Factory HID (BRZ/FRS) Slowly Fading to Yellow Hue?
 

Is it just me or does the factory HID on BRZs and available equipped FRSes get yellow-er over time? Our Kelvin temperatures are 4300 which is supposed to have some slight yellowish hue. Compared to 2014 BMW, Lexus, Infiniti (Q50) models, our HIDs look yellow in comparison. Maybe it's just me but it seemed much whiter when I had purchased my BRZ last May. Any thoughts?


(I think I might just switch to 5000K bulbs..)

It's happened to me before on my wife's CRV, where the left side HID (factory fitted) became noticeably "yellower" compared to the other side. Was replaced under warranty without any further issues since.

4300 should be yellowish. 6k is near a pure white with a slight blue. 8k is pure blue. 5k would be close to white with a small off tint

HIDs typically go toward the other end of the spectrum over time (white/blue). So it seems kind of odd.

That's what I was thinking too. I know on my 04 WRX with STi HID's, they were pretty white/blue. That was the original bulbs after about 7 years. I had to replace one and it was noticeably less blue. HID's burn hotter over time, so they shouldn't get more yellow.

Funny you posted, because I just changed my 2014 BRZ fogs to LEDs (XML2 from Diode Dynamics, which I will write a review on it later), and now it seems my HIDs are actually quite warm... I believe the LEDs are 6000K.

Then while driving today, I noticed (maybe I am just paranoid) that all the Beamer/Caddy/Merc/Mustang/Camaro/etc. had much whiter/bluer tint. I may have to change out the HID bulbs...

D4S is supposed to be slightly higher kelvin than D2S. How they age I'm unsure given that D4S is lead free.


It's likely just you getting used to the light.


If you're going to switch, don't cheap out on Chinese bulbs of questionable quality... buy the Osram Xenarc CBI's which unlike the Chinese stuff is brighter than stock but still higher kelvin (and legal, and OEM equipment on select cars, etc)