Take the Xenon/Bi-Xenon fact test!! ...please.

[cjonesgo]

So I have done tons of searching on the subject and have been able to answer most of my questions, but there is a lot of conflicting information floating around regarding Xenon/Bi-Xenon headlights. I am hoping to get some definative answers to a few questions can someone help me out?
Please, only answer if you actually know, don't just recite information from other threads that you do not have the personal knowledge to back up. I think that this is why I can find so many different answers for the same question. I do not need full detailed explainations (throw them in if you want to) but rather I want fast indisputable answers. I made a True False Test to try and make it easy. I can add or edit questions if needed. Thanks!!


1. The s4 came with single xenon as well as bi-xenon headlights. T/F

2. Bi-Xenon headlight housings have two seperate Xenon bulbs. One for low AND one for high beams. T/F

3. If your car was originally equipped with Xenon headlights you can install Bi-Xenons without throwing any codes (CEL, dip headlight etc) T/F

4. When installing Bi-Xenon headlights from single Xenon, you are able to use all of your original components and will NOT need to buy additional parts (assume you have proper DS bulb type) T/F

5. The light output from Bi-xenon housings is greater because:
a) "Bi" means two, so it's twice as good.
b) It has a larger focus lens but uses the same main bulb as Single Xenon
c) It has a motor and switch plate that moves around and does something.
d) Magic

if "C" please elaborate.



If I get my questions answered I'll write up a list of Xenon headlight facts that maybe will be good enough to get stickied so that others can reference it in the future!!

[Saturnine]

1 T
2 Major False
3 T
4 T
5 Eh.. I thought my Non bixenon lights were brighter.. The light was more concentrated..

[cjonesgo]

I have not seen a side by side comparison in person, but from what everyone has said Bi-Xenon is brighter. Is this not the case!?! What's all the fuss about then?


6. Single Xenon is brighter than Bi-Xenon. T/F

[CyberPMG]

1 - T
2 - Absolutely False
3 - T
4 - T if going from US Xenon to US Bi-Xenon. False if going from US Xenon to ecode Bi Xenon (turn signal bulbs for ecode same as rear turn signal bulbs. also need city light bulbs). You might also need to get a new Xenon bulb and ballast if you have a 2002 A4 with a D2S Xenon bulb (Bi-Xenons use D1S bulbs and ballasts). Other than bulbs, no additional parts are needed.
5 - Better lens (switching to ecode) = better projection pattern. Bi-Xenon high beam mode is stellar bright.

There is a motor and plate that comes into play that passes (through reflection) a portion of the output from the Xenon bulb up into the high beam reflector for a combined light output from Xenon and Halogen. With the windows down, you can hear the plate move into place when you hit the high beams. The Halogen bulb is there to provide instant light when needed as it takes a small amount of time to move the reflectors into place for the Xenon beam to be diverted.

[0330QA4]

The difference between the two of them is the single xenon uses a holgen for high beams while the bi has a motor controlled flap that raises the cutoff plate for high beams. At least thats how I have always understood it. So basically the Bis give you Xenon high beams and only use on bulb.

1. t
2. f
3. t
4. t
5. c see above explination
6. f

[SeKKeY]

single xenon ecodes are def. brighter, if you look at bixenon lens there are ripples in it to diffuse the light, not the case with single xenons

[kpatz]

Bi-xenons have a halogen high beam bulb as well but they have the moving cutoff plate as well, so in high beam mode you get both xenon and halogen providing light for the high beams.

[Tgr_Clw]

Yes, provided the HIDs are 'on' at the time. During daylight you'll get only halogen highs.

Bi-xenons have a halogen high beam bulb as well but they have the moving cutoff plate as well, so in high beam mode you get both xenon and halogen providing light for the high beams.

[Tinman]

single xenon ecodes are def. brighter, if you look at bixenon lens there are ripples in it to diffuse the light, not the case with single xenons

incorrect. the single xenon as well as bi-xenons both have slight ripples on the lens. just part of the design. the projectors on the bi-xenons are larger and provide a better shaping of the light, putting more light on the road directly.

the bi-xenons provide more light in low-beam mode, and TONS more in high-beam mode.

