Which type of lights do I have? Dumb question?
Discussion
Erudite geezer said:
Recently purchased a 62 plate 520d Touring.
How can I tell if the vehicle has halogen lights or xenons?
If you have the 'halo' angel eyes around the lamps when on DRL, they are xenon, plus the LED eyebrows lit as well.How can I tell if the vehicle has halogen lights or xenons?
If none of the above, you have poverty spec halogen.
if you get your vim and use this site it will tell you the full spec of your car,
http://bimmer.work
http://bimmer.work
Best way to tell is to drive in the dark.....
From experience of modern BMW's if the lights are truly awful, they are halogen.....if you can see where you're going they will be Xenon.
Has anyone else noticed BMW halogens are some of the poorest lights I've ever tried - on my F30 3 Series, they were spectacularly bad.
Conversely, my replacement 4 Series (with standard Xenons) are better but they are still nowhere near as good as my LCI E93 (also with standard Xenons), and no idea why - they just seem to lack range.
Anyone else have views on BMW headlights?
From experience of modern BMW's if the lights are truly awful, they are halogen.....if you can see where you're going they will be Xenon.
Has anyone else noticed BMW halogens are some of the poorest lights I've ever tried - on my F30 3 Series, they were spectacularly bad.
Conversely, my replacement 4 Series (with standard Xenons) are better but they are still nowhere near as good as my LCI E93 (also with standard Xenons), and no idea why - they just seem to lack range.
Anyone else have views on BMW headlights?
GTEYE said:
Best way to tell is to drive in the dark.....
From experience of modern BMW's if the lights are truly awful, they are halogen.....if you can see where you're going they will be Xenon.
This, the halogens are like candles, had a few beemers with Xenons and I found my X5 to be the best of the lot...well that was the car I got flashed at the most! From experience of modern BMW's if the lights are truly awful, they are halogen.....if you can see where you're going they will be Xenon.
cerb4.5lee said:
GTEYE said:
Best way to tell is to drive in the dark.....
From experience of modern BMW's if the lights are truly awful, they are halogen.....if you can see where you're going they will be Xenon.
This, the halogens are like candles, had a few beemers with Xenons and I found my X5 to be the best of the lot...well that was the car I got flashed at the most! From experience of modern BMW's if the lights are truly awful, they are halogen.....if you can see where you're going they will be Xenon.
www.bimmerfest.com/news/904824/tests-show-bmw-f30-...
Any prospective 3 Series buyers out there....beware!
GTEYE said:
cerb4.5lee said:
GTEYE said:
Best way to tell is to drive in the dark.....
From experience of modern BMW's if the lights are truly awful, they are halogen.....if you can see where you're going they will be Xenon.
This, the halogens are like candles, had a few beemers with Xenons and I found my X5 to be the best of the lot...well that was the car I got flashed at the most! From experience of modern BMW's if the lights are truly awful, they are halogen.....if you can see where you're going they will be Xenon.
www.bimmerfest.com/news/904824/tests-show-bmw-f30-...
Any prospective 3 Series buyers out there....beware!
Thanks for responses; am surprised by some contradictory responses:
carlove: light appears to be more yellow than white, suggesting halogens
gtidriver: I have autolights, suggesting xenons
aeropilot: car does have angel eyes for DRL, suggesting xenons
creepy coupe: not had a chance to investigate if I have functioning headlight washers, but there does appear to be a rectangular cut-out in the bumper which could be washers, suggesting xenons
spuffington: the car does have headlight adjustment, suggesting halogens
Will try and get some pictures up soon; just been a bit dark and wet these past few days.
carlove: light appears to be more yellow than white, suggesting halogens
gtidriver: I have autolights, suggesting xenons
aeropilot: car does have angel eyes for DRL, suggesting xenons
creepy coupe: not had a chance to investigate if I have functioning headlight washers, but there does appear to be a rectangular cut-out in the bumper which could be washers, suggesting xenons
spuffington: the car does have headlight adjustment, suggesting halogens
Will try and get some pictures up soon; just been a bit dark and wet these past few days.
cerb4.5lee said:
Very interesting thanks, had two E90s with halogens and both were woeful and they obviously haven't improved them on the F30 either.
I had an E46 coupe with halogen lights, and after a scary 100 mile drive in the wet/dark on unfamiliar (and unlit) A roads I vowed never to buy a BMW without xenons again. Although I think they can be improved by buying decent bulbs? The xenons on our E91 are brilliant - but the best I've ever had was my wife's old MINI convertible, which had both xenons and bonnet mounted spotlights - it could light a small town Based on what you say with the headlight adjuster, there is no doubt. You have halogens.
As I said, that is the only foolproof way of telling apart from the VIN checker as auto headlights and windscreen washers could be specced with either.
And yes, I also ran an E46 without Xenons and it was terrifying at night. Since then, every single BMW I've owned had to have Xenons. Non-negotiable. Updated bulbs in the halogens help but they are still nowhere near the clarity and power you get with factory Xenons.
As I said, that is the only foolproof way of telling apart from the VIN checker as auto headlights and windscreen washers could be specced with either.
And yes, I also ran an E46 without Xenons and it was terrifying at night. Since then, every single BMW I've owned had to have Xenons. Non-negotiable. Updated bulbs in the halogens help but they are still nowhere near the clarity and power you get with factory Xenons.
With a headlight adjuster you will have Halogen lamps. Headlight washers, angel eyes and projector headlamps were all standard on the E60 after the facelift. Also All F10 models have them. With xenons when you switch them on you get a bit of a flash, then they take a few seconds to turn fully white.
Edited by JakeT on Wednesday 23 November 09:18
Mike335i said:
I have halogen headlights (they work fine by the way), but I also have auto lights and washers so these are not signs that xenon lights are fitted.
All of this, including the working fine. I don't have the best night vision but on full beam the halogens are fine. I'm not convinced the xenons on my wife's 125i realistically offer usefully more light - that said I might have to take hers one day and check it out!Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff