I'm new to the forum having just purchased an '03 TL-S. I've been reading all day and have found valuable information but not a clear cut answer. I replaced the passenger side bulb because it did not work. I bought a bulb from the dealer ($140) and had them install it. When I'm parked in my garage and my lights are shining at a white wall, the new bulb is a white/yellowish color. The driver side bulb is the blueish/purplish color that I love. I've read that there is a "burn-in" period for these HID bulbs. Will this new bulb eventually turn the blueish/purplish color? Or should I be looking for a different bulb? The blueish/purplish headlights were one of the main reasons I bought the car and I know it's trivial, but it's driving me nuts that the headlights are two different colors. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

you should replace bulbs in pairs because HIDs fade overtime and will never perfectly match since one is 4 years old and the other is brand new.
oh and welcome

 

So if I replaced both bulbs would they turn blueish/purplish over time after the "burn-in" period? Or will they stay the same bright white color that they are now?

 

When you buy new bulbs, they need to be on for about 100Hrs to get the true color. If you had to replace one, you should replace both at the same time. You could've upgraded too. Higher the Kelvin, lower the output range. 4300K is stock, 6500K from Phillips is in the middle.

 

they take time to burn into the true color. You should ALWAYS (and thats with standard halogen as well) by bulbs in pairs so that they both light the road equally and are the same color

 

So the 6500k from Phillips would look bluer than the 4300k stock? Also, where is the best place to buy the 6500k from Phillips?

 

Be aware that the higher Kelvin bulbs simply don't light up the road as well as the stock 4300K bulbs. So you're trading useable light on the road for color as you go to the higher Kelvin ratings. Forum members have reported that loss is even noticeable with 6000K bulbs. And thing are even worse in the rain.

Personally I won't sacrifice any visibility for color so I'm only using 4300K bulbs.

And you can get bulbs for much less than the dealer charges. I bought brand new Philips D2R bulbs for less than $35 each through an eBay seller.

Bob

 

My final question is will the new 4300k bulb begin to look more blue or purple over time? Thanks for everyone's responses....very helpful.

 

They will begin to look like what you have over time.

 

True that. My 6500k bulbs went in the trash after a few months and I grabbed philips 4300k off of ebay. The light output on the 4300k is noticeably brighter.