BMW 318i Xenon much better than BMW 730i Xenon. Why?

landmarkjohn

The 318i is an 06 car with 90K miles and the 730i is an 07 car with 67K miles.

The factory Xenon on the 318i are way better then the 730i.

Anyone care to have a stab at why? I occasionally drive the 318i and it cheeses me off that the lights are quite noticeably better. They are better in the sense that they are as good as I expect them to be.

Neither car crash repaired or had bulbs replaced in our ownership for last 4 and 2 years respectively. Thanks.

SpannerMonkey

if they are there is something wrong with the 730 . i have a 2008 730d and the xenons are amazing . i have had 3 / 5 and 6 series with xenons too . only the 6 series had xenons as good as the 7 and the E90 330i i had xenons werent a patch on the 7 . maybe the bulbs or ballasts are starting to go on the 7?

Voodoomelon

The size of the car and headlight has little bearing on the light output; they will all have the same spec of bulb along with similar projector lenses and reflectors.

The light output of the dipped headlight on the E65 7 series is good, but not great. The full beam however should be like daylight, phenomenal light output.

Are your comparing the dipped beam or full beam?

SpannerMonkey

Sorry i should have specified. I was talking about full beams . Dip beams are good but not any different from other cars with xenons. But full beams like voodoo said are like daylight .

landmarkjohn

I am comparing both dip and full beam. Another thing is on the 730i the inner beams only ever come on when you flash which I thought was a bit unusual but normal according to other forum. High beam on the 318i all 4 beams are on. With dip beam on the 318i on the motorway you would rarely think about wanting to use high beam they are that good.

It's a bit pricey to change ballast and bulbs all round which is why I am slow to do it. With regard to them wearing out I wonder, I do drive with them on all the time....

mickdw

landmarkjohn wrote: »

I am comparing both dip and full beam. Another thing is on the 730i the inner beams only ever come on when you flash which I thought was a bit uunusual. ...

That could well be your answer.
Can the other guys confirm that this is the correct operation?
I find it hard to believe that bmw installed a set of xenon that only function as flashers.
when your hear bi xenon- does that refer to double lights?

Special Circumstances

My understanding of bi xenon is that there is some mechanical trickery to have HID full beams from the same bulb as the low beams - the light up time of HIDs is too slow for a separate bulb to be used for high beams or something.

Voodoomelon

landmarkjohn wrote: »

I am comparing both dip and full beam. Another thing is on the 730i the inner beams only ever come on when you flash which I thought was a bit unusual but normal according to other forum. High beam on the 318i all 4 beams are on. With dip beam on the 318i on the motorway you would rarely think about wanting to use high beam they are that good.

It's a bit pricey to change ballast and bulbs all round which is why I am slow to do it. With regard to them wearing out I wonder, I do drive with them on all the time....

The flasher situation is normal.

So you have two bulbs as such in each headlight in the E65, the standard xenon bulb which functions as both high and low beam (bi-xenon) and the halogen flasher.

The bi-xenon works by having a shade covering most of the output when in low beam, flick it to high beam and the shade retracts out of place giving maximum output. That's why the transition between high and low beam is so quick, the bulb is on the entire time and a shade controls whether its high or low.

The flasher on the inside (closest to the grill) is just a halogen for just that, flashing. Stops you "full xenoning :pac:" someone out of it just to let them out at a junction etc.

Not sure why your output is so bad, could be pitted reflectors or they've started to de-chrome.

mickdw

Voodoomelon wrote: »

The flasher situation is normal.

So you have two bulbs as such in each headlight in the E65, the standard xenon bulb which functions as both high and low beam (bi-xenon) and the halogen flasher.

The bi-xenon works by having a shade covering most of the output when in low beam, flick it to high beam and the shade retracts out of place giving maximum output. That's why the transition between high and low beam is so quick, the bulb is on the entire time and a shade controls whether its high or low.

The flasher on the inside (closest to the grill) is just a halogen for just that, flashing. Stops you "full xenoning :pac:" someone out of it just to let them out at a junction etc.

Not sure why your output is so bad, could be pitted reflectors or they've started to de-chrome.

That is how my xenons work - the bulb is on and a shield flicks in to shape the light for dipped beam.
So I have bi xenons. I thought bi xenons were the more expensive kind.
I'm not impressed with my lights on Audi A5.

