I have the HID system on my '05 --- first time I have ever had an HID system. I know the fog lights take standard 9006 bulbs and I intend to replace the OE bulbs with PIAA Xtreme White Plus.
However, I was under some strange impression that only the high beams were HID, and I could replace the low beams with 9005 bulbs. Am I wrong? Is it that BOTH the high and low beam bulbs are those special HID bulbs that cost a bloody fortune and only come in one Kelvin range?
Actually the high beams are 9005 and the HID low beams are D2R. I've replaced my factory HID bulbs with a higher kelvin bulb. I went from 4300K to 6000K and I paid $90 for the pair.
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Black Avalon 2007 Limited Edition - Front and Rear Splash Guard - Sunroof Air Deflector - 20% tint all around - and -
18's black on black
Actually the high beams are 9005 and the HID low beams are D2R. I've replaced my factory HID bulbs with a higher kelvin bulb. I went from 4300K to 6000K and I paid $90 for the pair.
Thank you for that response. My next question, having purchased the PIAA Xtreme White Plus 9005 bulbs is, can I simply replace the 'high beams' with the PIAA 9005's in the same way I replace bulbs in vehicles with non-HID systems, or do I have go through the whole precautionary procedure outlined in the FSM so I don't electrocute myself? In other words, is it just the low beams that have the high voltage charge?
The Xtreme White Plus bulbs are 4000K, but I really like them.
- Peter
I found this information from Sylvania to be interesting.
Am I to assume that the OE high beam bulbs are 4300K? Therefore, by swapping in the PIAA Xtreme White Plus bulbs I am going more to the yellow side than blue?
Whiteness
Whiteness, associated with color temperature, is the color appearance of a light, measured in degrees Kelvin (K). Natural daylight at noon has a color temperature of 4870K. High performance halogen lighting, such as SYLVANIA SilverStar, has a color temperature of approximately 4000K, comparable to high intensity discharge (HID), which is 4100K.
In contrast, standard halogen headlights are only about 3200K and have a more yellow appearance. The two ends to the specific spectrum are yellow and blue, the higher the color temperature, the closer to blue. This is why lights that are high in color, such as HID and SilverStar, are percieved as blue, they are actually just less yellow.
Below you will see the whole spectrum including white for headlights, amber, reb, blue and green. A vehicles signal, a road construction blinker, the yellow (amber) of stop lights are amber. Red is for brake lights, the red in stop lights and emergency vehicle lighting such as police, fire and ambulances. Blue is reserved for police and emergency vehicles. Green is mainly for traffic lights.
Brightness
Brightness, associated with luminance, is the amount of light reflected in a particular direction. High performance halogen headlights, such as SYLVANIA SilverStar® and XtraVision®, have greater luminance than standard halogen headlights and direct more light on the road.
Luminance is different from lumen (the basic measure of light output). The definition of luminance is the amount of visible light on a point on a surface in a given direction or increased light in the most important spots on the road while driving. Higher Luminance is achieved through increased control of the filament and, overall, control of the light coming off of the filament. Light output (lumens) isn't increased but the light is made more useful.
Now I am wondering if I bought these bulbs in haste, and perhaps I should have chosen the PIAA Intense White bulbs with a Kelvin of 4100K --- they are the whitest bulbs PIAA makes. Or I should have gone for the SUPER PLASMA BLUE with a Kelvin of 5000.
I am not into the ‘fashion’ purple look and like a pure white light, so maybe I am answering my own question, but I am curious what others have experienced.
I still do not understand how and with what product one goes to a bulb with 6000K. Is that an HID bulb requiring more alteration (ballasts, connectors, etc.) than simply replacing bulbs?
the 6000k bulbs that i put in my car are bright white with a blueish tint to it. The bulbs were just a direct replacement, no alterations. They also make 8000k (more blue), 10000K (slightly purplelish), 12000K (purple).
the 6000k bulbs that i put in my car are bright white with a blueish tint to it. The bulbs were just a direct replacement, no alterations. They also make 8000k (more blue), 10000K (slightly purplelish), 12000K (purple).
Oh come on ....
You are teasing me now. Where on earth do you get bulbs like that? I am wondering if Kelvin ratings are standardized. Who is the mfg of your bulbs of choice?
Did you have to disconnect the battery or any part of the HID system beyond the high beam socket connector?
I want to put these PIAA's in but am not sure I did the right thing now.
I purchased my bulbs from www.automotivelightingusa.com and I guess they were running a special when I bought them because now they're going for $119. If you go to the website, click on HID xenon upgrade then OEM HID upgrade bulbs. I didn't disconnect the battery, I just made sure the lights were turned off before changing them out and it's just like changing out standard bulbs. You can still put the 9005 piaa's in the high beams but you need D2R or D2C bulbs to replace your HID low beams.
After my earlier question I drilled a little deeper into the threads on the forum and found the various vendors like the one you purchased from. Now I am only going to express my opinion here, and I certainly am not a lighting engineer, but I really question the authenticity of stats published by some of these more obscure (maybe only obscure to me) lighting mfg's producing specialty bulbs. I bought a set of high kelvin number bulbs (purple) for my son once and they were really expensive, but they did not nearly yield the brilliance, intensity and pattern that I have found standard with Osram or PIAA bulbs.
I appreciate your instructions about installing the 9005 bulbs. I have decided to go ahead and install the PIAA's I have and see how I like them. I know I have loved them in two other cars so what the heck.
The higher the kelvin does not really mean the brighter the light output. I know my friend that has the 8000k bulbs has a more blue color, but doesn't seem to light up the street as well as mine do. I think anywhere from 4300K and 6000K will give you the best lighting.
The higher the kelvin does not really mean the brighter the light output. I know my friend that has the 8000k bulbs has a more blue color, but doesn't seem to light up the street as well as mine do. I think anywhere from 4300K and 6000K will give you the best lighting.
I agree ....
The PIAA Xtreme White Plus are 4000K and the 9000 Series Intense White bulbs they make are 4100K. I paid under $60/pair so I will see how they perform in this vehicle. I am going to go put them in now. Thank you.
I just put the bulbs in and I think they look good, but of course it is still daylight. I will look again tonight. I discovered there was a set of regular Sylvania 9005 bulbs in the high beams, so I guess anything would be an improvement over those. The fogs were OE Japan (Denso?) 9006 bulbs.
I want to mention that anytime I unplug a connector, before plugging it back in I always apply a very light amount of Dielectric Grease to the connector female part. I use it on everything, connectors, rubber gaskets, spark plug boots....
Did you change your fog lights?
can you let me know how to replace the fog lights without removing the front bumper?
i have an 08 avalon and just bought a set of nokya fog lights that i want to put in
but i don't know where to start, i'm not sure if i can just do it thru the wheel well like the camry or have to remove the front bumper. Did you take photos during ur installation? maybe you can show me? Thanks!
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HID Headlights -- stupid question
KELVIN explained
Thank you.
Linear Mode
