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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > Adjusting Xenons for driving in France...



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      02-13-2007, 04:34 AM   #1
NathanJT
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Adjusting Xenons for driving in France...

Hi all,

Just a quick question (I've done a search but found nothing):

Is there any way of adjusting Xenons so that they don't dazzle when driving in France? I kno about the light beam blockers that you can stick on the lenses but I've heard some bad things about these due to the heat given off by Xenons. I also seem to remember soemthing about Xenons having a left/right switch on them for proper use when on the continent.

Does anybody have any info?

TIA
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      02-13-2007, 04:46 AM   #2
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Nathan

I remember reading something also about a switch on our e46s with xenons, but never had the need to change them. The wifes out in the car now so can't look.

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Chris
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      02-13-2007, 05:27 AM   #3
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The E46 is provided with a switch, but it seems to have been deleted for the E90.


http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...enon+continent
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      02-13-2007, 05:39 AM   #4
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Does anyone actually care if you blind the french????
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      02-13-2007, 06:27 AM   #5
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No, I'm sure Nathan's just trying to be courteous to the other Brits over there!
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      02-13-2007, 10:19 AM   #6
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Its not something thats easily done, you have to remove this inspection cover in the wheel arch to get access to the back of the headlight, plus you have to have to have your hand in a certian angle to flick it over. It is near impossible to do yourself on the ground, you need to have the car on a hoist.
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      02-13-2007, 11:24 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the_oracle1980 View Post
Its not something thats easily done, you have to remove this inspection cover in the wheel arch to get access to the back of the headlight, plus you have to have to have your hand in a certian angle to flick it over. It is near impossible to do yourself on the ground, you need to have the car on a hoist.
Are you saying the E90 adaptive Xenon headlights can be switched and that I wasted nearly £1500 replacing mine? If so, I'm going to be very, very, very, VERY, VERY upset!!! :mad:

Of course, if this truly is the case, then I can keep the clear corners and don't have to change the units back to US this year.
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      02-13-2007, 02:00 PM   #8
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You can switch RHD drive E90 Xenons for driving on the continent, but I am not sure about switching LHD Xenons for driving over here, I am asuming you have a US spec car, so they wouldnt bother fitting a shutter for that as they assume a US spec car will never ever be driving on the left hand side if you know what I mean
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      02-13-2007, 02:21 PM   #9
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oh yes, and plus you would of been dazzling people with adaptive xenons, you wouldnt of been able to have the light switch to the left on auto mode. So for your car the £1500 was justified. When we brits go on to the continent, we are meant to turn off adaptive part too.
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      02-14-2007, 03:49 AM   #10
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Thanks for the info guys, I guess it's a call to the stealer.

Just one thing though is it actually part of the light or the mounting into which it fits? There's nothing here for example:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...18&hg=63&fg=05
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      02-14-2007, 10:14 AM   #11
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its in the headlight assembly itself, a little shutter comes down and blocks part of the beam throw.
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      02-14-2007, 10:27 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by the_oracle1980 View Post
You can switch RHD drive E90 Xenons for driving on the continent, but I am not sure about switching LHD Xenons for driving over here, I am asuming you have a US spec car, so they wouldnt bother fitting a shutter for that as they assume a US spec car will never ever be driving on the left hand side if you know what I mean
Quote:
Originally Posted by the_oracle1980 View Post
oh yes, and plus you would of been dazzling people with adaptive xenons, you wouldnt of been able to have the light switch to the left on auto mode. So for your car the £1500 was justified. When we brits go on to the continent, we are meant to turn off adaptive part too.
OK, now I'm getting a bit more confused than normal. I can understand your assertion with the U.S. spec and the lack of the shutter; it does make sense.

Here's what I have. My E90 with Bi-Xenon Adaptive Headlights is a U.S. spec vehicle (lights dip to the right) with the amber eyebrows. Last year the entire headlight units were replaced with the UK version without the amber and with lights dipping to the left. I've been driving for thirteen months with the lights in auto mode without incident.

Now for the tricky question. If the UK units have the shutter for continental driving, other than moving the switch/lever, is there anything else I need to do or will not be able to do such as not use the adaptive portion? I'd like to be rid of the amber but not at the expense of losing the adaptive feature. Your last sentence implies that in addition to making the switch/lever adjustment you still aren't supposed to use the adaptive feature on the continent.
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      02-14-2007, 10:51 AM   #13
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Hi SoYank

Yes, your getting the idea. the adaptive part is meant to be switched off, as say for example a uk car on a uk road, the adaptive headlight will turn left with the steering round a corner. Now say for example I am in France now, I am taking the same left hand bend, but now I am driving on the right, so what you could do is dazzle in the other lane, or not light up your side of the road correctly. I am guessing you want your headlights without the amber reflectors for when you go back to the States. I would strip the headlights down and swap the reflectors over. As the stepper motors for the active headlights are tuned differently for left hand drive and right hand drive cars. I hope this answers your question.
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      02-18-2007, 05:20 AM   #14
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