Xenon v LED Lights

youtheman · 08-11-2016 01:18PM #1

Was wondering if many people have experience of both types of lights. Just replaced my Skoda Superb (which had bi-xenon lights) with a Mazda CX-5 (LED lights). I'm very disappointed with the LED lights. Thought the were the modern equivalent of Xenons. But there is no comparison. The Xenons would literally light up half the countryside (not very nice to be on the receiving end admittedly). If I am driving down a country lane and I am on dips then I can only see a few meters ahead, I keep saying to myself "hope there is no one walking ahead of me because I'll only see them at the last second". When I am one fulls then I miss being able to see about 1/2 km ahead. I really do miss my Xenons!. Anyone else feel the same?.

corglass · 08-11-2016 01:56PM

I'm quite surprised at that, I thought LED would have been better. Maybe it's a manufacturer issue.

It would be interesting if someone has experience of Xenon and LED in the same car model

biko · 08-11-2016 01:59PM

I see a few comparison vids on the ol youtube

kay 9 · 08-11-2016 02:20PM

They may need adjustment. Any jap car I've had they seem to be set low from manufacture

GustavoFring · 08-11-2016 02:27PM

Went from a Leon with LED headlights to an Octy with Xenon's. There's no comparison.

The spread of light is far superior with xenon's. The cut off on the LED headlights was very noticeable where the xenon's the light seems to go further into the distance. They also don't produce heat meaning they can ice up while driving on very cold mornings rendering them useless.

In saying that the Leon's LEDs were most likely nothing special and lacked any cornering or adaptive functions and other manufacturers probably do better.

grogi · 08-11-2016 03:09PM

youtheman wrote: »

Was wondering if many people have experience of both types of lights.

What LED are much better at is the ability to actively form the light beam - individual LEDs can light and dim to lighten as far as possible not blinding the oncoming traffic at the same time... They are not necessarily designed to be brighter.

If the LEDs come without this ability, it is just marketing gimmick...

ianobrien · 08-11-2016 07:22PM

I find the LED's in the Leon quite good. The dip especially as it lights the left hand ditch quite well. The dip doesn't throw a lot of light to the right as that would be blinding the oncoming traffic. Putting on main beam moves the lights (I'm not too sure if it's reflectors or the location of the LED) and switches on three more LED clusters. They are much better than the standard lights in the Leon.

I much rather light aimed where I need it, rather than it being thrown everywhere.

That being said, the best headlights I've ever experienced were the round H4 headlights in a MK2 Escort.

Atlantic Dawn · 08-11-2016 07:32PM

Xenon is the king but I don't think I could ever justify them as an option where they are a grand extra on some new cars.

robbie99 · 08-11-2016 08:17PM

It's a shame this, but the reason LEDs aren't performing as well as xenons is because of cost cutting.

LEDs use cheaper reflectors while xenons must use projectors because their bulbs are brighter than some EU limit (2000 lumens I think). Xenons must also have headlight washers. LEDs stay under the EU limit by limiting the number of LEDs in the array.

LED systems are also much lighter than xenons leading to lower CO2 emissions. No ballast, no headlight washers, no self leveling required...

Although xenons might be a little bit brighter, what you're seeing really when comparing LEDs to xenons is actually reflectors v projectors. Projectors are what give xenons the range and the sharp cut-off. Reflectors scatter the LED light more.

http://bestheadlightbulbs.com/projector-vs-reflector-headlights-which-is-best/

What we really need are LEDs in a projector housing!

JoeA3 · 08-11-2016 08:47PM

Love the xenons in my car. Wouldn't have a car without them spec'd, they'd be up there with seats and a steering wheel in terms of minimum requirement.

I'm surprised at this thread though. I had thought LED's were the next great thing. Some manufacturers are offering xenons as standard and LED's at a costly premium (I think Audi do this with the A6 anyway) so I'd have expected the LED's to provide even better light output.

