DennisG01

So, I'm not very bright when it comes to headlights. But I'm great at dad jokes...

My main question is in regards to what the headlights "look like" with the lights on. When I stand in front of my car and look at the healdlights, the driver's side "eyebal" is completely illuminated/full of light. However, the passenger side "eyeball" is not - the top half-ish of the eyeball has noticeably less light coming from it.

Is this normal? What does yours look like? I tried taking a picture, but it doesn't show up like it does in person.

Below is what comes up using a VIN decoder and from looking at pictures online, it appears I have Bi-Xenon headlights. I didn't know I had Cornering Illumination, though - I honestly never noticed the light beam "moving"? If that's what it actually does?
615 BI-XENON HEADLICHT W.ACTVIE CURVELIGHT RIGHT-DRIVE
619 CORNERING ILLUMINATION

vesiadog

Have you removed the black plastic (turn 90 degrees) to actually see what you have ? Passenger side is usually much easier to look at.
In my 2011 I have Osram D1S headlights in the running lights. In my experience with Xenon’s they definitely burn out at different rates.. also did someone just replace 1? Pop the covers off and take a look at what you have for starters my thoughts.

Elbeau

Instead of looking at the lights, look at the beam while sitting in the driver's seat when dark. They should be of equal brightness, though the pattern will be different. Also, turn the wheel. Does the pattern move? (Although it may be speed sensitive). Looking at the lit bulbs themselves can look different at different angles.

DennisG01

Thanks, guys. I'll look at the actual bulb - although I'm pretty sure I have xenon.

I guess the main thing I'm curious about is if your (especially passenger side) has an obvious dull spot on the top half of the eyeball when you lights are on? I just don't know if that's normal or not.

EWT

The projector bowls on the stock headlights lose quite a bit of their reflectiveness when they get old (supposedly from the UV light emitted by HID bulbs). You may have one that has deteriorated more than the other. Mine were so bad after ~10 years that I didn't realize I had the active lights either until i put in new projectors.

DennisG01

So I realize this super accurate, elaborate, top notch drawing is completely and fully self explanatory... but just in case it's not worth a thousand words... 🤪

This is what I see with the lights on. The passenger side has a noticeable dark spot at the top. Before I going digging in and replacing anything... can anyone verify how their's looks?

rapidoxidation

Is it possible your passenger side has lost its motivation?
Here's the tell: When it gets dark tonight and you have your car pointed at a wall/door/whatever, turn the car and your headlights on. They should go through a start up self test of the motors and you'll see the light go up/down/side to side, just like a pair of eyeballs looking around. They'lll settle out straight in front of you like a fixed headlight pair would. I'm wondering if you'll only see the driver's side do that; the passenger side will stay still.
What did you see?

DennisG01

I looked at night, last night. I saw a TINY bit of movement - but I think it was more likely from the air bags. I was about 15' away and the movement I saw was less than an inch.

BUT, the real thing I'm trying to figure out is if that dark spot is normal or not. As a side note, there's always (have owned vehicle for over 8 years) been a difference in the light pattern/shape from driver's to passenger,

Elbeau

I think it's winking at you. I wouldn't turn my back on it.

DennisG01

vesiadog

The passenger tire is too big .. fix that and the lights will be ok 😂!

Sallad

Sounds like the hi beam shutter is not working.

What happens when you hit your high beams? Do both light patterns change?

BlownV8

Sounds like you are low on headlight fluid. Every once in a while, a low blinker fluid can cause issues with other things in the headlights. Kind of a domino effect so to speak.

DennisG01

That's interesting about the headlight fluid. I knew about blinker fluid, but I didn't know about headlight fluid. I just checked and it's good, though. I was hoping that was it 'cause it would have been an easy fix!

DennisG01

I'll check the beam pattern tonight.

But... I don't know anything about the shutter, but wouldn't the driver's side then have the same "look" to it? Maybe I just don't fully understand what the shutter does.

DennisG01

If anyone has time (and remembers), can you please look at your vehicle at night to double check if what I see is/isn't normal?

DennisG01

I checked high/low switching against my garage door - all is good.

Still curious simply to know if what I see (picture, above) is the same as what others see?

DennisG01

I take it none of you ever drive your car at night...

If anyone can please just turn on their lights and take a look to see if you see the same thing I do? I just need to know if this is normal or not.

Sometimes you have to bend down just a bit - change the angle you're looking at the headlight at.

Elbeau

Mine doesn't look like that and I haven't seen any other x164 with that light pattern. But I have after market LEDs.

DennisG01

Thanks. It's probably one of those things that you wouldn't notice unless you purposefully look for it and are looking at it from the the right angle.

Elbeau

Perhaps. But I tend to notice those things, especially since I changed the headlight assemblies on my X164 and am always a bit paranoid when I do my own stuff..

DennisG01

I've looked a couple times at night, now, at the light output on the road and against a garage door - I honestly don't see a difference in the amount of light.

I "suspect" it's normal... but it's really not something that's noticeable (the winking) unless you're looking at just right the angle. And it's definitely different than the driver's side.