HID lights color question - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Fogey · 11-16-2010, 11:59 PM

I've had my 2011 RS/SS for about two months but never looked at the headlights after dark. Tonight I was outside when my wife returned from shopping. Loved the look of the lights but expected them to have a bluish tint to them like the first Porshes and Mercedes with HID lights had. Or were those diffent lights?

egad09 · 11-17-2010, 12:14 AM

Factory HIDs are primarily ~4300k rating. Which is about the purish/brightest white light available.

Now the projector housing and lens can have a slight blue tint (which is what you see on the cars your implying) which will color the light being emitted.

...Now you can also go to a higher Kelvin HID bulb.
6000k - ice blue kinda look.
8000k - bright blue
10k - ridiculous blue imo
12k - leading into purple ....

egad09 · 11-17-2010, 12:14 AM

Double post ... sorrry..

Fogey · 11-17-2010, 12:24 AM

nt

TJ91 · 11-17-2010, 12:49 AM

mmmm 6000k bulbs are gorgous

Dyk-NO · 11-17-2010, 12:50 AM

Like he said 6k is whitest you can get 8k is still white but with a little hint of blue. so 6k for the WIN!!!!

klatterblast · 11-17-2010, 01:06 AM

no stock rs 4300k is the whitest and the best for seeing the road at night , believe me i know i switched mine to AAC 6000k there blueish and i can NOT see as good. but they will do and look great.

INTIMIDAT3R · 11-17-2010, 09:20 AM

When you start getting to 6000K or above, the lights start to lose their clarity and you start to lose field of illumination.

The blueish tint does help during bad weather and foggy driving.

Dangeruss · 11-17-2010, 10:04 AM

Dyk-NO is correct. 6000K is the closest to white. I have the 6000K bulbs from AAC and the LED bulbs for my fogs. LEDs are true white, and the 6000K bulbs are almost a perfect match. I've seen them next to the factory bulbs, and the factory bulbs look yellow in comparison.

Dangeruss · 11-17-2010, 10:12 AM

Here's a simple comparison:

http://www.automotivelightstore.com/hidfaq.aspx

rawj7 · 11-17-2010, 10:49 AM

In My 2005 Volvo I had the Zenons, and they were blueish. Now they did great but thease stock HID's what ever they "K" they are, Are much better for driveing, they may not have the cool facter from veiwing from outside, but I spend most of the time inside looking out when my lights are on and they illuminate the road much better than my blue zenons did IMO.

jdenotter · 11-17-2010, 02:57 PM

Technically 4300k is the only legal HID color temp that can be used. Anything different than that is illegal no matter what state you are located in. egad09 put it right on the money with his statement as far as the brightest and best clarity.

Dangeruss · 11-17-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdenotter

Technically 4300k is the only legal HID color temp that can be used. Anything different than that is illegal no matter what state you are located in. egad09 put it right on the money with his statement as far as the brightest and best clarity.

Yea...didn't get into the legalities!

The Kelvin scale actually is not about brightness, but about color. 5000K is the closest to pure white, so 4300K is a little below and 6000K is a little above.

I made my decision after reading here on the forum about guys that upgraded to LED fog bulbs (LEDs are true white) and complained about their headlights looking yellow in comparison. That's why I chose the 6000K bulbs when I did my AAC light system. I've seen my car next to another SS with 4300K bulbs and mine definitely look whiter.

jdenotter · 11-17-2010, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dangeruss

Yea...didn't get into the legalities!

The Kelvin scale actually is not about brightness, but about color. 5000K is the closest to pure white, so 4300K is a little below and 6000K is a little above.

I made my decision after reading here on the forum about guys that upgraded to LED fog bulbs (LEDs are true white) and complained about their headlights looking yellow in comparison. That's why I chose the 6000K bulbs when I did my AAC light system. I've seen my car next to another SS with 4300K bulbs and mine definitely look whiter.

I like 6K-8K. I agree they are close. If Im not mistaken I dont think there is really a 5K however some aftermarket manf. do claim there is. The guy I got my HID stated there wasnt. Im surely not gonna argue over it that's for sure so dont hold me to that please

. Im happy with the standard color temp that comes with the RS package which is 4300k. Its really whatever your preference is. Personally I dont like is Purple, Amber and Pink.

.

11-16-2010, 11:59 PM	#1
Fogey Drives: 2011 2SS/RS A6, IOM Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 1,236	HID lights color question I've had my 2011 RS/SS for about two months but never looked at the headlights after dark. Tonight I was outside when my wife returned from shopping. Loved the look of the lights but expected them to have a bluish tint to them like the first Porshes and Mercedes with HID lights had. Or were those diffent lights?

