I've posted before w/ no response, and did LOTS of searches on NAM and on the web...

Anyone have pics of the beam pattern for both the 02-04 Xenons and 05+ Xenons?

Sorry for the redundant post, but it would really help. I just bought some 1 gen OEM xenons to replace my halogens lamps, and want to know what they're going to look like vs. the new projector xenons.

Im sure someone has taken pics of the cutoff on their xenons.... The pics will also help me to re-aim the lights when I get them in a few days.


Thanks!!!

 

I do not have pictures but I can tell you that the cutoff and pattern is very similar between the 02 and 06 Xenons and Halogens. I owned an 02 and traded it for an 06, both equiped with Xenons.

When I had many "courtesy cars" from MINI of Fairfield County and they all had halogens. I found the patterns to be very similar other than the color. The Xenons are a whiter color, without that annoying blue tint of the fake Xenons, where as the halogens are a warmer, yellower color.

Just be sure that you install the headlight leveling system when you install the Xenons. It is illegal, according to federal regulations, to have HID lights without the auto-leveling system and some form of headlight cleaning system, be it wipers or high pressure washers. The auto-leveling system consists of sensors on the front and rear axles to check the loading and tilt of the car and servos on the lights to adjust the aiming point. This is a dynamic system and functions not just on startup but also while driving. under acceleration it will lower the aim point, under braking it will raise the aim point. Even large depressions or bumps, if over long enough duration, will cause the auto system to keep the aim point consistant.

As far as aiming the lights I could not recommend more highly an article by Daniel Stern, automotive lighting consultant. You can find the article here; http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

It is an excellant read, well worth the time.

Best of luck.

 

unmodded the cutoff will be similar. most projector lamps have a little tab that can be removed that make the cutoff more severe, giving you a very sharp purple/blue beam right at the cut off . sorry, no pics as of yet

 

I don't think it is illegal to not have the auto leveling function on US spec cars. I've done some searching in the past and have never come up with a US regulation on the subject... although I could be wrong if you've searched more than I have!
That said, it is a good idea to have it all hooked up right with the auto leveling feature. Besides the glare for oncoming traffic it really puts the light in the right spot for driving.

Oh and for all you folks that thing adding HID and not bothering to aim is ok and think that blinding oncoming traffic is thus ok consider this... I read a DOT study recently that said that people are actually attracted to high beams and misaligned lights. What this means is that people will actually steer into your lights as you approach them. So if you're going to do a ghetto install, wear your seatbelt... I hear had on's can give you a nasty headache!
Back to your regularly scheduled thread...

 

2005 Xenons

 

Misunderstood....never-mind



(Edited my reply)

 

THANKS!!!

Now anyone have an 02-04?

 

Heres one I got emailed to me, just in case anyone else wants to compare. If you have another, I'd still like to see.

 

It appears you're correct. It looks like a European regulation:

"European regulations require that the headlamp leveling of HID-equipped cars be linked to the suspension system of the car so the lamps don't glare into oncoming traffic when the rear of the car is loaded down or the car is heading uphill. Xenon-equipped European vehicles imported to this country all have self-leveling systems. American regulations don't require auto-leveling. It remains to be seen whether US automakers will install self-leveling systems if not required to by law (my guess is they won't)."

From Smart Motorist:
http://www.smartmotorist.com/lig/lig.htm

 

Is there a DIY out there to connect the auto leveling for OEM xenons?

 

So they're supposed to be higher on the right side than the left, and off center as well? That's the way mine are, and I've been wanting to take them in to be realigned because they didn't look right.

 

i think the right side is supposed to be a tad bit higher than the left.
the left is lower for the oncoming traffic so you dont blind everyone.
pretty much. im not very good at explaining..sorry
if you see any cars with xenons/hids then you'll notice that almost every single one out there will be a tad bit higher on the right.

 

You talking about the 1st gen pics I posted? I've seen a few like that (higher on right).

Here's a video I found of some guy driving around SF with the same 1st gen Xenons, and they look even...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTfoUcmVD5A

In the middle of the video, he pulls up to a few walls. This guy has way too much time on his hands...

 

yup. the only legal way to make the beam straight, would be to lower your right light, but then youd have to worry about LEOs that dont believe you when you tell them that your right light is lower then it needs to be and it would just result in more issues then you need to deal with.

 

OR...you could just raise both until they get even and blind everyone!!

to burley..
i was just responding to sfo2phx's post.

 

I've seen lots of xenons that are even. Maybe yours need to be re-aimed. Look at this guy's 1st gen. xenons, they look even.

 

http://www.mvlc.info/pdf/MVLCbrochure.pdf

 

You need to read Daniel Sterns data on Zenon lights. To put the picture in words. The lights do not go flat across the horizon. Picture a round clock.
draw a line from the 9 position to the center of the clock. From the center of the clock draw a line to about half way between the 1 and the 2. The lights are designed to shine/light up this way. This is their design pattern. If you raise or lower the lights you move this pattern up or down. Using the two hands of the clock, the pattern is 9:07! It's not like the old heads lights we grew up with that were about a 9:15 pattern. The :07 part of the pattern lights up the right hand side of the road where other cars don't drive towards you. You can move the pattern up or down, left or right, but you can't change the pattern design.

 

The pattern all depends on which country the headlights are made for. From - http://faqlight.carpassion.info/hl-systems.htm

"What is the beam difference between ECE, DOT, JDM, and harmonized headlights?


Headlights following US standards are labled DOT. Note the increased illumination of overhead signs, which also results in higher glare levels for oncoming drivers. Maximum allowed illumination is 28,000 candela.
Headlights following european standards (ECE) are labled E followed by a number. Note the much lower glare levels above citoff and sharp horisontal cutoffs. Maximum allowed illumination is 38,000 candela.
Harmonized headlights are labled (example E4 DOT. They can legally be used on both continents, but a true ECE headlamp will always have higher output.
Headlights following japanese marked (JDM) has a vertically mirrored ECE pattern, and is for driving on the left side of the road only.

See regulations section for more details."

 

All good info, thanks. Never having had xenons before, I was just concerned they weren't aimed correctly. Obviously there are, so I'll stop worrying.

 

hidplanet is a great place to go to learn about xenons. but like said above, theyre suppose to be uneven. it shines light further on your side of the road, while keeping the left beam out of the eye of oncoming traffic

 

What about this guys xenons... they look even...

 

Do these look normal? These are my 04 xenons.

 

Hard to tell from a ground shot. Need to see the pattern against a wall.

 

Nope not next to mine or the one's in my Infinity. The pattern in both these cars is the same. Yours look flat from the pic, mine and the articles I read show the beams as flairing up on the right.