How can I tell which lights I have

[ajwk]

A dumb question to those in the know I am sure but how do I know if I have Xenon or halogen headlights?

[Drpellypo]

Xenons have a ballast which self checks when you turn them on. Get somebody to turn them on while you're at the front and you'll see them move. If you don't, they aren't xenon. Also the xenon is a very different light. Much more like real daylight.

[X5Sport]

The simplest way is whether or not you have a height adjustment on your light switch panel.  OEM HID lights are auto adjusting so no thumb wheel.

This is a HID/Xenon equipped car panel.....with auto lights as well.



If you have high voltage warnings above the lights under the bonnet, or if adaptive Xenon then the text is visible around the outer projector each side.  I think it says 'BMW Adaptive Xenon' or similar.

HID (Xenon) lights take several seconds to warm up and are a blue/white light compared to normal filament lights - even if those are also Xenon filled.

If you are playing around with them be careful as the ballast unit is capable of generating lethal voltages up to 25kV to generate the arc.

Richard

[Steamyrotter]

or look on the rear of the light unit.
HID usually have 2 think single black wires to the Bulb with large individual connectors on them rather than a straight plug on the rear of the bulb

[ajwk]

ok

The panel Richard kindly pictured matches mine and they move when I turn them on.So they are clearly xenon's. Next question the low beam warning has appeared on the dash a couple of time but not constantly is that then likely to be a loose wire somewhere?

thanks

[X5Sport]

Could be a loose wire, failing ballast or failing bulb.  They do 'age'.  Are either of them looking yellow or dimmer, or taking longer to start than the other?  Bulb life is about 3,000 hours.

Richard

[Rusty]

I had one of my xenons causing a fault earlier in the year and it was deemed to be the ballast. 

Mine would ignite first time ok, but I you turned them off then straight back on, the dodgy one wouldn't fire up and the message appeared.  Also, if the lights were on for  1.5 - 2.0 hrs, the lamp would just go out and you had to turn the lights off for a couple of mins before re-trying and it would normally fire up ok, not ideal when on the motorway at night.

I refused to pay BMW for a new ballast and lamp, so bought a 55W HID upgrade kit from a very kind XDrivers member.

Now they are good lights and not too tricky to fit either


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Steamyrotter]

[quote="ajwk"]
ok

The panel Richard kindly pictured matches mine and they move when I turn them on.So they are clearly xenon's. Next question the low beam warning has appeared on the dash a couple of time but not constantly is that then likely to be a loose wire somewhere?

thanks
[/quote]

But i have the same panel and mine were halogen...
I have fitted after market HID

[X5Sport]

Depends upon the age of the car.  Height adjustable capability was mandatory by 2006 - or should have been.  Every car I've had since 1992 has had that included. 

Realoem only shows this type of switch being used with HID options for my old E53 (a 2005 model).  Non-HID are all the other type with two thumbwheels.  Unless I'm reading it wrong?  The other versions (there are 6 in all) are not listed as being suitable for the car.

Richard