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Dim Xenon

Discuss problems you have had or are having with your Z4
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DashBedrock
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Dim Xenon

Post by DashBedrock » Sat Nov 18, 2017 4:21 pm

Hi everyone,
I've noticed that my nearside headlight is not as bright as the offside. Does anyone know what the cause may be and how to remedy it?
Cheers
Andy

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DashBedrock
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Post by DashBedrock » Sat Nov 18, 2017 6:47 pm

Apologies if I seem a little dim myself. I've never had xenons before. Is it just a case of replacing the bulbs and if so, can anyone recommend a good set. The thing that's confusing me is the various mentions on the forum of the ballast and bulbs needing to be coded.
Also the 25000 volts sticker is a little off putting :? .
Regards
Andy

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Post by Scooba_Steve » Sat Nov 18, 2017 6:50 pm

Defo Xenons? Swap them over to rule out anything else, if the fault follows then I'd buy a new pair assuming one is on its way out.
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Post by DashBedrock » Sat Nov 18, 2017 7:12 pm

Thanks for the reply Steve. I've no idea what it could be, I presumed bulbs either work or they don't. I reckon it's approx 80% as bright as the offside.
I'll try to swap them over in the morning.
Cheers

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Post by mjennings23 » Sat Nov 18, 2017 7:41 pm

Osram Night breaker D2S if you do replace.

If you're worried about the voltage disconnect the battery, but so long as the switch is off its fine

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Post by DashBedrock » Sat Nov 18, 2017 7:52 pm

Thanks,
I was just looking at these when I saw your reply.
Do these bulbs begin to fade before packing in altogether?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OSRAM-Xenarc ... SwdnZaCfSo

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Post by ph001 » Sat Nov 18, 2017 9:20 pm

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Post by DashBedrock » Sat Nov 18, 2017 9:54 pm

Thanks for the link. I've already jumped the gun and ordered the Osrams from Amazon.
Delivered tomorrow. Fingers crossed it's a bulb problem.

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Post by cj10jeeper » Sat Nov 18, 2017 10:28 pm

OK - so you have bulbs on order, so that's solved that set of questions for now
As for the voltage. All you need to do is ensure the lights are not switched on when you work on them. The high voltage when igniting them is dangerous hence having them switched off, but no need to disconnect battery
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Post by DashBedrock » Sat Nov 18, 2017 11:07 pm

Thanks for that. I've changed lots of headlight bulbs in the past, but never owned a car with yellow warning stickers or the lights.
I'm probably just being a little too fussy but once it's in my head I've got to sort it out.
Thanks again for all the replies.
Joining this forum has been one of my better decisions this year, second only to actually buying a Zed :driving:

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Post by mjennings23 » Sun Nov 19, 2017 9:30 am

To answer the earlier question, xenon bulbs do typically fade before failing, but even then you might get a few hundred hours running still.

As for the Osrams, from experience they do take around 100 hours to "burn in" and come up to full brightness

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