Member Since: 01 Jun 2014
Location: St Neots
Posts: 1641
They’re for the cornering lights. Fitted as an optional extra (ISTR but they need an extra ECU to work). With the single bulb xenon, the other bulb is a halogen infil, it infil the beam pattern. Cannot remember which one, but standard figment, like H1. Worth replacing these too with something like an Osram night breaker. This much improves the main beam light and colour.
With reference to the LED bulbs, I understand, you do get what you pay for. The ebay link is for Philips bulbs though, they tend to be quite good quality, just never tried them.Sill protection - LED internal lights - LED reverse lights - boot liner - Dog Guard - Rock sliders
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5th Jan 2018 11:07 pm
Space Cadet
Member Since: 05 Dec 2017
Location: Ingatestone
Posts: 266
Thanks Mr Tom, so they do serve a purpose, but just not on my car - good to know though.
When I fit the PIAA LED kit I will also fit some LED sidelight bulbs, so as to match. As far as I know sidelights don’t actually produce any light to use when driving, they’re just there to make you visible to others. Do it won’t matter if they’re not 100% the same beam pattern.
5th Jan 2018 11:14 pm
discoteca
Member Since: 08 Mar 2010
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1477
I'm now confused. Space Cadet, you said in an earlier post that your headlight bulbs were HIR2, but now you say it says xenon on the light. One of those statements must be incorrect because HIR2 bulbs are halogen bulbs not xenons. What made you think that the fitted bulbs were HIR2?
6th Jan 2018 12:16 am
Space Cadet
Member Since: 05 Dec 2017
Location: Ingatestone
Posts: 266
Thanks, my mistake, was a typo, they’re definitely halogen! I’ve edited my post!
6th Jan 2018 12:20 am
discoteca
Member Since: 08 Mar 2010
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1477
Mr.Tom wrote:
They’re for the cornering lights. Fitted as an optional extra (ISTR but they need an extra ECU to work). With the single bulb xenon, the other bulb is a halogen infil, it infil the beam pattern. Cannot remember which one, but standard figment, like H1. Worth replacing these too with something like an Osram night breaker. This much improves the main beam light and colour.
With reference to the LED bulbs, I understand, you do get what you pay for. The ebay link is for Philips bulbs though, they tend to be quite good quality, just never tried them.
There is no halogen infill on post 2014 cars with or without xenons. It's a single bulb, either HIR2 halogen or D3S xenon.
6th Jan 2018 12:23 am
discoteca
Member Since: 08 Mar 2010
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1477
Space Cadet wrote:
Thanks, my mistake, was a typo, they’re definitely halogen! I’ve edited my post!
Ah that explains it
6th Jan 2018 12:25 am
discoteca
Member Since: 08 Mar 2010
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1477
On your question about levelling what you were told is correct which is why there is no switch on the dash or in the menus to adjust the level to compensate for load, the air suspension keeps the car level regardless of load. There are adjusters on the lights to change the alignment and set the level.
6th Jan 2018 12:33 am
Space Cadet
Member Since: 05 Dec 2017
Location: Ingatestone
Posts: 266
PIAA are soon hopefully bringing out an LED kit which, although it’s not yet 100% clear, will hopefully be in HIR2 fitment. I’ve queried with them regarding the usual bad-press regarding LED bulbs having different beam patterns and therefore MOT issues etc., and they’ve assured me that they’ve done the research and these bulbs will protrude into the lamp unit the correct distance so as to produce the same beam pattern, and actually they are selling them to various car manufacturers in Japan to use new in their cars.
Much as I'm a fan of the PIAA stuff, this is incorrect as a matter of physical impossibility (with current technology).
LEDs cannot match the geometry of a halogen filament in three dimensions because the thickness of two LEDs plus a mounting of some kind is necessarily more than that of the filament. Like so:
As a result, the light is not emitted on the focal point, the beam pattern will not be the same and the intensity will be reduced by the dispersion. Until a method of producing LEDs that are, say, less than a millimetre thick and extremely light is devised (an innovation that would not be economical for headlight retrofits), this applies to any and all LED retrofits.
Since you have shutter units, you would be much better off with a high quality HID kit. Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
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6th Jan 2018 11:51 am
Space Cadet
Member Since: 05 Dec 2017
Location: Ingatestone
Posts: 266
Many thanks, interesting reading.
So I wouldn’t have any beam issues fitting aftermarket HID’s...?
There will never be a perfect match (see the pic below), but a good HID kit (e.g. https://www.hids4u.co.uk/hir2-hids4u-hid-xenon-conversion-kits/) can do a decent job because the xenon arc is small with a higher intensity than halogen and LED (though this can also be a bad thing, resulting in a patchy beam because the arc is too small/irregular). I can't speak for the D4 but HID kits tend to work well with projector units and badly with normal reflectors. There's no guarentee, but it's certainly the route I would go down.
Current: Discovery 3 06MY (55 reg) HSE Auto Zambezi Silver Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
Freelander 2 2007 HSE Manual Tambora Flame
Previous: FL2 56 reg SE Manual Black (written off )
Disco 3 06 reg B7S Manual Rimini Red
Disco 2 TD5 Y reg ES Manual Blue - Chipped
Several Discovery 300 TDis
6th Jan 2018 1:34 pm
Space Cadet
Member Since: 05 Dec 2017
Location: Ingatestone
Posts: 266
Thanks mate, appreciate your help. Excuse my ignorance but would I have reflector or projector units?
So, is it likely that aftermarket HIDs in my standard non-xenon units would be ‘better’ than the normal halogen bulbs????
6th Jan 2018 5:33 pm
discoteca
Member Since: 08 Mar 2010
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1477
I'd save your pennies for a second hand set of genuine xenon lights. Not cheap but ultimately the best solution.
6th Jan 2018 7:56 pm
Space Cadet
Member Since: 05 Dec 2017
Location: Ingatestone
Posts: 266
There is a set on here, but they're £400...!
The HID kit is 'only' £85 and I think my headlights are projectors after all therefore they apparently will work well, seems worthwhile giving them a go.
If they don't work out then it's no great loss and I can think about OEM xenon headlights.
6th Jan 2018 8:21 pm
discoteca
Member Since: 08 Mar 2010
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1477
True, but the genuine ones would give you the LED signature DRLs as well...............
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Allisport Fast Road Intercooler, V8 Brakes, Silicone IC Hoses, EGRs Blanked, Remapped, De-Cat pipe, FBHIC
