WHY are these not on with my High Beams?

[Muleears]

The first pic below is my current HB setup. This is the drivers side (left in USA), headlight. Why is the inner light not on??? It would seem to me this should be on with my HB xenon. The second pic is my low beams with my HID fogs, notice that light is not on again, only my angel eyes. Lastly is a pic of what I want. The only way currently to make this happen is to hold the "flash to pass" mode on the stalk. WHY? Has my X been coded to change this or did the '05 come from the factory this way. The xenons alone on high beam are not sufficient. They don't throw as much light as the low beams with the fogs. In case anyone is wondering the lights are aimed properly. My question is: why aren't, what I would consider my HB's, on when the xenons are on HB? I am new to this SAV and am learing, so any help is appreciated. TIA

[Overboost]

Your X is has bixenon headlights and that is factory operation. It is the same on mine and everyone who hasn't additionally coded the LCM to fire the halogen high beams along with the bixenon high beams.

I know you have been trying to get more light but mine are awesome and lights up the road beautifully. I have a couple of questions.

1. Put your X in automatic lights setting. Put it against a wall and turn the ignition on. Do your headlights move up/down a slightly sideways? This would indicate the dynamic functionality is working.

2. Hard to tell by the night time photos but your lenses look cloudy. Take a shot today and post it up so I can see better. If they are as cloudy as they look to me, no wonder you're not getting the proper lighting.

[Muleears]

Thanks overboost, I'll post a pic tonite of them shining on my garage. Yes, I have the dynamic lights, they both move, both ways. I am in the process of clearing the oxidation from the lights and yes they were cloudy. I only am 3/4 done on the drivers headlight though. I've had other cars with bi-xenons and xenon HID's alone and in their current state, mine don't compare. Would I need to use a dealer to get it coded to include these with the HB's? I have iCarly, which I don't think will do it, and an NT 510 about which I don't know.
Below are pics of the progress on the oxidation removal. Left light (with the tape around it) and right, which hasn't been started yet. Thanks again for your help, I thought you might chime in!

[jcp240z]

I would also look at the replacing the bulbs. They dim and color shift with age. Here is a quick chart I found

0 hours = 3200 lumens (100%)
200 hours = 2880 lumens (90%)
1000 hours = 2560 lumens (80%)
1500 hours = 2400 lumens (75%)
2000 hours = 2240 lumens (70%)


So even after 2000 hours (that's 5 1/2 years of one hour per day), they're still far brighter than halogens.

[Muleears]

Originally Posted by jcp240z

I would also look at the replacing the bulbs. They dim and color shift with age. Here is a quick chart I found

0 hours = 3200 lumens (100%)
200 hours = 2880 lumens (90%)
1000 hours = 2560 lumens (80%)
1500 hours = 2400 lumens (75%)
2000 hours = 2240 lumens (70%)


So even after 2000 hours (that's 5 1/2 years of one hour per day), they're still far brighter than halogens.

Good idea, jcp240z. Right now these xenons don't compare with the halogens in the "flash to pass" lights. I will buy some new bulbs when I finish resurfacing the current lenses. Will I need new ballasts too or do they come with the bulb? Mine have a blueish tint, very slight, but it's there. I'm beginning to wonder if a PO changed them at some point in the past...
Thanks for your ideas.

[Overboost]

Start with the lenses. I used the 3M kit a couple of years ago with amazing results. I would guess that is the majority of your lighting issues. Even new/upgraded bulbs will not be beneficial until you get those clear again. Take your time and get more sandpaper if you need it. Mine took about an hour a side.

Guys on the E46F forum swear by the Phillips Xtreme Vision D2S bulbs if you decide to upgrade the bulbs.

[mr_robot]

Bixenons use a flapper inside that changes from low beam to high beam. This works by pushing the lever forward.

The inner reflector bowl is used as “flash to pass” feature which uses the halogon bulb to “flash” people.

I prefer this way since honking sometimes comes off as rude and use flash to pass by pulling the lever towards you.

Another car I have only has bixenons and people can’t tell I’m flashing them.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by Muleears

... Will I need new ballasts too or do they come with the bulb? ...

Nothing else needed - just a pair of D2S HID lamps/bulbs.

For the ultimate in headlight output, some suggest these...



From here ... https://www.powerbulbs.com/product/o...laser-d2s-twin

BTW, in some markets the headlights operate as you are wanting. My car does this, from the factory. HB is both a lifted HID (Xenon) AND the inner H1 halogen.

[mr_robot]

Also is not just the bulb but the bowl inside the projector wears out as well. The reflector material becomes dull.

It's probably overkill but I'm in the process of retrofitting EVOXR 2.0 projectors into my euro dynamic headlights.

According to my retrofitter (lightwerkz) these projectors are direct fit into the OEM housing and maintains the AHL(dynamic) feature.

So it will have fresh bulbs, fresh bowl and clear projector lens vs the frosted OEM ones. The results will be a very sharp cut off and much brighter/crisper output.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Emory39]

Can you please post some pictures after the installation to see the difference. Thanks

Originally Posted by mr_robot

Also is not just the bulb but the bowl inside the projector wears out as well. The reflector material becomes dull.

It's probably overkill but I'm in the process of retrofitting EVOXR 2.0 projectors into my euro dynamic headlights.

According to my retrofitter (lightwerkz) these projectors are direct fit into the OEM housing and maintains the AHL(dynamic) feature.

So it will have fresh bulbs, fresh bowl and clear projector lens vs the frosted OEM ones. The results will be a very sharp cut off and much brighter/crisper output.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro