[silver66]

There's an earlier thread on retrofitting HID kits but has anyone here
fitted those bulbs which cast a blue / white beam?

I figure this is cheaper ($150 a pair?) than a complete xenon kit for
pretty much the same effect. My concern is that the popular PIAA or
Philips Blue Vision bulbs may not be suitable for projector type lamps and
if the accessories shops are familiar with Audis, lest they fry the lamp
housing and complex electronics.

[Karl_Erik_Chee]

s66, some of the members have already installed PIAAs in their cars. Come
over to the TT and see the effect.

[nethawk]

Hi Silver66,

In fact, Karl has installed PIAA's on his car, while I had decided to go
with the Philips Diamond Vision (not Blue Vision, those are just a lighter
shade of yellow, really).

There's some trade-off either way: The PIAA's are not as "white", but
definitely brighter, while the Philips are a bit "whiter", but can't match
the intensity of the PIAA's.

Pricing wise, you're looking at about RM280 for a pair of PIAA's with 3-
month warranty and RM250 for a pair of Diamond Vision with a 6-month
warranty.

Yeah, join us for the TT and see for yourself.

[VWowsers]

If one side blows within a year, will you cry? The rm300+ Catz I
installed in my previous AE111 Corolla lasted just abt a year when one
side went off. So sad.

[silver66]

Thanks nethawk. Will take the effort to join the next TT. Meanwhile, do
you know which PIAA model did Karl go for? I believe there are 5
altogether.

VWowser, perhaps you used the wrong wattage? These bulbs claim to last
longer than normal halogens. Just marketing blurb huh? Or perhaps it's
advisable to stick to reputable brands like PIAA and Philips.

[VWowsers]

silver66: The actual wattage was 55/60 (H4) but it was performance rated
at 100/110 watts. Maybe moisture got in.

[nethawk]

Silver,

The ones Karl has on are the PIAA Xtreme Force, rated at 4700K. The
Diamond Vision is rated at 5000K.

If you wanna go for broke without springing for a HID set, you can also
consider the PIAA Plasma Spark Blue rated at 7500K, but you`d be paying
about RM430 for a pair!

[ckbenz]

very interesting indeed! i am currently considering changing the bulbs as
well, saw a few on ebay.co.uk, one is osram silverstar and the other one
is philips vision blue, what do you guys think? mine is a 2000 model,
with the projector style headlamp, i suppose is a H7 unit, will
installation be easy as most ppl here do things DIY, i am not a mechanic
and i am not too familiar with such fittments, any things in particular
that need spacial attention? can the bulbs just be replace like that?

many thanks

[JakeG]

Hi chappies...

These bulbs run hotter than the ori halogens, i.e they pump in a better
mix of gasses and run it at a higher rate. Therefore although the rating
is 55W, it burns brighter.

Drawback is these bulbs don't last as long.

For those who uprate their haloges to 100+W, do use a H7 adapter and
separate wiring.. you'll definitely goreng the original H7 plug in your
headlamps. I saw those adapters in Brothers.. anyone tried them on before??

[Oddity4]

hi silver

as far as i know, u will never be able to achieve the brightness (not just colour) of true HID
conversions ie. with the ballasts and new wiring etc by just replacing ur original bulbs with the so
called 'white' bulbs. plus, if u fit the wrong ones u will be wasting ur money and if ur unlucky,
burn ur wirings. i think a complete conversion now costs about rm1700 average... u get true
xenon lighting and less problems i feel.
good luck!