Replacing DRL/High-beams with HID matching Halogens?

[WeatherB]

Hi guys,

Every since I got my Mazda 3 with luxury package, I've been bothered by the fact that the DRL, high-beam, and HID lights do not match in colour.

I was looking at The Xenon Store and noticed they sell the "Excelite Premium Halogen Bulbs" in a HID colour for an affordable price.

I wanted to get some feedback on whether these actually match the OEM Xenon lights and whether they are long lasting? Also, is it relatively straight forward to change the lights myself or do I need to take it in?

Thanks

[majic]

why does it bother you since the HIDs are never on at the same tile as the DRLs? (unless u highbeam someone while having the low beams on as well (at night))

[Chuckie]

are you talking about the fogs instead?

anyway, they come closer to hids than the stocks, but the difference in light output makes them not look very good anyway.

the only way to get a true colour match would probably be get 2 hid kits of the same, one for fogs and one for low beams.

[WeatherB]

Majic,

That's exactly the situation I am referring to. Or even when I high-beam someone during the day as the DRLs are the halogen high-beams while the high-beams are the Xenons (Confusing, I know).

Chuckie,

I'm not too concerned with the fog lights. I mean the DRLs / high-beams. The lights closest to the hood grill.

[Xerox]

Or even when I high-beam someone during the day as the DRLs are the halogen high-beams while the high-beams are the Xenons (Confusing, I know).


I think you meant to say low-beams are the Xenons.

I would agree with majic but if you really want them to match just buy 9005 bulbs that are rated at the same color temp as the Xenons (if they are available). It won't be exact but it'll be a closer match than stock halogens.

And bulbs are pretty easy to replace. Just don't touch the bulb with bare hands.

And by the way, do you use your high-beams at night or flash people that often to be this concerned about color match?

[WeatherB]

Hehe. Nope, no mistake there. :) During the day, high beams are actually the Xenons.

Can you please elaborate your solution? Wouldn't I need to buy H7 bulbs to match the Xenons (I believe 4300K). Do you mean that the high beam lights are not H7?

[Xerox]

Huh? High-beams are actually the Xenons? Now I'm really confused.
You are talking about 2007 Mazda 3 right?

Aren't they more like:
High-beams no matter during day or night are halogens.
Low-beams no matter during day or night are HID.
DRL on the '07 uses low-intensity high-beams (which are halogens).

Unless if they changed the type of bulbs on '07, the low-beams are H7 and the high-beams are 9005 (look here: http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=8408&highlight=bulb+replacement+guide)

[WeatherB]

I'm talking about the 2007 Mazda 3.

For me, everything you say is accurate except that the highbeams are actually the Xenons while the DRLs are on. I was surprised to see this last night when I tried to use the trick which prevents the Xenons from coming on before the car is started.

I checked the manual and it says that the high-beams are EB4. You are probably correct about them being 9005.

[queens49]

I'm talking about the 2007 Mazda 3.

For me, everything you say is accurate except that the highbeams are actually the Xenons while the DRLs are on. I was surprised to see this last night when I tried to use the trick which prevents the Xenons from coming on before the car is started.

I checked the manual and it says that the high-beams are EB4. You are probably correct about them being 9005.

Do you mean that when you turn the high beams on during the day, that the low beam (HID) lights come on?

[WeatherB]

Queens,

I suppose that is one way to look at it... However, when the handbrake is up and the lights are off, flashing the highbeams actually use the Xenons.

[Xerox]

Do you mean that when you turn the high beams on during the day, that the low beam (HID) lights come on?

I think this is what he means. HIDs on Mazda 3 cannot be "high-beams" unless if your particular model has bi-xenons which I doubt.

My car (2005 with aftermarket HID kit) does that too. The low-beam HIDs come on along with my high-beams if I trigger my high-beams at day or night. That trick you're talking about (holding the high-beam while starting the car to disable the HIDs) never worked for me for some reason - I thought it was because of the way my HIDs were installed but I guess that's just the way it is on some models.

[majic]

:bang

i feel like we're talking a few languages here .. there's something about your car that we don't know about (how stock HIDs interact with the whole electrical system) or maybe you made some modification or maybe we're using wrong terms to describe the situation but i think everyone is a little puzzled now.. care to explain it a little s-llll-ooooo-www-eeeee-rrrrr for some of us here so we can try and help you..

anyone else with OEM HIDs chime in..

[WeatherB]

I think you guys are correct. When I press the high-beams, both the high-beams and Xenons are activated.

Very difficult to test without a mirror or a second person.

Anyway, I placed an order for a set of Excelite bulbs. Worse come to worse, I'm out $25.

[majic]

ok this is what i get


lowbeam (HID) ON - stalk 1 below AUTO

http://xs115.xs.to/xs115/07192/low_HID.JPG


highbeam (incandescent) ON - stalk to OFF and lever pulled toward me

http://xs115.xs.to/xs115/07192/high_incandescent.JPG


lowbeam ON highbeam ON - stalk 1 below AUTO and lever pulled toward me

http://xs115.xs.to/xs115/07192/low_high.JPG


MY [aftermarket] HIDs do NOT come on when i pull the lever toward me (to flash high beams) or when i engage high beams (push lever away from me)...

[queens49]

I think you guys are correct. When I press the high-beams, both the high-beams and Xenons are activated.

Very difficult to test without a mirror or a second person.

Anyway, I placed an order for a set of Excelite bulbs. Worse come to worse, I'm out $25.

Do you see the low-beam icon light up when you do this? If it doesn't come on, I don't think the low-beams are on.

[MattC]

WeatherB are you talking about the fact the DRL's are amber?

This kind-of bothers me too, I was thinking about looking into what I need to do to make them "more white" like the rest of the lights.

[cwp_sedan]

Are you trying to match the colour when the high-beams are on or when the DRLs are on? No matter what you get to replace the high-beam bulb, they will still look the same since DRLs run at a decreased voltage. You will always have a yellowish look to them even if the bulbs are blue. I had "super white" crap bulbs for highbeam/DRLs in my Grand Am and they were yellowish during the day but when I turned on the high-beams they looked white/bluish on the road.

[WeatherB]

That's an excellent point guys...

I am actually trying to match both the DRLs and High-beams. I figured at half voltage, super whites would still be white, but dimmer.

Maybe it's time for me to look into using the fogs as DRLs.

[WeatherB]

Here is an update...

I purchased the Excelite Super White bulbs for my high-beams and fogs... They are very close to matching the colour of the HIDs but that have a hint of blue. I believe Devin was correct, they are around 4500K while my HIDs are 4300K.

As expected, the DRLs are still yellowish but not as bad as stock.