I recently had to buy xenon bulbs for my car since one of em died (RIP) :devillook. But i got stock ones and just wanted to know what the color temp is. I wanna say 4300k since they are more whitish that purple, but i heard that 330's have 6000K (e46), but when comparing those, they do look almost the same as mine, kinda brighter which would lead me to believe mine are 6000K too. HELP:help

Stock is 4300K on the E39.

even at 6000k ur not gonna be seeing purple.. its only closer to and after 8000 that the purple hue comes out.. and then u can go to like 10K an 12K but thats just incredibly stupid and illegal cuz u prolly cant see anything with at that level.. id say if they are slightly bluer then uve got the 6000s but and i just had this same problem.. the stock e39 bulbs and im almost 100% sure are 4300K with the exception of the 01+ models with the AE.. im not sure the bulbs they put in those. prolly would make sense to have 6000s but im sure theyre prolly 4300s as well

Go with the 6000 .. I think you won't be disappointed.

all bmws use the 4300k xenon bulb. The reason that some bimmers lighting look different is because of the projector that they use. Have you noticed how acuras or honda s2000s look different than ours? Well, they use the exact same bulbs. Same with audis. This is all because of how the projector is built. It has nothing to do with the bulbs. Car companies specifically design their projectors to give off a certain kind of light. Most of the newer bimmers have little blue strips inside the projector that turns the light blue just for the look. There is tons of info on the web about this.

The reason there are 6000k or 8000k bulbs is because people with halogen bulb based headlights want the same HID look as the factory cars. The only way they can obtain this same look is by going with a xenon bulb that is higher up in the light spectrum. This is the only way they can achieve the bluish HID look.

The reason some HIDs look brighter is also because of the projector, not the bulb. Some cars come with a sealed projector while our cars come with an open air style projector. In our cars, we have some light lost out of the back of the projector. Cars like the newer lexus models have the sealed projectors. They look much brighter than our bmw HIDs yet they run the same exact bulbs with the same 35 watt ballasts.

Its all in the projector!

Even with the halogen based headlamps/projectors, one can achieve the stock HID look if they went with the 4300K bulb - they do not need to use the higher temps to do this with a rebased bulb. Whether it is a true HID setup or a retrofit, the color temp is going to make the difference. Most people choose the higher color temps to reinforce the idea to others that they have HID. 4300K puts out the brightest, whitest light of the bunch. So, why people choose to decrease their light output for looks is beyond me; especially when they are upgrading for higher light output.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/marxalbums/HID20kelvin.jpg

^^^That's really cool!!!!!

yea i just wish it wasnt taken with what looks to be a cel phone camera

The reason some HIDs look brighter is also because of the projector, not the bulb. Some cars come with a sealed projector while our cars come with an open air style projector. In our cars, we have some light lost out of the back of the projector. Cars like the newer lexus models have the sealed projectors. They look much brighter than our bmw HIDs yet they run the same exact bulbs with the same 35 watt ballasts.

Its all in the projector!

truth. a wealth of info can be found at www.hidplanet.com if you'd liek to read about the different kinds of projectors.

I took my projectors out just recently and using carefully folded aluminum foil and high temp mastic tape I enclosed the area between the backing reflector and the projection lens, mocking a newer sealed prjoector such as the acura TL uses. This really helped kill light scatter and puts alot more light through the lens where you want it. I haven't been flashed by another driver yet and my headlights are BRIGHT! My original intent enclosing the projectors was to keep the xenons from washing out the angel eye rings of the highbeams. The extra usable light was an unexpected benefit :) It helped a lot but I need to put a backing behind the angel rings and get brighter bulbs for them...

