FYI white is 5000-5500 both of which are far too blue for effective visibility. BMW knows what they are doing at 4300 gives you by far the best visibility to avoid driving into things. Maybe 20% better distance than 5000 and 30% better than 6000k.

I put 5000k in my e53 and instantly noticed the dramatic loss of visible range. Fortunately I still had 4300 high beams so at least in the country I had good visibility.

I've worked in illumination including aircraft landing lights for a couple of decades and do know what I'm talking about. One of the most powerful hand held lights it's called the maxabeam. They cost $2000 20 years ago no idea today anyhow you light up a tree with one and the entire tree will look as flat as wallpaper. You guessed it: 5000k. Use a 3000-4000k bulb in a less focused reflector and you can see the full depth of the tree.

Hint: when driving; the more 3d the better, the higher the K the worse 3d. 5000 does make the concrete jungle light up nice and white but turns it two dimensional unfortunately. It was very obvious when I kicked in my high beams on the e53. Instant 3d with high and back to 2d on low.

One of my first purchases on both my e53 and e70 were hid lamps and though I got 5000k to be more white with the e53 I learned my lesson and went with "see much better" with the e70 and 4300k. (Especially important since only one bulb for both high and low)

You have to decide: do you want to "look more annoying" to oncoming traffic with ≥ 5500 or "avoid more accidents" with ≤ 4300 but that's a choice everybody can pick on their own. At least be informed.

Apologies for being harsh but 6000k is good for nobody. They should be uninvented.

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2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)