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THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHLitronics and Bi-Xenons the same thing?
Reported or suspected cause
later litronics versions
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Reported cause
It was the later Litronics versions that had bi-xenon capability.
Leading evidence: 'later litronics versions' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'later litronics versions' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace "aim" of the low, hid, beam upward' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Litronic lighting is older technology that has been replaced with Bi-Xenons.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Like fog lights used along with the main beams close in lighting from the HIDs when the high beams are on can be detrimental to the driver's night time forward distance vision.
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Both Litronics and Bi-Xenons use halogens in high-beam mode, they are just used different ways.
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Suggestion
With the Litronic system you simply change the "aim" of the low, HID, beam upward, but still with it SHARP upper level cutoff.
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Suggestion
As I said before bi-xenon is more of a generic term for HID bulbs that not only remain illuminated when you turn on high beams, but ALSO change their beam pattern so as to have more upward illumination.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Like fog lights used along with the main beams close in lighting from the HIDs when the high beams are on can be detrimental to the driver's night time forward distance vision.
Use halogen highs while the "constant high" stalk (push away
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Suggestion
the "quick flash" stalk (pull towards you) uses halogen highs while the "constant high" stalk (push away from you) uses the shutter on the bi-xenon module.
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Suggestion
It seems to me that Porsche uses the Litronics term to apply to both, the earlier HIDs which did not have a high beam position but remained on along with the high beam halogen, and now the actual Bi-xenon version.
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Suggestion
Dynamic Cornering lights add a steering sensor and a pair of yaw sensors that the computer reads to rotate the Bi-Xenons right or left using a second motor in the headlights.
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Rennlist: 1 discussions
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I'm considering a C4S with "Litronics". I have the 2003/2004 911 brochure and it says nothing about "Litronics". But it does talk about Bi-Xenons.
So are these the same thing?
Interesting. I thought I had bi-xenon, but I must have Litronics, since I just popped on my brights for the the first time the other night, and they looked like standard halogen. I'll have to double check. Good to know.
On my '02 the high beams are a combination of the inboard halogen lamps and the xenon lamps. There is a shutter that cuts of the high portion of the beam when low beams are on, and the shutter opens when high beams are on as the halogens light up. Our Cayenne is the same way.
With Xenon needing some 'startup' time, I would have thought What Dennis C had (with the shutter) would happen with the bi-xenon rather than with halogen. Halogen are a regular incandecent, but xenon have some HV startup delay.
The plot thickens...
that's called bi-xenon.
the "quick flash" stalk (pull towards you) uses halogen highs while the "constant high" stalk (push away from you) uses the shutter on the bi-xenon module.
Ok, so low = Litronics, low and high = Bi-Xenon...
So why doesn't the 2004 Porsche brochure mention anything about "Litronics"? All it says is halogen or bi-xenon. Could it be that Litronics is only available in "early" 996's and was replaced by Bi-Xenons?
Well, maybe not. I think the early litronics Porsche shipped did not have the xenon/HID high/lo "switch". So the xenons/HIDs/Litronics were low beam only but did stay on with the high beam halogens. It was the later Litronics versions that had bi-xenon capability.
Both Litronics and Bi-Xenons use halogens in high-beam mode, they are just used different ways. With Litronics when you hit the high beam, the halogen comes on to be the high beam focused at long distance. The low beam Xenon rotates up to provide more fill. With Bi-Xenons, the shutters in the headlights open; focusing the Xenon light in a narrower pattern out at a distance. A halogen light comes on only to illuminate the road right in front of the car. There is a significant difference in light output between the 2 systems. With Bi-Xenons in high beam mode, there is significantly more light out at distance; almost 1/3. If you can find the release bulletin for the 2002 911, there is a whole section that discussed the changes to the light output and the beam pattern.
There is no version of a factory Litronic light that is Bi-Xenon. I am sure you can buy an aftermarket Bi-Xenon kit (shutter integral with the bulb instead of the housing) that could be retrofitted. The term "Litronic" by definition means the Xenon light rotates. Bi-Xenons not only incorporate shutters, they also have a different shaped lense for better projection of light at the longer focal distance. Litronic lighting is older technology that has been replaced with Bi-Xenons.
The newer Dynamic Cornering lights are even later technology that incorporates 2 directional motors. Bi-Xenons on the 996/7 have a single motor in each light that supports an auto leveling feature. This came out of Litronic technology. There are 2 sensors, one attached to a front control arm and one attached to a rear control arm. Based on the input of each sensor, the computer rotates the Bi-Xenon up or down. If you look carefully when you first turn on the lights every time, they will dip down and up. This is to re-zero the system. Dynamic Cornering lights add a steering sensor and a pair of yaw sensors that the computer reads to rotate the Bi-Xenons right or left using a second motor in the headlights.
Litronics - Mk I Option
Bi-Xenon - Mk 2 Option
High beams in my 02 996 (Bi-Xenon) are noticeably better than the High beams were in my 01 986S (Litronic)
Just my .996 cents
Wow I never knew there was so much to know about lights!
I do know this though, the lighting on my 996 (with bi-xenons) is superior to any other car I've driven.
I suspect part of the problem lies with "Litronic" being a brand unique term, Porsche unique, whereas "bi-xenon" is more of a generic term. Bi-xenon is meant to mean that the HID illumination is used in both low beam and high beam mode via some method of shifting the HID beam pattern accordingly.
It seems to me that Porsche uses the Litronics term to apply to both, the earlier HIDs which did not have a high beam position but remained on along with the high beam halogen, and now the actual Bi-xenon version.
"Litronic" is simply an early Bi-xenon design, a defective one to be sure, but with bi-xenon functionality. As I said before bi-xenon is more of a generic term for HID bulbs that not only remain illuminated when you turn on high beams, but ALSO change their beam pattern so as to have more upward illumination.
That being said the Porsche Litronics HIDs, at least the ones in my '01 C4, are not quite up to snuff insofar as current technology is concerned. Porsche uses a projector lens (GOOD) and shading apperture so the HID beam pattern has a SHARP cutoff at the top of the pattern to prevent glare to oncoming drivers. Sort of like fog lights, intentionally low and wide forward beam pattern, except the HID are aimed for more "reach".
So why "defective".
The more recent bi-xenon designs simply remove the sharp cutoff apperture out of the way in high beam mode providing more overall brightness to aid the high beam halogen.
With the Litronic system you simply change the "aim" of the low, HID, beam upward, but still with it SHARP upper level cutoff. Not a bad idea for the time, but clearly not up to today's bi-xenon standards.
IMMHO rather than have the detriment of low level close in lighting from the HIDs it might be better to have them shut off entirely.
Like fog lights used along with the main beams close in lighting from the HIDs when the high beams are on can be detrimental to the driver's night time forward distance vision.
Except for those that like the BLING effect, fog lights should NEVER be used along with the main beams.
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