Donnelly117

Voodoomelon wrote: »

The flasher situation is normal.

The bi-xenon works by having a shade covering most of the output when in low beam, flick it to high beam and the shade retracts out of place giving maximum output. That's why the transition between high and low beam is so quick, the bulb is on the entire time and a shade controls whether its high or low.

I had a Mini Cooper S that worked the same as this, when stationary you could hear a clunk as the shade moved back an forth when flashing.

That car had fantastic headlights, makes the Z4 look like candle bulbs in comparison

Voodoomelon

mickdw wrote: »

That is how my xenons work - the bulb is on and a shield flicks in to shape the light for dipped beam.
So I have bi xenons. I thought bi xenons were the more expensive kind.
I'm not impressed with my lights on Audi A5.

I don't think xenon low beams are particularly good on any car I've driven. Well any model from 5 years ago and before.

The shade flipping up and down is interesting because on most models, the shade covers the lower half of the light output when dipped, which you would automatically think blocks the light hitting the road. But the light is actually reversed through the lens, so blocking the light output of the bulb at the bottom actually cuts it off from halfway and upwards.

This is a cool short video on how it works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGadPVW3UWk

Blazer

I just bought a e92 320d couple which had bi xenon lights and I was disappointed with the light output..to me it looks the same as halogen
Since BMW are running the replace your lights for free would it cover if the xenon lights were on the way out I wonder..I see some people got xenon lights replaced for free.

reading on the web its fairly common in older cars so maybe they do deteriorate with time.
http://www.audiworld.com/forums/a8-s8-d3-platform-discussion-60/bi-xenon-adaptive-poor-light-output-2795924/

robtri

landmarkjohn wrote: »

I am comparing both dip and full beam. Another thing is on the 730i the inner beams only ever come on when you flash which I thought was a bit unusual but normal according to other forum. High beam on the 318i all 4 beams are on. With dip beam on the 318i on the motorway you would rarely think about wanting to use high beam they are that good.

It's a bit pricey to change ballast and bulbs all round which is why I am slow to do it. With regard to them wearing out I wonder, I do drive with them on all the time....

well get into a BMW ASAP ....
free check and free repalcements including Xenons on all BMWS till end of January.

http://www.bmwservice.ie/contentv3/index.cfm?fuseaction=seeandbeseen&tifrd=1&CFID=168727872&CFTOKEN=44401872&jsessionid=f030b6c3875914a847a974377736d5e48367

Special Circumstances

If the 318 has bixenons and all 4 lamps are on for high beam, I wonder does it have some hardware or software mod so that the halogen "flasher" lights are always on with high beams xenon. Or does the 318 just have halogen high beam, xenon low.

Voodoomelon

Blazer wrote: »

I just bought a e92 320d couple which had bi xenon lights and I was disappointed with the light output..to me it looks the same as halogen
Since BMW are running the replace your lights for free would it cover if the xenon lights were on the way out I wonder..I see some people got xenon lights replaced for free.

reading on the web its fairly common in older cars so maybe they do deteriorate with time.
http://www.audiworld.com/forums/a8-s8-d3-platform-discussion-60/bi-xenon-adaptive-poor-light-output-2795924/

They do deteriorate over time, no question, but the OP mentioned they are fairly new bulbs. Unless they're knock offs, which are rampant by the way. Lots of fake OSRAM xenons out there.

Where did you get the last set of bulbs OP?

I got both my xenons replaced for free at the dealer yesterday. They charge €255 a bulb. :pac:

ciarsd

Voodoomelon wrote: »

They do deteriorate over time, no question, but the OP mentioned they are fairly new bulbs. Unless they're knock offs, which are rampant by the way. Lots of fake OSRAM xenons out there.

Where did you get the last set of bulbs OP?

I got both my xenons replaced for free at the dealer yesterday. They charge €255 a bulb. :pac:

Where your bulbs blown/faulty or just aged? I'm wondering if they'll replace for fresh ones, even if the ones present are functioning.

landmarkjohn

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Where did you get the last set of bulbs OP?

I got both my xenons replaced for free at the dealer yesterday. They charge €255 a bulb. :pac:

The bulbs are probably original.

Replaced?? Were they both kaput?

polan

255 a bulb sounds very expensive, I paid 110 each for Philips D2S for my E38.

