Bi-xenon Question - MBWorld.org Forums

Oct 16, 2009 | 09:06 PM

pining_garcia

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'11 E350 - P2, MM, Pano roof, PDC; '07 ML350 - Nav, '19 rims; '08 BMW 550i - fully loaded!

Bi-xenon Question

Hey guys, this question might sound stupid and maybe it has been discussed already but when you say bi-xenon does it mean low beam and high beam? It looks like the high beam is just a regular halogen bulb. Also, is it possible to change the high beam to the philips crystal vision h-7 even if you have a bi-xenon. I just wanted to verify with ya'll because I called the dealer and spoke to one of the SA's and said that it is not possible to do that because of the ballast on the low beam (HID).

Thanks!

Oct 16, 2009 | 09:49 PM

RLE

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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA

'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944

Bi or not

Quote:

Originally Posted by pining_garcia

Thanks!

What we have here is a failure to communicate, to quote the famous movie line.

Bi-Xenon (comes with P2 and my sympathies if you didn't specify it) refers to the Xenon (outer) portion of the headlight assembly. There is one Xenon bulb which has a small movable shutter controlled by the combination switch and that is how high and low can come from the same bulb. The inner lamp is high beam only and is a 55W H-7 halogen bulb which can be changed to a higher wattage if desired. I changed mine to a 70W bulb when the car was new. This lamp operates whenever high beam is selected and the main reason it is there is because you can't flash a Xenon bulb when a quick flash is needed. They take too long to illuminate.

You have discovered that service writers are not always the fountain of knowledge that they think they are. In fact, a well informed owner (some are found here) often is better informed.