I am the proud new owner of a 03 Touring 350z in Chrome Silver. I bought it from florida through autotrader and after seeing another Z on the road I noticed that my headlights were not as blue as hers. I thought the touring model came with xenon headlights as standard? Could they be xenon's without looking blue? Thank you for any insite on this.

D²

 

You have them. Just turn off the lights for a while and turn them back on. They'll be a blue color and will switch to white after they're fired up. I just installed aftermarket HIDs on my Base model today. I'll be posting the whole process later tonight. Here's a picture of them warming up:

Edit: Cameras add a blue hue to them, but they don't look this blue in person when they're turning on.

 

the other person probably has a higher temperature bulb, 6000k most likely. the stocks are 4300k, the brightest of them all, but a tad close to the yellow end as HIDs go.

halogen are around 3000

5000-5500 is what most would call white
6000-7000 hits a blueish color
7000 and up gets closer to purple.

 

Mine are 5000k with a given range of 4200-5000k.

 

thanks for feedback guys....its great to be around people with the same interest. I looked at them last night as soon as I turned them on and they did not look blue at all. I'll take a picture of them soon and show it you guys to see what I mean. Thanks again.

Ares...you mentioned......
the other person probably has a higher temperature bulb, 6000k most likely. the stocks are 4300k, the brightest of them all, but a tad close to the yellow end as HIDs go.

halogen are around 3000

5000-5500 is what most would call white
6000-7000 hits a blueish color
7000 and up gets closer to purple.

GREAT Info!!.....so you think that I have the stock 4300K headlamps and thats why they look yellowish?

 

Well, did they turn on similar to a florescent bulb? Kinda like a flash then slowly getting brighter/fading in?

--mike

 

if you have touring, then I know you have HID, I know you have 4300k. only way it comes from the factory.

if you turn them on(doesnt work so well if theyve been on, I mean a cold start) you should see them flash on, then dim, and get brighter, in their dim state itll be rather blue/white returning to a while/yellow after 5sec or so. aim em at a wall at night and turn em on, youll see it.

dont be flashin em on and off too much, HIDs take alot of stress during their warmup phase.

new bulbs will run you 1-200$ depending on source and quality.

 

never really noticed them fade in like a flourescent bulb...i'll have to look closer

thanks for the extended clarification....i feared that perhaps the guy I bought it from had jacked the "blue" headlights and installed the "yellow" ones and I'd have to raise some hell......i'll try out the wall technique tonight. great forum!

D²

 

You could also park next to a car that doesn't have HIDs and shine them both on the same wall at night.. Only a blind man can't tell the difference

--mike

 

Any recommendations for replacement bulbs in Touring HID - any brighter available? Thanks.

 

4300K (stock) is the brightest light output (meaured in lumens). Once you go higher in Kelvins (K), the light output decreases and the color turns to a blue or purple depending on which temperature you're at. I just put 5000K aftermarkets into my Base today, but I'm still waiting for it to be dark outside to take pictures, it's killing me!

 

nismo kid got it right.

no opinions on brands, no experience with any of them.

 

HID need some time to burn in.

 

i've read this about them as well and i was real annoyed when i noticed that the stock alarm flashes them when it goes off.
What kind of sense does that make?

 

im positive thats its a touring because its got the heated seats, upgraded bose.... I tried turning them on last night and they lit up instantly...which gives me reason to belive that they are not HID....the low beams are just not bright enough....but the high beams are ludicrously bright. Sounds like $400 will solve this glitch.

while im here.....the car didnt come with an alarm keychain "thinger" does the touring come with a stock alarm?? its got a red light blinking on the front dash on the drivers side but I dont know what thats all about. any insite?

 

This car sounds really fishy.. Did you do a title search before you bought it? The "thinger" is the keyless entry remote? All Z's come with that.. you should talk to the original owner to make sure you have all the keys and the remotes..

Do you see the heating buttons next to the emergency brake? This is almost a sure tip off that the car is a Touring model..

--mike

 

By what you've said you have a Touring and hence the HIDs. They're just bright white. I suggest you take pictures and post them here if you really want.

Here's a picture I just took of my key chain.

 

yeah....its got the heated seats buttons next to the emergency brake. I got this car for about 25K about a month ago. Came with 18in wheels, Touring Package, and DVD Navigation. I bought it blindly from a dealer in florida through autotrader. I asked him about the remote and he said the guy he bought if from didnt give it to him. It was also missing the DVD Navigation disk. I was able to track it down for about $200. The car is beautiful inside and out but it looks like it had some work done on the front end...hence the replaced headlights and the hood is slightly unalligned. These minor things dont bother me considering the price that I snatched it for. I'll check with the dealer to see whats up with the alarm/keyless entry. Thanks for the pics on the remote. Here is a picture of my Lady Z.

 

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