[s-cars] ecode Xenons

[Igor Kessel]

Bob Rossato wrote:
> Simply to add more light to the side of the road to be better able to
> see pedestrians, animals, etc.  The Z beam (actually more like a
> backwards Z) is a compromise between a completely flat beam and the
> typical Euro beam that is angled up on the right side (or left for the
> UK).  Audi may be using that on the Xenons to reduce the possibility of
> blinding on-coming traffic, or traffic to your right on a multi lane
> road, as anything below the cutoff is extremely bright.  Which is also
> why they have the automatic levelers.
> 
> Bob
> 
> 
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com 
>>[mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of 
>>calvinlc at earthlink.net
>>Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2005 1:38 AM
>>To: Bob Rossato; 'Igor Kessel'
>>Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
>>Subject: RE: [s-cars] ecode Xenons
>>
>>
>>Bob,
>>
>>That makes me ask the question why the beam looks like 
>>this...why isn't it
>>the same all the way across?
>>
>>--Calvin (apparently headlight challenged)
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Bob Rossato [mailto:bob.rossato at att.net]
>>Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 5:40 PM
>>To: 'Igor Kessel'; calvinlc at earthlink.net
>>Cc: s-car-list at audifans.com
>>Subject: RE: [s-cars] ecode Xenons
>>
>>
>>
>>>calvinlc at earthlink.net wrote:
>>>
>>>>I have an '01 A6 and I am wondering why you guys are 
>>
>>replacing your
>>Xenons.
>>
>>>>So far, my only problem, is the stupid "adjustment" that happens
>>
>>while
>>
>>>>driving where sometimes my lights wind up pointing only 25 feet in
>>
>>front of
>>
>>>>the car and sometimes they are great.  Do the European 
>>
>>ones do away
>>with
>>
>>>>this innane feature that was never needed on headlights 
>>
>>for the last
>>100
>>
>>>>years?  Thanks.
>>>>
>>>
>>>Calvin,
>>>once you have experienced the added benefit of the European
>>
>>asymmetrical
>>
>>>beam, flaring the right side of the wooded road where the deer often
>>>lurks you'd realise that there's no coming back to the flat American
>>>beam cut-out.
>>>
>>>--
>>>Igor Kessel
>>>two turbo quattros
>>
>>Igor,
>>
>>I retrofitted Xe projectors from a '00 or '01 Euro A6 in my '95 and I
>>was surprised that the pattern was no different than that of 
>>the US DoT
>>projectors.  Both have what Cibie used to call a Z beam.  
>>Looks sort of
>>like this.
>>              ________
>>_______/
>>
>>The only difference between the Euro C5 A6 Xe and US C4 S6 
>>halogen beam
>>pattern was that the Euro version had the capability, as you are well
>>aware of, to completely flatten the beam by means of a manual 
>>shield for
>>traveling between the continent and the UK.
>>
>>I know the typical Euro halogen beam angles up to the right at about
>>30deg, but the Euro C5 A6 Xe, at least the ones I got, do not 
>>have this
>>feature.  Not that it can't be cut into the existing shield by some
>>slight work with a file.
>>
>>Bob

That is correct, Bob. The Euro Halogens in my car had the regular 
European Asymmetrical beam:

          /
         /
_______/

The Euro HID projectors (off a wrecked 740i) that I have retrofitted 
into my car recently have the inverted "Z" beam:

          ___________
         /
_______/

I have come to the same conclusion as you have. The most likely reason 
is to cut off the glare in case of an accidental misalignment.

-- 
Igor Kessel
two turbo quattros