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so i was driving next to this maserati the other day and i noticed that my HIDs looked brighter than the maserati's; kind of a random question but, does anyone know if aftermarket HIDs would be brighter(as in lumens) than stock factory ones?

 
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Yes they will, stock are usually from 4200K-5000K

 
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yea, cause i thought my 6000k kit would be less brighter than stock hids which are about 4200k, but apparently they weren't..

 
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Differet dispersement is probably what you observed. Your free form reflectors focus light into a smaller area, making more of a hot spot in front of the car. Most OE xenon projectors spread out wider and further with a very even dispersion of light. The spot directly in front of your car probably is brigher, but I'm sure his reach further out to each side and spread more evenly.

Ride in a car with good OE xenon projectors one day and you'll see what I mean.

 
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Projector > Reflector

 
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no. your reflectors will never win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
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as far as actual lumen go, your 6000k plug and play kit will not put out more lumens than a 4100k oem set up. ever.

 
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it probably looks brighter cuz of the extra glare a halogen reflector (even the 04-05s) would make over an HID reflector like the IS or the maserati

 
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dont all oem hid's use 4300k no more and no less?
and they are properly projected so that the light output is evenly spread below the cutoff line

your aftermarket ones will have two hotspots (which will be much brighter than any oem HID) but your wont light up everyhting else as well as theirs do

thats all IMO but hey what do i know? lol

 
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sometimes you will find OEM having an optional 6000k or "color-matched" xenon option. the only manufacturers that i know do this are Lexus and BMW.

 
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nissan also uses 5000k bulbs in the new altima v6's and se-r