Xenon bulbs deteriorating?

[KungFuPanda]

I've just bought a 2006 Audi S6 with xenon lights. The car has done over 125,000 miles.

The xenon bulbs just seem poor compared to a previous S6 Ive had and other cars. There doesn't seem to be any problems with the height or ballast. I see the light pattern rise and dip when the system adjusts itself upon startup.

Given the age and mileage that the vehicle has done, do you guys think that the bulbs could have slowly deteriorated over the time?

[Crusoe]

check if your light lenses themselves are clouding over or scratched, plenty of restoration kits online.

[Fartgalen]

Yes they do deteroriate over time.

[OldGermanHeaps]

Deffo. They reduce in brightness and shift tint colder over use. By the time they fail to strike they can be below half as bright as new units. From time to time you can pick up a brand new genuine pair of 85122s on ebay for around 30 quid, and it makes a big difference on an older car.

[Stegel]

I had one bulb go on my CLS at about 6 or 7 years old. The output difference between new and old was so great, I replaced the other one too - the old one's output was pink/yellow by contrast to the near white new bulb.

[Stegel]

I had one bulb go on my CLS at about 6 or 7 years old. The output difference between new and old was so great, I replaced the other one too - the old one's output was pink/yellow by contrast to the near white new bulb.