Bi-Xenon H/L USA vs. Euro
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Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Tucson AZ
2010 Mercedes GLK 350, 2001 BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster, 1997 Cherokee XJ
Bi-Xenon H/L USA vs. Euro
On American market vehicles, the bi-xenon headlights have a very bright flash to pass bulb which is only for that purpose. In Euro market vehicles, is this bulb actually a high beam? From past experience with a Saab we owned, the Euro lamps were this way. Someone figured out a neat trick whereby the flash to pass on the USA market vehicles would stay illuminated. Any comments are appreciated!
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350 GLK, C280
The high beam on the bi-xenon is generated by actually moving a shutter within the bulb system. A fill-in lamp is used to illuminate the side area. The xenon is not like a normal bulb, it has no filament. The ballast actually starts an electric arc, like welding, between two electrodes. The ballast creates a very high voltage which ionizes the Xenon and generates this arc. However, this takes time. Because of the long start time to initiate the arc within the bulb, bi-xenon's with out the shutter cannot be used as high beams. It would take to long to start and your flash would be over. So flashing the lights moves the shutter. You would not want to defeat this or you might as well just drive with the high beams on. On earlier bi-xenon's, such as my old '99 GLK, you only had Xenon low beams as the shutter had not been developed yet.
The other advantage of the shutter is that it creates a very sharp cut-off for low beams.
The other advantage of the shutter is that it creates a very sharp cut-off for low beams.
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Joined: Apr 2013
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From: Tucson AZ
2010 Mercedes GLK 350, 2001 BMW Z3 3.0 Roadster, 1997 Cherokee XJ
I was under the impression that the inboard lamp was only flash to pass but I now see my thinking was flawed. As mentioned about the Saabs, the bi-xenon had the shutter for high & low but the inboard halogen would not stay illuminated on high. In other markets, not USA, the halogen remained illuminated & the trick was to get them to light on high.
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2013 Infiniti G37 Coupe; 2011 GLK 350 w/ Premium 1, Multimedia & Sport Appearance; I LOVE IT!
The high beam on the bi-xenon is generated by actually moving a shutter within the bulb system. A fill-in lamp is used to illuminate the side area. The xenon is not like a normal bulb, it has no filament. The ballast actually starts an electric arc, like welding, between two electrodes. The ballast creates a very high voltage which ionizes the Xenon and generates this arc. However, this takes time. Because of the long start time to initiate the arc within the bulb, bi-xenon's with out the shutter cannot be used as high beams. It would take to long to start and your flash would be over. So flashing the lights moves the shutter. You would not want to defeat this or you might as well just drive with the high beams on. On earlier bi-xenon's, such as my old '99 GLK, you only had Xenon low beams as the shutter had not been developed yet.
The other advantage of the shutter is that it creates a very sharp cut-off for low beams.
The other advantage of the shutter is that it creates a very sharp cut-off for low beams.
Good info; thanks...
