I don't understand why different kelvin temperatures would affect visibility in snow. We know that the lower the kelvin temperature (e.g.: 4300k vs. 6000k), the more usable light output there is. Does snow absorb light like a black hole or something? Am I just stupid?

 

No it does the opposite. It reflects light causing more glare. The higher the light output the more glare is coming back into your eyes. Thats why snowboarders have to wear goggles with UV protection so they don't go blind. With a 8000k kit its mostly glare to begin with so you won't even be able to see the snow clearly.

 

What I don't understand is why don't people get it by now that anything above 4300k is purely for color and it will provide less visable light.

 

Pretty much true, but seeing as how 4300k has a luminosity of 3200 lumens, and a 6000k kit is at about 2900lm, it is a degradation but not a tremendous one. Comparing that to the luminosity of halogens at 750lm, you can see that going up to a 6000k kit, you've still got almost four times the light intensity, and at 6000k, it's still close enough that there is a substantial amount of useful light coming out. If people figure they can get a ridiculous amount of light and an almost pure white look from 4300k (with which they'll be able to see like it's daytime), or they can sacrifice about 9% of that light and get some nice-looking color to the lamps for style in addition (while still being able to see far better than they could with halogens), then why not? It's when people go above 6000k that I start questioning whether they're doing it strictly for the looks. The guys buying 10,000k and 12,000k kits must not only care about looks only, but I think they have a death wish for all the visibility they'd have with those kits.

 

yeah, i have seen 6000k HIDs, and they seem to be sufficiant.I think anything higher would start to be not worth it.

 

i installed 6000k HIDs that i got from vvme.com this past weekend... so much better than stock halogens, i love them. i'll have to wait a little longer to see how they are in the snow.

 

I think you'll like 'em. I had 4300k and 5000k in past cars, and have 6000k in my Audi, and they're great. I drove with them in the snow last winter and the visibility is excellent.

 

I'm about to purchase a kit from vvme.com as well. Just wondering how easy the install was and where do the ballasts mount?

 

well for my 99.5 a4 it was very straight forward.. not sure what your driving.

i mounted the ballasts underneath the headlights.. theres a link at the bottom to thediy i used, it was very helpful.. very easy install and great result!

what color temp are you going for?

http://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/2653324.phtml

 

So besides (8000k and +) which bulbs give a good bright light, not necessarily blue and wont have other people pissed at you for blinding them?