R56 Do The MINI Xenons Have That BMW-Blue Look?
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#9
From my other car's forum:
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=81183.0
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=81183.0
Every car manufacturer in the world (including BMW and Audi) uses none other than a standard 4100K gas-discharge bulb. No exceptions. The reason being is that 4100K is daylight white in color and produces the same color visible light as direct sunlight. This is least fatiguing functional color on the eyes and produces the most comfortable contrast on the road.
So the million dollar question is now: Why do BMW & Audi lights appear blue when they use a white bulb?
Well, this coloration is the result of the light projectors; the lenses: it's transparency, it's curvature, the tiny grooves etched into it; the projector assembly, the shield, and the reflector bowl. All these components work together to produce a signature of light unique to that particular optic's design. On the Audi and BMW projectors, the lens curvature at the edge bends the white light producing a "prism effect". White light is broken down to it's fundemental colors. Since blue lights is high energy, it is absorbed last and thus travels farther. So with this prism effect, you'll notice that BMW HIDs are only purple and blue from the sides, the top, and the bottom edges, but are always daylight white on the road and in the beam pattern. This phenomenon can be demonstrated when you watch an oncoming BMW hit a pot hole or speed bump in the road and the car's nose pitches up and down. The headlights will flicker and "throw colors off", but returns to a solid white beam pattern directly on the road.
So the million dollar question is now: Why do BMW & Audi lights appear blue when they use a white bulb?
Well, this coloration is the result of the light projectors; the lenses: it's transparency, it's curvature, the tiny grooves etched into it; the projector assembly, the shield, and the reflector bowl. All these components work together to produce a signature of light unique to that particular optic's design. On the Audi and BMW projectors, the lens curvature at the edge bends the white light producing a "prism effect". White light is broken down to it's fundemental colors. Since blue lights is high energy, it is absorbed last and thus travels farther. So with this prism effect, you'll notice that BMW HIDs are only purple and blue from the sides, the top, and the bottom edges, but are always daylight white on the road and in the beam pattern. This phenomenon can be demonstrated when you watch an oncoming BMW hit a pot hole or speed bump in the road and the car's nose pitches up and down. The headlights will flicker and "throw colors off", but returns to a solid white beam pattern directly on the road.
#10
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If you can find 5k it would be a good compromise. I couldn't at the time, so I went with the 6k's.
This sort of illustrates the different temperature colors (I've seen 10-12k xenon bulbs on the street, they're purple, and put absolutely no light down on the road, it sort of looks like someone has one of those 80's 2 dollar flashlights with dying batteries pointed down the road. I don't even think I could read from 20 feet away with them, 15k is just ridiculous. I don't know how you could see anything at all, and they look like crap):
Last edited by Guest; 04-16-2008 at 12:15 PM.
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Hmm, sounds like chromatic abberation. When light passes through a substance that slows it down, such as glass or water, it slows the different wavelengths (colors) different amounts. IIUC, this causes the different colors to bend different angles and produces a rainbow.
Simple lenses will cause chromatic abberation, so it is likely that Xenon projectors have it to some extent. It takes multiple lens elements of different exotic glass to eliminate reduce C.A.
Somewhere I read that "daylight" Xenons actually have more blue than daylight. Something about the daylight spectrum + an extra blue component. Can't recall where I read it.
Simple lenses will cause chromatic abberation, so it is likely that Xenon projectors have it to some extent. It takes multiple lens elements of different exotic glass to eliminate reduce C.A.
Somewhere I read that "daylight" Xenons actually have more blue than daylight. Something about the daylight spectrum + an extra blue component. Can't recall where I read it.
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Mine start out fairly blue but turn a warm white after warming. To me they look like regular halogens after warming but they are brighter than halogens. I would rather mine be a little more cool white or blueish. Just an observation but my wifes Rover has a much more blue hue.
Last edited by LONO; 04-16-2008 at 05:56 PM.
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You don't change Xenon bulbs. If they stop working, you install a completely new Xenon assembly. They're not at all like halogens, where you pop-out the old bulb, buy a new one for under $10, and replace it. Xenons are a sealed unit, with no user-replaceable bulbs. (...and they're very, very expensive to change)
#22
hmmmmm... I can't say for the R56 as I don't own one, but any R53 equipped with Xenons can have the bulbs replaced... I know the early models, 02 - 04, require D2-R bulbs and the latter ones require D2-S. I'd be quite perplexed if MINI didn't allow replacement HIDs, as they are certainly not lifetime.
GotMINI
GotMINI
#23
Xenons typically last longer than Halogens, as they don't have a filament that produces light, so thereotically they should last a lot longer... you can read about them here:
http://www.halcyon.net/lights/hid-faq.shtml
http://www.halcyon.net/lights/hid-faq.shtml
#25
Its hard to tell looking at the car when its parked.
Funny, I was on the highway today and wanted to confirm this myself for a while now and I saw a 07 Pepper White MCS with Xenons and I passed him and got a ways up and it was about 7:30pm sun was about down.
And yes definatly a nice blue tint to them. If you park your car in a garage youll see if the light hits the wall the top of the bean has a slight blue tint to and and the farther away you ar the bigegr itll be.
Its just hard to tell if the car is by itself, much easier in a group of cars with halogens.
Funny, I was on the highway today and wanted to confirm this myself for a while now and I saw a 07 Pepper White MCS with Xenons and I passed him and got a ways up and it was about 7:30pm sun was about down.
And yes definatly a nice blue tint to them. If you park your car in a garage youll see if the light hits the wall the top of the bean has a slight blue tint to and and the farther away you ar the bigegr itll be.
Its just hard to tell if the car is by itself, much easier in a group of cars with halogens.