Headlight confusion....

[951Dreams]

Ok, I'm a bit confused. Google seems to have no idea what lights I have. I know I have Xenon self-leveling lights in the outside position as low beams. Google, and the "book" at Wal-mart seems to think I should have H1 high-beams. But that doesn't seem to be the case for me. I have 9005's. But maybe I'm confused!

It seems to me that the Xenon lights, the outer ones, are low beams. And the inner "day runner" lights then switch on for HI-BEAM, and become the HI-BEAM lights. The Xenon's also stay on. I can't tell if they are going HI-BEAM as well, as they are drowned out by the inner lights going HI-BEAM. I've pulled the inner lights and watched them from inside the car and verified they do react to HI-BEAM. And I have GREAT light on HI-BEAM, but it's yellow light. It's weird to me that I have the Xenon white light on low-beam, then when I hit HI-BEAM 'BAM' it's all yellow now. I can barely tell the Xenon's are in the mix.

So, in short, to me it seems the outer Xenon's are always on with the headlights. The inner non-Xenon's kick in when I hit the HI's. Is there a 3rd bulb at play here I've yet to find? Why do the books and google seem to think I have H1's? What I found was just plain ol' 9005's like what my 99 Suburban uses.

Can anyone clear this up for me? Even the manual is confusing. It says H1 Low H7 Hi. But I don't have connectors for either where the "day/HI" light is.

[Timm]

There were many versions depending on the model year and country variant - although in the UK we got H1 and H7 Halogens with the option of Xenon's for the low-beams, the US got 9005's (AFAIK). The Xenon's are for the low-beams and (as you have noticed) you have Halogen high-beams. You cannot use Xenon's for the high-beams as they are not designed to rapidly switch on and off - it would kill them, so you get Halogens instead (which appear yellow in comparison).

To reduce the white/yellow comparison you can use Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited bulbs which are slightly whiter (and a lot brighter).

BMW produced a bulb information chart - which shows H1 and H7 being used in the US market:

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/Lights.htm

[740iSport303]

There were many versions depending on the model year and country variant - although in the UK we got H1 and H7 Halogens with the option of Xenon's for the low-beams, the US got 9005's (AFAIK). The Xenon's are for the low-beams and (as you have noticed) you have Halogen high-beams. You cannot use Xenon's for the high-beams as they are not designed to rapidly switch on and off - it would kill them, so you get Halogens instead (which appear yellow in comparison).

To reduce the white/yellow comparison you can use Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited bulbs which are slightly whiter (and a lot brighter).

BMW produced a bulb information chart - which shows H1 and H7 being used in the US market:

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/Lights.htm

Actually, 9006 but close enough.

[951Dreams]

Actually, 9006 but close enough.

It had 9005's in it, so I got those again. I got the Silverstars (cause that's what Wal-mart carries, I work for home office, and get a discount. Plus there is no other store for 20 miles. Don't judge!) and they are at least whiter than the basics that were in it. But I'm not sure they are going to last long as they are also day-runners.

Is there a US only manual that's got the correct info?? I have not found info about 9005/9006 ANYWHERE! Not even mentioned as a foot note. With how many of these that came to the US seems kinda strange!!

Anyway, thanks guys! I was a little worried that someone had done a funky conversion or something. Good to know it's standard. Just can believe this doesn't even come up in google searches!!

[Timm]

Even the Owners Manual doesn't help the US drivers:

http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/1997Man...s.pdf#page=165