Yes or No? Blue Bulbs

BMWJustin · Post by **BMWJustin** » Nov 06, 2006 4:19 PM

Last I checked PIAA makes some good shit, even if the looks dont please everyone they work really well.
TIA
Justin

Kmoy2002 · Post by **Kmoy2002** » Nov 06, 2006 5:14 PM

Justin, I actually like the way those look. I personally don't see it as a downgrade. For Tammer it might bea downgrade, but thats his/her opinion. When I photoshopped my car, I went to the far scale of blue. A hint of blue is a hell of a lot better than yellow imo

ps, as for the quality, I am sure there are bulbs (blue) out there that are equivilant if not better to the standard bulbs.

the Tanned One · Post by **the Tanned One** » Nov 06, 2006 5:21 PM

Guess i better take mine out that i`ve had in for the last 3 yrs. before the "Bulb PoPo" get me

Randy/ 8)

Tammer in Philly · Post by **Tammer in Philly** » Nov 06, 2006 6:20 PM

Kmoy2002 wrote:For Tammer it might bea downgrade, but thats his/her opinion.

Ha! It is my opinion. And I'm male. Sheesh, brush up on your middle eastern names.

And PIAA also makes big, blingy, heavy, performance-hurting wheels for the E60.

-tammer

MisterFixit · Post by **MisterFixit** » Nov 06, 2006 6:30 PM

Last night I was following a car (a rice burner) with blue bulbs. It was dark out, no street lights, so I could really see the effect. I was astounded at how little light they throw! My low beams (55W) completely washed his lights out, and his lows were aimed pretty low- you could see their effective area pretty close to the front of his car. I felt sorry for the guy.
I agree with Daniel Stern on this one, they are just for 'effect' and should be illegal for these reasons (a short rant):
1) they are BLUE, and the human eye's ability to see at night is destroyed by blue light; it makes it harder for you to see at night. That's why aircraft and ship cockpit illumination is red!
2) They are dim, and don't provide the light needed to see safely at night.
3) They usually glare in the eyes of other drivers; now, everyone can't see!
As I understand it, the 'blue' tint from HIDs is a consequence of seeing the light off-axis, not because the bulbs are blue. That is a physical artifact of the lens and bulb wavelength, not the color of any arbitrary coating or the light's 'color temperature'. Think it makes you look rich? Good for you.

Lights are not a fashion accessory, they are safety equipment required for three reasons- seeing the road and other objects, not blinding other drivers, and being seen and identified as a fellow motorist. I feel the same way about folks who remove their suspension and replace it with struts or hydraulics for the low rider effect- trailer the car to a show, but don't drive it on the street, and I hope you win!

Velocewest · Post by **Velocewest** » Nov 06, 2006 7:02 PM

If you use your lights to see at night, skip the blue bulbs.

If you just want to look cool... well, I'm the last person to follow anyone else's idea of "Cool", so I'm reticent to tell you what to do. I don't think blue bulbs are cool, they look ricey to me, but like I said -- you shouldn't do anything because I or anyone else tells you it's cool or not. Do what works for you.

Kmoy2002 · Post by **Kmoy2002** » Nov 06, 2006 8:28 PM

Tammer in Philly wrote:
Kmoy2002 wrote:For Tammer it might bea downgrade, but thats his/her opinion.
Ha! It is my opinion. And I'm male. Sheesh, brush up on your middle eastern names.

And PIAA also makes big, blingy, heavy, performance-hurting wheels for the E60.

-tammer

Don't get so defensive over your name, I had no idea if you were a guy or not. Relax, will ya? This was a simple discussion topic and wasn't intended for one to get all heated over.

Kyle in NO · Post by **Kyle in NO** » Nov 06, 2006 8:42 PM

If you knew Tammer you would know that he was laughing the whole time he was typing that...

Trust me, he wasn't getting all worked up...

Tammer in Philly · Post by **Tammer in Philly** » Nov 06, 2006 10:30 PM

Kmoy2002 wrote: Don't get so defensive over your name, I had no idea if you were a guy or not. Relax, will ya? This was a simple discussion topic and wasn't intended for one to get all heated over.

The funny thing is that you think I'm heated. You must be sarcasm-impaired. It's okay.

-tammer

BKCowGod3 · Post by **BKCowGod3** » Nov 06, 2006 10:47 PM

I love it when people post asking for opinions, then get defensive when everybody disagrees.

Kmoy2002 · Post by **Kmoy2002** » Nov 07, 2006 8:55 PM

Funny thing is that I don't waste my time sitting on my computer reading everyones post to understand what true sarcasm really is.

Tammer in Philly · Post by **Tammer in Philly** » Nov 07, 2006 9:25 PM

I said it's okay, I meant it. I'm not holding it against you. Use and understaning of sarcasm is a rather advanced developmental stage; when I was teaching 6th graders only a few had it mastered.

Give it time.

-tammer

spinedocab · Post by **spinedocab** » Nov 07, 2006 10:04 PM

Use and understaning of sarcasm is a rather advanced developmental stage; when I was teaching 6th graders only a few had it mastered.

