also referred to as 9003 bulbs. I just purchased a pair of H4 Xenon-imitation bulbs off of eBay from this company called KOBA. They are actual 65W/55W bulbs, but on the box and in the description they are rated to act like 135W/125W bulbs. Altogether including S&H, I paid $15. I figure that if these bulbs are just a gimic and are only as bright as 65W/55W, at least they will provide that blue Xenon look that will match the car's real HID's. Again, thanks for the advice, and I will let you guys know how these bulbs work out for me.
#6
08-19-2003, 01:15 PM
#7
08-19-2003, 01:46 PM
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#8
08-19-2003, 02:01 PM
#10
08-19-2003, 02:44 PM
Re: Xenon Question...
I have also heard the PIAA Extreme White H4's are a close match to the HID's. I'll keep searching for projector housings for this car but I haven't found anything yet. That will be my next mod as that helps quite a bit with the light pattern and dispersion. Check the links below if you like. Peace.
http://www.piaa.com/h4bulbs.html
http://www.sylvania.com/auto/silverstar.htm
-Jason
Laser Red '03 6MT
http://www.piaa.com/h4bulbs.html
http://www.sylvania.com/auto/silverstar.htm
-Jason
Laser Red '03 6MT
#12
08-20-2003, 01:38 PM
Re: Xenon Question...
I have another question, I have the HID option installed in my car and I'm not satisfied at all. Do you think I can just buy D2R bulb, rated 8000k and use the stock ballast?
e.g.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2428159423
Or If I can't do it, say I buy a new 8000k kit from Catz, can I just replace the stock ballast and stock d2r bulb to the Catz ballast and bulb using the STOCK wires?
e.g.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2428159423
Or If I can't do it, say I buy a new 8000k kit from Catz, can I just replace the stock ballast and stock d2r bulb to the Catz ballast and bulb using the STOCK wires?
#13
08-20-2003, 02:16 PM
#14
08-23-2003, 12:07 AM
Re: Xenon Question...
Hmmm, I don't quite agree with your opinion gordgee, since my friend already changed his (acura-TL) and it turns out very well. Guess I'll just wait and see the result then 
hehehe. Btw, I'm gonna use 6000k Philips D2R bulbs, matched with PIAA H4 7500k super plasma ^_^, also with PIAA plasma wedge bulbs of course. I'll post pics when I installed them.
hehehe. Btw, I'm gonna use 6000k Philips D2R bulbs, matched with PIAA H4 7500k super plasma ^_^, also with PIAA plasma wedge bulbs of course. I'll post pics when I installed them.
#15
08-27-2003, 01:07 AM
Re: Xenon Question...
I was surprised because I do not do alot of night driving but the Xenon on our car really do not project alot of light forward. It really don't cover alot of forward distance. Infiniti should of used projector type, it would also look better, "the headlight housing, I mean".