11-17-2010, 12:14 AM	#2
egad09 Drives: 2010 CGM 1SS Camaro Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Woodlands, TX Posts: 527	Factory HIDs are primarily ~4300k rating. Which is about the purish/brightest white light available. Now the projector housing and lens can have a slight blue tint (which is what you see on the cars your implying) which will color the light being emitted. ...Now you can also go to a higher Kelvin HID bulb. 6000k - ice blue kinda look. 8000k - bright blue 10k - ridiculous blue imo 12k - leading into purple .... __________________

11-17-2010, 12:14 AM	#3
egad09 Drives: 2010 CGM 1SS Camaro Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The Woodlands, TX Posts: 527	Double post ... sorrry.. __________________

11-17-2010, 12:24 AM	#4
Fogey Drives: 2011 2SS/RS A6, IOM Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 1,236	Thanks for the info nt

11-17-2010, 12:49 AM	#5
TJ91 :chevy: Drives: 2LT/RS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 13,033	mmmm 6000k bulbs are gorgous __________________ CAMARO Consult your doctor before taking Camaro Side effects include Sudden increase in Heart Rate, Insomnia and occasional hallucinations If you experience Permagrin exceeding 4 hours after taking Camaro, seek immediate Camaro5 Help CAMARO Bringing excitment back into the Garage

11-17-2010, 12:50 AM	#6
Dyk-NO Trust me I'm a Scientist. Drives: My wifey ;P Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,118 View My Garage	Like he said 6k is whitest you can get 8k is still white but with a little hint of blue. so 6k for the WIN!!!! __________________ "From ZERO to a Tire-Burning HERO!" Mods: RotoFab CAI, SW Headers, HiFlo Cats, Borla Atak Catback, Nightfury Cam, Ported Heads,Intake,TB, melling pump, Morosso Oil Separator.

11-17-2010, 01:06 AM	#7
klatterblast Drives: 2010 camaro 2ssrs blk. Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: walker la. Posts: 1,732 View My Garage	no stock rs 4300k is the whitest and the best for seeing the road at night , believe me i know i switched mine to AAC 6000k there blueish and i can NOT see as good. but they will do and look great. __________________ 2010 Hennessey HPE650 2SSRS Blk/Blk Magnuson TVS2300,ported heads,cam,Hotchkis suspension. Weld 17”s, Mickey Thompson’s.

11-17-2010, 09:20 AM	#8
INTIMIDAT3R Account Suspended Drives: '11 2SS/RS L99, '12 2LS LFX Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Malmac A.U.N. Posts: 2,122 View My Garage	When you start getting to 6000K or above, the lights start to lose their clarity and you start to lose field of illumination. The blueish tint does help during bad weather and foggy driving.

11-17-2010, 10:04 AM	#9
Dangeruss Bayoucitymusclecars.com Drives: Camaro LSX Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Spring, TX Posts: 4,413 View My Garage	Dyk-NO is correct. 6000K is the closest to white. I have the 6000K bulbs from AAC and the LED bulbs for my fogs. LEDs are true white, and the 6000K bulbs are almost a perfect match. I've seen them next to the factory bulbs, and the factory bulbs look yellow in comparison.

11-17-2010, 10:12 AM	#10
Dangeruss Bayoucitymusclecars.com Drives: Camaro LSX Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Spring, TX Posts: 4,413 View My Garage	Here's a simple comparison: http://www.automotivelightstore.com/hidfaq.aspx

11-17-2010, 10:49 AM	#11
rawj7 U.S. ARMY Aviation Mech Drives: 2010 Black 2SS/RS 6 Speed Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: VA Posts: 353	In My 2005 Volvo I had the Zenons, and they were blueish. Now they did great but thease stock HID's what ever they "K" they are, Are much better for driveing, they may not have the cool facter from veiwing from outside, but I spend most of the time inside looking out when my lights are on and they illuminate the road much better than my blue zenons did IMO. __________________ 2SS/RS W/White Hood strip, 6sM. To do before I Die. Dream car-check, ...

11-17-2010, 02:57 PM	#12
jdenotter Drives: 2010 2SS/RS,M6,Black w/CGM Stripes Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Nashville, NC Posts: 1,778 View My Garage	Technically 4300k is the only legal HID color temp that can be used. Anything different than that is illegal no matter what state you are located in. egad09 put it right on the money with his statement as far as the brightest and best clarity. __________________ 3" RDP Motorsports aggressive cat-back exhaust w/ x-pipe, Vararam CAI, Hurst's short throw shifter, Gary's Customs painted bowties, Ofer's HID DRL/Fog Light wiring harness, Kelvin 8K HID DRL bulbs, ZL1 grille. Johnson's window tint film, LSR lowering springs, Metra dash kit with Pioneer In-Dash DVD head unit.

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