All the HID threads go off topic...I hope this one stays on topic. Looking for a good HID Kit for the scion tC. There are a lot of brand name ones out there...are there any that give the same effect like what Lexus has or BMW or Mercedes?

 

i believe the effect you're talking about is a result of a projector style HID as opposed to a reflector style HID system. that effect is created typically with a 4300k HID system projected onto the road using a circular lens (kinda like a huge magnifying glass) as opposed to standard halogen reflectors. they create a purple or blue flicker when viewed from angles not directly ahead of it. that's a result of the outer ends of the light beam being bent at different angles by the lens, kinda like how a prism can split up white light into all the colors of a rainbow, the pure white light output from the 4300k system is bent at the edges where purple and blue are noticably apparent.

the only way to achieve this effect is to do a retrofit, where you cut up your headlamp assembly and replace the low-beam reflectors with a projector assembly, typically lexus or bmw parts. read more about this at hidforums.com

 

or...........

you could keep your housings in one piece. buy d2r bulbs. the bulbs are blacked out
on the bottom to keep the glare to a min. you can buy adapters to fit them in 9005,9006,h1,h2 and so on from ebay. and buy a 2 oem ballast. make your own wiring harness with a relay. you dont want that current running through you factory switch and wiring when you first ignite the bulbs.

but i agree the only way to go is retro fit projectors into your factory housing. the output is incredible. you will never want to drive anything with halogen bulbs agian :D

 

Have you seen the new 2004 Lexus ES 330? I don't think that car uses a projector headlight, I believe that is reflective...I could be wrong. But i dont see the purple/blue flicker with that car...its just bright white with a slight tint.

 

6000K is the way to go, IMO :twisted:

 

6000k kits are the best compromise between looks and functional output.

Any higher and it's just rice. 7000k, 8000k+ kits are outputting too much blue and even thought they still output more light than halogen, the bluish light doesn't contrast well with objects and your eyes will tire quick.

 

There is a lot of bad info in this thread...

You cannot just slap a D2R bulb in a halogen housing and expect the same results as an OEM reflector with HID. It will still glare like crazy, the difference is really negligible between D2S and D2R in halogen housings.

 

So...final words...what would be the best thing to go for? I don't want to replace the whole structure...I know that anything higher than 5000k is just too much light...I am not that blind. I think something around 4300k will do great. Should I get an HID kit or should I got for some PIAA Plasma bulbs?

 

woo hoo, let me be the first to say that if the effect you're talking about the flicker effect that i've mentioned, a retrofit is the only way to achieve it.

that's not the only way to go, however, you can simply find a hid kit, consisting of the bulbs and ballasts, which are quite easy to install, and stick them in your reflector housing. although your halogen cutoff wasn't made for HID's, it will still provide ample cutoff for the light beam.

as opposed to what you said, 4300k has the most light output because it is the purest white. anything past that becomes blue... purple... or green, not in that particular order. 4300k is also the closest to daytime light and the easiest on the eyes. because of their optical properties, the higher colors, blue, purple, etc. cause too much glare and in turn eye fatigue.

although certain companies have created halogen bulbs close to HID, there is still a huge jump from those bulbs to HIDs. the trade-off would be cost. for the halogens, i personally prefer osram sylvania silverstars. for HIDs, i have heard that phillips and osram are both very reputable companies.