xenon

[evisuzuki82]

hi.....what is the different between xenon and bi-xenon?which one is better?is it a straight swap or if not,what do i need to fit them?cheers

 

[Stud_Daddy]

Bi-xenons are the middle path between straight and homo-xenons. Keep them away from your kids!

 

[mini_jeff67]

Beware also the lesnons...

 

[evisuzuki82]

hahaha....i will keep them away...but i dont have kid yet...... ;-) by the way...does the bi-xenon is the original headlight from bmw?not sure about this.....

 

[aramis]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

This is sooo funny!!!!

 

[valkryie]

:lol: Hahaha. To avoid torturing evi i will now give him a more serious answer.

A Bi-xenon projector headlight is a projector that is capable of high and low beam projection via a shield, position behind the projector lamp that is lowered and raised electronically.

The old E46 newline model and newer E90 3 series all come with bi-xenon projector if not mistaken.

Are you sure you want to go the bi way. Heard is not a stable product. You are better off remaining homo for now.

 

[saat]

Originally posted by valkryie@Dec 25 2005, 12:25 PM
:lol: Hahaha. To avoid torturing evi i will now give him a more serious answer.

A Bi-xenon projector headlight is a projector that is capable of high and low beam projection via a shield, position behind the projector lamp that is lowered and raised electronically.

The old E46 newline model and newer E90 3 series all come with bi-xenon projector if not mistaken.

Are you sure you want to go the bi way. Heard is not a stable product. You are better off remaining homo for now. 

Valkryie,

I think there are 2 subjects being discussed here. The following is my understanding.

Firstly Projector Head Lamps: These are new lamps or more correctly head lamp units where the ellipsoidal lamp reflectors are greatly reduced in size. The reduced reflector size now creates another challenge. The typically required light pattern in front of the car cannot be maintained. To counter this, the makers put in a lens in front of the bulb to recreate the pattern. The lens has been improved such that the light throw is much further and the spread and pattern is much more focussed and controlled. This small reflector with a lens and the more controlled focus of the light has been dubbed “Projector Head Lamps” (like the LCD projectors). Another challenge this produce and resolved is one of heat buildup with the reduced cavity inside the headlamp.

I think car manufacturers (or more correctly lighting technologist) have resolved what started as a styling and packaging requirement with a solution that produced an significant advancement in lighting technology. Some say it is the other way around where the lighting advancement in reducing the size and profile of headlamps has liberated newer styling and packing opportunities.

Therefore, if your headlight unit has a clearly visible lens in front of the bulb, then chances are you have a projector headlamp. Do not confuse this with a diamond like piece of metal that placed in front of the bulb, these are not projector headlamps. Normal halogens (as in the E39) can be fitted to the projector headlamps. By the very nature of the construction of the Xenon (or HID) lights, they are typically fitted onto projector headlamps in order to achieve the correct light spread pattern.

CKD E46 do not have projector headlamps as standard. Only those with factory fitted with Xenons (some CBU and late model 325 and 330) has projector head lamps. Face-lifted E39 (post 2001) has projector headlamps fitted as standard.

I need to rush out now, so I will post the Xenons and Bi-Xenons (or more appropriately HIDs) when I come home later.

But just as a parting shot, Bi-Xenons are made in Punjab.........

 

[evisuzuki82]

ic ic.......so,the conclusion......i better get the xenon....straight xenon......not bi-xenon or homo-xenon or nor les-xenon.....hmmm........ohh yaaa.....one more question is.....is it a straight swap???or does any modification needed to fot this???any more infromation in helping this will be appreciate....thanks sifu......

 

[saat]

Now lets clarify Xenons. By Xenons I would be referring to High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps.

I would not be referring to Xenons filled incandescent bulbs. These are what is for all intents and purposes normal bulb where the inert gas has been replaced by Xenon gas. For these, no modification is required it is a straight plug and play into the existing headlights and the bulbs can be put into the high and low beams and even the fog lights. These would work with projector or non-projector head lamps.

Because of the technology and the construction of the HIDs, the reflector would have to be shaped differently such that HIDs are best suited for fitment into projector headlamps. The HID bulbs are at least 2 times longer than normal incandescent lights. There are many who fit them into normal non-projector headlamps. This is firstly illegal, annoyingly glaring to oncoming traffic and the light pattern is all wrong to the extent that it is down right dangerous.

BMWs have 2 sets of headlights and a set of fog lights. I doubt very much you can fit an HID into a non-projector E46 (But I stand corrected). So to fit HIDs it is highly recommended that you fit them onto projector headlamps.

BMW has single xenons - where only the low beam is a projector lamp and the high beam a normal halogen non-projector lamp, and Bi-xenons where both the high and low beam headlights are projector lamps. The E39 also have a automatic headlight leveler with a sensor fitted to the rear suspension.

I think bi-xenons is an overkill. There are others who think that it is best to keep one set of halogens to avoid the white-blanket effect or the light dispersion effect. Xenons on low beams are good enough.

