I am thinking of taking my new Octy to dealer next week. My problem is that my xenon low beam looks ridiculously short.

I just went out and measured it. My problematic part is visibility directly in front of the car, the lane I am driving in. It goes around 35-40 meters. Which I think is way too short for xenon.

I don't want to look stupid, any ideas how far the low xenon beam should go?

35-40 meters sounds OK to me...

I had a problem with the offside beam on my previous FL CR vRS - it created a blind spot on the night drives, very distracting - I adjusted it myself with the white plastic allen key bolts above the headlamp but it only needed a quarter turn or so.

Nip into the garage - should sort it no probs or DIY if it only needs a little adjustment.

If your new car has AFS then the beam size/shape alters dynamically based on speed and weather conditions.

For standard lamps, Xenon and Halogen have the same beam length since they use the same projector unit. The difference is in the beam whiteness. 35-40M is about right, and any higher could result in you blinding oncoming drivers.

I am thinking of taking my new Octy to dealer next week. My problem is that my xenon low beam looks ridiculously short.

I just went out and measured it. My problematic part is visibility directly in front of the car, the lane I am driving in. It goes around 35-40 meters. Which I think is way too short for xenon.

I don't want to look stupid, any ideas how far the low xenon beam should go?

hope ur not getting confused with high beam!!

as already mentioned by the others, 35-40 is normal for low beam, regardless of it being halogen or xenon.

anymore distance than that, then u need to use high beams, when appropriate.

If the beams stretch too far you will start dazzling oncoming drivers when it comes to even the slightest undulation in the road.

Be careful when fiddling with the xenon beam height, the auto levelling system has a special adjustment mode that is engaged before carrying out any significant changes to the fittings. You need VCDS or a dealer for that.

Don't forget your beams can be adjusted left/right as well, if the beams aren't aligned correctly you could have an uneven beam pattern.

If your new car has AFS then the beam size/shape alters dynamically based on speed and weather conditions.

For standard lamps, Xenon and Halogen have the same beam length since they use the same projector unit. The difference is in the beam whiteness. 35-40M is about right, and any higher could result in you blinding oncoming drivers.

You sure about that? That Octavia AFS alters shape based on speed? I was doing little research, it looks like only Superb with bi-xenon AFS2 takes speed into consideration.

I was thinking that Octavia AFS goes only left and right.

hope ur not getting confused with high beam!!

as already mentioned by the others, 35-40 is normal for low beam, regardless of it being halogen or xenon.

anymore distance than that, then u need to use high beams, when appropriate.

I just found it in the law, that low beam should be between 40 and 80 meters. That probably fits EU standard. Now I am definitely taking afs to be adjusted.

You sure about that? That Octavia AFS alters shape based on speed? I was doing little research, it looks like only Superb with bi-xenon AFS2 takes speed into consideration.

I was thinking that Octavia AFS goes only left and right.

Yeah the octavia is afs2 with bi-xenon. You can see the changes if you watch it, slow speed the beam is short but wide, about town the gutter at the side of the road is fully lit. Outside town, the faster you go the higher the xenons aim, so you can see further. If you pull on high beam, the halogen bulbs for flashing headlights come on, but if you watch the xenon beam pattern, it then raises quite a bit over the next 2 seconds on my car. The xenons are then like an extra set of full beams and the halogens are angled more foreward than other cars, they're like having aux driving lights.

The afs2 does a bunch of other clever things too.

Yeah the octavia is afs2 with bi-xenon. You can see the changes if you watch it, slow speed the beam is short but wide, about town the gutter at the side of the road is fully lit. Outside town, the faster you go the higher the xenons aim, so you can see further. If you pull on high beam, the halogen bulbs for flashing headlights come on, but if you watch the xenon beam pattern, it then raises quite a bit over the next 2 seconds on my car. The xenons are then like an extra set of full beams and the halogens are angled more foreward than other cars, they're like having aux driving lights.

The afs2 does a bunch of other clever things too.

Not sure, you have VRs, I have normal Octavia combi. Afs xenon code was pk8 when I ordered. At 70-80 km per hour, I don't see beam raised at all.

