3 Series aftermarket Ipod interface/Xenons

Just for correctness on OCUK forums, you can now get HID bulbs that are legal retro fit on reflector lamps. They are specifically designed to match the beam pattern of a halogen bulb so require no washers or self levelling.
 
They do, which is why you see them stepping down on cars coming towards you over hills.

No they dont and what you are seeing isnt self levelling. As mentioned its there to compensate vehicle loading. The motors cannot react quick enough for anything else.
 
Not what they are for tho, the self levelling is to adjust the beam angle for load.

The halogen e46/e39 do this, but the Xenons self level while you are driving along.

[TW]Fox;15564201 said:
No they dont and what you are seeing isnt self levelling. As mentioned its there to compensate vehicle loading. The motors cannot react quick enough for anything else.

As above, the ones in non-xenon cars do that, xenon cars adjust the beam as you are driving along.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/adaptive-headlight1.htm said:
Most adaptive headlights systems also include a self-leveling system. Self-leveling headlights have an additional level sensor that determines if the car is tilted forward or back. For example, if a car is driving over a large bump, when the front of the car hits the bump, it lifts up. Standard headlights would briefly point up into the sky until the rear of the car moved over the bump and the car returned to a level position. You may have noticed this if a car driving behind you at night passed over a bump, such as a railroad crossing. The other car's headlights would flash briefly, as if the driver had blinked his or her high beams at you. This is actually the car's headlights temporarily pointing up and into your eyes instead of down at the road. With a self-leveling system, electric servomotors react to the level sensor and keep the headlights aimed down at the road, no matter the position of the car.

Self-leveling headlights are already required on new cars in Europe, and they're required on all U.S. cars equipped with bi-xenon headlights. Bi-xenon lights are so bright that they would blind other drivers if they didn't level themselves.

So, where the 'proper' xenons are re-aiming, yours are still fixed at the eyes of the oncoming driver...
 
Instant self levelling is not required for HID's, only load sensitive levelling is required, hence it can be provided with self levelling suspension, per my quote from the DFT website.

Some cars can have adaptive self levelling headlights, but few actually do.
 
The halogen e46/e39 do this, but the Xenons self level while you are driving along.

Halogen E46 and E39 do not self level.

As above, the ones in non-xenon cars do that, xenon cars adjust the beam as you are driving along.

As above, Halogen E46 and E39 do not self level. They are manually levelled via an adjustment in the cabin.

Auto levelling levels the headlight beam to take into account car loading. Manual levelling allows you to adjust the headlight beam in the car yourself to take into account the car loading.

HID's in a non Xenon E90 will look crap - do it properly with new headlights or dont bother.
 
[TW]Fox;15564615 said:
Halogen E46 and E39 do not self level.

I'm sure they do to adjust for load, which was my earlier point - why else would they move up and down when you start the car?

Either way it's irrelevant - they don't self level when the car is moving, which is the problem.
 
Don't buy a set of BMW E90 Xenon lamps off ebay they are not plug and play at all! There is a massive amount of work. Like I said just visit E90Post and everything you want to know is already answered there.
 
I'm sure they do to adjust for load, which was my earlier point - why else would they move up and down when you start the car?

They do NOT auto adjust. All adjustment is manual - its electronic but performed by a control in the car. It does not adjust itself you have to do it.

[/quote]
Either way it's irrelevant - they don't self level when the car is moving, which is the problem.[/QUOTE]

its not a problem at all. Although auto adjusters on xenon equipped cars will ATTEMPT to self level on the move it makes little difference and does so only as the sensor can tell only the level of the car has changed not whether its loaded or going up hill. It doesnt adjust fast enough to give safety benefits on the move.

Effectivley all xenon cars do automatically is the what other cars have a little adjustment wheel for instead.
 
That because Andy does the work for you ;) Have you asked him how much they are? Your looking at £1k plus. So like I said if you buy some off ebay they will not be plug and play.
 
That because Andy does the work for you ;) Have you asked him how much they are? Your looking at £1k plus. So like I said if you buy some off ebay they will not be plug and play.

You can buy the lights off ebay and put in an after market ballast designed to trick the bulb warning to run the xenon bulb and if you take a cable from the high beam bulb to the shutter for the Bi-Xenon and that will give you a full set of bi-xenons. This looks like the method Andy is using and adding a healthy mark up.
 
You can buy the lights off ebay and put in an after market ballast designed to trick the bulb warning to run the xenon bulb and if you take a cable from the high beam bulb to the shutter for the Bi-Xenon and that will give you a full set of bi-xenons. This looks like the method Andy is using and adding a healthy mark up.

I thought the same tbh

:confused:
 
Replacing the headlights is by far the best way to go. Projector headlights look better, its a good visual mod, the light output is better, etc etc.

No idea why BMW keep cheaping out by using completely different headlight housings on Xenon and non Xenon models, they didnt do this for the E39 :confused:
 
[TW]Fox;15567645 said:
Replacing the headlights is by far the best way to go. Projector headlights look better, its a good visual mod, the light output is better, etc etc.

No idea why BMW keep cheaping out by using completely different headlight housings on Xenon and non Xenon models, they didnt do this for the E39 :confused:
it's so that only the ones with optional xenons get angel eyes
 
[TW]Fox;15567711 said:
No it isn't because cars like the LCI E90 have no Projectors but do have Angel Eyes.
oh, well that's just stupid then :p

it's undoubtedly a cost thing. reflectors are cheaper than projectors
 
Back
Top Bottom