I don't do a lot of night driving (Superb Elegance) but I noticed that when passing across a rough piece of road or corrugations, there seems to be a shimmy/flicker effect with the Bi-Xenon headlight beam on the road. I also had a similar issue with a Subaru Liberty.

Is this a characteristic of the Bi-Xenon system or something else?

It can be. It's one of the reasons why some professional rally drivers don't like them.

You soon get used to it. I suppose there is a little bit of movement due to the self levelling system etc plus the adaptive headlight system. I still maintain that they are brilliant lights all the same.

I still maintain that they are brilliant lights all the same.

Not when you are in the car approaching a xenon fitted car.

Not when you are in the car approaching a xenon fitted car.

The Xenon lights are more powerful and if they are wrongly set up then there is a much bigger problem than with ordinary lights. My experience is that sometimes approaching Xenon fitted cars the lights are a problem, but other times they are not. The same experience applies to cars fitted with ordinary lights.

I put it down in both cases to helpful idiots who, because the dipped beam cut off shortens the beam more than they like, set their light too high in order to gain a little more reach on dipped beam.

If the dipped beams are set too high they will dazzle whether it is an ordinary lamp or a Xenon lamp, but the Xenon lamp will be much worse.

I have noticed this on mine, no idea why it does it though.

I have had Xenon lights on my last 3 cars and have recently also converted my motorbike to Xenon lights.

They are brighter, safer, more efficient, longer lasting and more easily switchable to LHD when in Europe.

I have been "flashed" by other drivers maybe twice in 9 years for the brightness so I don't see this as an issue.

Normal headlights will also "bounce" but as the beams are more scattered this is less noticeable.

Xenons also look coooool..

Thanks for the comments - I think they are great lights as well. I'll be ok with the flicker now that I know its not a structural issue. Luv the forum concept for informed comment!~!

Thanks for the comments - I think they are great lights as well. I'll be ok with the flicker now that I know its not a structural issue. Luv the forum concept for informed comment!~!

Mine does the same on the vr's.getting more use to it though.