OK ... I got the email back from XenonDepot in the US:

Hi Simon,

Thank-you for your email:

1) The bulbs/ballasts in this product are brand new. The projectors do have slight use however are in 100% working condition. Each product is bench tested to ensure it is in proper working order.

2) The projectors are made by Hella and can be found in Mercedes and BMW

3) I believe that the shield on the ECE projector can be reversed.

4) Unfortunately I do not have any pictures at this time.

I understand your concern about purchasing from ebay however for your peace of mind, we are a power seller on ebay and have a 1000+ feedback with paypal.

Regards,

Steve

Apparently these are used in Mercs and BMWs in the US (projectors that is) ... the dimension details are on the earlier post.

I'll get a detailed list of all parts (with part numbers used) ... I'll email them now.

Sounds good.

Used in BMW, MB....... Maybe what he means is as retrofits. Surely he does not mean as OEM??

Here is some basic info on just few of the most common Bi-Xenon Projectors in the market (Yes, even over there), and how they look.

The most common and probably The ONE on top of every dreamer’s whish list would be:

Bosch Bi-Xenon Projector.
The Bosch Bi-xenon projector can be found on 2002+ BMW 3, 5 Series, Mercedes SL500 and late model Mercedes C-Class.
These are currently amongst the smallest Bi-xenon available and are useful for tight spaces.
The intensity is quite good for something it's size (quite an improvement from the earlier Bosch: Audi TT).



Then comes it’s European Cousin E Bosch Bi-Xenon Projector.
This is the Euro (ECE/E Code) version of the Bosch Bixenon projector.
The lens of the DOT version (US Version) above is matte (textured) with a horizontal line through the middle. The Euro lens is clear, has no horizontal line but has a quarter sized patch of textured surface right in the centre of the lens.
The step in the cutoff shield of the Euro version is slightly higher then the DOT version and there is a switch to give the cutoff line an almost flat appearance (no flare).



Then on the list is E39.
This is the one from BMW 5 series.



Then comes E46.
Used on BMW 3 series (E46 projector); also BMWs that are pre-bixenon.
This particular projector is also found on the Audi TT and BMW 7 series (E38).



Then it is E55 on the list.
This is the Bi-xenon projector from a Mercedes E55 (the same projector can also be found on the 2002+ BMW 7 Series, 2004+ BMW 5 Series, BMW Z4, 2004+ Nissan Maxima and few others).



Then we have ECE UK ones.
This is an ECE (UK specifically) or a JDM (Japanese Market) version of Bi-Xenon projectors.




There is another version of ECE.
This is the ECE Audi A4 projector found on Audi A4/S4.
Has a clear lens that does not have the concentric rings and the cutoff shield's flare differs.



And finally on this list we have one of the Projectors used by Honda S2000.



Of course as you can imagine there are many other makes and models in the market.

Unfortunately, Hella projectors aren't much of a match against those from other companies. YET.

So let's wait and see his reply. Otherwise they would have been used by OEM more extensively.

Last edited by mavs19 on Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

That bottom one looks literally identical to the Honda Accord Euro as well.

The 2nd last one also looks like the Mazda 6 one from memory too.

You are absolutely correct.

These Projectors are made by few manufacturers, specially for the OEM market.
They introduce their range of products to the car manufacturers and In most cases car manufacturer use these products as is.
Occasionally they ask for special designs.

So, a specific Part can be used by several car designers and manufacturers.
Same part can be used by different car manufacturers, sometime during the same year of production and sometimes during different years for different makes and models.

Japanese car manufacturers usually look in their own backyard first for local parts manufacturers before using overseas parts.

In Europe you got 2 major camps. The Germans and the French.
All other countries use whatever is best and available in the market at the time of production of a vehicle.

Hella, Cibie, Marshal.... are mainly used as After Market add ons in the European Markets, and occasionally used by OEM.

The most important issue when choosing a Projector is obviously the Optics of the unit.
Unfortunately, some of the after market manufacturers, specially when they have sub contracted the manufacturing to a Far East Asian company, do not use the best parts available.
I have seen few Projectors using a common reshaped cheap magnifying glass in their projectors.
When you examine the reflectors you will soon find out that the design and the shape, pattern of the reflector is completely wrong and the so called chrome is of a very poor quality.
The problem with vacuum chroming is something that is a known factor with majority of products coming from Far East Asia.
The last thing you want to happen is the “chromeâ€￾ layer in the reflector to peel off, fade off or become yellowish in colour.

To do the right design one would need access to the right technology, software, hardware and expertise and the right personnel to do the job.
Following pic shows how a beam pattern is normally created in a reflector.

