|
Is there any difference between "xenons" and "bi-xenons"
|
A quick Google threw up this:
Normal Xenon lamps only supply the dipped beam - the main beam is supplied by a separate conventional halogen bulb.
Bi-Xenon means that the main beam is also supplied from a Xenon source.
There are two methods of doing this - use a second Xenon bulb in the separate main beam reflector each side (e.g. VW Phaeton), or use a motorised shield to provide both dipped and main beam from one Xenon bulb each side (e.g. Lamborghini Gallardo).
|
|
|
Stolen form internet:
bi xenons are projector style headlights with 1 xenon bulb...when HIGH BEAM is engaged, the headlight will fire up 1 HALOGEN high beam bulb IN COMBINATION with lowering a cover that sits in between of the PROJECTOR and it's REFLECTOR to EMIT MORE XENON LIGHT.
so there is 1) MORE xenon light & 2) a halogen high beam bulb
|
|
|
I may be wrong but doesn't Bi-xenon incorporate the main and dipped beam in one bulb and change from dip to main by articulating the bulb in some way.
|
|
www.parkers.co.uk/glossary/?term=Bi-xenon+headlamps
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 22/10/2009 at 13:39
|
It's not always the case that bi-xenons block off the high beam light. The old S80 I used to have physically moved the beam for the xenons up and down. You could see it doing it as you switched from dipped to main beam.
There was no moving cover to hide the upper part of the beam.
I would have thought this is how most bi-xenons would work, as there is required by law to be a self-levelling system fitted for these lights, therefore it would be simple to adapt that to flick up higher for main beam, rather than trying to obscure part of the light for dipped.
The C5 I have now with directional xenons moves them left and right with the steering, as well as up and down for dipped/main beam. Not really had much use of them in winter yet to see whether it's just a gimmick or not.
|
Thanks everyone. I thought in my ignorance that bi-xenons meant separate bulbs for low and main beam. I'm about to buy a V50 with bi-xenons, so this may use the same up/down movement as the S80, though the dealer told me it means only dipped beam and the main beam is a conventional halogen bulb.
TheOilBurner - coincidentally, my other car is a Citroen with directional xenons (C4 Grand Picasso in this case) which throw out a fantastic light.
By the by, I converted my old Passat to what I thought was "bi-xenons" by replacing both dipped and main beam bulbs with after-market xenons, so I don't know whether that means I'm using all 4 xenons on main beam? probably a bit illegal given there's no levelling device fitted, though I've never been flashed. The beam throw out is pretty good though some interference or diffusion of the beams produces a brilliant white (though somewhat wasted) patch about 20 feet in front. The main beam takes a few seconds to warm up which is a nuisance.
|
I'm about to buy a V50 with bi-xenons so this may use the same up/down movement as the S80 though the dealer told me it means only dipped beam and the main beam is a conventional halogen bulb.
Your dealer may be confused. On my S80 there was also a halogen bulb to supplement the bi-xenons, I would have thought the V50 was the same. If the xenons don't do main beam, then I don't see how they could be called bi-xenons?
TheOilBurner - coincidentally my other car is a Citroen with directional xenons (C4 Grand Picasso in this case) which throw out a fantastic light.
Agreed, the light from my C5 is very good, but I haven't seen it down a darkened dual carriageway at 70mph in the rain to say just how good it might be!
|
|
|
|
bulb and change from dip to main by articulating the bulb in some way.
Audis and BMWs use a mechanical shutter to do this, BMWs then have low wattage halogen daytime running lights instead of high beam beam central headlamps hence that 'bright corona' look, Audis have the funky LEDs.
Slightly off piste but many new cars seem to have DRLs utilising these low wattage halogen bulbs these days e.g. Golf VI, Newer Audi A3/A4, BMWs with HID (cars without just switch their headlamps on permanently if DRL is enabled).
|
|
|
|
:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/1a7d4474b17676684a348cdd448c4b92/08bb122aa412bc7f4fd14d51efe0f7ec.jpg)
£29,937was £30,619Details:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/50317e11790e78d451cd7ea1034db948/945052e3f5e296502220368946402172.jpg)
£14,662was £14,989Details:no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/3541ab6c55c241daa536e7011376e00a/2ade89a4638733a7b49c56a4ed052ac8.jpg)
£18,340was £19,200Details![2023 BMW 1 Series 118i [136] Sport 5dr Step Auto [Live Cockpit Pro]](https://img.common.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/unsafe/trim/90x60/smart/filters:quality(70):no_upscale():format(webp)/https://cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/8f880fcabd37557d908c28a4d66bdb53/3fbad8b2291927dfff4a517b10b43a88.jpg)
£20,252was £20,915Details