Poor xenon lights

[Buster]

Is it a trait of the X5 to have poor xenon lights or is it me. Other cars I've had in the past with xenons have been fantastic but the X5 seems no better than a normal halogen lights.

Is there any upgrades out there?

[X5Sport]

Silly question I know - but are they clean.............

Seriously, have you got any condensation in them, or are the lights going yellow? Yellowing indicates ageing lamps - or someone is telling you porkies about HID being fitted.

Not noticed the E53 lamps being worse than any other HID equipped vehicles I've owned - and they are certainly better than the new type fitted to the E71 X6 - that doesn't even have a main beam pair any more even if it look like it does!!

The only other thing that immediately springs to mind is are they the OE HID type or was a conversion done? I know on mine (sorry, SWMBO's ) The actual lamps have BMW Xenon, or BMW Dynamic Xenon embossed on the Projectors.

Sometimes non-OE conversions have the focal point in the wrong place which will reduce the lamp efficacy.

There are probably uprated bubls available from places like HIDS4U, but that may also need a ballast change (I'm not knowledgable about ballasts so it may not be necessary) and any radiated heat may need to be thought about - you don't want anything melting

[slieverue]

Hi Buster

I would agree with you, that they are indeed very poor.

My last X5 didn't have HID's, so I retrofitted a set and I would have to say that they were better than the OEM's HID's currently installed on my present X5.

I'm guessing that the projector lamps must reduce the intensity of the beam as well as focusing it!?!

Just my thoughts.

Cheers

Tony

[lezmtaylor]

My 2002 E53 has Factory Xenon fitted to dip, very poor so went with hids4u and fitted new bulbs to dip and fitted set of xenon upgrades to main beam,
Like daylight at night now.
Cannot understand why only dip are factory fit.
Lez

[storminmike]

My projector Halogens were rubbish on my e53 facellft...as were the ones on my past e36...until

fitted HIDS to them and the difference is remarkable. The projectors do seem to be narrow as I could never flood the road side to side,,,with HIDS my faith has been restored and I can see the markings on an unlit motorway at night in the rain...before it felt dangerous on Halogens

[X5Sport]

[quote=""lezmtaylor""]My 2002 E53 has Factory Xenon fitted to dip, very poor so went with hids4u and fitted new bulbs to dip and fitted set of xenon upgrades to main beam,
Like daylight at night now.
Cannot understand why only dip are factory fit.
Lez[/quote]

Did BMW not fit Bi-Xenon until after the facelift then? I know my facelifted version has a shutter that changes the beam pattern on the dip set to a longer ranged one on full beam by moving out of the way, as well as bringing the two inner lamps into play.

Which HIDS4U kit did you go for?

I have noticed that whatever HID system the E71 uses is instant start, no warm up, giving full brightness from the moment they are switched on. Have always noticed the ignition flash and then the warm up over the next few seconds on the E53 and E46 we have.

[Dan1502]

Does fitting aftermarket xenons invalidate the BMW warranty and, if so, can genuine one be retrofitted economically and/or easily?

[Sanj]

Heard the new MOT regulations 'may' state aftermarket Xenons/HIDs which will not have washer jets or auto level adjustment (no switch positioning the lights) is going to be deemed an MOT failure.

Can't find the link - sorry...

I have them fitted to my FIL's Merc and even had them levelled by the local MOT guy with no issue - so no idea how hard the stance will be or if it is a definite, in the new MOT regs...?

[X5Sport]

Regs are here but as Sanj said, some places are bothered and others not. These regs haven't changed since 2006 and are the official line, enforcement as ever is wholly dependant upon where you live, or which MOT station you go to. Bit silly really

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps

[Dan1502]

So presumably the X5 ticks the self levelling suspension box at least to a certain extent. How involved is it to retrofit genuine units and how does the levelling work in the case of X5s? I know it was a bit hassle/expense with my 996 so I didn't bother but don't know with regards X5s.

[X5Sport]

The self levelling system works via a sensor and arm fitted to the front and rear axles. Signals from those then cause the headlight vertical beam height to adjust automatically - unless you have the adjustment control on the light switch panel in which case you do not have autolevelling lights.

It may be that with the introduction of the 'R' type HID bulbs which are designed to stop glare from non projector lamp units, that this is a non-issue these days. Let's face it we see enough modded vehicles with HID around. May be it's time the regs got changed, but no one has actually done so....

[Dan1502]

Ok, that's similar to with the 996 I'm selling. I'll have a good look at what I have fitted when I take delivery but think what you're suggesting is that halogen light units can be self levelling and if mine are, by fitting an HID kit it would be self levelling and have washer jets but not be officially approved. My main concern with this, other than MOT, is whether insurance companies could wriggle out of a claim if not declared and if they would insure it if declared etc. It's annoying really as all I want is better lights and those on my 996 which are halogen projectors with uprated OSRAM bulbs are still very poor and quite scary at times. You would think a properly installed upgrade would be encouraged so long as set not to dazzle.

[AW8]

Another option would be importing whiter hoen bulbs from USA or geting some Philips X-Treme. Former available via Hoen in USA only & the later were only available from one ebay seller as philips wont sell them to official uk stockists due to high light output.....Niether are E marked & technically not strictly legal but they are capable providing better light, (should you only wish to illuminate private land of course )

I just fitted some Philips Clearvisions on my wifes Z. They are ok but it can still get silly over 50-55 mph on dip beam & on some dark winter roads.

I see you have Osram's on the 996......the latest Osram Nightbreakers seem to be getting good right ups & provide better visibility too.

I am sure you can get decent results from a retro HID instal. IMO the factory E53 Xenons arent amazing, (my bulbs & lamp cases fine btw).

[Dan1502]

It's Osram nightbreakers I have but probably about 18 months old. The other option is higher wattage bulbs, with a loom upgrade if necessary but that is something you're not supposed to do. I could still do with an answer re the BMW warranty though as Porsche are a PITA with their warranty scheme, refusing to accept daft things like aftermarket batteries even if top of the range Bosch etc etc. Buying bulbs from the US isn't a problem, especially as my brother lives there and we might be going over in April. Basically I need to consider the warranty issue and the MOT issue with regards my particular X5 variant and take it from there but I will wait until I've got it and tried the standard lights first.

[Jalf]

I'm not sure if its true but I think if Xenons are fitted that the car has to have auto leveling of its lights by law, as such it levels them perfectly at the road, but not where you'd usually want them, in non Xenon equipped cars you usually get a manual leveler so you can send them further along the road.
The auto leveler makes the Xenons pretty much as effective as regular lights, as you end up going on to full beam to see any further, so its a bit of a double edged sword, bright but pointing into the ground

I travel along quite a few unlit roads and its not too bad but a few of my shall we say more sporty cars have been a real pain for this.