3G TL (2004-2008)
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replacing HID bulbs..

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Old 05-26-2004, 08:14 PM
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replacing HID bulbs..

im thinking about changing the HID bulbs to 6000k....
how hard is it to change them?
ive heard you need too remove the front bumper???!?!
Old 05-26-2004, 08:54 PM
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About replacing HID, the SVC manual suggests to remove the front bumper and remove about a dozen bolts...
Old 05-26-2004, 09:29 PM
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Not worth the hassle..........I've tried Philips Ultinons (6000K) bulbs in the past and the performance sucks!......sure, to oncoming cars they might look "cool" but they're more dim than stocks and you lose some visibilty!
Old 05-26-2004, 09:31 PM
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The other day another 04TL was coming towards me, it looked really cool with the lights on, and the light looked blue and purple, first I thought it was bimmer or MB... so I think you should stick with stock ones.
Old 05-26-2004, 09:34 PM
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and stock ones look REALLY COOL at night too... if I'm following some one on the road, I always look at rear to see what color the bulbs are giving, and when the car goes over bumps, bulbs give purple light.
Old 05-27-2004, 08:55 AM
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Originally Posted by PetesTL
Not worth the hassle..........I've tried Philips Ultinons (6000K) bulbs in the past and the performance sucks!......sure, to oncoming cars they might look "cool" but they're more dim than stocks and you lose some visibilty!
the philips ultinons are probably the best performing 6000K bulb. its true that you will loser performance with it but does have a much more purple hue to it. compared to the stock acura lights i say don't change it. the stock ones look really good already and is comparable to the BMW and Merc lights in color.
Old 05-27-2004, 09:31 AM
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I concur with all others here, seems like a big waste of time to replace the OEM bulbs just to get a "cool" color. Seems like a ton of work to remove the front bumper just so oncoming drivers can think, "Gee, look at those blue headlights." The visibility is great with our stock HID's and that's the only thing that matters.
Old 05-27-2004, 12:56 PM
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I agree that the 6000k bulbs are a waste, but do you really have to remove the bumper and the housings to replace the bulbs? That sounds like a really bad design to me. I've not looked at the back of the headlights but I would imagine that you can replace the bulbs just by taken them out of the back. It makes no sense that if you need a bulb replaced, the hole headlight needs to come out to replace it.
Old 05-27-2004, 01:16 PM
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so pointless
Old 05-27-2004, 01:19 PM
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Originally Posted by automata
I agree that the 6000k bulbs are a waste, but do you really have to remove the bumper and the housings to replace the bulbs? That sounds like a really bad design to me. I've not looked at the back of the headlights but I would imagine that you can replace the bulbs just by taken them out of the back. It makes no sense that if you need a bulb replaced, the hole headlight needs to come out to replace it.
i am actually glad that it is difficult to remove the bulbs. you know how many maximas i see with the headlights missing?
Old 05-27-2004, 01:24 PM
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I have also seen other TL headlights, they light up the road great at night, and they do look cool coming at you already. Stick with those, not worth time and money. The headlight are so hard to get out because that makes it just as hard to steal them....
Old 05-27-2004, 01:48 PM
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Originally Posted by caball88
i am actually glad that it is difficult to remove the bulbs. you know how many maximas i see with the headlights missing?
I know that the idea behing the headlight/hood design is to discourage would be thieves, but I've never heard of having to remove the headlight to replace a bulb. That just seems rdiculous to me.
Old 05-27-2004, 03:52 PM
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if it ain't broke....you know the rest
Old 05-27-2004, 06:12 PM
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Originally Posted by automata
I know that the idea behing the headlight/hood design is to discourage would be thieves, but I've never heard of having to remove the headlight to replace a bulb. That just seems rdiculous to me.
Since the bulbs list for $169, they probably designed it this way to make it as hard to steal just the bulb as it would be for the whole headlamp assembly.
Old 05-28-2004, 02:53 AM
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Originally Posted by ravi
im thinking about changing the HID bulbs to 6000k....
how hard is it to change them?
ive heard you need too remove the front bumper???!?!
I know what you mean dude. I feel like replacing mine too w/a purple hue to it. If everyone is saying the Philips sucks then how about RAYs or PIAAs?? My friends has some jap brand bulbs and they look really nice oncoming and the light density looks pretty sharp and bright to me compare to the stock lights. If you do.....go for a japanese brand bulb and make sure it is made in Japan and not Taiwan. YOu pay alot more but it is worth it tho. Common everybody....you gotto have some fun w/your car now!!!
Old 05-28-2004, 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by ed99
I know what you mean dude. I feel like replacing mine too w/a purple hue to it. If everyone is saying the Philips sucks then how about RAYs or PIAAs?? My friends has some jap brand bulbs and they look really nice oncoming and the light density looks pretty sharp and bright to me compare to the stock lights. If you do.....go for a japanese brand bulb and make sure it is made in Japan and not Taiwan. YOu pay alot more but it is worth it tho. Common everybody....you gotto have some fun w/your car now!!!
philips makes one of the best HID bulbs out there. There Ultinon bulb is the best performing 6000K HID. other good manufacturers are german like osram and hella. there are some decent jap hid companies but even the oem lights for most jap cars use german or philips components. here is a list of oem components used in factory equiped HID cars. as far as the 6000K performing better than the stock that is impossible, its science not science fiction. as the color of the light gets higher the light output gets lower. i mean how is a purple light suppose to reflect better than a white light? think about it.

OEM HID
Old 05-30-2004, 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by caball88
philips makes one of the best HID bulbs out there. There Ultinon bulb is the best performing 6000K HID. other good manufacturers are german like osram and hella. there are some decent jap hid companies but even the oem lights for most jap cars use german or philips components. here is a list of oem components used in factory equiped HID cars. as far as the 6000K performing better than the stock that is impossible, its science not science fiction. as the color of the light gets higher the light output gets lower. i mean how is a purple light suppose to reflect better than a white light? think about it.

OEM HID
You are right about having better visibility with the white compare to the purple but the reason for buying aftermarket product is to be different than everyone else. It depends on the end user and what they want. If they want their car to look noticable and different you go for the blue/purple bulbs but if you want safety and performance you should stick w/the OEM. Alot of TL's here in Vancouver and that is one of the reason why I want something different and looks cool and different!!!
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