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Headlights

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
dobbor1
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Headlights

Post by dobbor1 » Sun Nov 25, 2012 7:18 pm

I was tinkering the other day and noticed for the first time that when I turned the ignition on my headlights moved up and down slightly. I have a level adjuster wheel next to the headlight switch and dash light wheel. The lights have projector lenses. Can someone confirm what lights I actually have please? E53 registered May 06. Thanks

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Don Coffey
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Re: Headlights

Post by Don Coffey » Sun Nov 25, 2012 7:26 pm

[quote="dobbor1"]
I was tinkering the other day and noticed for the first time that when I turned the ignition on my headlights moved up and down slightly. I have a level adjuster wheel next to the headlight switch and dash light wheel. The lights have projector lenses. Can someone confirm what lights I actually have please? E53 registered May 06. Thanks

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[/quote]

That sounds like xenon lights to me.

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Headlights

Post by kkodal78 » Sun Nov 25, 2012 7:46 pm

+1 on xenons
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Don Coffey
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Re: Headlights

Post by Don Coffey » Sun Nov 25, 2012 7:49 pm

When the lights are on, do they appear to be a bluish white or have a hint of yellow? Xenons will be blueish white. 

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Re: Headlights

Post by Horizon » Sun Nov 25, 2012 7:53 pm

If it has the adjusting wheel on the dash near to the headlight switch it has halogen headlights. They all have the self leveling lights, so will nod up and down when the ignition/lights are turned on.
Xenon headlight cars also have  high voltage warning stickers on the panel at the front under the bonnet.
Xenon fitted ones still have the yellowish angel eye marker lights. Mine has the adjuster and the nodding headlights, and headlamp washers and is a Halogen setup, or was until I  fitted 55w HIDS and changed the yellowish angel eye markers to LED Markers, both easy to do, and the 55w HIDS are fantastic, better than standard xenons.
I had a look at Malc 1950's X, and his is Xenons, has no wheel adjuster on the dash and has the high voltage warning stickers. He has changed the angel eyes to white LED's as well
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Don Coffey
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Re: Headlights

Post by Don Coffey » Sun Nov 25, 2012 8:31 pm

[quote="Horizon"]
If it has the adjusting wheel on the dash near to the headlight switch it has halogen headlights.
[/quote]
Horizon, you are spot on.  I missed the mention of adjustable wheel on dash.  Xenons are self levelling.

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Re: Headlights

Post by dobbor1 » Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:02 pm

Cheers guys. Sounds like they are self levelling then. The original bulbs were halogen but I have changed to HIDs which are amazing. The angel eyes have also been changed to LED markers. Thanks for the clarification. I like this forum :))

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Re: Headlights

Post by Raj » Sun Nov 25, 2012 11:52 pm

They are not self levelling. They self test at start up hence the levelling motors going through the motion but will only reset back to same position.
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Re: Headlights

Post by Horizon » Mon Nov 26, 2012 4:29 pm

I've just had a thought ( dangerous I know ) If the suspension is self leveling, why would we need self leveling headlights.
( I didnt know they were not self leveling, thanks Raj. )
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Re: Headlights

Post by Don Coffey » Mon Nov 26, 2012 4:39 pm

[quote="Horizon"]
I've just had a thought ( dangerous I know ) If the suspension is self leveling, why would we need self leveling headlights.
( I didnt know they were not self leveling, thanks Raj. )
[/quote]
As I understand it, the self levelling suspension is designed to compensate for different loads within the car, but doesn't react very quickly as it would always be adjusting its self on the move as G loading increases, decreases over undulating ground.  That could upset the car.  Where as the self levelling lights do take in the increase and decreasing loads to allow the lights to project the beam the required distance.

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Re: Headlights

Post by dobbor1 » Mon Nov 26, 2012 4:41 pm

Every day is a learning day :))

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Don Coffey
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Re: Headlights

Post by Don Coffey » Mon Nov 26, 2012 4:48 pm

[quote="dobbor1"]
Every day is a learning day :))

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[/quote]

Then again I could be talking utter bo11ocks  :)) :)) :))

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Re: Headlights

Post by MJim » Mon Nov 26, 2012 4:53 pm

Probably. Must of us on here do let's be honest.  :))
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Re: Headlights

Post by pvr » Mon Nov 26, 2012 5:20 pm

Some more than others though  :))
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Re: Headlights

Post by Don Coffey » Mon Nov 26, 2012 8:19 pm

Been out for a run into town over a local route which includes the seven sisters, ie. seven humps straight after each other, the sort that give you that funny feeling in your stomach. Anyway.  As I crested each hump, you could see the headlights coming down at the same time as the car started to go light with the unloading of G forces.

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