Lights

domsz4

Veteran
This is probably a bit dim (excuse the pun :) ) but what's the difference between HID/xenon/halogen etc lights. I read about and seem to get conflicting answers.

Are hid and xenon the same thing aS in the same light but the names are just interchangeable?
 
Hid and xenon are same thing just different names for one type of lamp (xenon discharge lamp), and halogen are different (standard bulb)


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Not 100% correct. You can get filament bulbs with xenon gas instead of halogen, and they are often marketed as Xenon lights. Renault used to do this.

HID is the proper name for what most people call Xenon lights. Honda is about the only company I've seen who's literature actually called them out as HID headlights
 
Stuart Truman said:
Not 100% correct. You can get filament bulbs with xenon gas instead of halogen, and they are often marketed as Xenon lights. Renault used to do this.

HID is the proper name for what most people call Xenon lights. Honda is about the only company I've seen who's literature actually called them out as HID headlights

Agree with Stuart here. There is much confusion and I'm sure deliberately introduced by marketers.

Xenon is the name nome manufactures market HID lights. Most aftermarket market them as HID. These are in effect similar to domestic fluorescent lights where a high voltage excites xenon gas and creates light

Halogen are just filament bulbs and get their name from the inert gas that protects the filament. The innert gas allows the filament to be hotter and hence produce more light. Some unscupulous manufacturers fill halogen bulbs with xenon gas and others even tint the bulbs blue to convince people they are better and somehow closer to HID lights.

Bottom line for a user is HID use less current, produce much more light, are typically whiter and last the life of the car (the bulb)
 
Not sure about 'following old technology'. It was answers to a specific question.

Agree though that LED will be the future.
 
blimey dont feel so silly now.

so my factory xenons are HID ... so daft question 2. while perusing ebay for random tat trying to fall asleep i found some Z4 HID with angel eye lights, a couple of sellers have them. so why so they say they are not a replacement for oem xenons

if infact they HID (therfore xeonon) and these are a complete unit i dont see why they wouldnt work.

they seem to be a nice option for 1.angel eyes, 2. xenon upgrade 3. degingering.
 
I assume it is because the loom and connections are not compatible with the oem xenon, which has self levelling lights, suspension sensors, etc. and are really a replacement for halogen and manual level adjustment.

Point me to the link and I will take a look.
 
cj10jeeper said:
I assume it is because the loom and connections are not compatible with the oem xenon, which has self levelling lights, suspension sensors, etc. and are really a replacement for halogen and manual level adjustment.

Point me to the link and I will take a look.


i cant find the ones now that claimed to be a HID ( i dont think there was much time left on the auctions) but these are an example of a set, i wonder if its due to the leveling or something? they look quite nice.

this curiosity is more for my own amusement that anything as i dont have the cash to do anything like this but it always worth knowing

maybe i was getting projector and HID mixed up. if your on standard halogen lights then i think a set of these would be great
 
Well if you find any post a link.
Personally I don't like these aftermarket lights, but they are better than oem with amber.

Mine are oem xenon, cut open and with clear indicators and Angel Eyes built in. Very different sort of set up.
 
cj10jeeper said:
Well if you find any post a link.
Personally I don't like these aftermarket lights, but they are better than oem with amber.

Mine are oem xenon, cut open and with clear indicators and Angel Eyes built in. Very different sort of set up.


same here oem xennon but i dont have the confidence to cut them open.... maybe for angel eyes tho
 
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