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      12-21-2011, 03:13 AM   #1
X3andZ4owner
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X3 Xenon headlight, no bulb in the inner lighthouse..

Have you noticed that theres is no lightbulb or what so ever behind the lens behind the inner light on Xenon models?

If you look closely theres just lose wires...

I know we have bi-xenon but they could have had an conventional , non xenon, bulb in the inner lighthouse as well.. not just a lens without anything behind it for cosmetical reasons.

Last edited by X3andZ4owner; 12-21-2011 at 03:22 AM..
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      12-21-2011, 03:24 AM   #2
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It is 100% cosmetic, and I like the compromise. It looks good.
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      12-21-2011, 04:18 AM   #3
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One other thing is the safety issue. if one of the xenon bulbs go out you then only have 1 headlight and no headlightbeam on that side wheras if there was an conventional bulb on that side also this would work in full beam...

Last edited by X3andZ4owner; 12-21-2011 at 08:46 AM..
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      12-21-2011, 05:37 AM   #4
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It would look odd with the warm light of a conventional bulb coupled with the xenons. A headlight out is just generally a safety issue. Considering the reliability these days a "back-up" seems to me to be overkill. That said, the angel eyes are plenty bright enough to be seen by on their own and bright enough to drive by at lower speeds!
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      12-21-2011, 06:24 AM   #5
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take a pic
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      12-21-2011, 08:48 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
If a HID lamp fails, the recommended procedure is to turn on the fog lamps so you have a light on each side.
Yes,see your point , but still not logical to have a HID lens without a bulb....

Would be cool with 2 xenon lights on each side though ;-(

Last edited by X3andZ4owner; 12-21-2011 at 09:04 AM..
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      12-21-2011, 08:50 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nyalpine90 View Post
take a pic

will do in a couple of days
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      12-21-2011, 09:42 AM   #8
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thats weird i dont think mine looks like that at all
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      12-21-2011, 11:09 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nahoa View Post
It would look odd with the warm light of a conventional bulb coupled with the xenons.
The e46 with xenon have both. The inner bulb functions as the DRL (if enabled) and goes out when the xenons are turned on.

Funny, I never actually looked at it on the x3 before ordering - just assumed that's how it still worked.

Does anyone have DRL active on the F25? How does that work now?
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      12-21-2011, 01:06 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
On F25s with HID lights the DRLs are the LED illuminated surround rings ("angel eyes") around both the active HID projector and the "dummy" inner lens.
Ah, ok. I probably should've known that.
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      12-22-2011, 01:42 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
For anyone who has not taken a good look into the inner headlight projector lens on a HID equipped X3 F25, this is what you will see behind the lens. There are (2) electrical termination blocks and some wires.

The inner lens is strictly there for cosmetic reasons to fill the headlight outer cover. Since the outer cover is built to accommodate the quad-bulb halogen set up that is standard on many models, the inner "lens" is there to fill the space.

With HID lamps, there is no optical need for the inner "high-beam" lamps, since the same HID bulb is used for both low and high beams with its pattern altered through the use of a electro-mechanically moved light shield.

Although it would not be an easy modification, the inner positions would be a great place to fit a couple of high-intensity "pencil-beam" driving lights.
It would be a great place for BMW to hide a future "Night Vision" sensor or a "Radar Guided Cruise Control" sensor. I think sticking it in the grill like on the other series that offer it is tasteless.
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      12-22-2011, 03:40 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
For anyone who has not taken a good look into the inner headlight projector lens on a HID equipped X3 F25, this is what you will see behind the lens. There are (2) electrical termination blocks and some wires.

The inner lens is strictly there for cosmetic reasons to fill the headlight outer cover. Since the outer cover is built to accommodate the quad-bulb halogen set up that is standard on many models, the inner "lens" is there to fill the space.
I wonder why they didn't see it necessary to make a "screen" for the inner projector. Is there a reason that you can easily see and access those terminals...?

Of course one can DIY screen from old sunglasses
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