How do I match output of HID?

[FL318is]

Just installed my HIDs Love the difference.

What I want to do next is try to match the color spectrum of my high beams and fogs to the same "light color"

The HIDs are are 55W 5000K

Any thoughts?

[CAOSyAMOR]

trial and error.

Best is to start with a reputable bulb company like PIAA and go a few hundred higher.

Say 5500 or 6500K for example.

Not every color output is made in every bulb, especially for North America. To find some of the higher rated bulbs look on eBay for the Japanese marked PIAA's

[ieatpeople]

the "5000k" you mentioned is the light "color"

the "k" refers to color temperature.

so just get the proper foglight bulbs (h1, h3, whatever they are) in 5000k, and it will look identical.
keeping with the same brand will ensure that they are as close as possible



for instance, on my e30, i will be running:
4500k lowbeams
3000k highbeams
3000k fogs

the 4500k is white with a very slight bluish tint (looks like O.E. on the newer cars)
the 3000k is yellow

[CAOSyAMOR]

the "5000k" you mentioned is the light "color"

the "k" refers to color temperature.

so just get the proper foglight bulbs (h1, h3, whatever they are) in 5000k, and it will look identical.
keeping with the same brand will ensure that they are as close as possible



for instance, on my e30, i will be running:
4500k lowbeams
3000k highbeams
3000k fogs

the 4500k is white with a very slight bluish tint (looks like O.E. on the newer cars)
the 3000k is yellow

In my experience this is unfortunately NOT the case. It can be difficult to match proper H.I.D. to traditional HID 'look' bulbs and you cannot go by color rating alone. It also depends on wattage. The more power to the bulb the whiter it tends to look.

[FL318is]

Thank you. I have my next project!

[nando]

HIDs in the highbeams is a bad idea, not to mention fairly pointless.

[ieatpeople]

HIDs in the highbeams is a bad idea, not to mention fairly pointless.

why do you say that?

i am not going to be blinding anyone, because you turn off your highbeams when there is oncoming traffic and such. also, i am going to have my lowbeams on at the same time, so it will just be bright as hell.

[gearheadE30]

HIDs burn out because of cycling, and they require time to heat up. Flashing your highs will become a useless gesture. They'd be bright as hell though. BTW 4500k is usually a natural color. 5500k to 6000k are the bluish-tint heats in my experience.

[ieatpeople]

HIDs burn out because of cycling, and they require time to heat up. Flashing your highs will become a useless gesture. They'd be bright as hell though.

i see your point, although i don't usually flash my highs.

[e30-RTN]

What you have to remember is that your 55W low beams will wash out some of the color. So imagine that a 55W@8000K is more like a 35W@6000K

I run lows at 55W 8000K
and fogs at 35W 6000K
looks like this.

[FL318is]

What you have to remember is that your 55W low beams will wash out some of the color. So imagine that a 55W@8000K is more like a 35W@6000K

I run lows at 55W 8000K
and fogs at 35W 6000K
looks like this.

Based on that, if the low beams are 55w @ 5000K, what would fogs be? BTW your match looks good.