Anyone else disappointed by the M235i Xenon headlights?

HX_Guy · 07-21-2014, 01:07 AM

Makes me question if the car even has Xenons, but it comes standard so it must (unless they forgot to put the on my car?

)

M235i on the left vs E350 w/ Xenons on the right.

ciwhamc · 07-21-2014, 01:52 AM

No. I love my headlights. They light up the road perfectly and look great too.

ScottMZ3 · 07-21-2014, 02:17 AM

While the M235i's xenon lights might not be as "blue" as the E350's, from your photos the BMW's are certainly illuminating the road/ground better and have a much better light pattern/cutoff. I assume the M235i lights are almost identical to the ones in my X1 and I find them to be absolutely fantastic. Best Xenons I have had yet.

Vlad-Miami · 07-21-2014, 02:18 AM

The xenon color on bmw is just right, on your mercedes is looks el-cheapo blue (honda style). You don't determine the type of bulb by color appearance, color has nothing to do with a type. In fact, despite being warmer and not having all bulbs turned on, your bmw light still looks brighter on a picture and illuminates the road better. I can tell you a lot of reasons why blue light is a cr@p, but You can google for it yourself.

HX_Guy · 07-21-2014, 02:57 AM

Hmm, odd that in those pictures the BMW does seem to light up the road better but while driving I actually feel the Mercedes lights up the road MUCH better. I took some new pictures using a tripod and it looks like the Mercedes lights are angled higher, which is probably why I feel the road further ahead is lit up better (I've already adjusted the BMW lights higher than how the car came, maybe I should go higher still?)

BMW on right, Mercedes on left.

creepy coupe · 07-21-2014, 03:51 AM

I have adaptive Xenon's and they are absolutely awesome. Very clever.

pikcachu · 07-21-2014, 09:24 AM

and it's even better with Variable light distribution coded

3.0L · 07-21-2014, 09:28 AM

I love the Xenon's in my M235i.

///cpt · 07-21-2014, 09:29 AM

They may not look as blue, but visibility is great. No complaints here.

bernstem · 07-21-2014, 09:45 AM

The BMW lights look brighter with a better distribution. I used to like the blue tint of the old Xenons, but I think it is a bit passe anymore. In addition, a whiter light illuminates better than a blue.

yakuza70 · 07-21-2014, 10:08 AM

I noticed the Mercedes' fog lights are on in your comparison photo. Perhaps turn them off for a more fair light output comparison?

HX_Guy · 07-21-2014, 10:09 AM

Hmm, looks like I'm not crazy...Consumer Reports feels the same...

Quote:

"Standard xenon HIDs provide a very bright and uniform pattern of light but, unfortunately, they do not provide sufficient forward seeing distance to allow a driver time to see, react and brake for objects or pedestrians ahead. This is also what we've seen with other BMW sedans."

HX_Guy · 07-21-2014, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yakuza70

I noticed the Mercedes' fog lights are on in your comparison photo. Perhaps turn them off for a more fair light output comparison?

Those are the LED DRL's, not the fog lights.

pikcachu · 07-21-2014, 10:11 AM

that's where anti-dazzle high beam assist coding comes in

HX_Guy · 07-21-2014, 02:02 PM

Well yea, but my car doesn't have the camera in the windshield.

pikcachu · 07-21-2014, 02:22 PM

mine either... don't remind me

HX_Guy · 07-21-2014, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pikcachu

mine either... don't remind me

My wife's car (the E350) does on the other hand and IT'S AWESOME.

Ohio Army Man · 07-21-2014, 02:38 PM

I'm happy with them.

Cyberdemon · 07-21-2014, 02:57 PM

Color = Wavelength.

Wavelength != brightness, cutoff, or intensity.

By that standard, you could buy the Autozone "Super Blue" halogen lamps and get "dat blue"

