Headlight low beam replacement
#16
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Bocatrip (03-19-18)
#17
Pole Position
Make sure you get the D2R. R is for restricted. There is a part of the bulb that is covered to keep the light from shining too high in other driver's eyes.
My $16.99 set from Amazon is still going strong. Not available from the seller I used, but I see several replacements. The higher the K value, the more blue they will be.
My $16.99 set from Amazon is still going strong. Not available from the seller I used, but I see several replacements. The higher the K value, the more blue they will be.
#18
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Bocatrip: Good to support your local independent, but hate to see you spend unnecessarily. This supplier has been excellent for me and has very high ratings. Didn't see my preferred Osram Cool Blues in D2R but they have several 4300K samples to pick from. Suggest you contact them to inquire about Osram options. In the early days of HIDs, 4300K was the preferred light color temp as it provided good lighting and was more "normal" to our vision; although a bit yellow or off-white by today's standards. Since then, color temps have moved to more white and similar to day light of about 5000 to 5500K. Unfortunately, there was a time where all the 'boy racers' went 6,000 or 8,000K and most were annoyed by a set of purple-blue lights coming at us on the highway. Gladly those days are behind us. If you really want OEM from 2001, go with 4300K. Hope this link work but if not, search Auto Light Industry, Inc within Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=me%3DA3VGMKRM82Q7BB&field-keywords=d2r
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=me%3DA3VGMKRM82Q7BB&field-keywords=d2r
Last edited by Bocatrip; 03-19-18 at 11:15 AM.
#19
Make sure you get the D2R. R is for restricted. There is a part of the bulb that is covered to keep the light from shining too high in other driver's eyes.
My $16.99 set from Amazon is still going strong. Not available from the seller I used, but I see several replacements. The higher the K value, the more blue they will be.
My $16.99 set from Amazon is still going strong. Not available from the seller I used, but I see several replacements. The higher the K value, the more blue they will be.
#20
Instructor
I would also talk to these guys. They helped me out when I was retrofitting my 2010 Camaro from Halogen to HID and they are USA company that is not fly-by-night. Call them and see what they recommend. This is who I will buy from.
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/d2...ect_restrict=1
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/d2...ect_restrict=1
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/
Last edited by caverman; 03-19-18 at 11:30 AM.
#21
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (11)
We're big fans of the D2R Philips 4300K bulbs - basically the same thing as what you typically get stock from the manufacturer in most vehicles with factory HIDs these days. 4300K should be a warm white colour, although depending on the vehicle involved the projector may have a bit of an effect on the colour, crisping it up to make it look 'whiter' or 'bluer'.
~Robert
~Robert
#22
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
Update from the op
Well, my HIDs were installed by my Indy yesterday. As mentioned earlier, I decided to spend the extra money for the OEM bulbs from Lexus but at a fairly discounted price. I replaced both bulbs as is always suggested and of course the 17 year old HIDs are the originals. For those that are interested, without taking any pictures, this is what is printed on both bulbs.....Osram Kenarc D2R 35W 66050 Germany. The new bulbs were identical in every way but the 66050 might have been updated to 66250. I'm not absolutely sure. As you can see, these are not Philips bulbs. From what I can see after only driving a bit, the light is crisp white with no yellowing that I can notice. My headlight housings were professionally reconditioned last year so they are just about as clear as new housings. For what it's worth, my Indy did not remove the assembly but took the bulbs out while in the car. YES....it was a pain and I believe he spent about 40-45 minutes on both. I told him it was suggested to remove the assembly, but he is quite familiar with the car and decided to go that route. Who am I to argue? So after $66 install charge and the cost of the bulbs, I'm good to go for another 17 years before replacement. lol. Bottom line is that I'm happy with the headlight brightness and am confident in knowing that nothing unexpected should be happening in the near future with my headlights. Hopefuly......End of saga.
#23
Instructor
Hmmm....I'm assuming mine are original, I wonder if replacing mine would improve mine any? Especially when the Osram are like $85 for a set. I'm not noticing any issues with mine but it might be one of those things that I don't know that mine are yellowish without trying a new set.
#24
Pole Position
iTrader: (1)
Hmmm....I'm assuming mine are original, I wonder if replacing mine would improve mine any? Especially when the Osram are like $85 for a set. I'm not noticing any issues with mine but it might be one of those things that I don't know that mine are yellowish without trying a new set.
If you have normal halogen bulbs it will be brighter and slighly less yellow.
#25
Instructor
You have an 04-06 right? If so installing new bulbs will show a difference the heat cycles and such make the color of the bulb degrade over time, if you do replace them you will notice a difference in how much you can see as well as the light color.
If you have normal halogen bulbs it will be brighter and slighly less yellow.
If you have normal halogen bulbs it will be brighter and slighly less yellow.
#26
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (11)
HID bulbs lose lumens over time - 100%. Depending on how old your bulbs are you, you will notice a significant difference when changing out to new bulbs.
We carry OEM Philips D2R 4300k bulbs - which is what I would suggest if you want the brightest possible output. Higher kelvin bulbs typically produce more color, but less actual light.
Steve
We carry OEM Philips D2R 4300k bulbs - which is what I would suggest if you want the brightest possible output. Higher kelvin bulbs typically produce more color, but less actual light.
Steve
#27
Driver School Candidate
Highly recommend Orsam Cool Blue Intensive bulbs. running the D2S version on 2 family cars including wife's 2004 LS430 and they are magnificent! Nothing blue about the light output; crisp and very white. Very close in color to state of art LEDs on today's better cars. you will not be disappointed and at $100 for the pair, its an excellent value. Here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/Osram-Sylvani...sram+d2r+5000k
#28
HID bulbs lose lumens over time - 100%. Depending on how old your bulbs are you, you will notice a significant difference when changing out to new bulbs.
We carry OEM Philips D2R 4300k bulbs - which is what I would suggest if you want the brightest possible output. Higher kelvin bulbs typically produce more color, but less actual light.
Steve
We carry OEM Philips D2R 4300k bulbs - which is what I would suggest if you want the brightest possible output. Higher kelvin bulbs typically produce more color, but less actual light.
Steve
#29
Instructor
Correct, but light doesn't go 'blue' until about 6000K. The relationship is inverse to what one may think. The higher the color temp (expressed in K for Kelvin) the cooler or blue/white the color; the lower the color temp the warmer or red/yellow in color. Trust me, as i researched this extensively and have a film/video production background and know a bit about lighting color temperature. The newer ~5000K bulbs, especially the Osram CBI D2S is an amazing light source for the 2004+ LS430 and i speak from personal experience. In my wife's daily driver, i was so disappointed with the aging yellow and dim output of the stock HIDs that I spend the time to peel back the front bumper cover to replace all front facing bulbs. The Osram CBI are so good my wife immediately said "WOW, that's a big difference", followed by "will everyone flash their brights at me because they are so bright?" Not a single flashing from an on coming driver as I made sure they were properly aimed. Brilliantly lightling the road ahead even in heavy rain and light fog on a recent road trip up the coast of Southern California.
#30
Instructor
Anyone know of a DIY on changing the bulbs on an LS430? I'm assuming all years would be the same but may not be. I know the headlight removal on the '01-'03 is completely differenent than the '04-'05. I've found the common thread that was done a long time ago but none of the pictures are available any more and it says things like remove the parts with the arrows.....which of course I can't see. From a couple other posts I found it sounds like it's on the driver's side and you have to remove the fuse box.