Color matching halogen vs HID / cost and effectiveness

So I've been looking into swapping out the headlight bulbs. Originally I wanted LED bulbs, but after research have decided against.

So, I'm looking at overall cost of color matching halogens (that will also improve visibility if possible) and an HID kit. Has anyone gone the way of color matching bulbs and seen an improvement over stock? If so which ones and how much did you pay? I would also like to do my foglights, so any help there would be great.

If the cost of buying quality halogens will cost close to an HID kit for the car I'd rather go HID. But If I can color match the bulbs without losing any light for a smaller cost I'd go that route.


Thanks in advance!

I've had LEDs in headlights and they're the closest to matching the DRL, and now I have HID but they're slightly different color, a bit warmer even though I have 35W 5500k setup. The output of the HIDs are too good to care about color for me. So I've kept the HIDs. I've also put LEDs in the fogs too, those match perfectly

I went with stark 2.0 LED from Amazon in the fog, low, high beams. Greatly improved visibility. My old commute was 42 miles through deer filled back roads and the stock halogen low beams sucked compared to the LED low beams. Thanks to the projector housings for the low beams, cutoff still exists....mostly. There is definitely some light bleed above the line but it is not bad. Have yet to have anyone flash their lights at me. The stock fog lights barely illuminated more than a few feet in front of the car, despite having an open reflector style housing. Now with the LED they throw a ton of light. Enough that each time I turn them on with a passenger in the car they make a comment about it. The high beams were honestly fine with the stock bulb, bit I replaced them anyway so they would match. The stark LED color matches the DRL lights perfectly.

Has anyone used color matching halogens at a decent price? Where they any better over stock?

I'm not buying new bulbs just for color, I'd like to get some better light out of them as well.

I'm a little confused with what you're trying to color match? Are you trying to color match the original halogen bulb temp? Or are you trying to color match the parking lights/DRL when the projectors are on?

If you're trying to match the DRL, then go with a reputable HID kit and never look back.

My two goals with an HID kit was better visibility and match the color temp to the DRL when the projectors are on. I think I accomplished that with the DDM Plus kit, 55watt, 5500K color temp. I've had DDM HID kits in all my previous vehicles and none have ever gone bad (knock on wood), plus they're local to me.

The DDM Plus kit came out to $60 plus the single relay of $10. Total came out to $70.

Here's a picture to show the before and after.

Why do people keep worrying about color matching the DRL's? You should only be looking for the best output for you to see with at night. No one else is looking at your lights except you.
HID bulbs are the only way to go these days as Halogen's just don't put out enough light anymore. Hell even GE is selling off their lighting department because halogen sales are in the shitter.

relentlessX said:

I'm a little confused with what you're trying to color match? Are you trying to color match the original halogen bulb temp? Or are you trying to color match the parking lights/DRL when the projectors are on?

If you're trying to match the DRL, then go with a reputable HID kit and never look back.

My two goals with an HID kit was better visibility and match the color temp to the DRL when the projectors are on. I think I accomplished that with the DDM Plus kit, 55watt, 5500K color temp. I've had DDM HID kits in all my previous vehicles and none have ever gone bad (knock on wood), plus they're local to me.

The DDM Plus kit came out to $60 plus the single relay of $10. Total came out to $70.

Here's a picture to show the before and after.

Click to expand...

I've used them before and never had a complaint. Did you have to use an error eliminator?

Loccust said:

I've used them before and never had a complaint. Did you have to use an error eliminator?

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No error eliminator needed.

Shankmeyster said:

Why do people keep worrying about color matching the DRL's? You should only be looking for the best output for you to see with at night. No one else is looking at your lights except you.
HID bulbs are the only way to go these days as Halogen's just don't put out enough light anymore. Hell even GE is selling off their lighting department because halogen sales are in the shitter.

Click to expand...

That is what I am looking for...better light output. And if I can get a better color out of my bulbs, I think that is my choice. Why did you buy the color car you did? Because that is what you wanted. No one else is looking at it except you. :shrug:

And there are some decent halogen bulbs out there that are fairly inexpensive. So like my title says...cost AND effectiveness

Shankmeyster said:

Why do people keep worrying about color matching the DRL's? You should only be looking for the best output for you to see with at night. No one else is looking at your lights except you.
HID bulbs are the only way to go these days as Halogen's just don't put out enough light anymore. Hell even GE is selling off their lighting department because halogen sales are in the shitter.

Click to expand...

My issue is just that HIDs are less reliable, expensive, and produce a ton of heat. One reason I really want to find LEDs but seems they all suck.

Empyrean said:

My issue is just that HIDs are less reliable, expensive, and produce a ton of heat. One reason I really want to find LEDs but seems they all suck.

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Where did you get the idea that HIDs are less reliable? Ive had my HID retrofit in my car for 10 years without even needing to change bulbs. Where as when I had my halogen stock setup, I had to change the bulbs twice.

relentlessX said:

I'm a little confused with what you're trying to color match? Are you trying to color match the original halogen bulb temp? Or are you trying to color match the parking lights/DRL when the projectors are on?

If you're trying to match the DRL, then go with a reputable HID kit and never look back.

My two goals with an HID kit was better visibility and match the color temp to the DRL when the projectors are on. I think I accomplished that with the DDM Plus kit, 55watt, 5500K color temp. I've had DDM HID kits in all my previous vehicles and none have ever gone bad (knock on wood), plus they're local to me.

The DDM Plus kit came out to $60 plus the single relay of $10. Total came out to $70.

Here's a picture to show the before and after.

Click to expand...

That looks great! Do you mind posting links of what you brought to get the change done? Thanks for sharing that

sfedai0 said:

Where did you get the idea that HIDs are less reliable? Ive had my HID retrofit in my car for 10 years without even needing to change bulbs. Where as when I had my halogen stock setup, I had to change the bulbs twice.

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Even of the forums here I've seen some people talk about them burning out, plus from people I know and stories I've heard. I don't doubt there are reliable ones out there, they just seem less reliable especially compared to LEDs.

nizarz said:

That looks great! Do you mind posting links of what you brought to get the change done? Thanks for sharing that

Click to expand...

Go here: http://www.ddmtuning.com

I got these:




The "Plus" is their middle tier kit which come with the Ultra bulbs.