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/marxalbums/installedxenons005.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/marxalbums/installedxenons006.jpg
this is all getting washed out, lol
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/marxalbums/installedxenons007.jpg

^^^That's really cool!!!!!bad quality pic but hey- have you ever taken a pic of headlights without a flash?- it's a fine art- the pics of my car turned out just as grainy..

note though I'm running used 4300k D2S bulbs- my light output is alot bluer than the 4 or 5k bulbs in that picture. :)

all bmws use the 4300k xenon bulb. The reason that some bimmers lighting look different is because of the projector that they use. Have you noticed how acuras or honda s2000s look different than ours? Well, they use the exact same bulbs. Same with audis. This is all because of how the projector is built. It has nothing to do with the bulbs. Car companies specifically design their projectors to give off a certain kind of light. Most of the newer bimmers have little blue strips inside the projector that turns the light blue just for the look. There is tons of info on the web about this.

Holy crap, someone who actually understands Xenon lighting. I got so sick of trying to explain this to some people that I pretty much just gave up alltogheter. "BUT HIGHER NUMBER IS BRIGHTER!!!" Shut up.

Yep, 4300 is stock. The AE's in my Sig and the pick below are 6000k and seem to match the factory Xenons better IMO anyway. I was going to swap them out for the 6k's, But after seeing them decided to stay with the stock bulbs for now.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n11/Captngeetch/DSCF1914.jpg

Even with the halogen based headlamps/projectors, one can achieve the stock HID look if they went with the 4300K bulb - they do not need to use the higher temps to do this with a rebased bulb. Whether it is a true HID setup or a retrofit, the color temp is going to make the difference. Most people choose the higher color temps to reinforce the idea to others that they have HID. 4300K puts out the brightest, whitest light of the bunch. So, why people choose to decrease their light output for looks is beyond me; especially when they are upgrading for higher light output.I never understand why people say that. An 8K HID setup is still more light than stock halogen, so there can never be a "reduction" in output over stock. What fun would it be if we were all a bunch of drones riding around with the same set-ups? Let's all get 4300K HID's, MPars, etc...Part of spending money on upgrades is looks. Some of our cars look so aggressive but yet we only really ever just go pick up the kids and get groceries, but we have 10" rear wheels:dunno. I saw a Lexus last night with at least a 12K setup (purple) but his lights were still brighter than any stock halogen car on the road. Now, HID to HID, 4300K my put out more light than 12K, but depending on where you live and travel, some don't care? I live in NYC and I could ride areound all night with just my AE's lit and see just fine due to a street light damn near every 5 feet.

truth. a wealth of info can be found at www.hidplanet.com (http://www.hidplanet.com) if you'd liek to read about the different kinds of projectors.

I took my projectors out just recently and using carefully folded aluminum foil and high temp mastic tape I enclosed the area between the backing reflector and the projection lens, mocking a newer sealed prjoector such as the acura TL uses. This really helped kill light scatter and puts alot more light through the lens where you want it. I haven't been flashed by another driver yet and my headlights are BRIGHT! My original intent enclosing the projectors was to keep the xenons from washing out the angel eye rings of the highbeams. The extra usable light was an unexpected benefit :) It helped a lot but I need to put a backing behind the angel rings and get brighter bulbs for them...

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/marxalbums/installedxenons005.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/marxalbums/installedxenons006.jpg
this is all getting washed out, lol
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/marxalbums/installedxenons007.jpg

Time for another walkthrough, e39dream-style! I'm about to get ProLumens and would love to be able to tackle the issue you're referring to at the same time I install the HID kit. If you're not up to explaining it all, can you direct me to a location I can read about what you did?

Thanks again, man.

Tim

Hey Tim- it's pretty straightforward.

What's needed: 1. Roll of aluminum foil
2. scissors
3. tools to remove headlamps and covers 8mm with extension and flat screwdriver for opening tabs on light cover, a pencil or pen
4. High temp foil mastic tape- get at home depot in the heating / ac section, it's used for furnace exhaust fittings- great for situations where heat may be an issue, the hotter it gets the better it works.

remove lights and take the outer covers off. you should see something like this:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/marxalbums/niceheadlights002.jpg
now all you are doing is sealing the refelctor to the lens with about 3 layers of aluminum foil and securing it place with the hi temp tape. I made a very crude diagram. Pull your low beam bulb out and insert the eraser end of the pencil in the bulb hole to push the foil out and make the shape.

