Xenons

[Seamster15]

Can anyone tell me the difference between Xenon and Bi-Xenon headlamps?

Thanks

Simon

 

[GRAV888]

Correct me if I'm wrong anybody, but :
Xenon's are only on dipped beam with an ordinary bulb for main beam.
Bi-xenon's use a mirror inside the light unit to allow the light to be reflected as a main beam too.

Click Here

 

[Flash]

In order to physically tell if MB has xenons or bi xeonons:

Xenons have frosted glass (on eralier models) up and till 2003:

Bi Xenons: Clean clear hadlamps (one can physically tell the difference between bi xenons and the standard clear halogen headlamps used to update the old frosted halogen headlamps i.e. W203 face lift as the glass is not totally crystal clear as the bi xenon headlamps)

Bi xenons use just "one" single highly chaged xenon bulb and a projector is used. Bi xenons are supposed to have better vision than xenons (may just be margnbal though) as xenons are pretty good anyway.

 

[Brian WH]

In order to physically tell if MB has xenons or bi xeonons:

Xenons have frosted glass (on eralier models) up and till 2003:

Bi Xenons: Clean clear hadlamps (one can physically tell the difference between bi xenons and the standard clear halogen headlamps used to update the old frosted halogen headlamps i.e. W203 face lift as the glass is not totally crystal clear as the bi xenon headlamps)

Bi xenons use just "one" single highly chaged xenon bulb and a projector is used. Bi xenons are supposed to have better vision than xenons (may just be margnbal though) as xenons are pretty good anyway.

My Bi-Xenons

 

[glojo]

Correct me if I'm wrong anybody, but :
Xenon's are only on dipped beam with an ordinary bulb for main beam.
Bi-xenon's use a mirror inside the light unit to allow the light to be reflected as a main beam too.

Click Here

Agreed and having had both, the bi-xeons are well worth having.

John

 

[fuzzer]

My Bi-Xenons

I had always thought you were Bi brian , thanks for clearing that up

 

[Rory]

So that must render the inside, main beam only, headlight useful only for flashing at other cars?

Do the Bi-Xenons light up if you flash someone for an extended period?

 

[fuzzer]

So that must render the inside, main beam only, headlight useful only for flashing at other cars?

Do the Bi-Xenons light up if you flash someone for an extended period?

The Bi xenon has a mirror as said above , so when you flash someone , the regular h7 bulb comes on plus the mirror in the xenon moves out the way. Its like floodlights.

For the people that make the mistake of flashing me thinking ive got my main beam on , it must be terribly blinding for them to discover the truth

 

[Rory]

Thanks.

 

[Seamster15]

Thanks all, either would be nice but being Bi is considered better! LOL

Cheers.

 

[Tan]

R129 series SL's with Xenons dont have frosted glass over the Xenon bulb.

 

[Flash]

The Bi xenon has a mirror as said above , so when you flash someone , the regular h7 bulb comes on plus the mirror in the xenon moves out the way. Its like floodlights.

For the people that make the mistake of flashing me thinking ive got my main beam on , it must be terribly blinding for them to discover the truth

I used to get that alot too with my bi xenons all the time... when other drivers used to flash their lights at me I would flash them back and in the picth black dark the high beam would light up the whole of the interior of the car flashing me...

Bi xenons are fantastic for night vision and look cool too (especially when they give a blue/purple affect with the tint/shade from the indicator bulb reflection...)

 

[Flash]

R129 series SL's with Xenons dont have frosted glass over the Xenon bulb.

129 was probably an exception but all W210s and W220/W203 (pre face lifts/early models) with xenons had frosted headlamp glass...

Xenons were a very rare option on the W140 and not many around with this option -that too had frosted headlamps.

 

[DieselE]

The Bi xenon has a mirror as said above , so when you flash someone , the regular h7 bulb comes on plus the mirror in the xenon moves out the way. Its like floodlights.

For the people that make the mistake of flashing me thinking ive got my main beam on , it must be terribly blinding for them to discover the truth

The W211 may be different to either Fuzzer's BMW or C270. I experimented against the garage door this morning (sad I know but it was only with the lights I assure you!). Flashing brings on the halogen main beam units only. If the xenons are on they stay on dip beam. When high beam is selected, the halogen units come on and the xenons switch to high beam.

 

[fuzzer]

im going out for a take away later , will let you know in a bit

 

[Rory]

The W211 may be different to either Fuzzer's BMW or C270. I experimented against the garage door this morning (sad I know but it was only with the lights I assure you!). Flashing brings on the halogen main beam units only. If the xenons are on they stay on dip beam. When high beam is selected, the halogen units come on and the xenons switch to high beam.

That's what I would have expected. However, is it just that Xenons are a little slow to react - ie if you hold the flash on for a few seconds do they switch to main beam - or are they inoperative in 'flash' mode?

 

[DieselE]

That's what I would have expected. However, is it just that Xenons are a little slow to react - ie if you hold the flash on for a few seconds do they switch to main beam - or are they inoperative in 'flash' mode?

Correction to my earlier post (experiment repeated so that I could answer Rory). It just goes to show that lighting experiments should be carried out after dark.

When the xenons are on dip, flashing the lights brings on the halogen units and puts the xenons on high beam. If the lights are off then flashing is with the halogens only.

I can't do any more because my wife is already concerned that I come straight off the forum and go outside and flash against the garage door.

 

[fuzzer]

ahh , that explains it .. i was doubting myself there.

All my cars have constand headlamp mode enabled for safety reasons. So , im always getting xenon flash

 

[Shude]

When the xenons are on dip, flashing the lights brings on the halogen units and puts the xenons on high beam. If the lights are off then flashing is with the halogens only.

This is because Xenon capsules take about 2 minutes to get up to temperature, so flashing doesn't really work unless they've been on for a bit.

 

[GRAV888]

I like the way my xenons have that split second of imense power when I turn the lights on.
It's almost like a flash of lightning :bannana: