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2001 BMW 330ci incident with sales man
BMW BMW General Discussions (alt.autos.bmw)
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#21
 
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Re: 2001 BMW 330ci incident with sales man -
03-05-2004
, 09:19 AM
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Then if this was the case, no one would bother with HID lights? |
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Proper HID lamps are not 'blue' - they are closer to daylight than tungsten. They may appear blue compared to tungsten, but that's not the same thing. |
the US version of HID Xenons would opt to keep the $1000 and go with the
halogens, *unless* they just want to have the brighter, whiter (and yes they
appear blue when viewed from an indirect angle) appearance of the Xenons.
The US version of BMW Xenons that I have seen is not self leveling, but has
the sharper cut-off of european style headlamps. The DOT halogen lamps do
not have the sharp cut-off, so even though they are more blinding to other
drivers, provide a better view down the road on low beam.
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Probably what you're trying to say is that *US* tungsten dip beam patterns reach further, due to not having a sharp cut off. Or I hope so, because if you compare the illumination with the same beam pattern, the tungsten lights have an inferior output anywhere you care to measure it. |
paying since you get less area of illumination. Whether I am blinding an
oncoming driver with my properly adjusted DOT lights is not my concern since
probably 90% of the cars on the road *over here* also have this type of
headlamp.
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It was an opinion, based on my experience, which you do not have to agree with. Perhaps your experience includes poorly adjusted lights. |
-Fred W
#22
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"Dave Plowman" <dave.sound (AT) argonet (DOT) co.uk> wrote in message news:4c8ad4fac3dave.sound (AT) argonet (DOT) co.uk... Then if this was the case, no one would bother with HID lights? Proper HID lamps are not 'blue' - they are closer to daylight than tungsten. They may appear blue compared to tungsten, but that's not the same thing. I thing drivers in the US that have experienced both the DOT halogens and the US version of HID Xenons would opt to keep the $1000 and go with the halogens, *unless* they just want to have the brighter, whiter (and yes they appear blue when viewed from an indirect angle) appearance of the Xenons. The US version of BMW Xenons that I have seen is not self leveling, but has the sharper cut-off of european style headlamps. The DOT halogen lamps do not have the sharp cut-off, so even though they are more blinding to other drivers, provide a better view down the road on low beam. Probably what you're trying to say is that *US* tungsten dip beam patterns reach further, due to not having a sharp cut off. Or I hope so, because if you compare the illumination with the same beam pattern, the tungsten lights have an inferior output anywhere you care to measure it. You are correct there. I'm saying the cost of this option is not worth paying since you get less area of illumination. Whether I am blinding an oncoming driver with my properly adjusted DOT lights is not my concern since probably 90% of the cars on the road *over here* also have this type of headlamp. It was an opinion, based on my experience, which you do not have to agree with. Perhaps your experience includes poorly adjusted lights. I don't think so. I know how to properly adjust headlights, thanks. -Fred W |
directions, upways being one of them so that overhead road signs can be
read.. Euro lights place a well defined beam spread where you really need
it, and they reduce glare to oncoming drivers.. in time, I will change the
headlights on my Jeep GC to Euro style..
#23
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DOT headlights on low beam are not good.. they spray light in all directions, upways being one of them so that overhead road signs can be read.. Euro lights place a well defined beam spread where you really need it, and they reduce glare to oncoming drivers.. in time, I will change the headlights on my Jeep GC to Euro style.. |
are particularly bothersome is in driving the back roads around here (New
Hampshire). The roads here are seldom level with all sorts of small (and
larger) hills to contend with. The only flat roads are the highways, and
you hardly even need headlights on those. When descending a hill with sharp
cut-off beams you can't see sh*t unless you put on high beams.
But, too each his own...
-Fred W
#24
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the light pattern (in the US version at least) for Xenon lights is such that, although they may put out more lumens, the area that they illuminate is inferior to what you get with properly adjusted regulat DOT halogens. I agree with you. The Xenons on my 528i do not extend very far out and |
just to see where I'm going. Fine around town, but not too great on
the open winding road.
The H4 Philips Vision bulbs (halogens) that I put in my 2K1 Maxima
work fantastic and are definitely better than the Xenons in my 528.
Matthew
#25
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"Dave Plowman" <dave.sound (AT) argonet (DOT) co.uk> wrote Then if this was the case, no one would bother with HID lights? I thing drivers in the US that have experienced both the DOT halogens and the US version of HID Xenons would opt to keep the $1000 and go with the halogens, *unless* they just want to have the brighter, whiter (and yes they appear blue when viewed from an indirect angle) appearance of the Xenons. |
for the adaptive on newer vehicles. There is substantially more
illumination
to the sides than with the halogen lights.