So if you dont have projector type headlamp, to fit an HID, you need to buy and replace your headlight with either a single xenon or a bi-xenon projector headlamps. Single xenon and bi-xenon headlamps are different. HIDs upgrade kits comes with ballast, relays and power supply cables. It does require instillation.

Some E39s experience a persistent fault code showing bulb failure because the diagnostics sends a small trickle current to indicate that the bulb is not open circuit. Some of the newer upgrade kits have a simple built-in circuit to fool the diagnostics.

To answer your question, you have to check whether you have a projector headlamp. Yours is a CBU E46, so I am not sure whether you have one or not. If you dont, then you would have to get a complete set of single or bi-xenon head lamps.

If you do have a project headlamp, then check is whether you have dual or single projectors. If you dont have any, you need to buy one. If you have a single projector then you can fit a single aftermarket HID kit. If you have dual projector, then you can go straight to bi-xenons.

 

[Vanquish]

Bravo ...

Great write up, Abang Saat. Hope the clowns who were arguing with me on FRI about the Bi-Xenon fitments on UDMs are reading this too. Very informative write up .... ICE Guru turned Lighting Tech Guru now.

Cheers,

 

[evisuzuki82]

woowww.......what a great explanation.....full with details.....now i understand what is xenon and bi-xenon are.....ehhmmm......i need to figure out wheter my car comes with projector headlamp or not....new homework for me.....anyway,thanks a lot sifu saat....

 

[valkryie]

Thanks Saat for the tehnical write up. Anyway i post a picture of projector headlight with a halogen reflector side by side to better explain myself.

The projector is feature on the right side and the normal halogen reflector is on the left side of the headlamp.

A Bi-xenon projector does not necessarily mean there are 2 projectors in the headlight unit.

The newer bi-xenon projector is a single xenon projector capable of high and low beam. The high/low beam feature is controlled by a shield or shutter that moves up and down electronically behind the projector lens. Maybe i confused everybody by making everybody think there is a reflector behind the projector lamp.

The halogen reflector is retained for beam flash function. You can check out Valeo Bi-xenon projector in valeo press release
under the valeo xenon projector lightning paragraph.

CKD E46 with original halogen reflectors are not capable of having bi-xenon low/high beam projection as the car is not wired for it. So even if buy a bi-xenon projector headlight you will only get a low beam projection. You will need dual projectors.

Check out this write-up for a better understanding on the pro and cons of an HID conversion kit, retrofitting a projector vs getting an OEM projector head light.

 

[saat]

You are correct. Your picture clearly shows the lens of the projector lights on the low beam.

Post 03 BMW with bi-xenons headlights have the HID fitted only on the low beam and the "high" beam is fitted with a regular halogen bulbs. When low beam is selected, a shroud or shield is placed to cut-off the top half of the beam from the HID bulbs. This will give off the distinctly clear top half beam cut-off pattern.

When high beam is selected, the shroud moves out of the way to unleash the full blast of the HID bulbs. The halogen "high" beam remain unlit. The halogens comes on only when flash is selected. This is becasue movement of the should is slower than powering the halogens. Yes this would require a differnt wiring.

I have seen projectors fitted only on the low beam with HID bulbs fitted on both low and high beams (too much money). The projector does not have the shroud or shield or shutter. This was the first version of bi-xenons. I believe, most prefacelifted E46 b-xenons has these. On Mercs E class, there are dual projectors with a permanent shield with dual HIDs.

I had an E39 post face lift and it had projector headlamps but no HIDs. I now have a CKD E46 which has no projectors at all.

 

[valkryie]

Hi Saat,

It is a bummer that the E46 with the exception of the newline series does not come with projector headlights. I mean even Waja comes with projector headlights. Just plug in a HID and you are all set.

I am sourcing for a projector headlight for E46 and i will post it in the forum if i am successful for those who are looking for projectors. Maybe can get a bulk discount. They are definitely not cheap!

 

[Stud_Daddy]

But just as a parting shot, Bi-Xenons are made in Punjab.........[/QUOTE]

No my friend.....bai-xenons are made in Punjab....not bi-xenons......you've got your bai's mixed up.

 

[mini_jeff67]

Thanks for pointing that out, Stud Daddy!

 

[guru]

bi xenons are in fact made in the non-discriminatory sexual preference section of the hella factory. the assembly workers are highly paid due to their special status in this community, hence the high cost of bi-xenons. However their product comes with a warranty and guarantees satisfaction.

 

[mini_jeff67]

So they get more pay becos they are bi? Hmmm... point to note!

 

[shuksE90]

Where to get original and inexpensive Bi-Xenon with Angel Eyes for my 1er ah? Just got my car and they don't come with 'em!

And when I asked AB how much it costs to fix em... RM12,000!!! What about Singapore? My budget is half that!

Thanks

Shuks

 

[dwj]

wow...great explaination from all the sifu's

anyway..i got a question.which lightning is the brightest?? HID,bi-xenon,xenon and etc..which one of those best fitted in E36?