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I currently have the Krypton Blue Xenon bulbs. I'm happy with the color and the light output is decent, but i've always wanted to try to install an HID set. Would an 8000K Kensun HID kit be a noticeable upgrade as far as light output is concerned? How about a 6000K? What would you guys recommend?

 
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The lower the temperature rating the higher the lumens.

6k is going to give you more light then 8k. Swapping in projectors will also help aim the light better then a reflector style headlight (7th gen is reflector).

 
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I knew GolNat would weigh in with an answer! He loves his retrofit as much as I do! As far as brightness goes, 4300K is the brightest light humans can see, and that's why it's considered OEM. As the temperature gets higher, visibility drops and the light first gets whiter, then moves to blue and finally purple. Ricers and people generally concerned with appearance alone go for the really high temperatures. As the it lowers from 4300K, visibility lowers and the light gets yellower. This is useful for fog light applications. 3000K is a common temperature here.


My bulbs are 4300K, but they still look whiter than OEM.


The Retrofit Source is where GolNat and I got our kits, and they don't even sell above 6000K because it contradicts their mission to improve visibility and safety on the road. The addition of a projector style lamp introduces a sharp, cool-looking cutoff to the beam and focuses it better.

 
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I understand the basics of the temp chart and all. I just meant how much more light would the 6000/8000k HIDs give me vs just a standard blue tinted halogen bulb?

 
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Impossible to say... as a halogen bulb puts out x amount of lumens... the blue tint would do nothing but block all the wavelengths except the ones it lets through. So 'how much brighter' depends on a *lot* of factors... what the tint is made of, what you're comparing it to re: 6000K? 8000K?... etc.

Only useful comparison, is to have examples of both to look at. It sounds as if you're just wanting bluish light from your headlights for aethetics, which then sort of negates arguments for the reasons HID projectors are superior to halogen reflector lamps with the same wavelengths of light.

I can't afford the 5000K TRS projectors for my EX (yet)... so get by with Sylvania Silverstar Ultras, which are waaaay better for seeing at night than the stock halogens. But only the slightest tinge of blue. Not that I care, as with swap bulbs I actually want to see better... and wouldn't with blue-tinted no-name bulbs.

 
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I won't lie, I do want the color for aesthetics. But I want to upgrade visibility as well, hence the HID kit. I was just wondering if it would really be worth it to upgrade or if I'd be in the same situation. I'm deciding between 8 and 6k.

 
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Ah, gotcha -- yeah I understand mods aren't all about function; aesthetics is part of why modding is so much fun. But you, as I, wouldn't mind if they also worked better on top of that -- hey why not.

All depends on what your priorities are. Mine are 1) performance, 2) aesthetics. If I can get it to look cool, great. But if it works worse than before the swap, that's a dealbreaker. I'm assuming this is where you are as well, with maybe a bit more riding on the looks.

So if it were me... I'd go with 6000K, if you're set on those two temps. Closer to 4300K so you can actually see better, but with a bit more of that bluish color. Not gonna be anywhere near as much blue as 8000K... but it will outperform halogens tinted to mimic 8000K, for sure. The cost is much greater... but you get a) less dazzle for oncoming traffic; b) better and more consistent spread of light; c) less power draw in service, so my charging system can give it to my ignition system. Worth the cash to me.

 
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thanks for the feedback man. i appreciate it. I think i'm going with these and a 6000k. thanks again.