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The US version of BMW Xenons that I have seen is not self leveling, but has the sharper cut-off of european style headlamps. The DOT halogen lamps do not have the sharp cut-off, so even though they are more blinding to other drivers, provide a better view down the road on low beam. |
have headlight washers, however.
Floyd '01 330xi
#26
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The problem is that the light pattern (in the US version at least) for Xenon lights is such that, although they may put out more lumens, the area that they illuminate is inferior to what you get with properly adjusted regulat DOT halogens. I agree with you. The Xenons on my 528i do not extend very far out and I tend to need my brights alot when cruising at night at 70-80 mph just to see where I'm going. Fine around town, but not too great on the open winding road. |
halogens to Xenons. Have you checked to make sure yours are adjusted
properly?
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The H4 Philips Vision bulbs (halogens) that I put in my 2K1 Maxima work fantastic and are definitely better than the Xenons in my 528. Is there anything about your BMW that you like better than your Nissan? |
#27
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Probably what you're trying to say is that *US* tungsten dip beam patterns reach further, due to not having a sharp cut off. Or I hope so, because if you compare the illumination with the same beam pattern, the tungsten lights have an inferior output anywhere you care to measure it. You are correct there. I'm saying the cost of this option is not worth paying since you get less area of illumination. Whether I am blinding an oncoming driver with my properly adjusted DOT lights is not my concern since probably 90% of the cars on the road *over here* also have this type of headlamp. |
considering the regular headlights are pretty good - the best I've
experienced. One guy in this thread said you'd be "safer" with the
HID's, which I think it ridiculous.
#28
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"Mike Hall" <mike.hall.mail (AT) sympatico (DOT) ca> wrote in message news:7c02c.14596$JZ6.470853 (AT) news20 (DOT) bellglobal.com... DOT headlights on low beam are not good.. they spray light in all directions, upways being one of them so that overhead road signs can be read.. Euro lights place a well defined beam spread where you really need it, and they reduce glare to oncoming drivers.. in time, I will change the headlights on my Jeep GC to Euro style.. If you say so... One place the euro cut-off, non-leveling headlight beams are particularly bothersome is in driving the back roads around here (New Hampshire). The roads here are seldom level with all sorts of small (and larger) hills to contend with. The only flat roads are the highways, and you hardly even need headlights on those. When descending a hill with sharp cut-off beams you can't see sh*t unless you put on high beams. But, too each his own... -Fred W |
UK and Spain for prolonged periods and without self levelling lights.. on
back roads, unless something was coming the other way, I always used high
beam.. if there were others about, I slowed down and used low beam.. that is
surely just common sense..
#29
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Fred, the secret here is not to outdrive your lights.. I have driven in the UK and Spain for prolonged periods and without self levelling lights.. on back roads, unless something was coming the other way, I always used high beam.. if there were others about, I slowed down and used low beam.. that is surely just common sense.. |
And my limited experience with the US headlights was that I outdrove the
euro cut-off headlight beams (with or without HID) at a lower speed than the
sloppy US spec halogen beams. So I would hesitate to pay extra for that
feature.
If I were faced with the option of either euro cut-off halogens vs. euro
cut-off HIDs, I'm sure I would spring for the HIDs. They would then be the
superior option and worth the extra money.
#30
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"Dave Plowman" <dave.sound (AT) argonet (DOT) co.uk> wrote in message news:4c8ad4fac3dave.sound (AT) argonet (DOT) co.uk... Proper HID lamps are not 'blue' - they are closer to daylight than tungsten. They may appear blue compared to tungsten, but that's not the same thing. I thing drivers in the US that have experienced both the DOT halogens and the US version of HID Xenons would opt to keep the $1000 and go with the halogens, *unless* they just want to have the brighter, whiter (and yes they appear blue when viewed from an indirect angle) appearance of the Xenons. The US version of BMW Xenons that I have seen is not self leveling, but has the sharper cut-off of european style headlamps. The DOT halogen lamps do not have the sharp cut-off, so even though they are more blinding to other drivers, provide a better view down the road on low beam. |
xenons and one without. I find the light output from the xenons to
be superior, to that point that I've considered retro-fitting them to
my BMW that doesn't have them. And as an option they're only
around $500, not $1000. And they are self-leveling when ordered
as an option, but not when retro-fitted.
I can sort of see your point if you regularly drive somewhere that's
pitch-black. But most urban and suburban areas have enough
ambient lighting and traffic that the sharp cutoff of the xenons is not
an issue.
--Neil
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