07-21-2014, 01:07 AM	#1
HX_Guy Captain 119 Rep 623 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW M235i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0)	Anyone else disappointed by the M235i Xenon headlights? Makes me question if the car even has Xenons, but it comes standard so it must (unless they forgot to put the on my car? ) M235i on the left vs E350 w/ Xenons on the right.
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07-21-2014, 01:52 AM	#2
ciwhamc First Lieutenant 12 Rep 304 Posts Drives: M235i Alpine White Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bay Area CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2014 BMW M235i [0.00]	No. I love my headlights. They light up the road perfectly and look great too.
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07-21-2014, 02:17 AM	#3
ScottMZ3 Captain 439 Rep 790 Posts Drives: 2018 Camaro ZL1, 2019 X5 40i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Roseville, CA iTrader: (0)	While the M235i's xenon lights might not be as "blue" as the E350's, from your photos the BMW's are certainly illuminating the road/ground better and have a much better light pattern/cutoff. I assume the M235i lights are almost identical to the ones in my X1 and I find them to be absolutely fantastic. Best Xenons I have had yet. __________________ - Scott Current Cars: 2019 X5 xDrive40i M-Sport, 2018 Camaro ZL1 Past BMWs: '16 528i, '00 M-Coupe, '14 X1 sDrive28i, '00 740iL, '02 325i, '99 M-Coupe, '00 323Ci, '79 323i, '83 320i
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07-21-2014, 02:18 AM	#4
Vlad-Miami Second Lieutenant 17 Rep 200 Posts Drives: BMW M235i MW/CR Join Date: May 2014 Location: Miami Beach iTrader: (0)	The xenon color on bmw is just right, on your mercedes is looks el-cheapo blue (honda style). You don't determine the type of bulb by color appearance, color has nothing to do with a type. In fact, despite being warmer and not having all bulbs turned on, your bmw light still looks brighter on a picture and illuminates the road better. I can tell you a lot of reasons why blue light is a cr@p, but You can google for it yourself.
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07-21-2014, 02:57 AM	#5
HX_Guy Captain 119 Rep 623 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW M235i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0)	Hmm, odd that in those pictures the BMW does seem to light up the road better but while driving I actually feel the Mercedes lights up the road MUCH better. I took some new pictures using a tripod and it looks like the Mercedes lights are angled higher, which is probably why I feel the road further ahead is lit up better (I've already adjusted the BMW lights higher than how the car came, maybe I should go higher still?) BMW on right, Mercedes on left. Last edited by HX_Guy; 07-21-2014 at 03:12 AM..
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07-21-2014, 03:51 AM	#6
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	I have adaptive Xenon's and they are absolutely awesome. Very clever. __________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- Current car.M240i. Previous.MINI JCW. E92 325i. 435d M235i.M135i. 635d Coupe, E92 M3 manual, E92 M3 DCT Competition Pack. E92 335i, Porsche Cayman S Gen2, 135i Coupe. E92 320d, MK5 R32. MK5 Golf GTi,MK5 Golf GT-TDI,E46 318Ci.
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07-21-2014, 09:24 AM	#7
pikcachu Major General 1399 Rep 5,262 Posts Drives: M235i (F22 Red angel) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: undisclosed iTrader: (1)	and it's even better with Variable light distribution coded
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07-21-2014, 09:28 AM	#8
3.0L Colonel 8923 Rep 2,010 Posts Drives: M235i, 20k miles Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: California iTrader: (0)	I love the Xenon's in my M235i. __________________ ///M235i \| Mineral Grey Metallic \| Premium Package \| Technology Package \| Driver Assistance Package \| Dakota Coral Red/Black Leather \| Harman/Kardon Premium 360 watt sound system \| 8-speed automatic When writing your life's plan, use a pencil with an eraser
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07-21-2014, 09:29 AM	#9
///cpt Private 8 Rep 87 Posts Drives: '14 M235i BSM/CR Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	They may not look as blue, but visibility is great. No complaints here.
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07-21-2014, 09:45 AM	#10
bernstem Private First Class 40 Rep 185 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: St. Louis iTrader: (0)	The BMW lights look brighter with a better distribution. I used to like the blue tint of the old Xenons, but I think it is a bit passe anymore. In addition, a whiter light illuminates better than a blue.
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07-21-2014, 10:08 AM	#11
yakuza70 Private First Class 17 Rep 118 Posts Drives: 2011 135i coupe Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: San Mateo, CA iTrader: (0)	I noticed the Mercedes' fog lights are on in your comparison photo. Perhaps turn them off for a more fair light output comparison? __________________ 2011 135i DCT, M Sport, Deep Sea Blue
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07-21-2014, 10:11 AM	#14
pikcachu Major General 1399 Rep 5,262 Posts Drives: M235i (F22 Red angel) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: undisclosed iTrader: (1)	that's where anti-dazzle high beam assist coding comes in Last edited by pikcachu; 07-21-2014 at 12:01 PM..
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07-21-2014, 02:02 PM	#15
HX_Guy Captain 119 Rep 623 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW M235i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0)	Well yea, but my car doesn't have the camera in the windshield.
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07-21-2014, 02:22 PM	#16
pikcachu Major General 1399 Rep 5,262 Posts Drives: M235i (F22 Red angel) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: undisclosed iTrader: (1)	mine either... don't remind me
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07-21-2014, 02:38 PM	#18
Ohio Army Man Private First Class 14 Rep 147 Posts Drives: 2014 M235i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	I'm happy with them.
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07-21-2014, 02:57 PM	#19
Cyberdemon Brigadier General 1538 Rep 3,331 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 40i, 2018 M3 Comp Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (3)	Color = Wavelength. Wavelength != brightness, cutoff, or intensity. By that standard, you could buy the Autozone "Super Blue" halogen lamps and get "dat blue" __________________ Current: '20 X5, '18 M3 ZCP Previous: '11 E90 335i, '11 E90 M3, '16 VW GTI, '15 M235i, '13 335i, '08 TL-S, '00 Corvette
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