4300K is BETTER than a 6000K bulb

I read this online. Maybe this can give a little edutucation, I mean education, insight, physics, spectrum, and Quantum physics about the purple/ blue light mystery on HID bulbs.

It alll goes back to Old days in High School Physics Lab or may be not.

Please

So the big question now is: Why do BMW and Audi lights appear blue when they use a white bulb?

Well, this coloration is the result of the light projectors; the lenses: it's transparency, it's curvature, the tiny grooves etched into it; the projector assembly, the shield, and the reflector bowl. All these components work together to produce a signature of light unique to that particular optic's design. On the Audi and BMW projectors, the lens curvature at the edge bends the white light producing a "prism effect". White light is broken down to it's fundemental colors. Since blue lights is high energy it is absorbed last and thus travels farther. So with this prism effect, you'll notice that BMW HIDs are only purple and blue from the sides, the top, and the bottom, but are always daylight white on the road and in the beam pattern. This phenomenon can be demonstrated when you watch an oncoming BMW hit a pothole or speedbump in the road and the car's nose pitches up and down. The headlights will flicker and "throw colors off", but returns to a solid-white beam pattern directly on the road.

Trying to emulate this color-flickering effect with a solid-state blue or purple bulb is only detrimental to lighting performance, but more importantly endangers motorists around you.........

In Conclusion, every car manufacturer in the world (including BMW and Audi) uses none other than a standard 4100K gas-discharge bulb. The reason being is that 4100K is daylight white in color and produces the same color visible light as direct sunlight. This is least fatiguing functional color on the eyes and produces the most comfortable contrast on the road.


Stole it

4100 k ? I think the standard is 4300k... and the is300's are different, they are more bluish than the 3 series..

i know for sure the 3 series are 4,300k though

I think older (pre-2002?) are 4100k, newer are 4300k

I think it is so funny that so many people want to "upgrade" to 5000k, 6000k, 8000k bulbs since the stock bulbs actually give the best light output. If 3-series came STOCK with 8000k, everyone would be "upgrading" to 4300k since it is better light output.

"upgrading" to higher k bulbs is modding for the sake of modding

First off I have 4300k on my 99 sedan and second I think 6000k are better then 4300k.This will vary depending on personal preference.

Originally Posted by Jackboot

I think older (pre-2002?) are 4100k, newer are 4300k

I think it is so funny that so many people want to "upgrade" to 5000k, 6000k, 8000k bulbs since the stock bulbs actually give the best light output. If 3-series came STOCK with 8000k, everyone would be "upgrading" to 4300k since it is better light output.

"upgrading" to higher k bulbs is modding for the sake of modding

4300k does have some better light output than 6000k. But the 6000k look so great, the road has a gorgeous tint of light blue. Your xenons also seem more rich to oncoming traffic. It is like keeping the stock rims which are functional and light, or upgrading to some 19s, which are heavier but look MUCH better.

Originally Posted by davidjay420

First off I have 4300k on my 99 sedan and second I think 6000k are better then 4300k.This will vary depending on personal preference.

6000K are better at what? 'Cause it ain't at lighting up the road. Now looks, that like you said is subjective.


---Useless comment alert---

3000K Fogs own.

i actually want either 6000k or 8000k even if it puts out less lighting. I'm wanting to do this to match my halos (8000k)

I like how the xenon lighting output looks RIGHT when u turn ur xenon lights on (kind of bluish white) but not after it's warmed up (yellowish white)

Sorry to say but the 6000k Phillips def. have a whiter better output then my stock HID's, maybe you guys are going with aftermarket HID bulbs which suck, Phillip's Ultinons are amazing and i do not regret it one bit, much brighter then stock! I did have aftermarket 6000k and 8k on my G35 and they SUCKED so bad man, 6000k could look totally different from bulb to bulb!

^Okay, then I guess your eyes work different than everyone elses, because the stock Kelvin rating is the best for optimum light output.

If 6000K were so great don't you think that every car maker would equip their Xenon cars with 6000K?

Halogen Owner Comment Ahead!

So which puts out "better" light? A) 4300K headlights, stock 9006 Fogs, or B) 6000K headlights, 3000k (or 6000k) Fogs?

I think you can still mod, get the colors you want, and still put a LOT of light on the road.

But the original poster is correct, cant get around science, and 4300k puts more light down than 6000k.

I've been trying to get this point across in other lighting threads, but marketing and preference seem to overshadow what is real.
Some people think that a bright high sun at 7000k makes things look clearer to the human eye, but it doesn't. It's very contrasty with a high light output.
"Warmer" color, which is colder Kelvin, is preferable to our human eyes as it gives us a better balance of light and color for us to distinguish what we are seeing. At least that makes sense to me, but there is always room to be wrong.

TT

Originally Posted by SST

I've been trying to get this point across in other lighting threads, but marketing and preference seem to overshadow what is real.
Some people think that a bright high sun at 7000k makes things look clearer to the human eye, but it doesn't. It's very contrasty with a high light output.
"Warmer" color, which is colder Kelvin, is preferable to our human eyes as it gives us a better balance of light and color for us to distinguish what we are seeing. At least that makes sense to me, but there is always room to be wrong.

