Headlamps (Bi-Xenon) - Introduction

GROUP 63
Lights

Bulletin Number
63 05 01

Woodcliff Lake, NJ
November 2001
Service Engineering

SUBJECT
Introduction of Bi-xenon Headlamps

MODEL
E46 (3 Series) Vehicles produced from 9/2001

SITUATION
Bi-xenon headlamps (option # 522) were introduced as an option on E46 vehicles produced from September 2001. These bi-xenon head lamps replace the xenon headlamp option available on earlier vehicles.

INFORMATION
Vehicles with bi-xenon headlamps have the outer pair of lamps as bi-xenon, and the inner pair standard halogen H7 bulbs. This configuration is similar to earlier vehicles with xenon headlamps.

Bi-xenon lamps provide both low beam output, and high beam output from the same lamp. This is achieved by the actuation of an internal mechanical flap within the headlamp, which changes the beam pattern accordingly. With the introduction of bi-xenon headlamps, the operation of the head lamps has changed:

Outer (bi-xenon) lamps - Low beam and high beam

Inner (halogen) lamps - Headlamp flash, and daytime driving lamps.

Note:
The inner headlamps no longer illuminate on high beam.