I have had a search or 2 and cannot find a related topic, has anyone upgraded their OEM Xenon bulbs,.
I'm finding that the light output of the OEM is not as good as I would like particularly on unlit roads and those major routes with poorly maintained cats eyes, the A34 from the M40 to Portsmouth as an example. Abroad, I'm finding that on the major roads again no cats eyes the light from dip is not as bright as I would like, but main beam is fine.
I have had the lights on the beam setter today and the alignment is bang on, I just think the intensity and light penetration onto the road is not bright enough with the 4100K OEM bulbs, particularly in wet conditions.
I have been in touch with Ian at Hids, and there are various options open to me, I just wondered if anyone has upgraded, and if so to what.
I have adaptive units, so I cannot easily upgrade too the 55W extreme units Ian has, so have to stick with 35W options.
Osram Silverstar, Osram Cool Blue Intense or Hids D2s 6000K brilliant white are my current thoughts?
IID Pro MV License - D3, D4 & RRS - Enabling, Updates, D4 & RRS Timed / Remote Climate, D4 Bluetooth fitting
PM me for details
Owner of the original "Beanie" grille
D4 & RRS style D3 grilles made to order
30th Oct 2012 8:54 pm
MarkOne
Member Since: 23 Jul 2011
Location: County Antrim
Posts: 3345
I have never drove a vehicle with as good a standard lights than my D3 it's Xeon lights are the dogs IMO, the spread of light down the road is great compared to any of my previous cars or my Audi.
30th Oct 2012 9:01 pm
sarumlight
Member Since: 07 Nov 2008
Location: Off the Plain
Posts: 1590
Xenon bulb performance drops off quite dramatically over time - just replaced bulbs that were still working but with around 100,000 miles of night-time use in another car and in comparison to new bulbs the old ones were yellow and very dim.
No reason to think that the better bulbs that Ian sells wouldn't be even better than new standard bulbs.
If you're not used to xenons, there is quite a sharp cutoff on the dipped beam - so possibly less light than you'd get from halogens leaking ahead and lighting up cat's eyes.
30th Oct 2012 9:15 pm
euangibson
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
beanie...totally agree....was driving back from the SCAM last night and on main well-lit roads it was fine,but as soon as I turned off onto rural roads,I was reminded that I need to sort them out......
Full beam is fantastic...its like having 2 searchlights attached to the front...but dipped is awful....as soon as I went to dipped I had to reduce my speed drastically...
Somebody told me xenon bulbs should be changed every few years....don't know if there is any truth in that ?"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
D4 Firenze my2012 HSE
D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
I have no issue with the beam pattern that is not the problem, agreed the spread of light is good, just not as bright as I know is possible.
I had previously put a HIDS upgrade kit in my halogen units, this set up was better on dip, but the Xenons are better on main Altox GSM FBH controller thread
IID Pro MV License - D3, D4 & RRS - Enabling, Updates, D4 & RRS Timed / Remote Climate, D4 Bluetooth fitting
PM me for details
Owner of the original "Beanie" grille
D4 & RRS style D3 grilles made to order
30th Oct 2012 9:44 pm
TwelveSticks
Member Since: 16 Jan 2010
Location: Dublin
Posts: 798
I had a HID kit on my halogens and they were crazy bright. Then I changed the headlights to Xenon units and although they were good, they weren't anything like as bright as the upgrade kit (one of the main reasons I changed was because of all the flashes I was getting from other motorists). I changed the Xenon bulbs to Philips Diamond White ones (55W) and they were much better than the standard Xenons. Coupled with some D2S upgrade bulbs (5000k) in the main beams, they gave fantastic illumination at night in the country.2001 D2 GS (I must be mad!)
2005 D3 S 10-12 (gone and missed)
30th Oct 2012 10:06 pm
disco_steve
Member Since: 25 Aug 2009
Location: Are you sure this is the M5 ?
Posts: 1498
I have recently upgraded my OEM HID bulbs to 6000k ones, quite a difference, much brighter and whiter light.
Shop around as we'll, I got a pair from a famous auction site for just under £30Never get mad - get even !!
06 D3 now gone to family member and still going strong at 265k
previous vehicles:
04 D2 TD5 - (clocked 189k from new)
52 X-Trail 2.2 SVE
various euro boxes !
30th Oct 2012 11:20 pm
hids4u
Member Since: 12 Apr 2009
Location: Leeds
Posts: 1155
It's worth changing your xenon bulbs before they fail as light output falls off with time.
We sell the 5000 and 6000 d2s bulbs and these provide a whiter light that most people find brighter and easier to drive with. These are not Chinese bulbs but Korean. The Chinese ones look white, but they give terrible spread of light where you need it and output falls of really quickly. The beam patterns are really close to the Phillips and Osam bulbs we tested.
The best light output I have found, and the bulbs I have in my cr, are the Osam cool blue intense. Despite the name these are not blue chav lights. But crisp white 5000k which Osam claim give 20% more light. I fully support these and they are white than the Philips ultra blue.
Hope that helps
Best Regards Ian
31st Oct 2012 3:46 pm
yogi972
Member Since: 05 Jun 2011
Location: Kineton
Posts: 3372
I feel a visit coming on, to your site Ian
31st Oct 2012 3:49 pm
hids4u
Member Since: 12 Apr 2009
Location: Leeds
Posts: 1155
Ian thanks, the CBI is the way leaning, but as my post I see two other options, it appears you feel the CBI out perform the silverstar, are they significantly better than the std 6000k bright white?Altox GSM FBH controller thread
IID Pro MV License - D3, D4 & RRS - Enabling, Updates, D4 & RRS Timed / Remote Climate, D4 Bluetooth fitting
PM me for details
Owner of the original "Beanie" grille
D4 & RRS style D3 grilles made to order
31st Oct 2012 7:28 pm
hids4u
Member Since: 12 Apr 2009
Location: Leeds
Posts: 1155
I would say yes. CBI are the best I have tested to date.
The 6000k are not far behind and are really good value for money
But if you want the best white light CBI hand down
31st Oct 2012 7:40 pm
Maxarn58
Member Since: 24 Dec 2011
Location: Sollentuna, north of Stockholm
Posts: 225
Hi guys.
The Xenon-bulbs tend to lose their power over time.
I work as a coachdriver, adn my Bus doe3s about 120.000km´s/year.
I have changed my Xenons about every 18 months, and noticed that there
is a great difference between a fresh and old one.
I bought a RRS about a year ago, a -06.
The first thing I did was to change the Xenons, and..
Like having proper light on the car instead of weak kerosenelamps.
So, just change them to fresh OEM:s, and You are fine.
Best regards
UffeRRS MY2006 HST
As a rule, I always resist temptations,
unless they are irresistible!!
31st Oct 2012 8:15 pm
hids4u
Member Since: 12 Apr 2009
Location: Leeds
Posts: 1155
Agreed they need to be changed as I and others have said
But there are two aspects. One light output and the other colour temperature
The upgrade bulbs like CBI produce a whiter light that under most road conditions produce a whiter and generally perceived brighter light
Brand new 4100k Philips and Osram will be brighter in Lumen terms but so yellow compared to the old ones and the CBI will look both brighter and whiter. Once you tried them 9/10 won't go back
31st Oct 2012 8:36 pm
fendy
Member Since: 23 Aug 2012
Location: scotland
Posts: 149
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