L8

[SeKKeY]

incorrect. the single xenon as well as bi-xenons both have slight ripples on the lens. just part of the design. the projectors on the bi-xenons are larger and provide a better shaping of the light, putting more light on the road directly.

the bi-xenons provide more light in low-beam mode, and TONS more in high-beam mode.

L8

really?

then whats up with this:
http://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/709428.phtml

L8

[SeKKeY]

incorrect. the single xenon as well as bi-xenons both have slight ripples on the lens. just part of the design. the projectors on the bi-xenons are larger and provide a better shaping of the light, putting more light on the road directly.

the bi-xenons provide more light in low-beam mode, and TONS more in high-beam mode.

L8

really? the reason why i got rid of my bixenons and got single xenon ecodes is because of this:

http://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/709428.phtml

L8

[Tgr_Clw]

There is a motor and plate that comes into play that passes (through reflection) a portion of the output from the Xenon bulb up into the high beam reflector for a combined light output from Xenon and Halogen. With the windows down, you can hear the plate move into place when you hit the high beams.

There is no reflective plate. There's just a flap that moves out of the way revealing the rest of the HID beam which is usually about 50% closed.

The Halogen bulb is there to provide instant light when needed as it takes a small amount of time to move the reflectors into place for the Xenon beam to be diverted.

Halogens are still in use as high beams because xenon bulbs take 3-5 seconds to fully turn on as opposed to halogen bulbs. Xenon bulbs also don't like being turned on and turned off before they warm up fully (about 30 seconds to 1 minute). That shortens the bulf life.

[Tgr_Clw]

That comparison may be flawed as we don't know how old the HID bulbs were in the bi-xenon setup (more hours = more dimmerer ).

really? the reason why i got rid of my bixenons and got single xenon ecodes is because of this:

http://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/709428.phtml

L8

That being said, I've replaced my bi-xenons with single-xenon ecodes last week. The low beam is indeed better
The bi-xenons look more pimp tho

[JonnyQ]

T
F
T
T

Bi-xenons have a motor which moves a shutter inside the housing. When you have low beams on, the shutter is blocking "half" the beam pattern of the projector and you get a cutoff low beam .
When you activate the high beams the shutter moves out of the way of the xenon low beam projector so the light is totally projected forward with no cutoff and a halogen bulb is also illuminated in the high beam projector.

"single" xenons have a cutoff shutter that is always stationary, when you hit high beams the halogen bulb goes on in the high beam projector, thats it.

Not sure if the normal low beam light output is much different between single xenon vs bi-xenon, I think you'd have to see both side by side to really tell the difference.

[AudiA4Style]

1 T
2 Major False
3 T
4 T
5 Eh.. I thought my Non bixenon lights were brighter.. The light was more concentrated..

Grade: 100%

John, you get a star sticker

[Kemiksiz]

no seperate xenon bulsbs.. A flap moves and let the xenon bub shine more when u hit the high beams + the high beams light on too ..

i had a xenon one before i got the s4 bixenons :)

[SeKKeY]

That comparison may be flawed as we don't know how old the HID bulbs were in the bi-xenon setup (more hours = more dimmerer ).



That being said, I've replaced my bi-xenons with single-xenon ecodes last week. The low beam is indeed better
The bi-xenons look more pimp tho

im sure he just changed the housings. there is another comparison, and that is done by me and i agree with him 100%

[cjonesgo]

WOW thanks for all the info. I am starting to see why I came across so many threads with conflicting info. though.

In summary:

Xenon to Bi-Xenon is a direct swap (unless going euro ecode whick needs bulbs) and will not throw any codes CEL etc., but the main difference is cosmetic (back housing, more 'pimp' etc) as a Single Xenon system actually gives you more concentrated light output.

right?

[SeKKeY]

you can get single xenon ecodes in black housing, they are just VERY rare. but yes, bixenons look more pimp

[cjonesgo]

yeah, I was just using the black housing as an example as that seems to be the reason that most people go to the trouble. I never see, "wtb silver housing xenon" threads. but if someone wants to trade me for mine....

[mxrz]

50watt ballasts will make any setup crazy bright