Yeah the octavia is afs2 with bi-xenon. You can see the changes if you watch it, slow speed the beam is short but wide, about town the gutter at the side of the road is fully lit. Outside town, the faster you go the higher the xenons aim, so you can see further. If you pull on high beam, the halogen bulbs for flashing headlights come on, but if you watch the xenon beam pattern, it then raises quite a bit over the next 2 seconds on my car. The xenons are then like an extra set of full beams and the halogens are angled more foreward than other cars, they're like having aux driving lights.

The afs2 does a bunch of other clever things too.

Octavia's don't have bi-xenon...

that is correct - the octavia does NOT have bi-xenon. not even an option!

if xenon optioned.....

low beam = xenon (projector)

high beam = halogen (reflector)

i don't believe the octavias have AFS. only the superb does. the superb is equipped with bi-xenon, hence it has afs capability.

the xenons on the octavias r "dynamic" only, i.e - cornering (left/right) and angle (up/down).

it doesn't enable automatic modification of the shape of the beam so the lighting is adapted to various driving conditions (highway/city/rain).

Edited 11 January, 201115 yr by JR RS

that is correct - the octavia does NOT have bi-xenon. not even an option!

if xenon optioned.....

low beam = xenon (projector)

high beam = halogen (reflector)

i don't believe the octavias have AFS. only the superb does. the superb is equipped with bi-xenon, hence it has afs capability.

the xenons on the octavias r "dynamic" only, i.e - left/right and up/down.

it doesn't enable automatic modification of the shape of the beam so the lighting is adapted to various driving conditions (highway/city/rain).

They do have AFS - I have AFSII and this is also stamped onto the projector unit.

They do have AFS - I have AFSII and this is also stamped onto the projector unit.

really, it does?!?! that would b good.

where on the projector unit is it stamped?

i'll go have a look on mine - hoping i have it too.

i'd definately would like to have afs2, but till now, i have no proof (brochures, specs, technical) that the octavia xenon has "AFS2", appart from "dynamic".

really, it does?!?! that would b good.

where on the projector unit is it stamped?

i'll go have a look on mine - hoping i have it too.

i'd definately would like to have afs2, but till now, i have no proof (brochures, specs, technical) that the octavia xenon has "AFS2", appart from "dynamic".

It is stamped very small on the chrome bit on the edge of the projector.

Just checked the Skoda website and it states Xenon headlights and AFS II with Dynamic Angle Control.

It has AFS II

This is what i got:

Xenon headlights and AFS II, dynamic angle control and telesc. front headl. washers "PK8" 788 euro

It is stamped very small on the chrome bit on the edge of the projector.

i just had a look at mine (MY11) - all it has printed on the rim/edge is:-

- "BENDING XENON"

- 70mm . 170mm

no sign of "AFS" on my factory fitted xenons!! :(

according to the vag options code:-

8Q2 LWR Automatic headlight-range adjustment static

8Q3 LWR Automatic headlight-range adjustment dynamic (self-adjusting while driving)

8Q4 LWR Headlamp range adjustment with fixed bending light

8Q5 LWR Headlight-range adjustment, automatic/ dynamic with dynamic bending light (AFS 1)

8Q6 LWR Headlight-range adjustment, automatic/ dynamic with fixed and dynamic bending light(AFS 2)

i definately don't have 8q5 or 8q6 on my vehicle data sticker.

maybe the aus spec octavia models aren't that priviledged to get the afs version - instead we just get the less clever "dynamic angle control" :(

our nz counterparts get it though - it clearly states it in their brochure.

so does it in the skoda uk brochure.

no such luck in the oz brochure.

skoda nz - "Xenon Headlights with AFS and Washer Jets"

skoda uk - "Xenon headlights with AFS II"

skoda oz - "Xenon headlights with dynamic angle control and integrated headlight washers"

....go figure skoda's manufacturing ways!!!

Edited 11 January, 201115 yr by JR RS

skoda nz - "Xenon Headlights with AFS and Washer Jets"

skoda uk - "Xenon headlights with AFS II"

skoda oz - "Xenon headlights with dynamic angle control and integrated headlight washers"

....go figure skoda's manufacturing ways!!!

Ah yes but it's darker in the UK

Octavia's don't have bi-xenon...

Test it out, 70 mph on a flat bit of motorway, pull on full beams and ignore the halogen bulbs and watch the xenon pattern move. In fact just watch the beam against a wall while stationary, pull on main beam and watch the xenon cut off raise.

