Hey guys. Our projector headlights are not as bright as TL, TSX headlights. I wonder why? And is there possible way that we can make our headlights look like theirs? I know changing the bulbs wont do anything other than color. Does aftermarket HID ballasts better compare to our OEM HID ballasts? Or any possible way that we can make our headlights brighter without bake and open the headlights?

 

switch out the projectors.

I'd only stick with OEM ballasts.

If you want it brighter, maybe go with s2k or tsx projectors, dump in some 55watts and call it a day (er night).

I have no problems with my hids.

PM the member E_K. He's extremely knowledgable about hids/lighting. I have his one of a kind taillights on my coupe. And I love them.

 

100 watt bulbs are available. listed as 'off road use only'

 

Install TSX lenses and it will be brighter. OEM lenses are frosted rings while TSX ones are clear.

 

Now I see the difference. It is because of our projectors. If I put 50W or 100W bulbs in our OEM headlights, do they work fine or they burn something?

 

also, make sure you stay with 4300K bulbs. You will begin to lose lumen output if you move up in temperature.

 

if you go with bigger wattage bulbs, I suggest upping your ballasts too..
Just a thought.

 

Here's my experience, YMMV:

Stock g35 projectors + clear lens -> maybe brighter, but don't get your hopes up. Main benefit is a sharper cutoff. Plus, you're opening up the lights at this point.

Change to TSX projectors ->won't be brighter. They're not considered really bright projectors.

Change to TL/S2K/SC430+clear lens -> a good amount brighter. Seems to be roughly the same magnitude as going from 35W to 50/55W ballasts.

Change to 6K+ bulbs. Don't bother, if you're looking for brightness.

50W bulb + stock ballast. Maybe brighter, but I doubt that you'll notice much.

35W bulb + 50W ballast. A good amount brighter, see above.

50W bulb + 50W ballast. Supposedly a bit better than 35W bulb +50W ballast, but I don't see a big difference.

DL50 bulb + 55 W ballast + S2K = my setup for low beam. I don't need blue lights, I want brightness. Pretty much the brightest I can get unless I run 75W ballasts. But I can always turn on the TL projectors as well.

By the way, I only used Philips bulbs in my setups. The aftermarket ballasts are really hit or miss, but once you get a pair that doesn't crap out in a few days, they seem to last. My current pair are going on 2+ years.

 

Wow, very nice and clear. Thanks E K for your reply. I'll see what I can do to make it brighter without opening the headlights.

 

No such thing as 100 watt bulbs in hid's. DL50's are as high a wattage bulb as you can get. Like EK said, boosted or higher output ballasts are really the only way to increase brightness and they're all AM so you do take a bit of a gamble when you buy them. Many people have and with good results. That's really the only way to increase brightness without opening up your lights.