Howdy. Just wondering if anyone has a recommendation for what bulbs to use for my 04 TL? I just had my first burnt headlight so I need to replace them.
I'd like to go to something a little brighter. If I'm not mistaken, the factories are 4300K right? Does going to a 6K or 8K make a big dif? And do they last as long?

I've seen ppl recommend the retrofit source.com, but has anyone tried this website? http://www.diodedynamics.com/store/i.../#!prettyPhoto

I'm curious what their quality is like. It says OEM replacement, and gives a 1 yr warranty. They're 1/3rd the cost of the Philips D2S's on retrofitsource. But the Philips do offer a 2 yr waranty. I'm not trying to be cheap, but I also tent to like not getting hosed lol.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks a bobbie! ...Er, I mean bundle!

 

By brighter, do you mean more white or more of a bluish light? The higher the number, the more blue.

 

I really just want a crisper white-er bulb. I dont want blue.

 

Then you would want to go lower. MHO is that I would stay at 4300k, and just get the new Phillips 85122+ bulbs.

 

Osram CBI 5k, they dont come cheap.

 

^

 

I would get the philip or Osram bulb, stay away from no brand bulb they could last you years or days depend on your luck.

 

ddm bulbs.

 

osram SVS, brightest bulb in the world. not sure why everyone overlooks the SVS to get the CBIs. The CBIs are great, but for those wanting to be the top dog in lighting, osram SVS is the way to go.

 

Morimotos?

 

SVS is 4300k right? i just like the way a whiter bulb stands out on the pavement. its gives the illusion of being *brighter*.

 

Morimoto 3Five 5k bulbs are great i had them in my genesis and had no issues.

 

I was thinking of switching over to the CBI's, looks like my driver side headlight is not as strong as the passenger side, noticed before I even did the ZKW-R swap.

 

Absolutely stay with an OEM type bulb as already recommended...Osram or Philips. Those cheap HID really are just that...cheap. Infact, it was funny the other day I saw a old civic or whatever with a cheap plug and play HID kit and one of the headlights was flickering like a strobe light hahahaha. At first I just thought it was a strobe kit, but nope, it was his one headlight that was dim, crappy purple color, and flcikering like crazy. I just dont get why people mod their cars in ways that they are actually degrading it.

 

Then just do not go over 5 or 6k

5k-6k are crystal white usually, anything above 6k is where you start getting into blue light (which is actually less light output)

5k is prolly your best bet for great light output and pure white

 

The only non-OEM supplier bulb I'd consider is Morimoto, and when I tried them in my TL one of them flickered then shut off after a few minutes, put the stock Osrams back in no issues and brighter but less white cause I tried 5000k's. I ran Morimoto 5000k 50 watts in the past with good luck. I'm probably not gonna bother touching my headlights again for a while but when I do it'll probably go Phillips 85122+ or Osram SVS. I think the whiter/bluer stuff is kinda played out, I'll take lumens over color. Remember with a proper projector HID the color should all be at the cutoff, cheap bulbs come in different colors to mimic the cutoff when put in a halogen housing.

 

Don't cheap out with HID components, by the time it's all said and done you would be replacings bulbs and spending just as much money if you were to just buy and OEM brand in the first place. Some people do get lucky though and don't have issues. I've had a few sets of cheap bulbs just to mess around with and they tend to color shift a lot faster than OEM.
I would honestly stick with Osram (OEM), Philips (OEM), and or Morimoto for a reputable aftermarket brand

 

Done! Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'll grab the Philips from RetrofitSource.
Cheers

 

Wait... why are the Morimoto 5 bulbs half the price of the philips? and then the Osram svs bulbs are twice the price of the Philips. Why do they vary so much in price?

 

OEM quality/name vs aftermarket. The Philips have been out for a while, if you went to a BMW dealership they would be over $200 a bulb instead of $95 a pair at TRS. I don't know if SVS is OEM on any cars yet but they're an OEM supplier and it's a newer, brighter style. Morimoto is the best aftermarket but having used Osram and Morimoto, Osram is far better quality.

 

A goof idea might be to go to HIDplanet.com and read up and some of the different brands. The Retrofit Source owns the forum and they have a lot of reviews for bulbs if your questioning anything. Like $350 said, morimotos are a great "aftermarket" bulb; Osram and Philips are OEM bulbs so they are going to be priced higher since they do have to meet certain standards when they're built(im assuming) If you go to the dealership, they are charging you a high fee of $200+ PER BULB, at TRS you can get the same brand you buy at a dealership for half that price.
Mercedes I believe has been using the CBI's in there cars stock now.
It also depends what color "K" rating you want. From your original post seems like you wanted a crisp white light. I'd highly suggest staying away from the Philips 85122+, they have a yellowish hue to the output. I'd either buy the Osram 66240 CBI's or 5k Morimoto bulb.

 

Thanks again guys. Great feed back.

Cheers,

 

Thanks for the helpful information guys, I have some knowledge but this helped me decide when the time comes!

 

i got 8000k, not as bad as people say they are but they do have the blue tint.

 

^ rice

 

*I did not make this lol

 

LOL - that is great!

 

https://www.sylvania.com/en-us/appli...el=2001&make=2

 

12k+= :ghey:

 

UMMM, PIAA Super Cobalt D2S H.I.D. are seriously $350 fucking dollars?