Many people like the look of HID's, but don't want to pay the cost. Other's believe that the "higher wattage output" listed on many aftermarket bulbs prodives more light. There are many reasons people swap out headlight bulbs for something else. Despite the commen occurance of this, however, there are many facts people are not aware of when it come to light bulbs.
First off, I will discuss the meaning of "color temperature," as well as how it effects light output. We all have seen those "Simulated HID" aftermarket bulbs out there. They promise us a "simulated HID look and output" and list color temperatures as that can climb upwards of 8500K. With headlights, K refers to the color tempature. So 5,000K = 5,000 degree's Kelvin (K= degree's Kelvin, another temputure scale, 0 degree's Kelvin is absolute zero, the coldest possible temp, the temp where all movement of molecules stops). So, a 5,000K headlight has a lower color temp than a 7,000K headlight. First off, this means it burns a little cooler. The difference in the temperature produces the change in color, as well as a change in usable light. In general, the higher color temperature headlights have LESS usable light. The color output at 7000K or 8000K might look cool with it's purplish look, but the usable light output is less than a bulb burning at 5000K or 4000K. Of course, this means the road doesn't appear as bright with these bulbs, since the color temp throws out less usable visable light. This is why the output you see in terms of lighting up the road is MUCH worse with bulbs that burn at high color temperatures, like 7000K or 8500K bulbs. A friend once bought a pair of 8000K bulbs. I tired to talk him out of it. He put them in, and the light output was AWFUL! The usable light from low beam that lights up the road was cut drastically down, and the high beam was much less efficient. Luckily, it blew out after a few days, and a 4000K set was installed. It didn't look "as cool" but the visable light output was far better than those high color temperature "high wattage bulbs" he had in previously. Many people exprience this loss of light output when bulbs with a high color temperature are installed, like "Simulated HID" bulbs. Most of the time, the legal color limit is around 5200K, and there is a good reason for this. This isn't the sole reason that this color temp is chosen as the general legal limit, but it is something to consider. With that increased color output of higher color temperature bulbs, comes reduces light output, even if the bulb is a "high output bulb." I would suggested a color temp NO HIGHER than the PIAA Super Plasmas, which is around 5130K. It's a whitish-blueish/purple tint, it looks good, and the light output is MUCH BETTER than the higher color temp bulbs. I find it a good medium better visable light output and color temp.
This brings me to a second point. A lot of people just view PIAA bulbs as high priced and overrated. An important thing to remember when purchasing these aftermarket bulbs is the higher wattage and higher color temperature both lead to the bulbs burning out much quicker. This is a problem many people experience. High output bulbs burn out in a matter of months. However, it is here that PIAA is more than just an overpriced bulb. PIAA bulbs generally carry a 1 year warrenty with them. This means that if you purchase a PIAA bulb and one or both burn out before the 1 year period is up, grab your receipt. Take the bulb and receipt to the place of purchase and exchange it for a new one. That one year warrenty with PIAA bulbs is great, just make sure to check that the shop before you buy it from honors this warrenty. There is one shop here that won't honor any warrenties. Needless to say, that is a shop to aviod.
Besides the PIAA Super Plasma's I mentioned above, the PIAA Extreme White bulbs are good too. They burn at around 4300K, so it's mostly a whiteish light. It should have a little more visable light output than the Super Plasmas, though the color isn't as pretty (it's still a nice white though). I would recommend one of these. I would recommend that the 5130K PIAA Super Plasmas (if they are available in your bulb type) if you want the blueish purple color without the loss of visable light you get with the cheaper bulbs (that can run as high as an 8000k or more color temperature). Just remember, the higher the color temp, the less light is visable as helpful light output on the road. That's why those 8500K bulbs lite the road like crap.
One of the factors that scares people away from qaulity bulbs like PIAA is the price. When you factor that the cheap brands only last maybe 3 months or so (an have no warrenty), at $30 a set, that can come to more than $90 a year. This is more money in the end than a set of the PIAA's with the one year warrenty cost up front. And of course, save the recipt, and your good for a year with the PIAA's.
Remember that all bulbs are not created eqaul, and that color temperature directly affects visable light output. This is why the lower color temperature bulbs light up the road better. A good bulb like the PIAA's will help the light output a lot. Another trick that can sometimes help (especially when you have projecotrs with an H3 low beam) is aiming the lights a little high. However, only aim a little high, and only do this if you don't mind upsetting other drivers.
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