I know the Type S has bi-xenon HID headlamps, but they also have 9005 for DRL. Do the 9005 also work with the high beams? Particularly, when you flash a slower car on the interstate, does just the 9005 bulb flash?

My Aunt's 4g TL only has low beam HID headlamps with 9005 high beams. Why I don't really understand.

 

Nope the high beams on a Type S are the same bulbs used as the low beams (D2S). There's a shutter in the housing that opens up when you engage high beams. The 9005 bulbs (DRLs) do nothing when high beams are on, they remain off.

 

What do the 9005 bulbs do next to the d2s bulbs then?

 

When the headlights are turned on, the 9005 bulbs turn off since they're just used as DRLs. Though I have seen some mods where the 9005 bulbs remain on with headlights on.

 

They should at least use the 9005 to flash slower traffic during the day. That makes sense since momentarily flashing the HID's isn't very good for them.

My friends e90 bimmer has similiar setup, but his high beam halogens are selectable to use with the bi-xenon. They also always flash just the halogens when flashing the high beams.

 

Yeah that was one thing I noticed when I first got my TL. Even my s2000 used the halogens for high beams, but it was an 04 and DRLs weren't a feature on the model yet.

That setup in the e90 makes more sense, but then again I rarely witness any high beaming going on unless someone is driving with their lights off at night.

 

In Europe and supposed to be here that if a slower car is in the overtaking lane it's normal to flash them to get them to move over to the right. You notice I didn't say fast lane in lieu of overtaking. Since in Germany it's actually illegal to overtake a vehicle on its right.

Too bad Americans don't know proper driving etiquette.

 

What do you mean it isn't good for the D2S bulbs when you flash the high beam?

When the headlights are on and you flash your high beams A SHUTTER inside the projector housing just moves to allow light output to disperse everywhere. When you turn off the high beams the shutter moves back into place.

The bulb does not get any brighter nor does it draw anymore power. D2S bulbs always running at 100% power. The shutter is what gives it the low and High beam effect. Unlike regular halogen bulbs that actually draw more power during high beam operation.

 

I dont think your understanding what he's saying. He is saying during the DAYTIME when your HID's are off, it is not good to flash them. I completely agree with what he is saying and never fully understood this about the 3G TL as well.
So say your cruising around in middle of the day and your HID's are off and your DRL's are on like normal. If for whatever reason you need to flash highbeams your HID's will have to ignite which kind of defeats the purpose of HID's since they take a little bit to fully warm up to correct color and brightness. Not sure if its really the case, but it has also been said that a quick flash of an HID system isnt necessarily good for bulb or ballast life.

Either way I rarely if ever at all flash my HID's during the day when they are normally off, but I do see what he is saying though.

 

Oh if that's the case than I could see why that's bad. It's like flicking the lights on and off.

I don't ever have to flash during the day (I work during the day) and I rarely flash during the night (don't ever drive at night, live 1 mile from work) . Not really a problem for me

 

It's not good for the bulb to get a sudden jolt of electricity. I also know how a bi-xenon headlamp works.

 

Sorry, I didn't see your post before making my last post, but you are exactly correct.

I rarely flash slower cars in the overtaking lane because most drivers are dumb, and they don't realize that they're supposed to move to the right to let faster traffic overtake. Occasionally, if I'm not in a hurry I'll pass them on the right then move over in front of them and slow down forcing them out of the overtaking lane. Then I speed back up and move over to the far right lane where all traffic should be unless overtaking.

 

if you wanted to get the 9005 bulb to become like a high beam it would be easy. Just unplug the drl socket, and re-wire it in parallel with the high beam 12v signal. The only problem is that it might melt the plastic circle piece in front of it if left on for extended period of time

 

thats the difference between a really good HID kit/bulb compared to aftermarket…its made to handle that..

 

can you read my post again please? I'm referring to the plastic headlight piece in front of the drl slot. the 07-08 headlights(base and type S) have this. I assume its there to act as some kind of light diffuser

 

My 04 has a shield over the foglamp bulb, and I've been running 9005 as fogs for a month or so now. The shield doesn't work quite as well as a 9006 or 9012 since 9005 and 9012 bulbs are slightly shorter. So, the cutoff isn't as good.

I thought of going 9011 as my fogs for the 2400lu, I think I'll stick with 9012 and 1875lu.

 

Could one of you guys with a type s turn your lights off, and try flashing the high beams and see which lights illuminate. I have a hunch it may just brigten the 9005 halogens from drl voltage to full 13.8v. Hopefully, that means it'll just flash the 9005. Because a they'd never choose a 9005 as a drl alone at full voltage it'd be blinding that's why they normally run at 7v I believe.

 

When a 07-08 TL has high beams turned on, the DRLs (if low beams aren't on) turn off and the HIDs come on.

The 9005 bulb doesn't turn on at all with high beams on.

 

That's odd, why use a 65w 9005 bulb and undervolt it so much to use as a drl. what happens if you flash your high beams when the lights are completely off?

 

Just the HIDs light up and the shutter inside the projector retracts, so just high beams.

 

I wonder why they just didn't use a 9006 bulb then without undervolting it. I was hoping it'd be like my aunts 4G where the drl goes full brightness when flashed, but then again she doesn't have bi xenon.

I was planning on using type s lights with a low wattage 9005 led bulb as a drl, but if it is always undervolted I'll have to wire it to a 12v source. Then I was going to get inspire fogs and hook those to the stock fog light switch.

 

No idea why it was designed like this, but it is. I tried every combination just to confirm, and the DRLs turned off every time. I have LEDs in there right now with a harness, but pretty sure that doesn't make a difference as the LEDs should've remained on if so.

 

I'm surprised your leds light up being undervolted so much.

 

I have a harness that hooks up to the battery for it to get the full 12v

 

Yeah, I reread your post after I posted, and presumed the harness was for a full 12v. How bright are your drl?

 

I got the iJDMtoy bundle (harness + tower bulbs). Not sure how bright they are, but they are a bit more blue than the white they claim to be. I've heard these bulbs don't last too long so I'll replace them when that time comes, but otherwise I'm happy with them and it looks pretty nice. They're pretty bright I guess, brighter than the stock halogens that's for sure.

There's another thread regarding LEDs in the main by Frosty. I'd swap for that kit over the iJDMtoy kit in a heartbeat if it was offered to me for free. Just don't wanna spend more money

 

Those ones frosty posted have a horrible cutoff if you look at the pic against the garage. Plus, they'd be to bright at 12v. I just want a couple hundred lumens. Just enough to light up the drl.

 

Well if you're not happy with the tower LEDs that come with the kit I heard some others replacing the bulbs with Cree LED bulbs with a light that's more white.

As for myself, they're just DRLs and that's all they'll ever be. I just hated the halogens so much that I pulled the fuse. I'm happy with these new bulbs and they look good compared to the stock halogens. They're not meant for light output, and these are significantly brighter than the stocks and look much better, imo.

 

I couldn't live with the halogen either. I hate warm white. Every bulb in my house is 5000k cfl.

 

Yeah I saw another TL coming opposite way on the road and couldn't stand the DRLs. I'm so glad Audi made LED DRLs popular lol

Warm white just seems so dull. I mean in a house it can be a bit easier on the eyes, but even in the house I don't like it. Considering a complete change of bulbs and lamps in the house soon, better light and more energy efficient.

 

Agree 100%, I can't stand the Bimmer halogen halos. Practically every new car has led drl now. Some imho are a bit overdone though (Buick).