xenon headlight question

B

Breaker

Elite
Not having the Xenon headlights on my last Z4, I noticed on my new one that the inner "lights" don't illuminate? They just have the angel eyes round them? Is this correct? Looks like a connector behind the what looks like a lens, but they don't illuminate? Are these just fake lenses?

Sorry for being a bit thick. :P
 
I think because the headlights are Bi-Xenon. My car has only the inner rings, but no high and low beams.
 
Wondermike said:
Don't think they illuminated on the E85/6 either. Will have a quick look.
Click to expand...
My 2007 E86 uses the outside lights only for illumination; high and low beams. The inners have angel eye halos only with the centers being non-illuminated/non-functional.
 
Sadly I just checked mine and the inner lights do indeed only have the halo's. Having said 'only' I havn't had xenons before and the light given out is really good in comparison to the other cars I have had.

Paul
 
Thanks for the replies. Yes, mines the same. Strange because if you take the round access plates off under the bonnet you can see what I'm sure is a connector with wiring going to the back of that lens?

Still, very good lights though, especially compared to my previous Z4 without Xenons!
 
Careful you don't mix up the different lights pre and post facelift US and UK. All very different.

UK Pre facelift used a separate halogen in the inner as a main and flash to pass. Not to be confused with bi xenon that typically means it has a shutter and does low and main beam as opposed to just the low. US lights and post facelift I've seen had a blanking plate and just a rear illuminated ring that looks like an angel eye.

I assume as I'm not familiar, but the new Zed seems likely to be a bi xenon outer and blank inner.
 
CJ is correct.
BMW Technology Guide said:
Xenon light for full and dipped beam headlights.
The best illumination near or far: xenon light for full and dipped beam headlights gives you bright, clear illumination of the road ahead on both high and low beam.

Also known as bi-xenon lights, this feature uses xenon technology for both the dipped and full-beam settings of the headlights. Both the high beam and the dipped beam come from the same source: the light arc produced by the ionised xenon lamp. In contrast to conventional incandescent lamps, the bluish xenon light is brighter, clearer and offers better visibility.
The full beam is activated by lightly tapping on a control stalk mounted on the steering column. The bi-xenon system folds away a screen located in the path of the beam of the ellipsoid-technology xenon headlight.
Overall, this results in an even better visibility range and improved roadside illumination. An added benefit: the bi-xenon headlight system using ionised noble gas consumes less energy than conventional halogen headlights and has a much longer service life.
Click to expand...
 
cj10jeeper said:
Careful you don't mix up the different lights pre and post facelift US and UK. All very different.

UK Pre facelift used a separate halogen in the inner as a main and flash to pass. Not to be confused with bi xenon that typically means it has a shutter and does low and main beam as opposed to just the low. US lights and post facelift I've seen had a blanking plate and just a rear illuminated ring that looks like an angel eye.

I assume as I'm not familiar, but the new Zed seems likely to be a bi xenon outer and blank inner.
Click to expand...

Yes your right. Strange that they have the blank lens? I wonder if that was for a lower spec lighting system for some models or just for aesthetics?

Noticed something else. If you activate the daytime running lights in the iDrive, when you leave the light switch in position 3, the auto position, the angel lights give that orange type glow. Turn the switch to the off position and they turned to a bright white light! This was with the car stationary with the engine off.
 
Are halogen bulbs fitted on facelift and new Z4 just to perform headlamp flasher (inner rings)?
 
Another thing I've noticed is the "key" doesn't sit well with a key fob! I've taken mine off and just use the "key". I have the comfort option on mine where you just keep the key in your pocket and having a key fob on it makes it too bulky because of the size of it doesn't mould with the key fob like a normal key does.

By the way, how cool is locking of the car with the comfort option! Just touch the door under the handle with your finger! 8)
 
ksher said:
Are halogen bulbs fitted on facelift and new Z4 just to perform headlamp flasher (inner rings)?
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No.
The Inner Lenses have no filament - just a 'ring' or 'angel-eye' as it's called
Flashing performed by xenon outers - which is one h*ll-of-a flash too!
 
Breaker said:
Yes your right. Strange that they have the blank lens? I wonder if that was for a lower spec lighting system for some models or just for aesthetics?

Noticed something else. If you activate the daytime running lights in the iDrive, when you leave the light switch in position 3, the auto position, the angel lights give that orange type glow. Turn the switch to the off position and they turned to a bright white light! This was with the car stationary with the engine off.
Click to expand...

The 'Orange-glow' is the when the 'angel-eyes' drop down in power when the xenons are ON
- AND -
When ignition OFF (xenons OFF), they act as 'side-lights' for parking etc - you should get a 'gong' if you remove the key.

We need to find out if it's possible to do something with the inner 'empty' lenses though..................
 
Z_Victor1 said:
ksher said:
Are halogen bulbs fitted on facelift and new Z4 just to perform headlamp flasher (inner rings)?
Click to expand...

No.
The Inner Lenses have no filament - just a 'ring' or 'angel-eye' as it's called
Flashing performed by xenon outers - which is one h*ll-of-a flash too!
Click to expand...

But xenon should not be turned on and off within short period of time.
 
Good point ksher and one I'm intrigued to know what BMW have come up with for 'flash to pass' Traditional xenons are only supposed to be switched on and off once every few minutes. Flashing them's a bit like trying to flash a fluorescent light.

Perhaps some new technology??
 
I agree on what we know of xenon headlights at the moment! Not sure what they have done, but it works and it's instant!
 
I've not really tested it but is it definitely the xenons that flash? Or could it be the day lights which flash? The day lights are actually pretty bright, alot brighter than in side light mode.
 
andythescientist said:
I've not really tested it but is it definitely the xenons that flash?
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Yes they do. I have tried it this morning, lights off and pull the high beam lever.
I guess our xenons are designed to handle many on/off switches.
 
EdP said:
andythescientist said:
I've not really tested it but is it definitely the xenons that flash?
Click to expand...

Yes they do. I have tried it this morning, lights off and pull the high beam lever.
I guess our xenons are designed to handle many on/off switches.
Click to expand...

Interesting to know. Next is to see what they did different, be that a bulb that can cycle many times or something different in the ballast that allows a quick 'flash'
 
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