Xenon headlights... why are they different?

leetennis · 10-07-2010, 01:45 PM

Hi guys, noticed some differences in the e9 and e92 xenons and now have found the same on some e90's. Are the pics below different because of modding, road legislations different in some countries or due to the LCI evolution?

Either way I would prefer the two glass lenses and rather not the pie dish!

doughboy · 10-07-2010, 03:08 PM

what pie dish?

magic77 · 10-07-2010, 03:56 PM

the inner headlights on the lower picture are of Xenons with cornering lights. They come on when you turnt he wheel to certain degree or indicate at low speeds. A very usefull feature IMO. They might not look as nice but on a dark street or when doing tight turns in dark usefull. Car with these will also prob have adaptive main lights which turn as you turn the wheel. Bit odd at first but once you have it driving at night withouht them is weird

leetennis · 10-07-2010, 04:13 PM

Oh right, so i have ordered the vis pack so i get the pie dish. Damn and yes together, sounds like i got a good bit of kit but looks crap!

doughboy · 10-08-2010, 02:14 AM

The top pic is a US car, which might (probably does) have different lighting regs. The second car is an EU model, and has lights like UK models.

But they look nothing like the old halogen pie dishes!!

In the flesh they look great, but for info these inner lights are not headlights anymore either, so even on high beam they do not light up, only the main outer Bi-xenon lamp is a headlight for high and low beams. So that classic 4 lamp high-beam BMW look is gone i'm afraid, this was a bit of a shock when I got mine.

As said they only come on when you steer at low speeds (or put an indicator on) to light the relevant direction left or right side curb etc. Great for out of town driving (and dark multistorey car parks) but not much else IMO.

xenon · 10-08-2010, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doughboy

In the flesh they look great, but for info these inner lights are not headlights anymore either, so even on high beam they do not light up, only the main outer Bi-xenon lamp is a headlight for high and low beams. So that classic 4 lamp high-beam BMW look is gone i'm afraid, this was a bit of a shock when I got mine.

That's been the same on the e92 from the start. The inner lamps (not the rings) don't light up at all without conering lights.

doughboy · 10-08-2010, 04:17 AM

Never knew that....

xenon · 10-08-2010, 04:19 AM

I suspected my car was faulty initially - I was expecting it to be the high-beam or at least the flash like the e46 was.

E92BSM10 · 10-08-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenon

I suspected my car was faulty initially - I was expecting it to be the high-beam or at least the flash like the e46 was.

same

10-07-2010, 01:45 PM	#1
leetennis Lieutenant 37 Rep 517 Posts Drives: 3 M Sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: kent iTrader: (0)	Xenon headlights... why are they different? Hi guys, noticed some differences in the e9 and e92 xenons and now have found the same on some e90's. Are the pics below different because of modding, road legislations different in some countries or due to the LCI evolution? Either way I would prefer the two glass lenses and rather not the pie dish! Attached Images
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10-07-2010, 03:08 PM	#2
doughboy Major General 1546 Rep 8,972 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	what pie dish?
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10-07-2010, 03:56 PM	#3
magic77 Brigadier General 258 Rep 3,815 Posts Drives: ex- 335i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Surrey iTrader: (2)	the inner headlights on the lower picture are of Xenons with cornering lights. They come on when you turnt he wheel to certain degree or indicate at low speeds. A very usefull feature IMO. They might not look as nice but on a dark street or when doing tight turns in dark usefull. Car with these will also prob have adaptive main lights which turn as you turn the wheel. Bit odd at first but once you have it driving at night withouht them is weird __________________ F30 335i M Sport - now departed
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10-07-2010, 04:13 PM	#4
leetennis Lieutenant 37 Rep 517 Posts Drives: 3 M Sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: kent iTrader: (0)	Oh right, so i have ordered the vis pack so i get the pie dish. Damn and yes together, sounds like i got a good bit of kit but looks crap!
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10-08-2010, 02:14 AM	#5
doughboy Major General 1546 Rep 8,972 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	The top pic is a US car, which might (probably does) have different lighting regs. The second car is an EU model, and has lights like UK models. But they look nothing like the old halogen pie dishes!! In the flesh they look great, but for info these inner lights are not headlights anymore either, so even on high beam they do not light up, only the main outer Bi-xenon lamp is a headlight for high and low beams. So that classic 4 lamp high-beam BMW look is gone i'm afraid, this was a bit of a shock when I got mine. As said they only come on when you steer at low speeds (or put an indicator on) to light the relevant direction left or right side curb etc. Great for out of town driving (and dark multistorey car parks) but not much else IMO.
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10-08-2010, 04:17 AM	#7
doughboy Major General 1546 Rep 8,972 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	Never knew that....
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10-08-2010, 04:19 AM	#8
xenon Major General 1402 Rep 8,089 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	I suspected my car was faulty initially - I was expecting it to be the high-beam or at least the flash like the e46 was. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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