Not the fairest of tests with 6k vs 4.3k - but good information for the next person buying bulbs and is thinking of going for cheap/higher 'k' (bluer) bulbs.

I noticed on the "other car" the headlights were fairly dim for HIDs (infact, the MK2's lights were brighter!), so I guessed either the bulbs or ballasts were at the end of their useful life. Given OEM bulbs cost a pretty penny, I went for non-brand eBay specials just to see if it solved the problem.

After fitting, it did not, they were dim, and even worse the two "matching" bulbs I got were different colours entirely.

eBay 6k specials - mismatched colour, crap cutoff, dim



For £17 a pair, I guess you can't really argue, shame they were sh!te, but not really worth the effort of posting back.

So I ordered a pair of genuine (being the operative word, as there is lots of fakes!) Philips 85122+ bulbs (the brightest OEM bulb on the market) from http://www.theretrofitsource.com/ :afro: (great comms, quick delivery, good prices, well recommended).

Passenger side eBay 6k specials, Drivers side Philips 85122+ 4.3k - notice the significantly brighter light and much sharper cutoff on the right





Both Philips 85122+ 4.3k




So as a before and after ...



Moral of this story, don't buy 6k bulbs, don't buy cheap bulbs and do buy Philips 85122+ (the + being important)

The car in question is a 2002 MCS with 2005 projector headlights and D2S bulbs. For bulb fitting info see http://www.mini2.com/forum/maintenan...rs-within.html

 

Sometimes you do get what you pay for. My dad taught me never to skimp on tires or headlights.

 

6K and higher bulbs are marketed and purchased primarily for styling (color) not function or performance. Human eyes are less sensitive to blue, and all other things being equal 6K will appear less bright because the color is more blue.

My question though is whether the bulb is truly emitting a 6K light or if it is faked with a blue tint on the bulb glass (as they do with halogen bulbs for an "hid look"). If it's tinted, that's some of the brightness loss right there.

 

They are 6k bulbs (plain, clear glass), just not particularly good bulbs though!