I am curious about how the HID headlights go from low beam to high beam. Are their two separate filiments in the HID bulb or is their some other kind of mechanism? Also, is it true that the OEM bulbs are D4R with a color temperature of 4300K? Thanks for your help.
The Prius HIDs have a small lens "blocker" that mechanically moves to block or allow more of the HID light. So, in effect, the HIDs are always full on, but on low beam a portion of the light is blocked by this do-hickey. Must be a better name... No clue on the temp of the other bulbs.
Thank you "Finman" for getting back to me. Do you know if that "shutter" is part of the bulb or part of the headlight assembly?
I think it's part of the assembly and not the actual HID bulb. As for the color, I think most facroty HID's are 4300K.
The shutter is definitely not part of the bulb but is the metal "crown" over the tip of the bulb. If you watch a Prius HID from the side (so you don't get blinded) while someone flashes the brights, you will see it move.
