hmmm oem still looks like a cleaner horizon. I would just like the bulbs from a nissan gtr, they look a lil bluer than our z's stock. Do you think I could get a direct replacement bulb for the gtr, from nissan, and install it in my z?

I noticed the same problem tonight when I finally got to see them at night and the horizon line and beam pattern is horrible .. The high beams are even worse .. I thought I installed them wrong at first until I saw this post .. I feel like I wasted money on these now and wish I spent the money on another brand ... I will stick with these for a little while until I find a brand I really like and trust .. Thanks for the follow up bro ..

Falcor park a little further from the wall in the dark and turn on the highbeams and look at the beam pattern and you notice how off they are versus the stock bulb... The color does match the running daytime bulbs a bit better but the quality of the bulb isn't what it should be IMO .. The high beams don't even make a big difference from the low beams which is a big deal to me considering I expect my lights to look a lot cleaner than my stock ones ...

That has nothing to do with the bulbs, it's the design of the projector itself. All OEM HID's basically use the same 4300K capsule. The purple and blue you see if just a narrow band that is at the cutoff. If you go up close to any of these cars, they basically all look the same. Using a blue of purple high color temp HID capsule makes the entire beam that color. You still won't get that flicker and prism effect you see on other cars. You see that prism effect because as the car bounces up and down, you're seeing different bands of color. The color also never changes to white as you approach the car.

In some cases, changing the lens will make the cutoff much more colorful. For example, a Celica with one of the later factory HID options is not that colorful. A few people took apart the lights and swapped in lenses from an Acura TSX. With no other changes (and an OEM Denso 4300K capsule), the car instantly had intense bands of blue and purple at the cutoff.

I'm happy with the color on these lights. I knew i would be losing some brightness when going up to 6000k but i didnt realize how much. these arent anywhere near as bright as the oems. and I agree that the light pattern seems to have changed somehow (i dont know how it would be possible because the projector and housing didnt move at all.) also i agree with the statement about the high beams not looking right. the cut off doesn't look as clean either.

I understand what you mean about the different projector lenses, but I also
experienced the bad cut-off line with the cheaper HID bulbs. It's even evident
in Falcors pictures..

I installed the RIGG bulbs and the beam pattern is up to par with the stock oem
bulbs. From what I understand the RIGG bulb is used in oem applications, but they are 6000K.

They are not as blue as the ijdmtoy bulbs, more of a crystal white. No yellowish
tint like the stock bulbs. Plus, these bulbs are the only set that have worked for me ... I will get some pics tonight after I install my K&N drop in filters...

Thanks RockStarKick, if i like the look of these RIGG bulbs after you post the pics I will probably get a set because I can't tolerate the low quality of these bulbs ..

:iagree::tup:

So you guys that have bulbs that aren't getting the flicker problem... care to share where they come from?

I don't mind the problem enough to buy a new set of bulbs... maybe when these start to turn funky colors I'll get them.

Yes, I dealt with the flickering problem through 4 different sets of bulbs.

1. Morimoto 6000k from The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applications
2. 6000K bulbs from Super Bright LED Car Lights, LED Lights For Cars, LED Bulbs, HID Bulbs, HID Conversion Kits and Car Accessories
3. HID factory, a place local that sold bulbs. 6000k didn't work either.
4. Replacement iJDMtoy bulbs, they worked but the quality was crap and
they have the horrible beam pattern and horizon.
5. The set that has been the best are RIGG bulbs 6000K. The quality seems almost better than factory. The bulbs contact areas are gold plated and the base of the glass is supported by metal arms. I ordered these from
The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applications .. When the original bulbs that I received from them didn't work I called and he recommended these. They are not listed on their site for sale. Just call and ask for them.

Yeah these ijdm bulbs suck. Please post pics of your Riggs when you get them installed. I have phillips 6000k ds2s in my GSXR and those look great, I may just get another set of those. although they did cost almost $100 when i bought them.

The Phillips Ultinon DS2 bulbs are pricey but the 6k one are very white with really no loss in visibility.One of the best ones you can buy.:icon17:

When my Philips Ultinon bulbs come in hopefully tomorrow, I'll report whether I experience issues some of you have faced.

please do, i'm leaning toward these. I think headlights are an area where "skimping" probably isnt a good idea.

I would like an update as well and totally agree with Falcor .. Quality vs Cost .. Quality bulbs is more important than the cost ...

Incorrect.

4300K is well known to be the brightest (IE - light travels further)

To quote:
"4300K lamps are approx 10% brighter (measured in Lumens, not degrees K) than the 6000K"

10% is noticeable, sorry if you think otherwise.

The thing people don't notice is that they want the color changing effects from a far like most factory equipped BMW's have. BMW's equipped with 4300K HID's..... The cutoff and lens in the projector have a lot more to do with the color shift then the bulbs.

Before you guys mod your lights to be less efficient, please read up on the subject a little more.

HiDplanet : The Official Automotive Lighting Forum - The Buzz

i think most of us realize that we are going to be giving up a little brightness when going up into 6000k bulb. I think the the gain (aesthetically outweighs the performance loss (at least to me). We are just trying to determine the best quality bulb in the color temp we want. Please don't make the mistake thinking that any single post here sums up the knowledge of everyone.

Ding Ding Ding... We have a winner, there is always someone trying be smarter than everybody else and post some sh!t that they read on the net..

Good job on the copy and paste..

Contribute something good to this thread or GTFO..

Oh, P.S,, I will have the pictures of the RIGG bulbs up later this evening.... I have them on my camera but forgot the proprietary Sony cable at home..

I think I contributed some sort of knowledge to this thread. I happen to read up on and do quite a bit of work with HID lights. Retrofitted TSX projectors/lenses into my WRX before I got my Z and did quite a bit of research on the HID subject and decided to pass along some knowledge about light output. Not everyone knows this, so what's the harm in saying something about it?

Just because it was copy and pasted doesn't mean it isn't factual...

You know, I must say this whole thread in general is funny. Everyone jumps on people who want to tint their headlights saying how it will decrease his light output and isn't safe. Yet, when someone wants to put light bulbs in their car to get a certain color that decreases the light output no one seems to care.

I dont think you get the point about overgeneralizing. Your use of the term "everybody" and "no one". I challenge you to find a post by any of the people in this thread where they are calling someone out for tinting their headlights.

not to mention i think 6000k bulbs still produce more lumens than 90% of the oem halogen bulbs on the road

And i have no problem with you posting an informative link. It is the condescending tone of your post that gets on peoples nerves.

Here are the pics of the RIGG bulbs that I got from theretrofitsource.com..

They match my led parking lights almost perfectly. They are crystal white with
a hint of blue. They work perfectly, just like factory and the beam pattern and
horizon line is really nice.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...o/DSC00994.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...o/DSC00993.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...o/DSC00992.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...o/DSC00991.jpg

Here's a shot with just the parking lights on.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...o/DSC00987.jpg


This is what the iJDMtoy bulbs in 6000K looked like.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...o/DSC00983.jpg

looks good, could you pull up to a wall to get a photo of the pattern/cutoff?

RockStarKick, any part number for those rigg lights? I'm really looking to try them out

I can't do it this evening, but I will as soon as I can.

When I get home I will look at the bulb package and try to get that for ya.

Thanks for going through all of this trouble, hopefully everyone will look at this post and buy what works first. +rep :)

Yeah, thanks +1

Triples,

Here is the packaging from the bulbs.. There is not really a part number anywhere that I can find.. I can't read Japanese LOL, that is the only writing
on the sides of the packaging ..

Thanks man, I will get that cutoff shot when I get a chance.. I haven't even been in the Z in a couple days..

Man, I was on a mission when I couldn't get them to work at first.. It just doesn't make sense why some would and some wouldn't.. I'm glad I did because I found some that I'm finally very happy with..

I'll see about getting some soon.

Thank You. :tiphat:

Sorry if this was posted before, but how much were the RIGG 6000K D2S bulbs? I'm interested in these. I know I have to call retrofit place.

Left: 8000k Deep Blue HID

Right: Stock HID

:tup:

Are these the Philips Ultinon bulbs that others are referring to?

D2S Philips HID Bulb


If so, do they work without issues? Any pics?


Also, anyone consider upgrading the OEM ballast or is that not possible (thinking 55W ballast with dedicated wiring harness).

I personally have no experience with those particular bulbs.. That is the correct bulb and I have heard nothing but good things about the Philips bulbs. They are a bit pricey, but probably worth it.. If you do get them please post pics..

The only slight advantage of the 55w ballast is the bulb is a little brighter. The bulbs will also fail earlier than usual with the higher wattage.

DDMtuning 6000K, slight blue'ish shade which looks great. Much better looking then stock 4300K.

Did you put on new ballasts or are you just referring to the DDMTuning bulbs.

I just got an email from retrofitsource and they say they don't carry Rigg HIDs.

Well using anything other than an OEM-type capsule (Philips, Denso, etc) is just asking for problems. I've always been a big proponent of the idea that if you can't afford to do it with the right parts, save up some money until you can.

Hmmm that's funny..