If you measure and fold/cut the foil nicely and cut your tape into strips you can pull this off as to where it is not noticeable at all- the hitemp tape is foil backed so it all just looks like the reflector through the outer lens.

Your work should look nicer than my diagram. I knew I should have taken pics of this while I did mine- these pics are almost a year old.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c207/marxalbums/niceheadlights0022.jpg

Now all your light is being squeezed through the lens after hitting the reflector as opposed to escaping out the sides.
I do not know of any negative side effects of this and have run mine for about 2-3 hours now like this with pleasant results. I checked the back of the projectors for heat and they were cooler than my old halogens were. I will report back if anything goes wrong of course.

here is where I posted a chart I found about this.
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=630806&highlight=hid+color

I never understand why people say that. An 8K HID setup is still more light than stock halogen, so there can never be a "reduction" in output over stock. What fun would it be if we were all a bunch of drones riding around with the same set-ups? Let's all get 4300K HID's, MPars, etc...Part of spending money on upgrades is looks. Some of our cars look so aggressive but yet we only really ever just go pick up the kids and get groceries, but we have 10" rear wheels:dunno. I saw a Lexus last night with at least a 12K setup (purple) but his lights were still brighter than any stock halogen car on the road. Now, HID to HID, 4300K my put out more light than 12K, but depending on where you live and travel, some don't care? I live in NYC and I could ride areound all night with just my AE's lit and see just fine due to a street light damn near every 5 feet.

Re-read my post. If you are upgrading to HID, then why not get the best output...that is what I am saying. I was not comparing an HID setup to a halogen setup, as you are eluding to in your response . If you want to express your "individuality" and install a set of lights that may be blue or purple, then by all means do it. That is your business and your money. Yes...part of upgrades is looks, but it should not be at the expense of lesser function. I just look at mods a little bit differently than you do; it is that simple.

HOLY HELL, this has been the greatest thread EVAR! I got stock bulbs so they're gonna be 4300 and i had no idea there were xenons with a higher color than 8000K, also that those acura lights i love so much didnt use different color bulbs, and that my projectors werent sealed. Oh my! thanks ppl, this was awesome!

well...of course ANY HID upgrade will be better than stock (unless there's a way to go higher than 12000K). hmm maybe someone can install ULTRAVIOLET HIDs in their car. that would be badass eh?

it'd be gross though...like CSI (a la "bodily fluids" will light up) and the people in front of you might get sun burned...

but seriously...

HID is of course...brighter than stock halogens...its just a shame that, assuming 4300K is 3x brighter than halogens....that someone would lose half of that and go with 10-12000K and only be slightly brighter than stock.

i know i'd lose a little brightness when i went to 6500K but i think the nicer color is worth it. i guess mine are only 2x as bright as stock...



and like mentioned above the optics are the real cause of the color variances.

have you noticed that some Audis and Acuras look REALLY purple - but only at certain angles! it's totally the prism effect of their projectors. straight on they're still pretty whitish so the drivers can still see...but off to the sides they get more and more purple

HOLY HELL, this has been the greatest thread EVAR! I got stock bulbs so they're gonna be 4300 and i had no idea there were xenons with a higher color than 8000K, also that those acura lights i love so much didnt use different color bulbs, and that my projectors werent sealed. Oh my! thanks ppl, this was awesome!

Ahh yes!! Acuras have the best looks cause the manufacturer of their projectors (Stanley) is God..
Nothing compares to a nice set of TSX projectors or S2000's...

As for all those getting 8000k and up,..:nono

You never see a high end vehicle rolling of the assembly line with anything more than 6000k,.. thats gotta mean something.
A light pinkish/purple is fine,.. anything other than that is just ludicrous..

HOLY HELL, this has been the greatest thread EVAR! I got stock bulbs so they're gonna be 4300 and i had no idea there were xenons with a higher color than 8000K, also that those acura lights i love so much didnt use different color bulbs, and that my projectors werent sealed. Oh my! thanks ppl, this was awesome!


By the way,.. you should have seen the retro I did to my 5th gen Accord:eek: