2012 Exeo ST Sport Tech Headlights

[danjwilko]

Oh damn forgot about the bloody bi-xenons yup your right you'll have a single xenon (hid) bulb that will have a ballast pack on the back. These normally last about 2-5 years maybe more depends on the amount of use they get and on/off cycles.

Basically the lens is there to both help project the light forward and they only allow a certain amount of light out regardless of the output of the bulb behind.

I have no idea how much these bi-xenons will cost but for my xenons on the Saab they were£46 each from ring. I wouldn't put any old cheap bulbs/kits in off of eBay or unnamed brands for risk of damage to the lighting circuits/headlight unit itself if cheaper components are used to make them.

I know from personal experience these do dim over time and they don't all seem very bright regardless of stick a new set in.

If your mechanically minded they're easy enough to change a bit more of a pain than standard bulbs thanks to the ballast pack but if you have room in the bay shouldn't be a problem.
If not a local garage or a Halfords auto centre are qualified to do them not a Halfords store mind. If Halfords have them in stock they do come with a 3 year warranty if they fit them.

I'd shop around though I don't know which ones you'll need but I have seen these bulbs at £100 each.


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[M7R]

There's been some tosh on here....

Xenon bulb output is normally around 3200 lumens, a standard H7 bulb is around 1200 lumans. However like halogen bulbs xenon do age. They will take many many years to go pop, but after about 4 years or so they will start to go bluer, and reduce in light output. The bluer light is easier to absorb so less is reflected back and therefore they also appear dulled to the human eye. People want an ice white light but actually a light of around 4300 kelvin gives the biggest output and reflects back the most.

Full beam is provided by the same bulb as dip beam, all that happens is the shutter moves out of the way to allow light above the normal cut off, therefore they don't appear any brighter in front of the car, they do shine further down the road though as the light is no longer dipping to the ground.

The human eye is drawn to bright lights, one problem is most people look for bright light on the floor in front of the car, and if it's bright assume they have good lights. What you actually have is pants lights for driving with. My exeo lights from the factory were night and bright in front of the car, but you couldn't actually see very far down the road (projector lenses give a hard cut off, reflect lamps don't so the light more fades out rather than light / dark). What you need to do is re-aim the lamps. Park 10 meters away from a wall on a flat surface, measure the height to the middle of the lamp, take away 10% and then mark that height on the wall. That is the height that the lower level of the beam pattern needs to be level with or just above. This will mean possible less light just in front of the car but far more light down the road and less of a light / dark issue on country lanes.

If you replace the bulbs for the love of god don't be cheap! eBay specials will be crap! They are cheap as they are rejects etc. Go for Philips, Osram etc. The big brands. They are normally around £25 to £40 a bulb. If you are in the U.K. Find your local TPS (trade parts specialist) vw trade outlet, the quantum DS2 bulbs are £20 each iirc from them.

Also if you do change them i have read they need time burn in as there are salts in the little bubble where the arc happens and they need time
Tonvapourise. I did read that in the first 3 hours of use they should be left on as long as possible and if you can avoid turning them on and off more than 3 times and hour to let them bed in. I followed this process with me new Osram bulbs on my mk2 leon and they have got slightly brighter with use that's for sure.

Also
Make sure you have clean lamps, and running really rich screen wash won't actually help. It stops it freezing but it froths up too much to clean the lamps properly. The official test (yes lamp washers have to be approved..using official govenemt dirt which is very expensive...don't ask me how I know... I can't go into details..) is normally done with water or weak washer fluid for this reason, too much froth and it won't pass the test..

 

[danjwilko]

Ds2 ? Aren't they d1s bulbs for these? Circa £100 each well price on euro car parts Phillips and osrams were more.

My saab which has or had should I say hids/xenon bulbs had a h1 bulb in tandem the full beam was provided by the h1 bulb not the hid/xenon.

And as the op said his main beam was poor and he had halogens I assumed he'd have this setup turns out he has a single bi-xenon setup should be the best road light you can have. Although as say the halogens I have I'd rather be able to see the road close up to a middle distance rather than have a dull long distance projected beam from xenons as I've had halogens , 2 lots of hids and led setup the halogens were best to drive with by far pain in the ass when they die prematurely but hey ho my opinion and I've done some serious mileage circa 50k -6months 6 ish years on the trot.

Change the bulbs make sure the lens is clean and should be good to go if that's no help it'll be time for a new ballast pack i.e. The pack with the stuff that produces the gas.



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[M7R]

Hmm I'll have to check when I'm home (currently the other side of the world) as I thought that face lift cars were DS2 but I could be wrong as it's been a fair while since I have played with the head lights or been on etka for the exeo.

As for buying bulbs avoid euro car parts, it's one thing they aren't cheap for. If you shop around DS1s can be had for £40 or so each http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/osram-d1s-35w-xenarc-hid-xenon-replacement-bulb-66140/

Or again go TPS, the DS1 part number is 941QBUD1SSP they should be about £25 plus vat, and they are the same as line fit so possibly Osram or Phillips.

 

[danjwilko]

Il bear that in mind parts wise and could be wrong on the d1s bulbs they're listed for 2009-2017 for the seat Exeo but I know what the generic parts guides are like.

Might be worth looking at make sure people purchase the correct ones.


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[M7R]

Just checked the online etka i some times use (etka.cc) and that does list a DS1, so I apologise it should be a DS1. No idea where I had DS2 from then...either way they aren't that expensive to be replacing if using TPS parts as listed above