OEM Bi Xenon HID and Halogen

[jaynana]

here's how the bixenon works.. if u have it..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrNiCVmn2ko

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ae307K_iQ

[psychosis]

Just checked mine on dipped beam and flash is halogen while main beam opens up the xenon as well - see the line on the wall to the left. My build sheet has S522A - Xenon light

Dipped-



Flash-



Main beam-

[X5Sport]

Perhaps BMW were being a bit disingenuous with their use of the term 'bi-xenon' in that it is used for both dip and main beam?

Richard

[X5LeMans]

Option 522, which is listed in the sticky as Bi-Xenon

Mine looks just like Psychosis, with three clearly different beam patterns.

It really shows up going down tight country lanes. The Xenon main beam lights up both hedges and trees to a much greater extent that the halogens, which seem more like spot lights. All put together its a pretty nice combination.

I'll try and get a few pictures up next time I'm out at night.

[X5LeMans]

Any chance that BMW coded your car wrong? 522 should be the bi-xenon units on a facelift.

Wonder if there is any obviously visible wiring differences, visible part numbers etc, to know for sure? More than happy to take photo(s) if you like.

I don't have a scanner / obd2 reader at the moment, so cant give any clues to how my coding is set right now.

PS, I had BMW print off my spec sheet, they just said 522, I tried the Vin Decoder link, it said S522A

[psychosis]

My code is just off the vin decoder site.

[jaynana]

[quote="X5LeMans"]
Option 522, which is listed in the sticky as Bi-Xenon

Mine looks just like Psychosis, with three clearly different beam patterns.

It really shows up going down tight country lanes. The Xenon main beam lights up both hedges and trees to a much greater extent that the halogens, which seem more like spot lights. All put together its a pretty nice combination.

I'll try and get a few pictures up next time I'm out at night.
[/quote]

i'm sure bixenon must be pretty cool!

i guess if u have 522 u have it.

said that - for clarity, having 3 different beam patterns does not mean u have bixenon.

i have 3 beam patterns, although its def not bixenon:
1. dipped beam - xenon only
2. flash - halogen only
3. while on dipped beam flash or go for high beam - xenon + halogen

so 3 beam patterns. but not bi-xenon.

that's why pictures are hard to tell by.

therefore, if u don't have 522 coded i would seriously doubt if u have bi-xenon.

only way to tell might as x5sport suggested to  go in front of the car and cover the halogen with a cardboard  and ask a mate to change lighting mode.

[X5LeMans]

Jay,

If you "flash" with dip on, you get dipped xenon + halogen.

If you go Main beam, you get everything.. So I guess what I mean is you get 4 beam patterns

1) Lights off Flash - Flash / halogen only, no dip/xenon
2) Lights on - Dip xenon only
3) Lights on Flash - Dip mode xenon + halogen flash
4) Main beam - Main beam mode xenon + halogen as well

I thought in your last post you said you had option S522A which is why I wondered about faults, or miscoding.

You can see on Psy's picture, in the top picture the "white" xenon light dip only reaches half way up his gas/electric meter, and on his last picture the xenon's opened up, so the white xenon light gives the very sharp distinct light all the way above his meter boxes on the wall, and half way up the window at the back.

As I said, I'm more than happy to take a look at the lamps to see if there is any obvious part numbers that might better ID them. If its just a coding issue, if you have the same physical lamps perhaps you could get them enabled for main beam too? Seems odd that BMW would put S522A on your spec sheet, but end up with different lights?

To be fair.. When I bought the car. All I cared about was having xenon at all, as my old E39 had it, and I've kinda grown used to it... Bi-Xenon was just a bonus

Cardboard would work too.. On my car the cardboard test still shows bi xenon. I don't think there is any difference between using headlight mode "A" and normal "on". Pretty sure the bi-xenon does it's job in both list switch modes. I've been using "A".

Go beat up BMW and say they fitted the wrong lights !!.. Not they they will like change anything on cars the age of our E53's.

[jaynana]

that made me want to go out and check, - man you're right!!

it IS 4 beam patterns not 3, so i have bi-xenon as well!! hurrahh lol

it only works on full beam not on flash

sorry yes mine's 'S522A'.

[X5LeMans]

The extra light seems to really help light up overhead signs. But I find it hugely helpfull on narrow country lanes as it lights up the hedges so much better than the non bi xenon lights.

So you found out bi xenon doesn't activate in flash mode . Next time your out try driving a little with dip plus flash the difference is massive.

I could be wrong but I believe the halogens have a tighter flash spot than halogens designed for main beam. So the xenons give a great main beam and the halogens are aimed to give a brighter center spot directed at the road ahead.

Anyway much better beam patterns then my old standard xenon e39

Be your happy now even though its something you've already got used to .

[X5Sport]

The inboard pair are designed to function as spotlights and to have a tight beam aimed to provide long range in the centre of the pattern - exactly as you are seeing.  Same as the generations of cars that either had, or had fitted as extras, good old Hella or Ring or PIAA type 'spot kits' in the 70's - 90's.  Same job as the main beams were pretty dire back then.  I remember swapping to H4 bulbs very quickly after the came out as they were a vast improvement.  100W versions were even better. 

Richard

[jaynana]

[quote="X5LeMans"]

So you found out bi xenon doesn't activate in flash mode . Next time your out try driving a little with dip plus flash the difference is massive.
[/quote]

don't think i've ever used it other than in flash mode. next time i know how to flash lol

[Rusty]

[quote="jaynana"]
that made me want to go out and check, - man you're right!!

it IS 4 beam patterns not 3, so i have bi-xenon as well!! hurrahh lol

it only works on full beam not on flash

sorry yes mine's 'S522A'.
[/quote]

Having just installed a pair of 55w HID's to replace my faulty 35w OE unit (thanks Kkodal for the kit) I did wonder why there was a pair of wires that disappeared into the HID lens assembly.
It certainly sound like this may be for the shutter control as I too have the S522A option fitted. 

If I get a chance, I will have a beam pattern check too.


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[X5LeMans]

As long as you have the shutters wired up I don't see any reason they wouldn't work after the 55watt upgrade. I imagine that will be pretty bright.

As the halogens appear to be fill in spots rather than full main beam you'll probably want to get those bi xenon shutters working .

[Rusty]

Definitely much brighter with the main beam on compared to dipped & flash.  Real easy to see with the 55w'ers.
The upgraded lights are def worth doing as you can actually see the road.


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