General Information on Gas-Discharge Lamp Systems

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The Xenon lamp system using a gas-discharge lamp that is filled with xenon gas.

For this reason, the headlamps with gas-discharge lamps are also called xenon headlamps.

There are different types of headlamps:

Simple "Xenon" headlamps

Simple "Xenon" headlamps means the low beams are generated with "one" lamp.

Simple "Xenon" headlamps have an "additional high beam lamp"

"Bi-Xenon" headlamps

"Bi-Xenon" means the low beams and high beams are generated with "one" gas discharge lamp.

For this reason, with "Bi-Xenon" headlamps, the high beam is automatically adjusted with the low beams.

"Bi-Xenon light systems" are also always equipped with a headlamp range control system and headlamp washing system.

AFS headlamp system

The AFS system is a lighting system with main headlamps, gas discharge lamps and static cornering light

NOTE:

Vehicles with cornering light can be recognized by an additional reflector -arrow- between the turn signal -1- and low beam module -3-.

Fig 1: Identifying Additional Reflector Between The Turn Signal And Low Beam Module

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

The static cornering light only functions in conjunction with the low beams.

AFS means Adaptive Front Lighting System

The headlamps with gas discharge lamps and cornering light have no "additional high beam lamp"

For this reason, the high beams are automatically adjusted with the low beams on the "AFS headlamp system".

NOTE:

On vehicles with high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps, the basic setting must be performed with diagnostic tester before every headlamp adjustment. Refer to HID Headlamps, Performing Basic Setting .