Help identifying what headlights I have?

EthanS98 · Post by **EthanS98** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 8:27 pm

I recently bought my first Z4 and I'm absolutely in love. It comes with a few little faults I'm keen to fix myself however I'm at a loss on where to start with the headlights... I was told they were xenon headlights and they definetly have the distinct blue tint. However, they're much dimmer than my previous car's headlights which were only a halogen bulb!

I was doing research on xenon headlights to try to figure out what my set up is and heard that on a bi-xenon set up the inner light is redundant as the outer xenon bulb acts as both the high and low beam?

So I went to my car and attempted to switch between light settings to see what I can find and here is where I have become confused. Also, you will see in my pictures that there is a bucket load of condensation in there! I've done a lot of reading on the topic but would like to figure out atleast what bulbs are in there before I try to fix it!

So I turned the side lights on first and this is what I saw:

Left headlight

: WhatsApp Image 2019-12-13 at 19.05.08.jpeg (96.05 KiB) Viewed 995 times

Right Headlight

: WhatsApp Image 2019-12-13 at 19.05.08 (1).jpeg (159.02 KiB) Viewed 995 times

Apologies for the poor picture quality but it looks like there are diffrent inner bulbs in each headlight? The left looks like a stick of lights and the right a ring?

When I turned the low beam on I saw what I assumed were the xenon lights?

Left headlight

: WhatsApp Image 2019-12-13 at 19.21.09.jpeg (177.55 KiB) Viewed 995 times

Right Headlight

: WhatsApp Image 2019-12-13 at 19.21.10.jpeg (157.04 KiB) Viewed 995 times

Again the right headlight looks brighter but this could be the condensation? Idk if this is relevant but when I turn the low beams on they flash bright and then dim down very quickly.

And finally with the high beams on....

: WhatsApp Image 2019-12-13 at 19.05.08 (2).jpeg (202.63 KiB) Viewed 995 times

These look the same on either side. However the high beam light appears to come from the inner bulb? It also has a yellow hue so I guess it's a halogen bulb?

I apologise if this is a newbie question, but I feel like this will be super simple to answer if someone actually knows what they're looking at (because I don't!). Thanks for any help you guys can offer on this!

Edit - my first post and I've already messed it up! I was meant to put this in the E85 discussion... anyway I can get it moved?

markplant · Post by **markplant** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 9:06 pm

Do you have headlight height adjustment on the switch ,
Yes = not xenon's
No = xenon

EthanS98 · Post by **EthanS98** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 9:33 pm

Oh right... would xenons not have that little adjustment wheel? Because I've got that. So what, these are just halogens with a blue tint?

markplant · Post by **markplant** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 9:38 pm

Xenon have auto level when you first switch them on they will cycle down and back up,
Someone has probably just swapped the lamps out for ones with a blue tint

greg81 · Post by **greg81** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 10:00 pm

I think you want to be in the e85/6 forum

Chippie · Post by **Chippie** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 10:10 pm

First thing would do is remove all the bulbs and dry out the lights with a hair dryer and then fit a full set of new bulbs as I suspect you have different ones fitted to each light, make sure that the bulb covers are fitted correctly and see if the condensation returns, if it does the headlights will need removing and re sealing.
Don’t touch the halogen bulb glass with your bare fingers as the oil from your skin will blow the bulb

EthanS98 · Post by **EthanS98** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 10:28 pm

That sounds like a good course of action! Thanks for your help!

EthanS98 · Post by **EthanS98** » Sat Dec 14, 2019 2:27 pm

Chippie wrote: ↑Fri Dec 13, 2019 10:10 pm First thing would do is remove all the bulbs and dry out the lights with a hair dryer and then fit a full set of new bulbs as I suspect you have different ones fitted to each light, make sure that the bulb covers are fitted correctly and see if the condensation returns, if it does the headlights will need removing and re sealing.
Don’t touch the halogen bulb glass with your bare fingers as the oil from your skin will blow the bulb

Do you happen to know where I could order a full set of OEM bulbs for the headlights?

Chippie · Post by **Chippie** » Sat Dec 14, 2019 5:20 pm

A quick search of google brought up this

https://www.powerbulbs.com/vehicles/car ... ight-bulbs

Although I’m not sure which model you have

EthanS98 · Post by **EthanS98** » Sat Dec 14, 2019 9:45 pm

Chippie wrote: ↑Sat Dec 14, 2019 5:20 pm A quick search of google brought up this

https://www.powerbulbs.com/vehicles/car ... ight-bulbs

Although I’m not sure which model you have

Thanks for your help.

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