Technical Xenon Aftermarket

[grimwau]

The fullbeams are good! In fact the xenon edition fiats have normal fullbeams themselves but of course the xenon helps out a lot for the low beams!

Actually the HID Xenons work on both Dip and Mainbeam (hence the Bi bit) so when using main beam you get the equivalent of a 4 headlamp system. The reason for having a normal halogen unit is because they are slower to react if you needed to "flash" someone (similar situation as cars with pop up headlights) and also they would fail quite quickly if they were used for this function.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Actually the HID Xenons work on both Dip and Mainbeam (hence the Bi bit) so when using main beam you get the equivalent of a 4 headlamp system. The reason for having a normal halogen unit is because they are slower to react if you needed to "flash" someone (similar situation as cars with pop up headlights) and also they would fail quite quickly if they were used for this function.

Ah right. Do the Bi-xenons come on for flashing also if you hold the stalk in flash possition or only if pushed away onto main beam? I suppose not having them come on just for flashing is better also as it doesn't then blind the hell out of who ever your flashing?

 

[SiliconS]

We're getting dangerously on-topic here, folks.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I thought we were back OT now.

 

[RUI]

I have just been out and tested the new bulbs and they are almost the same as the standard bulbs. They say +80% but I would say a max of +10%

Don't bother upgrading to them.

 

[Lloyd71]

When other people can control their 360 with their phone and their phone, PC, games console and tablet all have the same style of interface (Metro, which is fantastic and IMHO rather Applesque in its minimalism) then a lot of Mac people will move over to the Windows side

Got this week's lottery numbers Maxi?

Regarding the bulbs, I've been told the Philips ones are pretty good but the best ones I had? £2 from Lidl!

 

[ahmett]

Yes I have seen some cars with separate xenon full beams and they look intense! When they flash its instant so its good to scare away people when wanting to overtake on the fast lane = )

 

[ahmett]

I have just been out and tested the new bulbs and they are almost the same as the standard bulbs. They say +80% but I would say a max of +10%

Don't bother upgrading to them.

Thanks for the advice rui, ive heard on this forum that the osram nightbreakers make a difference! I guess you'll try those or have tried them already?

 

[grimwau]

Ah right. Do the Bi-xenons come on for flashing also if you hold the stalk in flash possition or only if pushed away onto main beam? I suppose not having them come on just for flashing is better also as it doesn't then blind the hell out of who ever your flashing?

​

I'll check mine tomorrow and report back.

Thought I'd better put on the shades first though.

 

[306maxi]

Thanks for the advice rui, ive heard on this forum that the osram nightbreakers make a difference! I guess you'll try those or have tried them already?

Thing about lights like nightbreakers is that you invariably pay when it comes to the life of the bulb. I had some for our Subaru and they didn't last very long, ditto for my 406, though it took one with it to the grave. I seem to remember others having bulb life issues with nightbreakers on here too.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I have just been out and tested the new bulbs and they are almost the same as the standard bulbs. They say +80% but I would say a max of +10%

Don't bother upgrading to them.

I use Ring xenon max - out last the Osram Night Breakers 4/5 fold and are just as good

 

[grimwau]

Ah right. Do the Bi-xenons come on for flashing also if you hold the stalk in flash possition?

Tried it this morning and if the dips are on then the flash does activate the Xenon mains as well as the halogen ones.

You can also hear a noise akin to a shutter opening when you do this.

 

[arorat]

I thought with low beam on and flashing only xenons would flash, so it's all 4 bulbs that flash ? Yes without low beam only DRLs flash.

Q. Sometime back you mentioned DRLs give a yellow tint to xenons, I am finding that, although not a big issue what bulbs did you put in, sorry I think I asked this before. Thanks.

 

[grimwau]

I thought with low beam on and flashing only xenons would flash, so it's all 4 bulbs that flash ? Yes without low beam only DRLs flash.

When on dip beam if you "flash" then BOTH the Xenon main beam in the upper light unit AND the Halogen bulb in the lower light unit work, so yes, all four bulbs flash. As you say, when lights not on only the lower lights (DRL) flash.

Q. Sometime back you mentioned DRLs give a yellow tint to xenons, I am finding that, although not a big issue what bulbs did you put in, sorry I think I asked this before. Thanks.

The PIAA ones, although, as mentioned in other posts these are listed as not being road legal in the UK.

 

[bgunn]

Tried it this morning and if the dips are on then the flash does activate the Xenon mains as well as the halogen ones.

You can also hear a noise akin to a shutter opening when you do this.

That's because a solenoid in the bulb is moving a shield backwards, which changes how the arc is projected in the bulb, so you're not actually lighting another xenon arc, just changing how the existing one is projected through the lens of the lamp.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

That's because a solenoid in the bulb is moving a shield backwards, which changes how the arc is projected in the bulb, so you're not actually lighting another xenon arc, just changing how the existing one is projected through the lens of the lamp.

It's in the housing not the bulb I believe but you've got the right idea behind it.

 

[bgunn]

It's in the housing not the bulb I believe but you've got the right idea behind it.

Sorry, yes - I was thinking of aftermarket H4 type Xenon conversions, the D2S bulb/capsule is very small, and surrounded with the solenoid actuated shield.

This is why fitting Xenons in lights not designed for them is a bad idea, plus, the HID arc isn't the same shape as a halogen filament, it's curved, which drastically changes the focussing of the light reflector.

In the case of a direct comparison with a 500 halogen light and a HID one, the Halogen uses a computer smoothed reflector which is roughly parabolic in shape, but with lens elements shaped in to create the right cut off on the dipped beam. The HID reflector is just a parabola, with a shield in front of the arc to create the correct cutoff, and the lens in front of the light gives the nice sharp edge to the lighting pattern, with a dispersion effect at the edge.

I've lost count of how many standard reflector lights with the focussing lens in the glass I've seen with HIDs glaring all over the place. It's these that give HIDs a bad name. That said, last week I kept getting people flashing me thinking I've got full beam on with my HID equipped 500, a quick blast of the real full beam soon taught them a lesson

 

[Bookish]

I keep getting flashed in my 500 with factory xenons (supposedly self levelling?).
They must be too high surely? or just slow to react?

 

[306maxi]

I keep getting flashed in my 500 with factory xenons (supposedly self levelling?).
They must be too high surely? or just slow to react?

No, it's because on anything but billiard table smooth motorway HID's have shut a sharp beam cutoff that they fry your retina's. Have a car behind you with HID's (I'm talking Audi's, BMW's and Merc's so factory fit stuff...) and when the cars follow the undulations in the road it looks like they're flashing you.

HID's, great for seeing the person who is just about to crash into you because he's blind because of your HID's.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I keep getting flashed in my 500 with factory xenons (supposedly self levelling?).
They must be too high surely? or just slow to react?

You should be able to see the level constantly changing when driving along a straight road. Does that happen?