i want to get some blue xenon bulbs and they are quite cheap for around 20-30 bucks for a pair. However, what is the difference between HID and xenon bulbs? i keep hearing about HID but they cost over a hundred bucks and installation is quite different with ballast, etc. :confused:

Google!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=es&q=difference+between+HID+and+xenon+bulbs&lr=

The first Google search results gives you the answer

http://reviews.ebay.com/Difference-between-Xenon-HID-and-Xenon-Gas-filled-bulbs_W0QQugidZ10000000004613590

Moved to Accessories forum.

As for the technology, for the most part you will get what you paid for.

Tinted Xenon gas filled bulbs are nothing more than a fraud for what those vendors charge, they have less usable light output and cost far more than they are being sold for.

From the link gaviota posted:

Xenon H.I.D. (High Intensity Discharge) lighting is a superior lighting technology. Instead of having a filament inside the bulb, it is replaced with xenon gas. When the xenon gas ignites, it produces a vivid and bright light that is 3X more powerful than that of a halogen bulb.

This technology also allows for the bulb to ignite at a higher color temperature: which gives it the white / blue coloration.

Xenon gas-filled bulbs and other halogen 'xenon' bulbs are simply a standard halogen bulb that is either coated with a blue film on the outside and/or filled with a gas to imitate the look of a true xenon HID bulb. These bulbs produces much less light than xenon HID bulbs and often less than that of a standard halogen bulb. Xenon gas-filled bulbs also suffer from a short 6-month life-span.

In other word, "Xenon" halogen is nothing more than marketing gimmicks. It's fake and it actually produces LESS light than uncoated halogen. Why would you want blue bulbs anyway? :dunno:

cuz my interior has blue LED. if i can switch to blue turn signals, i would too.

xenon is the light emitting gas found in HIDs.

You should know that blue light is actually poor for visibility, that's why they weren't used by automotive manufacturers even after the technology became available to generate blue light efficiently.

Else the car makers would have turned to the blue headlights.

FWIW, blue interior lights may look cool, but blue exterior lights are poor from visibility perspective.

If you want the looks, fine, but just keep in mind that you won't see as well as even just the regular headlights and that may be the difference with being able to avoid an accident.

Aviography is right, blue light will give you poorer visibility outside, especially in bad weather. Same goes for the interior lights really.

cuz my interior has blue LED. if i can switch to blue turn signals, i would too.

If you are serious, I would look into sylvania silverstar turn signals. They are coated with a very thin layer of bluish/purple irridescent film. Your turn signals will remain perfectly legal, as they light up orange (even a little brighter than stock), but you will get the look of a blue bulb in your housing.

If you meant you want your turn signals to light up blue, :thumbsdow:thumbsdow:thumbsdow

naw, i will just keep my headlights as is. it seems very bright already so i am not gonna waste time installing a HID kit. might just go the route of buying the xenon bulbs and just replace them. only problem is, they burn out within a year and i dont think i want the hassle of changing it every year.

is there anyone in arizona that has already installed a HID kit?

i am not gonna waste time installing a HID kit. might just go the route of buying the xenon bulbs and just replace them...
As you'll spend ~30 minutes changing the halogen-bulbs to xenon-bulbs, installing an HID plug-n-play kit will take ~35 minutes. Considering you have an '08 Accord coupe which comes w/ projector-headlights, you really are primed for HID's.

If you do choose to go the xenon-type bulb route, go w/ a reputable brand like Polarg, PIAA, Raybrig, Sylvania Ultra-Silverstar, etc'. They'll last much longer, won't over-heat, and actually improve your visibility while giving off a nice, cool-white light.

If you do choose to go the xenon-type bulb route, go w/ a reputable brand like Polarg, PIAA, Raybrig, Sylvania Ultra-Silverstar, etc'. They'll last much longer, won't over-heat, and actually improve your visibility while giving off a nice, cool-white light.

Or you can also go with HOEN. I have them on my 08 sedan for Low Beam and Fogs. Had them also on my previous S4 fogs and current Carrera S fogs. Lasted for well over 1 yr with out a problem.

I had 2 sets of the blue colored bulbs on my del sol. I stopped using the blue tinted bulbs after the first pair because it got to the point where I couldn't even read street signs any more. I went back to regular bulbs, but someone bought me higher wattage blue tinted bulbs. Still same results. Blue or purple tinted bulbs are fraud, and shouldn't sold for headlights.

I agree with you with most cheap bulbs, but the reputable ones in my experience were quite on par with OEM, and at times are better.

Were your bulbs from one of the mentioned reputable brands?

I had 2 sets of the blue colored bulbs on my del sol. I stopped using the blue tinted bulbs after the first pair because it got to the point where I couldn't even read street signs any more. I went back to regular bulbs, but someone bought me higher wattage blue tinted bulbs. Still same results. Blue or purple tinted bulbs are fraud, and shouldn't sold for headlights.

They were both in the plastic jazzy looking containers with some sort of Japanese writing. They both said Xenon. My first set was $50 in 2001, my second set was $25 2003.

IMO - Sylvania cool blues had the best performance of any (bluish) halogen bulb that I've used. In a dark area at night, they had a nice cool blue tint.