New sidelights: Much better! (Also, Xenon VS Halogen)

rG-tom · 22 Jul 2008 at 22:50

Hey guys,

As per my thread about 2 weeks ago i ordered some white sidelights, and unfortunately was off work for a week with a trapped nerve in my spine and they were delivered to my work premises, so no playing (not that i couldve) until i went back to work today and recovered them!

I went for the PIAA Xtreme White bulbs in the end, as PIAA say they are the closest colour to xenon.

So here's a quick compare:

As if i have to say, the normal ones are on the left

Much closer match to the dipped beam colour now

Also, BMW might be awkward with somethings, but my god this was the easiest sidelight change ive ever done! Literally just open bonnet, 1/8th turn on holder, pull, replace bulb, and put back in, 10 seconds max.

Also thought i'd show the difference between low beam, a halogen main beam and xenon main beam:

Xenon Low beam

Halogen Main beam (for flashing people etc)

Xenon Main beam (when you put the stalk forwards)

Look at the top and edges of the images mainly to see the difference!

Slightly hard to appreciate just how much more light is put out by the xenon high beam compared to the halogen in these pictures though, on an unlit country road it's like having a portable sun strapped to the bonnet

Tom.

Maz · 22 Jul 2008 at 22:53

Looks like Xenons should mate, awesome addition.

rG-tom · 22 Jul 2008 at 22:54

Maz said:
Looks like Xenons should mate, awesome addition.

Not bad for £11 including postage!

Best money:return ratio mod ive done to date

Steve · 22 Jul 2008 at 22:55

Prepared to be flashed at by all and sundry when you have yopur dipped lights on

Used to get that all the time in the M3 :rolleyes:

merlin · 22 Jul 2008 at 22:56

Still burning oil like an Iraqi insurgent?

[TW]Fox · 22 Jul 2008 at 22:57

Wow, awesome, huge difference!

rG-tom · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:02

merlin said:
Still burning oil like an Iraqi insurgent?

It's going back to the specialist i bought it from in the 2nd week of august as i'm down there, it's using it very steadily and there are no leaks or smoke :s They think it's the valve stem seals but need to see it to know really.

Nazbit · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:20

I've got the same sidelights, they cost a tenner off ebay and they are great. They make such a difference to how the car looks, especially with just the sidelights on.

Those comparison pictures are excellent by the way.

BananaDunka · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:25

Can't wait to get mine now! should be here tomorrow

now the front will look as good as the LED rear in the dusk!

As for your other pics of the modes, I just tried this in front of garage door and wondered if you could check something on your bi-xenons too when you get a chance mate, on mine when I enable "Xenon Main beam (when you put the stalk forwards)" my halogens also turn on but they don't have any priority brightness, they are the same brightness as the 'flasher' mode (stalk backwards) whilst the xenons increase in brightness at the same time which is capable of signalling Batman by the looks of it.

Basically what I wanted to know is if your halogen bulbs also come on (as well as the bixenons) when you push the stalk forwards ?

Might be worth me changing the halogens for ultra white H7s as well just to make all the bulbs as white as the xenons

Cyanide · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:34

you're melting that wall!

Hate · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:35

I'm a little puzzled, are your dipped Halogen or HID ?

[TW]Fox · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:39

His dipped and main are HID. His sidelights are halogen. His other main is halogen becuase Xenon doesn't warm up quick enough to flash your lights at people.

Dandle · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:55

[TW]Fox;12141673 said:
His dipped and main are HID. His sidelights are halogen. His other main is halogen becuase Xenon doesn't warm up quick enough to flash your lights at people.

Do you know why it does on newer cars? Because early E60s had bixenon and a halogen lamp, where later ones even flashing the lights is done by the xenon lamp(with no warm up problem).

BananaDunka · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:56

Perhaps they use newer technology so don't need to be warmed up ?

Would like to know answer though!

Phate · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:56

Nice dude!

- Shall be looking to do something similar myself

rG-tom · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:57

tbh i dont actually notice any delay when turning my main beams on, it's more it massively reduces the life of them if you turn them on and off frequently. Perhaps technology has improved so that they arent as affected?

rG-tom · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:57

Phate said:
Nice dude! - Shall be looking to do something similar myself

you dont have xenons to match!

[TW]Fox · 22 Jul 2008 at 23:58

Dandle said:
Do you know why it does on newer cars? Because early E60s had bixenon and a halogen lamp, where later ones even flashing the lights is done by the xenon lamp(with no warm up problem).

No idea. Come to think of it an E90 I had once didn't have a Halogen flash either. Perhaps they've developed them a bit better now?

Phate · 23 Jul 2008 at 00:02

rG-tom said:
you dont have xenons to match!

I can get nice looking bulbs!

mcc49 · 23 Jul 2008 at 07:35

Xenons uses Xenon bulb for low beam and Halogen for mainbeam, Bi Xenon uses the Xenon bulb for both low and main beam controlled using a motorised shield/reflector to adjust the different light pattern coming out of the headlamps afaik.