We are talking about parts and issues that deal directly with our safety on the road.
So, it is important that we choose the right parts from the start, rather than wishing that we had done so in hind side.

 

 

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Hi Mechan1k,

I was looking at the pictures you posted earlier and have a couple of questions for you:

1-Can you tell me if the "Shield" which is screwed to the base of your Xenon bulb (at least that is how it looks like) is there a screw on the other side or is there only 1 screw holding this shield.
I need as much details about this shield as you can give me.

2-Are you any good handyman? I mean are you good with making things out of metal i.e. bending a piece of Aluminium to a specific form?

3-Can you take a pic of the shield when lights off from front and above and post it?

Will see what i can do.

I suck when it comes to making things ... LOL.
I'd have a look at the light tonight ... but ... I brought the Territory into work instead of the ute ... so i will have to have a good look tomorrow.

Also seeing as I have moved house ... I have no PC out there yet ... so will need to bring the camera into work with the USB cable and upload it during the night.

Are you thinking of making a new shield under the globe itself??? to reduce glare for oncoming traffic and crating a cut-off beam in the process?

Just trying to read your mind ... hee hee.

What I can do is pull the passenger side globe out and take a photo of that if i can get a chance (will be sleeping during the day tomorrow after night shift tonight though).

Will try my best for you across the weekend though.

Yes, yes and another yes.
Good thinking.
If you take out the bulb and take pictures from the shield from top, bottom and straight forward, also a pic of the reflector from straight forward so I can see the entire reflector.
Carefully take measurements of the base, were the screw/s are in relation to the base etc.
I believe I can calculate the beam pattern created in your reflector.
Then I may be able to give you a temporarily remedy to your glare problem and may even be able to design a shield of some kind that creates an acceptable beam patter with better and sharper cut off points.

Don’t worry; I will make it simple so you can make a couple yourself.

This would of course be a temp. solution until you get a Proper Bi-Xenon Projector.

I realised that there must have been a good reason why you had not replied my questions. Now I know.

I am on rotational day/night shifts (12 hour) ... and work for the courier company every other day inbetween ... so I am busy ... I really only get a chance to peruse the forums while at work.

I'll try and get some close/clear photos tomorrow for you and send them to you.

If you want ... PM me your email address and I'll try and send you good sized pics (depends on your internet/email settings/speeds) .. or I can just adjust them to 800x600 and upload them (via imageshack) and put them up on here.

As soon as I receive the pics. I will study them and will come back to you on this thread with the results and my suggestions.

Still haven't had a chance to pic up my USB cable for the camera ... plus Bec borrowed the ute for the entire day (had fun in her parents paddock and brought it back muddy)

She's getting the knack of drifting on slippery grass and clay mud ... LMAO. If you wanted to know why she was doing it ... she was rounding up cattle on the other side of the paddock ... ROFL.

I'll try and get pics of the globe today if i can for you and upload and email them to you

For those of you who have an aftermarket HID Xenon kit fitted to your stock Halogen reflectors.

There could be some solutions that may help you to get rid of that unwanted and illegal glare and it could help you to even get a proper beam pattern.

Each person who would like to receive a suggestion as to what they need to do, and hopefully try to overcome these problems need to send a set of 6 high resolution pictures of their headlights as follows:

4 Pictures of the headlight reflector with the Xenon bulb inserted taken from straight ahead of the car. Remember, I don’t want to see the car. I want to see ALL of each reflector, the position of the bulb etc. …..
-One from left and one from right side reflector. (That is 2 Pics.)
-One with lights on and one with lights off. (That is another 2 Pics.)

Also, 2 pictures of the beam pattern emitted from the reflectors (With lights on, of course).
-One taken with the car facing a large and preferably a white or at least not too dark wall in front of the car at a distance of 6 metres.
-One with the car 1 metre from the wall.
Try to take the picture so that it covers everything that is reflected from the headlights on the wall. 3-4 metres on each side and as high up as the wall allows.

So that is a total of 6 pictures.

I will then study each case separately and give suggestions as to what you could do.
Unfortunately in some cases there is not much you could do.

All pictures must be sent to me before 15th November, after 20th I will be involved in a very time consuming project and will therefore not be able to take on any further cases.
Name each picture with your login name and number them from 1 to 6.

i will take some pics tommo0rrow

And ill have to get back to ya on that one but thanks

I ended up ordering new aftermarket headlights and I'll fit a ebay HID kit to those (ordered them last week, should arrive this week hopefully)
So I'll join the "I'll get pic shortly" bandwagon