TT

Hmm very interesting, i guess i am one of the bunch who are mislead into thinking the brightness of the 6000k are better LOL Dammit im an idiot!

But here is what makes the difference, the projector, the projector reflects the lights in a way that puts out a different color. Like for example the BMW X5 has a purplish look to it, that is the projector lens which makes it look that color. But when you look at where the light shines, it shines white, not like these kits on eBay which shine purple on the floor. 8000K puts out the same light on the floor as a regular pair of halogen lights you have on your car already, you just get that high purple color. After some time the color changes. Also anything past 6000K will not give you those sharp cut off lines that HIDs give. If you look any where, the major companies who make HIDs like Philips, do not make bulbs past 6000K.


So here's the *real* low down...
Philips is the number one manufacturer of HID bulbs. The Philips OEM D2S bulb is rated at 4100K at 12.8 volts and produces 3200 lumens of light. The Philips Ultinon D2S is 5800K at 12.8 volts and produces 2400 lumens of light. As you can see, with all other factors remaining constant, the brightness of an HID bulb declines the higher up the color index you go.
An 8000K bulb, which they used to advertise on other "Forums" as 2000 lumens bright. This is barely a marked improvement over halogens, and will produce more glare and eye fatigue than it is beneficial.

4100K 4300K has been proven through tireless independant research by the Germans and Japanese to be the most functional, truest white and thus the brightest possible color temperature (ceteris paribus).

Originally Posted by Jackboot

I think older (pre-2002?) are 4100k, newer are 4300k

I think it is so funny that so many people want to "upgrade" to 5000k, 6000k, 8000k bulbs since the stock bulbs actually give the best light output. If 3-series came STOCK with 8000k, everyone would be "upgrading" to 4300k since it is better light output.

"upgrading" to higher k bulbs is modding for the sake of modding

Individuals definately don't upgrade to 6000 or 8000K for light output... its solely for cosmetic reasons... personally, since putting on my 6000K bulbs (which are an upgrade over stock halogen bulbs), I have recieved nothing but complaints from friends about their necks hurting after driving by me lol

Originally Posted by 2000_328CI

Individuals definately don't upgrade to 6000 or 8000K for light output... its solely for cosmetic reasons... personally, since putting on my 6000K bulbs (which are an upgrade over stock halogen bulbs), I have recieved nothing but complaints from friends about their necks hurting after driving by me lol

Nice, Reply

Originally Posted by 2000_328CI

Individuals definately don't upgrade to 6000 or 8000K for light output... its solely for cosmetic reasons... personally, since putting on my 6000K bulbs (which are an upgrade over stock halogen bulbs), I have recieved nothing but complaints from friends about their necks hurting after driving by me lol

agree 100%, light output generally doesn't have that much to do with the reason why people upgrade their shiit, it's cuz it looks way better, especially with the combo of halos

The higher the kelvin, the lower the lumens, and vice versa. And yes, once you go over 6000k, you're slowly headed toward the black light territory!

I should put black lights in my high beams loL!!!

Ok sorry for hijacking the thread but i was thinking of putting some 5000k fogs and led turns! I believe that the 5000k fogs and led turns, will match my 6000k P46 Projectors better than the 6000k fogs and turns.
Is this correct?
Please I need some advice!
Thanks in advance
Alfonso

Originally Posted by asarum007

But here is what makes the difference, the projector, the projector reflects the lights in a way that puts out a different color. Like for example the BMW X5 has a purplish look to it, that is the projector lens which makes it look that color. But when you look at where the light shines, it shines white, not like these kits on eBay which shine purple on the floor. 8000K puts out the same light on the floor as a regular pair of halogen lights you have on your car already, you just get that high purple color. After some time the color changes. Also anything past 6000K will not give you those sharp cut off lines that HIDs give. If you look any where, the major companies who make HIDs like Philips, do not make bulbs past 6000K.


So here's the *real* low down...
Philips is the number one manufacturer of HID bulbs. The Philips OEM D2S bulb is rated at 4100K at 12.8 volts and produces 3200 lumens of light. The Philips Ultinon D2S is 5800K at 12.8 volts and produces 2400 lumens of light. As you can see, with all other factors remaining constant, the brightness of an HID bulb declines the higher up the color index you go.
An 8000K bulb, which they used to advertise on other "Forums" as 2000 lumens bright. This is barely a marked improvement over halogens, and will produce more glare and eye fatigue than it is beneficial.

4100K 4300K has been proven through tireless independant research by the Germans and Japanese to be the most functional, truest white and thus the brightest possible color temperature (ceteris paribus).

yea man your right! So from my point of view, my phillip's are completely broken in and when they turn on they are a bright purple/blue/white then 3 seconds later become a bright white, not a purple color, blue or anything like other brands ive had where the beam is a solid purple or blue color Its so weird, then when i stare at it it looks just like stock color except for when i turn the lights on at first, they seem so much whiter and brighter and are not purple one bit, check out this pic of my 6000k's, you cant evne tell but also camera doesnt pick up the color well!