335i poor Xennon lights!

excalbr8 · 01-20-2013, 03:56 PM

Hi,
I recently bought a 2008 335i E92 to replace my e46 330 Ci of 6 years. My e46 had factory fitted BI Xenon lights that were fantastic. The 335i also has factory Xenons but I find them really poor, as if they had less powerfull bulbs, they are no where near as good ar those fitted to the E46.
I was wondering if anyone else had noticed this, or had any idea as to how to improve them.
Cheers, Bruce

atinybug · 01-20-2013, 05:02 PM

I had a e46 330ci that had factory xenons.
When I replaced the bulbs on them it seemed like there was a huge improvement.
Then some time later (less than 6 months) my auto level broke, so after I fixed that, it seemed a huge improvement again.
Then less than 6 months later, my e46 got wrecked so I picked up a e92 335i, and it does seem my headlights weren't as good as the e46.
So, I guess I'll see if putting new bulbs in there will have the same improvement feel when I did it to my e46.

excalbr8 · 01-21-2013, 05:22 AM

Will probably try new bulbs as well. Now I think about it I dont see the lights doing any leveling. Might get it in to BMW as I still have a warrenty on the car, get them to check out the leveling.
Cheers

atinybug · 01-21-2013, 12:11 PM

When you first turn on your lights, they will point down at the ground, and it's very noticeable when they come up and level. If you don't see that, it probably broke.

excalbr8 · 01-21-2013, 12:34 PM

Just went and checked. It does do the leveling when it starts, just like my e46 did, so no problem there. Will definately get a new set of bulbs and see what that does.

fun2drive51 · 02-11-2013, 10:44 AM

My experience is that mine were not correctly set. You can manually adjust them up. I did this when I first got my car in 2007 and have not touched them since.
Mine were adjusted rediculously low and you could easily out drive them at highway speeds.

excalbr8 · 02-12-2013, 03:37 PM

Didnt think that was possible, since I tried that with my e46 and it simply readjusted them. But that could very well be the problem. Will have a look and see if I can adjust them.
Thanks

atinybug · 02-12-2013, 04:06 PM

You can manually adjust them to always point where you want if your auto-level is broke or disconnected. If your auto-level works, it'll still point them where it wants to point them.

fun2drive51 · 02-19-2013, 01:54 PM

Wrong the auto level points to a particular setting which is adjustable for azmuith and elevation. As I said above I adjusted mine almost 6 years ago and they are where I set them ans I have automatic adjusting headlights. How do you think the factory adjusts them to get them in spec? They adjust them manually just like I did...

01-20-2013, 03:56 PM	#1
excalbr8 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Beith, Scotland Posts: 14 My Ride: 330CI Sport	335i poor Xennon lights! Hi, I recently bought a 2008 335i E92 to replace my e46 330 Ci of 6 years. My e46 had factory fitted BI Xenon lights that were fantastic. The 335i also has factory Xenons but I find them really poor, as if they had less powerfull bulbs, they are no where near as good ar those fitted to the E46. I was wondering if anyone else had noticed this, or had any idea as to how to improve them. Cheers, Bruce Last edited by excalbr8; 01-20-2013 at 03:57 PM.

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01-20-2013, 05:02 PM	#2
atinybug Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Atlanta Posts: 191 My Ride: e92 335i	I had a e46 330ci that had factory xenons. When I replaced the bulbs on them it seemed like there was a huge improvement. Then some time later (less than 6 months) my auto level broke, so after I fixed that, it seemed a huge improvement again. Then less than 6 months later, my e46 got wrecked so I picked up a e92 335i, and it does seem my headlights weren't as good as the e46. So, I guess I'll see if putting new bulbs in there will have the same improvement feel when I did it to my e46.

01-21-2013, 05:22 AM	#3
excalbr8 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Beith, Scotland Posts: 14 My Ride: 330CI Sport	Will probably try new bulbs as well. Now I think about it I dont see the lights doing any leveling. Might get it in to BMW as I still have a warrenty on the car, get them to check out the leveling. Cheers

01-21-2013, 12:11 PM	#4
atinybug Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Atlanta Posts: 191 My Ride: e92 335i	When you first turn on your lights, they will point down at the ground, and it's very noticeable when they come up and level. If you don't see that, it probably broke.

01-21-2013, 12:34 PM	#5
excalbr8 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Beith, Scotland Posts: 14 My Ride: 330CI Sport	Just went and checked. It does do the leveling when it starts, just like my e46 did, so no problem there. Will definately get a new set of bulbs and see what that does.

02-11-2013, 10:44 AM	#6
fun2drive51 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Panhandle of Florida Posts: 18 My Ride: 325i 2004	My experience is that mine were not correctly set. You can manually adjust them up. I did this when I first got my car in 2007 and have not touched them since. Mine were adjusted rediculously low and you could easily out drive them at highway speeds.

02-12-2013, 03:37 PM	#7
excalbr8 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Beith, Scotland Posts: 14 My Ride: 330CI Sport	Didnt think that was possible, since I tried that with my e46 and it simply readjusted them. But that could very well be the problem. Will have a look and see if I can adjust them. Thanks

02-12-2013, 04:06 PM	#8
atinybug Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Atlanta Posts: 191 My Ride: e92 335i	You can manually adjust them to always point where you want if your auto-level is broke or disconnected. If your auto-level works, it'll still point them where it wants to point them.

02-19-2013, 01:54 PM	#9
fun2drive51 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Panhandle of Florida Posts: 18 My Ride: 325i 2004	Wrong the auto level points to a particular setting which is adjustable for azmuith and elevation. As I said above I adjusted mine almost 6 years ago and they are where I set them ans I have automatic adjusting headlights. How do you think the factory adjusts them to get them in spec? They adjust them manually just like I did...