I PLAN ON RUNNING THE 6K AND SOME CRAZY PURPLE HIGHBEAMS SO I COULD PISS OFF WHOEVER CUTS ME OFF.

 

I always thought 5000 k was the purest white, but I'm no expert.

 

You could upgrade by converting to 55 watt ballasts and new bulbs. If you use the search function there is a thread all about it.

 

Color temp has an inverse relationship with Lumens. So the higher the "K" the less light output.

Some guys are upgrading their ballasts to 55 Watt, and upgrading their bulbs. The OEM stuff is plenty for me.

 

you have to remember that some of these kits are soo cheap that the kelvin rating for one will look different than the same kelvin in another.
go with a quality bulb like phillips or mccolluch ,....

 

I have had 6000k in every car i have ever owned. I think it looks the best and i plan on getting some 6k bulbs to swap them in the spring.

 

trust me, any hid bulb will have much much much greater light output compared to the halogens in my civic. so if you want a different color, just go for it, light output will still be plenty even if it is less than stock

 

as the hid bulb ages, does the light output actually decrease before it goes out???? curious because my car has 60k miles on it and next to my friends ap2 with 23k on a dark road, his are brighter.

 

^^yes but it does take longer than you think.

to clarify things, you dont start losing lumens until you increase your Kelvin past 6000.
4300k is "as white as sun light"
6000k is true white.. which should have a very small hint of blue

anything higher than that is rediculous and shouldnt be used on the street IMO.. but thats just me

 

so 6000k would be premium>?