Damn Tammer, ease up on the boy. Even whilst rolling around laughing holding my broken sarcasm meter in my hands I could feel you winding up for that last shot.

But no kidding,Kmoy.....most of the folks on this board (especially me) are "function over form" guys. WE LIKE WHAT WORKS.

Blue painted bulbs don't work and in a worst-case scenario they might get you dead or injured if you don't see what you should see at night.

If you are more concerned with image and how you look rolling down the cruise circuit, get a different car. You'll never bling the e28 up to the point that you'd like.

Andrew (mit plain old, functional H4's and H1's in boring old white).

Post by **Jeremy** » Nov 07, 2006 10:35 PM

I had blue tinted bulbs at one point. Fake "80w" "xenon" low beam bulbs in 7 inch euro housings. I say fake because they were. Straight up mislabeled, the companies that make this crap (and PIAA is one of them, sorry, Justin) should be sued for misrepresentation. They were actually 55w bulbs that by some marketing joojoo supposedly put out the light of an 80w bulb.

Bullshit.

In any case, they were great at night, and I loved them. That was until I happened to be driving home one night in the rain on an unlit section of road and realized I could see NOTHING more than 15-20 feet in front of my bumper! Thinking something had happened to my headlight aim, I checked it immediately the next night when the rain stopped. Aim was perfect. The same incident occured again a few weeks later on the highway. Raining, at night, very little roadside lighting, couldn't see worth a damn. I replaced the bulbs with normal Hellas after that and never had that problem again.

I won't touch blue bulbs again with a ten foot pole if you paid me. I don't care how good or cool you think they look. When I see them on the shelf at the autoparts store, I cringe.

Jeremy

Tammer in Philly · Post by **Tammer in Philly** » Nov 08, 2006 9:51 AM

spinedocab wrote:Damn Tammer, ease up on the boy. Even whilst rolling around laughing holding my broken sarcasm meter in my hands I could feel you winding up for that last shot.

Okay, okay, I'm sorry. :-) "I saw the shot, there was no danger ...."

-tammer

wickahead · Post by **wickahead** » Nov 08, 2006 12:10 PM

Tammer in Philly wrote: Okay, okay, I'm sorry. :-) "I saw the shot, there was no danger ...."

-tammer

The rules of engagement on this flight were 10,000 feet. They are there for the protection of the pilot...

Damn, I loved that movie. Too bad Tom C. is such a whack job.

BAVARIANUT · Post by **BAVARIANUT** » Nov 08, 2006 1:02 PM

Blue bulbs are for Smurfs!!

Kmoy2002 · Post by **Kmoy2002** » Nov 08, 2006 6:23 PM

Heh, didn't know people on this forum were so harsh. No worries, one opinion won't ruin me.

BMWJustin · Post by **BMWJustin** » Nov 08, 2006 6:35 PM

Ditto that kmoy, they work fine for me so I'm gonna keep them.
TIA
Justin

the Tanned One · Post by **the Tanned One** » Nov 08, 2006 8:51 PM

Me too

Randy/ 8)

PHILLY 535IS · Post by **PHILLY 535IS** » Nov 20, 2006 5:07 PM

I think I am a little late in the game here, but I wouldn't do it. I had them in my car for about a month and in rain you can't see much farther than you can spit. I did like the blue halo it made inside the lense though. Someone may have already mentioned it but there is a guy on here who has a whole webpage about lighting. About pilots using red lighting in the cabin brings up something else. Ever wonder why your gauges are lighted in that redish orange? Don't know if that is the reason but I just made it the reason.

C.R. Krieger · Post by **C.R. Krieger** » Nov 20, 2006 5:41 PM

PHILLY 535IS wrote:Someone may have already mentioned it but there is a guy on here who has a whole webpage about lighting.

That would be Daniel Stern.

About pilots using red lighting in the cabin brings up something else. Ever wonder why your gauges are lighted in that redish orange? Don't know if that is the reason but I just made it the reason.

BMW was selling it that way before you were born. [Think E21.]

KillerPM · Post by **KillerPM** » Nov 20, 2006 6:03 PM

C.R. Krieger wrote:
PHILLY 535IS wrote:Someone may have already mentioned it but there is a guy on here who has a whole webpage about lighting.
That would be Daniel Stern.
About pilots using red lighting in the cabin brings up something else. Ever wonder why your gauges are lighted in that redish orange? Don't know if that is the reason but I just made it the reason.
BMW was selling it that way before you were born. [Think E21.]

My E3 has orange lighting, kinda.

go4carter · Post by **go4carter** » Nov 20, 2006 6:37 PM

I don't like the look myself, especially on BMWs, and the safety (lack thereof) aspect pretty much makes it reckless to do... I think we need to be aware of a moral responsibility to the other drivers on the road, like the lady in the Buick with two small children in the back that could be affected by your choice... this goes for headlights, speed... everything and every choice having to do with a street car... but I'm Canadian, aka socialist.
Besides, your car is too nice to screw up now, Kmoy. Stay on target and I'll fly your wing anytime.

MyE28.com

MyE28.com

Yes or No? Blue Bulbs

Why Blue?