HDI / xenon light

[ocean238]

what colour temperature are the normal HDI bulbs? I want to make my car (which I am afarid is no longer a VOLVO....) look better but don't want to go full HDI, and most "HDI coloured white bulbs" are pretty much lying to you on the shelves in the shops!

I am off to Hong Kong next week and hope to pick up some good bulbs there, all I need to know is the colour temperature!

Thanks!!

[Clan]

Color Temperature is a measurement in Degrees Kelvin that indicates the hue of a light source, in this case the HID bulb. People not familiar with lighting may believe that the higher the Kelvin the brighter the light will be, this is false. OEM car manufacturers equip their cars with 4100k to 4300k HID bulbs which produce the most daylight-like light output. Lower temperature like 3000k will produce deep gold-yellow color, suitable for fog lights. Higher color temperatures will output light with a hint of blue/purple like the 5000k - 6000k bulbs, higher rated bulbs will be bluer and eventually purple in color as you go up the scale.

[Nunchukhamster]

Thought I'd seen that text somewhere before :D

http://www.hid-conversion-kits.com/

[ocean238]

Good, so I should aim to get 4100k-4300k bulbs, and that be a similar/same colour of light to most factory HDI system? I don't want the lights to look blue because that normally attracts unwanted attention...

[Nunchukhamster]

I actually have 6000K which (to me) look pure white.

Ignore the dodgy focus, this was before I had the alignment sorted...

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x314/Nunchukhamster_photos/Car%20pics/DSCF0954.jpg (file:///F:/Singles%20and%20downloads/Little%20Respect.mp3)

EDIT: I think Splash the dog was bored by the time I took this pic! :D

[MKC70]

Wattage of the HID system and reflectors add to color as well. 35w and 55w kit will appear different colors for the same temp. Higher light output washes some of the color out.

[James_N]

Would these conversion kits work on the 740? one thing ive noticed recently is how crap my lights are, even when they are clean and with decent bulbs, there seems to be no difference.

[doorman]

what colour temperature are the normal HDI bulbs? I want to make my car (which I am afarid is no longer a VOLVO....) look better but don't want to go full HDI, and most "HDI coloured white bulbs" are pretty much lying to you on the shelves in the shops!

I am off to Hong Kong next week and hope to pick up some good bulbs there, all I need to know is the colour temperature!

Thanks!!

Have a look at this link on ebay, I have purchased several kits from him, and guess what, he is in Hong Kong, so I doubt if you'll get a better deal there!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KIT-BULBS-BALLAST-H7-6000K_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742Q2em153Q2el12 62QQcategoryZ36476QQihZ022QQitemZ350131964419QQtcZ photo

Regards
David

[Nunchukhamster]

+1 for diane-shop.

[ocean238]

I know it's not quite the same, but I don't really on the HID kit, i just want some normal bulb that gives the same colour, thanks for everyone's advice so far tho!

it was just make my new car look smarter as the later models started having HIDs. it's a cheap way to make the car look newer I know!

[Nunchukhamster]

I know it's not quite the same, but I don't really on the HID kit, i just want some normal bulb that gives the same colour, thanks for everyone's advice so far tho!

it was just make my new car look smarter as the later models started having HIDs. it's a cheap way to make the car look newer I know!

No worries, but I think you're in for a bit of disappointment, no bulb that I've ever tried or seen others use has come close to replicating the appearance or output of a HID system. Good luck with your search.

[James_N]

Have a look at this link on ebay, I have purchased several kits from him, and guess what, he is in Hong Kong, so I doubt if you'll get a better deal there!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KIT-BULBS-BALLAST-H7-6000K_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742Q2em153Q2el12 62QQcategoryZ36476QQihZ022QQitemZ350131964419QQtcZ photo

Regards
David

Looks good. Would these work on the 740? and on that action, do you gethigh and low beam bulbs? or do you need to buy 2 sets of the above auction kit?

[MKC70]

Looks good. Would these work on the 740? and on that action, do you gethigh and low beam bulbs? or do you need to buy 2 sets of the above auction kit?

Need 2 sets if the hi and lo are different bulbs.

[James_N]

Need 2 sets if the hi and lo are different bulbs.

now ive said that, i dont think they are!

What type do i need? I think its H4 but i just want confirmation?

Has anyone bought one of these cheap kits? do they make a considerable improvement?

[Nunchukhamster]

Has anyone bought one of these cheap kits? do they make a considerable improvement?

Yes and yes.

[MKC70]

now ive said that, i dont think they are!

What type do i need? I think its H4 but i just want confirmation?

Has anyone bought one of these cheap kits? do they make a considerable improvement?

If the hi/lo is done with a single bulb then you need a Bi Xenon HID kit like this one http://www.sharphid.com/apx35w50whilo.htm

[ocean238]

No worries, but I think you're in for a bit of disappointment, no bulb that I've ever tried or seen others use has come close to replicating the appearance or output of a HID system. Good luck with your search.

I mean i don't mind going full HID but I thought it's illegal if you don't have headlights that wash themselves...? the car would def look good with full HID!

[James_N]

If the hi/lo is done with a single bulb then you need a Bi Xenon HID kit like this one http://www.sharphid.com/apx35w50whilo.htm

I'll double check tomorrow. Thanks for that.

Anyone else fitted one of these kits to a 740?

Cheers
Jim

[James_N]

bumpage. Would these be ok?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BI-XENON-HID-CONVERSION-KIT-H4-6000K-HI-LO-DUAL-BEAM_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742Q2em153Q2el126 2QQcategoryZ36476QQihZ020QQitemZ300280156734QQtcZp hoto

[MKC70]

bumpage. Would these be ok?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BI-XENON-HID-CONVERSION-KIT-H4-6000K-HI-LO-DUAL-BEAM_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742Q2em153Q2el126 2QQcategoryZ36476QQihZ020QQitemZ300280156734QQtcZp hoto

They should work fine, just remember that the kit with the wattage and temperature the light will start to have a bluish color.

[NI_Volvo_Nut]

I'm in the process of getting a kit for the s70 and the 740, so i'll let you know how i get on. I'm hoping the beam pattern of the s70 will improve with the HID kit fitted

[James_N]

OK cool gonna order one of these kits in H4 form then :) look forward to fitting it and seeing the improvement. I presume its worth taking the headlights out and cleaning them before installing the xenon kit?

[4wheeldriver]

In addition to the above does anyone know if it would be possible to change the headlights out for Bi-xenon units in a conversion?? Just throw out the Halogen units and put in the xenon units with the ballast units etc?