Derek, I am sure you could upgrade the highbeam to xenon. But flashing the beam would be impossible since it takes 20 secs for the bulb to fire up.
Bixenon uses a little mirror (or flap) to adjust the dipped beam to high beam when flashing with the xenon on. And most of them use a standard bulb to flash highbeam when the xenons are off.
So you could put xenons in the highbeam, but you won't be able to flash the highbeams.
Can't think of anything that could help you.... (except stop flashinh those high-beams )
I am wondering if the light sensor (the thingy that puts on the lights when entering tunnels) could damage the xenon's. If there's a thing that xenon hate it's powering on and off all the time. In fact, powering on a xenon when i't's still hot could cause severe damage to the lamp. I wonder if the light sensors behaviour is altered when the setting "XENON PRESENT" is set to "Yes"......
Otherwise it would be wise not to use the "Auto" setting when there are aftermarket xenons present.
Dennis do you know if the aftermarket ones work differently to the M/B ones ? I seem to think the Xenons on my last B used to switch on & off with the light sensor but maybe they did not switch on & off & back on again until the unit had cooled. Is this taken care of by the 'Xenon Present' setting ?
Although the aftermarket Xenons sound a good idea there seems to be a lot to consider & take into account before rushing out to fit them. And should they have auto levellers & headlamp washers which would be nigh on impossible to fit as an aftermarket product.
Yes, it would seem logical that the onboard computer adjusts some settings when xenons are present. I have normal lights and when I enter a tunnel they pop on and when exiting the tunnel they go out again. A loaner (c-Estate) I had with Xenons had the same only with longer intervals. Once the lights were on they were kept on for about 2 minutes.
In the Netherlands only cars built after 1-2007 are required to have levelers and washers when fitting aftermarket Xenons. But there is almost no check if that's really the case. My car is built end 2006 so I am not required to have them.
Here is the UKs Department For Transports view of this:-
(Which would appear to make all fitment of these illegal in the UK. Pity) Fact sheet: Aftermarket HID headlamps
December 2006
In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.
The following is the legal rationale:
The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.
However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).
For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.
Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:
1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.
2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).
3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:
1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.
2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.
3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.
In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.
If you require any further information regarding the regulations covered by this fact sheet, please contact the DfT at the address below:
Transport Technology and Standards 6
Department for Transport
Zone 2/04
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR
Thanks Dennis & Keith,
I'm not aware of any auto-on control when entering tunnels here in Canada(at least not on my 06).
Many here have made the straight conversion to after-market HID with success.
Dennis has explained that the lens work's well for both halogen and HID and we've seen photos that back this up.(Anthony's)
I'm still hesitating because of different posts which talk of failed after-market systems(lights or ballasts), usually expressing concerns as to after-market quality and "now" the light flashing delay.
The on-coming traffic and animals demand instant high and dipped beams.
Thanks for the input. Derek
Have your lights got the auto on function Derek ie do they come on in low light conditions automatically if the switch is in the auto(first position to the right on the switch the 1 o clock position).
We don't have the auto mode in Canada. Lights turns on when you start the car, so we don't have to mess with the knob, unless you want the fob lights on.
)
Linear Mode