Full bi xenon, I promise :-)

Test it out, 70 mph on a flat bit of motorway, pull on full beams and ignore the halogen bulbs and watch the xenon pattern move. In fact just watch the beam against a wall while stationary, pull on main beam and watch the xenon cut off raise.

Full bi xenon, I promise :-)

Bi-xenon means Xenon bulbs for both dipped and full beam. (Well usually the same bulb but with a shutter to move the pattern but you knwo what I mean).

The very fact that a halogen bulb comes on when you put on full beam means they are not bi-xenon. The dipped Xenon part may well move when the full beam is activated but this does not mean they are Bi-xenon.

Bi-xenon means Xenon bulbs for both dipped and full beam. (Well usually the same bulb but with a shutter to move the pattern but you knwo what I mean).

No, 2 xenon bulbs at each side (4 xenon lamps total) is not bi-xenon.

Bi-xenon means a single xenon lamp providing both high and low beam functon, by way of a shutter or a moving lamp assembly. Furthermore there are 2 types of bi-xenon system, dual lamp (some citroens) and quad lamp (bmw, skoda).

Quad lamp adds in 2 halogen lamps for flash functionality. Dual lamp only has the shutters. Both bi-xenon systems only have 1 xenon bulb at each side.

The very fact that a halogen bulb comes on when you put on full beam means they are not bi-xenon.

I'm sorry that's wrong, it is a common misconception but its not fuelled by anything you've read from an authoritative source, but people do commonly come to this conclusion in their own mind. It makes sense to some extent, but unfortunately not correct.

The dipped Xenon part may well move when the full beam is activated but this does not mean they are Bi-xenon.

That's pretty much word for word, the definition of Bi-xenon, so it does mean bixenon

Edited 11 January, 201115 yr by Mute

No, 2 xenon bulbs at each side (4 xenon lamps total) is not bi-xenon.

Bi-xenon means a single xenon lamp providing both high and low beam functon, by way of a shutter or a moving lamp assembly.

If you read my quote, the second part of that is almost exactly what I have said. There are some headlights which use a separate Xenon bulb for dipped and full beam (so 4 in total)- the VW Pheaton is one example. But I agree that using a shutter is most common.

I'm aware that Bi-Xenon equipped cars still have a halogen bulb for flashing, but this does not come on with 'normal' full beam in Bi-Xenon cars. There's no need for it! The fact that you can see the halogen beam when you switch to full beam in the Octavia proves it's not Bi-Xenon.

And the final piece of evidence is Skoda itself. They list the Octavia headlights as "Xenon headlights and AFSII" but list the Superb headlights as "Bi-Xenon headlights + AFSII".

Why would they do that if they were both Bi-Xenon units?

Edited to add:

The fact that the Xenon beam pattern moves when full beam is selected will more than likely be a function of the AFS system.

Edited 11 January, 201115 yr by Stevoraith

I'm sorry, i don't want to pick your post apart, i know where you're coming from, but everything i've written is spot on, totally accurate.

Hella themselves are pretty good for more info

...The result of this development was the creation of the Bi-Xenon® projection module. In this module, the light of one single Xenon lamp is used for low beam and high beam light at the same time. A movable shutter is responsible for the function selected: When the shutter is raised it produces the cut-off prescribed for low beam light, when lowered it makes room for the high beam light. An additional halogen high beam light takes over the flash-to-pass headlamp function. The Bi-Xenon® light is projected onto the road through a large glass lens with a diameter of 70 millimeters.

From: http://www.hella.com/produktion/HellaUSA/WebSite/Channels/Drivers/Technology/Bi_Xenon/Bi_Xenon.jsp

There's some pictures on http://www.hella.com/hella-uk-en/299.html in the bi-xenon case, the yellow light of the halogens is still visible above the xenon beam pattern -- as well as the xenon shutters going to full beam, they've got the halogens high beams on too.

EDIT: sorry just spotted the mention about Skoda, it's the same system on the FL octy as on the Bi xenon superb, i.e. halogens come on as well as moving the shutters on both cars.

Edited 11 January, 201115 yr by Mute

I was a little dissapointed with the Xenons on my new Scout compared to my old Elegance. I thought they were not lighting enough of the road.

I mentioned it to my Dealer who checked them out and sure enough they were not setup properly. I would estimate a 60% improvement after Bickertons had breathed on them.