How to spot xenons?

M

Mr Whippy

Veteran
 Harrogate
I know how much nicer they are, but how can you tell by just looking at them when they are off during the daytime?

Ie, are there any signature visual differences in the lenses? I can't seem to tell in any pictures in the classifieds from supposed xenon to non-xenon, and even on closeup pictures, and worse still, when stood next to a real car I can't seem to tell... once they are on in the dark the difference is clear however, but I'm not going to look at cars in the dark :)

Thanks for any help

Dave
 
UK cars have to have headlamp wash, so any that state the have Xenons must have wash, unless they are after market kits, which I would avoid.

CJ10jeeper is the resident expert and will no doubt be along soon with more information to help.
 
id asy if they were selling their car they mention them if they had them?! id agree with srhutchs advice also. I have tehm and tehy really are worth it!
 
My problem so far is that many adverts, for some reason (important back in the days of printed ads, but no so much on the internet), is that sellers put a few options down and then etc... to save space, and so possibly miss out on the xenons being specifically mentioned, even though they possibly have oodles of space for all the details!

A little like heated seats, the only way to know for sure is an interior pic, but you'd be surprised how many cars don't have this, but don't say they don't and have no picture, or do have it, but don't say and can only tell from the picture.



So looking for the washers for the headlights seems like a good plan... now to work out what they look like (I honestly haven't noticed because I've not seen enough cars side by side yet) :D
Hmmm, just scanned loads of 3.0's on Autotrader and they all seemed to have the blips for the headlamp washers, so I guess they are just blanking plates... bugger.

Dave
 
Dave depending on quality of photo's washers maybe hard to find as they are colour coded popup type, so may not show up easily

take a look at the December photo comp. http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=8215

the following all have them but Ricks are hard to see

Rick hunters
Crusoe
NormStrm
 
They will have washers and next to the dial for instrument brightness there shouldn't be a headlight level adjuster as they auto level.
 
Non xenons can have the washer jets too (like mine)
You'd need an interior or engine bay pic to tell.

The interior pic may show you the height adjustment dial to the right of the steering wheel (xenons don't have the adjustment dial)
The engine bay pic may show you the bright yellow stickers that xenons have above them, warning of the high voltage.
 
OK guys - the topic is spotting xenons

Well lets make it harder first and we'll keep UK specific. You can stare direct into the light and never tell as they are identical lens, reflector, etc. nor are there any marking on the lens other than perhaps the tiniest or factory marks to see.

Washers may be a good start point but as Herminator says also available on halogen. To also clarify the 'bumps' are covers for the pressure driven washers that rise 3" up. Those without have a plain bumper.

So light switch is a good start. If halogen it has the extra beam height adjuster, xenon are auto adjust

To be really sure though you need to do this:
1) open the bonnet and see the yellow warning decals or,
2) switch them on and look at the beam flicker to light then the white colour and brightness or,
3) pull the back off the light and see the bulb with its HT lead and different connectors

Check with BMW if they were OEM on the chassis is a final option if you can't get to the car

Hope this helps
 
Ah thats a good summation of the xenon concerns I had.

The switch inside seems to be the easiest way to spot the presence of xenons quickly, maybe even from a good photo of the interior.

Thanks for the help everyone. When I've got my purchase out of the way I'll make a nice buyers guide FAQ, with photo's and how to spot descriptions etc... may well help stop repeated threads in future and help newbies to the Z4 like myself get to the spec they want and how to spot it more quickly :)

Cheers

Dave
 
This one option i wish i had on my Z4, halogens are rather poor at the best of times. :x

Opps forgot to add has anyone with halogens found a replacement H7 bulb that actually works better than OEM?
 
ElegantSpoon said:
If you do a search AL theres a thread about improving the headlights. If you adjust the angle they are so much better :)
Click to expand...

Yep, already done that cheers but i want a decent light output tp compliment it.Who's fitted better H7s?
 
*AL* said:
ElegantSpoon said:
If you do a search AL theres a thread about improving the headlights. If you adjust the angle they are so much better :)
Click to expand...

Yep, already done that cheers but i want a decent light output tp compliment it.Who's fitted better H7s?
Click to expand...

Not to a Z4, but Halfords were doing some 75% brighter ones for half price, and they were a great deal better than what were in there as I swapped only one at first and compared down the road...
Then there are 80W rally types. You are not meant to use them and the higher power consumption can overheat wires (never actually seen it though), and they are a fair old bit brighter.

I use the 75% halfords on main beam, and the 80w ones of full beam.

Dave
 
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