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Quick question about HIDs

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Old Dec 11, 2010 | 12:08 PM
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Default Quick question about HIDs

Don't flame me for this, I can't search on my phone but, when changing out the stock HIDs, is it just plug and play? Such that, I don't have to purchase a brand new kit and ballast, etc. Can I just buy the bulb and change it out, or will some adjustments need to be made?

Also, any suggestions on the best place to buy some bulbs? Quality kind.
Sorry, I'm such a newbie when it comes to technical stuff like this. Thanks in advanced!

Btw, does anyone know the temp of the stock HIDs on Acuras and BMWs? They're noticeably "whiter/bluer" than the stock HIDs of Lexus. I'm looking to get that color, but not sure what temp to choose.
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Old Dec 11, 2010 | 12:14 PM
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D4S bulb. It's a direct replacement. It's the projectors on the other cars that make them look bluer. All stock bulbs are around 4300K because that is the temperature with the best light output.
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Old Dec 11, 2010 | 06:36 PM
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Yes, it is plug and play - you just swap bulbs (D4S).

I suggest you buy Garax bulbs, which you can get on eBay for about $90. Check out forum vendors too to see if they carry them for a good price.

Lexus OEM HID bulbs are 4100K in color. Like SB350 said, BMWs and Acuras usually have the same color temperature, but they have better projectors so they flicker and look different (more blue) from non-direct angles.
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Old Dec 14, 2010 | 05:25 AM
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So then my next question is,
what temp of bulb would I have to buy in order to produce a color similar to the color temp of acuras, etc?
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Old Dec 14, 2010 | 05:34 AM
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My old Acura TSX had 4300k stock.
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Old Dec 14, 2010 | 05:37 AM
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4300~ would get you similar color output. You just wont get the colorful flicker that other projectors can produce. It'd be a lot more time and work to retrofit other projectors into our headlights, seeing as our cutoffs are really weak (not to mention terrible light output)
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Old Dec 14, 2010 | 07:23 AM
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Originally Posted by sh0ta
So then my next question is,
what temp of bulb would I have to buy in order to produce a color similar to the color temp of acuras, etc?
If you want a bluer bulb that's not too blue, get a pair of Garax 6000K D4S HID's. 6000K is a good compromise between appearance and useable light output. Although, you will notice a loss of useable light output between stock bulbs and 6000K bulbs.
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Old Dec 14, 2010 | 09:40 AM
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get a set of the Garax 6000k d4s bulbs and you should be good. if not, try out a set of 5000k bulbs. 6000k has a hint of blue if you look at it from a specific angle. You can pick up a set of garax bulbs from our vendors section. Pretty good quality bulbs.

Just keep in mind, if your car came with HID headlights then all u need to do is just switch out the d4s bulbs and your good to go.

However, if your car does not have HID head lights, you will have to buy a kit.
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Old Dec 14, 2010 | 09:43 AM
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I have the Garax 8000K and they are pretty good as well. It not that blue compared to other manufactuers who have 8000K and it's much more bluer.

In the future I am considering getting Garax 6000K as well.
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 01:55 AM
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Thanks guys. My car does come with stock 4300k, so I just ordered a pair of Garax 6000k. Looking forward to putting them in ..
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted by sh0ta
Thanks guys. My car does come with stock 4300k, so I just ordered a pair of Garax 6000k. Looking forward to putting them in ..
Good choice. Just FYI, the stock HID color is 4100K, not 4300K.
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 04:42 PM
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I got DDM Tuning D4S bulbs and they are great. Way cheaper than Garax.
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 05:00 PM
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If you have factory HID's already, all you need is a pair of D4S bulb replacements.

Rule of thumb when changing out HID bulbs, is to change both at the same time to avoid the possibility of color decay differences between the 2 bulbs.

You have factory Denso ballasts running Philip D4S bulbs, don't swap them out for cheap D4S replacement bulbs, either get genuine Philip Osram bulbs or higher quality ones such as Garax or Morimoto which I believe are both manufactured in Japan.
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