Xenon bulb - photo difference

[CoolHands]

I bought some +50% brightness xenon bulbs today from Aldi - on one of their 'specials' at £3.99 a pair. Which is cheap, in case you haven't bought bulbs for a while

Anyway here's a camera set to manual everything (same for all photos) to try and show what, if any, difference it makes (engine running in all pics for decent bulb voltage). I've never bought xenon gas filled bulbs before, so have an open mind. The original non-xenon bulb is the original, (2008 car). It (the new xenon-gas bulb) does actually appear to be whiter! I was, I confess, quite surprised. It's not as obvious in the pic showing both lights, (that's the entire car - with near side and off side headlights both visible in the pics; car outline not visible) but a bit more obvious in real life.

(the sidelight on top is a seperate bulb, unchanged in these pics).

Edited by CoolHands on Sunday 4th November 22:24

Edited by CoolHands on Sunday 4th November 22:36

[Rubin215]

Wow.

I'm stunned.

No, seriously.

[Ari]

I thought that by law cars with xenon headlights had to have self levelling and headlight wash.

What am I missing here, "fake" xenon bulbs or dodgy installation?

[ohtari]

I installed some Ring Xenon Ultimas on Friday, the difference over the motorcraft ones I pulled out is astounding. They claim 120% brighter, now I wouldn't go that far, but they're a marked improvement in terms of brightness and whiteness. I keep thinking I should be dimming when around traffic, but the beam definition is great, so I don't think I'm blinding anyone.

For 15 quid off of fleabay delivered, would I recommend them? Would I fk! They're fantastic!

[AMST09]

I believe you can get xenon filled bulbs that bit in a normal lamp holder rather than buying a full on HID kit

No HIDs don't have to have washers or levellers
I believe they are only tested on the MOT if they are fitted and aren't required if they not

[CoolHands]

Ari said:

I thought that by law cars with xenon headlights had to have self levelling and headlight wash.

What am I missing here, "fake" xenon bulbs or dodgy installation?

xenon is simply the gas surrounding the filament. ie instead of oxygen (air)!

I believe you're thinking of HID which is different. These are 'normal' bulbs.

[ohtari]

Ari said:

I thought that by law cars with xenon headlights had to have self leveling and headlight wash.

What am I missing here, "fake" xenon bulbs or dodgy installation?

Don't mistake "xenon" (a gas) with "HID" which is high intensity discharge.

[mrmr96]

Ari said:

I thought that by law cars with xenon headlights had to have self levelling and headlight wash.

What am I missing here, "fake" xenon bulbs or dodgy installation?

"Xenon" can be used to mean different things.

It can mean a HID (aka gas discharge) bulb, which uses an arc of electrcity to produce light http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_discha... And these are the ones which (usually) need washers and self levelling.

But it can also mean a normal incandescent (i.e. hot wire) bulb, like the ones in your house. Except instead of the gas around the wire being Halogen, then use Xenon gas instead, as it allows the wire to burn hotter/brighter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incandescent_light_bu... These need nothing special, as they are a direct replacement for normal Halogen bulbs.

ETA i) beaten to it by two people, and ii) I prefer not to use the word "Xenon" without explaining what type of bulb I mean explicitly, because otherwise there can be ambiguity and misunderstanding.

[namelogin]

Bought a new (read-second hand) 3 series today.

As much as i hate most things about my Mondeo, im really gonna miss the HID's

It was the only redeeming feature of the whole car to be honest

[to3m]

Interesting photos, thanks! Looks a bit like the difference between my "normal" torch, and this Xenon-bulb torch I bought from Tesco. Not night and day, but the Xenon torch is usefully brighter and a bit whiter.

Might visit my local Aldi tomorrow and see if they have any... £3.99 IS pretty good for Xenon-filled bulbs

[Cyder]

AMST09 said:

No HIDs don't have to have washers or levellers
I believe they are only tested on the MOT if they are fitted and aren't required if they not

Afraid not, ECE regulation 48 states that if the light output is over a certain figure (2000lumens rings a bell but I haven't got a copy to hand) then the Car must have self levellers and wash.

Also in theory a car should only have them if type approved to use them iirc.

ETA - http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/main/wp29...
Section 6.2.9

Edited by Cyder on Sunday 4th November 23:22

[Tunku]

Cyder said:

AMST09 said:

No HIDs don't have to have washers or levellers
I believe they are only tested on the MOT if they are fitted and aren't required if they not

Afraid not, ECE regulation 48 states that if the light output is over a certain figure (2000lumens rings a bell but I haven't got a copy to hand) then the Caruso have self levellers and wash.

Also in theory a car should only have them if type approved to use them iirc.

No need to make such a song about it

[Cyder]

Stupid phone!

[Tunku]

CoolHands said:

Ari said:

I thought that by law cars with xenon headlights had to have self levelling and headlight wash.

What am I missing here, "fake" xenon bulbs or dodgy installation?

xenon is simply the gas surrounding the filament. ie instead of oxygen (air)!

I believe you're thinking of HID which is different. These are 'normal' bulbs.

Instead of halogen!

I bought these bulbs last year. Still going strong on my V70 which has the dip beam on permanently. A good light too, as good as if not better than the OEM which blew regularly.

[namelogin]

What would be good bulbs to buy that would give me a sharp cutoff and longer distance (like my HID's) but that are standard bulbs?

Philips xtreme vision?

I don't want bulbs that tony puts in his saxo to make it look like he has HID's when he doesnt, and instead just burns brighter than the fking sun and kills everyone who comes towards him.

[MondeoMan1981]

Osram Nightbreakers are the MX5 and 335d mapped of this forum.

However , have a look at Halfrauds own, I've had them in two cars and found them to be very good and usually on a BOGOF or BOGOHP

[namelogin]

MondeoMan1981 said:

Osram Nightbreakers are the MX5 and 335d mapped of this forum.

However , have a look at Halfrauds own, I've had them in two cars and found them to be very good and usually on a BOGOF or BOGOHP

Is it sad that i then went and watched all of this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0-z8KwUmQ8