xenon conversion answers

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   Ok have got the definative answer on pre 2000 headlights and how to upgrade them correctly to full xenon.
As we all know the halogen bulbs are pants so 12 months ago I bought a xenon kit from a BMW specialist but was very disapointed, the beam spread and focus was poor, in fact worse than with the halogens! but when I got an advisory on my MOT for dim lights I knew I had to find out what was wrong. 
Initially I could not work out why as I had fitted xenon kits to other cars with 100% success so set out to find why by stripping the lights completely looking at the reflectors, the focus lense and the cut off shield etc. After removing and fitted the lights back in 25+ times with various levels of success with improving the focus. I turned to the internet for an answer but after 12 months of researching still no defiative answer. 
I had nearly given up and was going to give in and buy genuine Hella units at silly cost £500 (ish) but last week bought a set of internal parts from a set of xenon lights.
Well what a surprise! the reflecter is a different shape there is a much cleaner more shiney coating, the projecter lense is different with etched focus circles, the cut off bar also a different shape.
Well the internal parts were swapped over to my headlights and as the bits I had also included the D2 xenon bulbs and balasts I have in fact converted the lights to genuine BMW ( Hella ) xenon units and for wait for it £50!  don`t you just love e-bay?  
The light output and focus is perfect now...well happy!
Well thats it, proof positive the non xenon headlights cannot be successfully converted using a HID kit only as they are not compatable, you must change the internals too.
Hope that helps
Jeff TT

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Jeff TT Members Profile Find Members Posts Groupie Joined: 20-August-2004 Location: United Kingdom Points: 93	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jeff TT Quote Reply Topic: xenon conversion answers Posted: 18-April-2008 at 23:16
	Ok have got the definative answer on pre 2000 headlights and how to upgrade them correctly to full xenon. As we all know the halogen bulbs are pants so 12 months ago I bought a xenon kit from a BMW specialist but was very disapointed, the beam spread and focus was poor, in fact worse than with the halogens! but when I got an advisory on my MOT for dim lights I knew I had to find out what was wrong. Initially I could not work out why as I had fitted xenon kits to other cars with 100% success so set out to find why by stripping the lights completely looking at the reflectors, the focus lense and the cut off shield etc. After removing and fitted the lights back in 25+ times with various levels of success with improving the focus. I turned to the internet for an answer but after 12 months of researching still no defiative answer. I had nearly given up and was going to give in and buy genuine Hella units at silly cost £500 (ish) but last week bought a set of internal parts from a set of xenon lights. Well what a surprise! the reflecter is a different shape there is a much cleaner more shiney coating, the projecter lense is different with etched focus circles, the cut off bar also a different shape. Well the internal parts were swapped over to my headlights and as the bits I had also included the D2 xenon bulbs and balasts I have in fact converted the lights to genuine BMW ( Hella ) xenon units and for wait for it £50! don`t you just love e-bay? The light output and focus is perfect now...well happy! Well thats it, proof positive the non xenon headlights cannot be successfully converted using a HID kit only as they are not compatable, you must change the internals too. Hope that helps Jeff TT