Odyssey 2005 · 08-11-2016 08:57PM

Have an 09 superb with bi zenons. Light is brilliant. Also had a 141 superb with big zenons light was even better,best lights on any car I've ever driven.
Changed the 141 for an E class with led's. Pure Crap,nearly back to having someone walk in front with a red flag. Progress me hole.

CrowdedHouse · 08-11-2016 09:04PM

The OH has a Suzuki Vitara I find the LED lights on it are fine - although the Fulls are halogen
(I have adaptive xenons on my own car)

Voodoomelon · 08-11-2016 09:21PM

Interesting indeed, I automatically thought LEDs we superior in every way to xenons. Wonder what they're like from the leading headlight tech brands like BMW or Audi.

NIMAN · 08-11-2016 09:31PM

Definitely interesting stuff.

The way LEDs are being pushed in the home bulb market, I just assumed they would be much better for the car sector too.

You live and learn.

Odyssey 2005 · 08-11-2016 10:12PM

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Interesting indeed, I automatically thought LEDs we superior in every way to xenons. Wonder what they're like from the leading headlight tech brands like BMW or Audi.

I think the audi .matrix (?) light and are suposto be good.

F34 · 08-11-2016 10:18PM

I've had xenons on my 1 series F20, 3 series gt F34 and now LED's on my 3 touring F31 and the LED's are much better and less blinding if they hit a sign on full. I actually thought the xenons in the F34 were not as good as the F30 maybe it was due to ride height but the LED's in the F31 have been fantastic and worth the upgrade over the xenons.

Eric Cartman · 08-11-2016 10:20PM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Xenon is the king but I don't think I could ever justify them as an option where they are a grand extra on some new cars.

when you don't hit a deer or a log in the road because you can see, that grand will mean a lot.

I have xenons on both cars and could not go back, there is nothing better and from a safety perspective they are priceless.

_Kaiser_ · 08-11-2016 10:22PM

Interesting thread.. I have xenons in my new/previous A6 and would have assumed that LEDs were better - although they're certainly more blinding when oncoming at night

I may need new bulbs on the new A6 though as I find the output pretty poor compared to the last one.. unless there was some tinkering done between the original C6/4F and the facelift?

kirving · 08-11-2016 10:24PM

Only have Xenon dipped beams but I love the light output, means I have to use the Halogen full beams less often. With the darker evenings now, going to upgrade to something better though.

Still don't really rate LED's, except from maybe the premium manufacturers, but no personal experience of them. Laser is the future though.

NIMAN · 08-11-2016 10:27PM

Who do they compare in terms of cost?
Aren't some bulbs very expensive to replace?

I would have thought LED would be the future due to the amount of energy they use (i.e. low)?

GustavoFring · 08-11-2016 10:52PM

NIMAN wrote: »

Who do they compare in terms of cost?
Aren't some bulbs very expensive to replace?

I would have thought LED would be the future due to the amount of energy they use (i.e. low)?

They can be expensive to replace, about €100 a side. But tbh...I've replaced two over the years when one failed. I'd have spent more money on night breakers for the placebo effect.

Eric Cartman · 08-11-2016 11:00PM

D3S Bi-Xenon bulbs - about 110 euro , Changed them in my range rover, the ones I took out were the originals so 7 years / 60,000 miles per change.

Summer wind · 08-11-2016 11:44PM

I've had 2 BMW F10's with adaptive xenon lights and they are fantastic with light like daylight. I'd a 2015 Audi A6 for just over a year with xenon lights and found them awful really dim. Couldn't believe the difference. Delighted to be back in an F10 again. The adaptive xenons are great at night when you are driving on dark twisty back roads. I thought LED lights would be better again as most companies offer them as an upgrade. Think I'll be sticking with xenon.

bear1 · 09-11-2016 12:27AM

I always wondered but why do xenons need to have washer jets?
Our auris has xenons and find them very very good.