Blazer

polan wrote: »

255 a bulb sounds very expensive, I paid 110 each for Philips D2S for my E38.

labour charges

polan

tenner for replacement

Voodoomelon

ciarsd wrote: »

Where your bulbs blown/faulty or just aged? I'm wondering if they'll replace for fresh ones, even if the ones present are functioning.

Right one was kaput. Left one has been turning pink and blue for the last month, so wangled both of them to be changed. They broke a new one (apparently) on installation so I drove home with just one new bulb. The other is being posted out when they come back in stock so I can stick it in myself.

landmarkjohn wrote: »

The bulbs are probably original.

Replaced?? Were they both kaput?

I'd say they were both original, or at least they were both original dealer Osram D1S units.

polan wrote: »

255 a bulb sounds very expensive, I paid 110 each for Philips D2S for my E38.

Not expensive, extortion. You can pick the OEM Xenarc Osrams up for €80 a side. They say the bumper had to come off to change them which is absolutely does not.

mickdw

Jesus after all the talk of xenons, one of mine just went this evening.
Anyone know somewhere in ireland that will do reasonably priced replacements?
I can get a variety on ebay at good price but will take the guts of a week to arrive from uk.
d3s bulb 4300k

tossy

mickdw wrote: »

Jesus after all the talk of xenons, one of mine just went this evening.
Anyone know somewhere in ireland that will do reasonably priced replacements?
I can get a variety on ebay at good price but will take the guts of a week to arrive from uk.
d3s bulb 4300k

Always replace them in paris Mick otherwise the colour difference between the two will be VERY noticable - i've always replaced in pairs and kept the remianing working old bulb in the boot just in case.

EDIT: you did say 'replacements' so you are probably way ahead of me.

landmarkjohn

Conlon BMW in Limerick knocked me back this morning on bulb replacement this morning because they weren't blown, which I can kind of understand but if you are running a free replacement program I would expect to get the benefit of the doubt with a premium brand..... especially on the last day of the offer... I have spent a few bob in there in parts last year.:mad:... I might decide not go there to order my 162 750i:D

mickdw

tossy wrote: »

Always replace them in paris Mick otherwise the colour difference between the two will be VERY noticable - i've always replaced in pairs and kept the remianing working old bulb in the boot just in case.

EDIT: you did say 'replacements' so you are probably way ahead of me.

I replaced one a few years back and there was absolutely no colour difference. I even had the car driven towards me at various angles to check. It was perfect. They are philips and someone said in this thread that they tend to colour match so that makes sense.
Im chancing another philips on its own. If not right, I will replace the other.

Voodoomelon

Any motor factors should be able to get them within 24 hours. My local factors Car L Parts in Dundalk can often get items the same day if ordered in the morning. I'd imagine bulbs are an easy find.

landmarkjohn

landmarkjohn wrote: »

Conlon BMW in Limerick knocked me back this morning on bulb replacement this morning because they weren't blown, which I can kind of understand but if you are running a free replacement program I would expect to get the benefit of the doubt with a premium brand..... especially on the last day of the offer... I have spent a few bob in there in parts last year.:mad:... I might decide not go there to order my 162 750i:D

So in fairness to Conlon BMW they got back to me yesterday after I left sent a comment from their website and asked me if I could bring the car back which I did. They adjusted the headlight beam and there is some improvement, maybe a little too high though, I think I am dazzling people so I will have a little tweak at that myself.... I can see far away but not the road surface in front of the car (the Father Ted sketch came to mind... near, far away... never mind :roll eyes:

I did not give this any consideration initially because I was under the impression that Xenon has clever self levelling technology but it obviously has limitations. Anyway fair play to Conlon BMW for having another look at my issue gratis, they are back on the preferred supplier list. Looking at latest 7 series spec, Laser lights are an option.. sounds very James Bond but that is for another day

Voodoomelon

I was going to ask that actually, how your headlight alignment was. The self levelling is only for automatically adjusting when people sit in the back or when there's a heavy load in the boot. If your headlight alignment was out, there's nothing self levelling can do to compensate. Give it a tweak youself as you say, I did mine a few months ago too as I was also fairly sure I was dazzling people with the left headlight, it was well off. Use the big long steel bar in the tool kit to adjust.

I was supposed to get a call from Keanes on Friday about the bulb they were missing and supposed to be getting in stock/posting out to me, nadda.