bazz26 · 09-11-2016 12:35AM

I've owned two BMW F10s, one a pre LCI and the current one is a LCI model, both with adaptive xenons. I found the original F10's xenons impressive but the LCI ones are even better in my experience. Have no experience of LED headlights yet but I'd be very pissed if they were inferior to xenons given they are a very expensive upgrade on most makes. FWIW I'd never go back to halogen again, I often borrow the father's Auris and the poor light from the halogens makes me think there are a couple of candles in there.

dissed doc · 09-11-2016 12:41AM

youtheman wrote: »

Was wondering if many people have experience of both types of lights. Just replaced my Skoda Superb (which had bi-xenon lights) with a Mazda CX-5 (LED lights). I'm very disappointed with the LED lights. Thought the were the modern equivalent of Xenons. But there is no comparison. The Xenons would literally light up half the countryside (not very nice to be on the receiving end admittedly). If I am driving down a country lane and I am on dips then I can only see a few meters ahead, I keep saying to myself "hope there is no one walking ahead of me because I'll only see them at the last second". When I am one fulls then I miss being able to see about 1/2 km ahead. I really do miss my Xenons!. Anyone else feel the same?.

The "active" type of LED headlamps with dynamic cornering lights, and active/smart main beam shuttering seen on Audi (Matrix) and VW (Dynamic Light Assist) is quite excellent when you see it running, and beats my experience of previous Xenons. Probably the best upgrade you could make!

I would also say, get your lights checked and readjusted if necessary. It might be a different type of light but it shouldn't be so obviously reduced.

carsfan2 · 09-11-2016 12:09PM

I have experience of Xenons and leds now on BMW and don't find the led any better. The light is a little whiter but the spread is no better especially on low beam. I suspect manufacturers can do led lights far cheaper than Xenons and save also as no washers.
They are taking the mickey than to upgrade to active leds. For instance the new 5 series has led standard but to get active leds is almost 2 grand for visibility pack when before it was about 1100 to upgrade to active Xenons previously.
Do agree that the adaptive versions of both xenon and led are superior however not sure worth the premium but definitely I agree I would pay over standard halogens

Tropheus · 09-11-2016 01:18PM

Seemingly xenons require headlamp washers to disperse snow and ice as they will scatter the light and dazzle oncoming drivers. Have factory xenons on my Allroad and the washers were useless during the big freeze in 2010 as they just froze. Should have used neat vodka in the washer bottle.

I think the additional high cost of factory xenons is down to manufacturers having to fit auto levelling and washers as the cost of the technology itself isn't that high. LEDs should be even cheaper.

Special Circumstances · 09-11-2016 01:24PM

Tropheus wrote: »

Seemingly xenons require headlamp washers to disperse snow and ice as they will scatter the light and dazzle oncoming drivers. Have factory xenons on my Allroad and the washers were useless during the big freeze in 2010 as they just froze. Should have used neat vodka in the washer bottle.

I think the additional high cost of factory xenons is down to manufacturers having to fit auto levelling and washers as the cost of the technology itself isn't that high. LEDs should be even cheaper.

But surely if you make LEDs as powerful as Xenons... then you will then need self leveling and washers for them too?

Had a load of spare isopropyl alcohol during the big freeze... used a little too much, some bang of alcohol when using the washer jets!:eek:

GustavoFring · 09-11-2016 01:38PM

LEDs have self leveling, it's just the washers they do without.

Special Circumstances · 09-11-2016 02:06PM

GustavoFring wrote: »

LEDs have self leveling, it's just the washers they do without.

Because they are under the 2000 lumen threshold of light output?

If they produced as many lumens as 35W Xenons then they would need washers and self leveling from my understanding of the requirements.

The thing about HIDs is that they are a standard bulb size (s?). If you need a new bulb or a something goes wrong with ballasts you have options other than the main dealer.

I don't think LEDs* will be a standard, replaceable bulb - they will be custom "driver + LED" modules made to fit Car X. You better hope they don't fail outside warranty. If there was some requirement for LED lamps to be covered by warranty for a longer period than the main warranty that would be decent enough. However I can't see the EU doing this really.

*I don't mean eBay tat

Xenon v LED Lights

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