Do 04's and 05's have Bi-xenon or just Low-beam Xenon Lights

[Rob in Atlanta]

I noticed that SAAB made a big deal out of advertising Bi-xenon lights on the 03 9-3SS. The new literature mentions only Xenon lighting - which usually means only low beam xenon operation. I asked a SAAB salesman and he said that there was a running change in the newer 9-3SS's from Bi-xenon [ie high- and low-beam xenon operation] to just low-beam xenon operation because of complaints about blinding. Has anyone else heard this or know the true story?

Rob in Atlanta
'98 900S, 5-Door, Manual, 169k miles

[MarkJ]

Rob,

How close are you to buying a new 9-3? Are you waiting for the 2005's?

[Rob in Atlanta]

I'm on the cusp of deciding on taking a 2004 with huge incentives or waiting for a 2005. If I take the 2005, I'll do a European Delivery and reap the substantial discount. I fly virtually free as the spouse of an airline employee and I have many friends in various parts of Europe to stay with, so the cost of going to Europe to pick up the car is minimal for me. Is there some difference in the Xenon headlights between the years?

Rob in Atlanta
'98 900S, 5-Door, Manual, 169K miles

[MarkJ]

My 2004 Aero definitely uses xenon for the high beams. I feel like I have my own personal sun emanating from my car. The xenon’s are a great upgrade (I came from a similar car, 1995 Saab 900).

[thomjam]

my '04 Arc has the bi-xenon option and both low and high beams are using the xenon bulb.

though that was the meaning for "bi" - both low and high.

as far as blinding others, the auto leveling takes care of that sitiation.

compared to my PIAA Super 80 driving beams, they're not that bright anyhow, yet, better than plain halogen.

Jaime

[Rob in Atlanta]

I did a 24-hour test drive of a 2004 9-3SS Arc yesterday. It had the bi-xenon option. I couldn't tell any difference at all between the "high" and "low" beam operation. Is this normal. I drove down several dark roads and could tell absolutely NO difference. I couldn't tell whether the "flash-to-pass" function was working either. I pulled the car up to my garage door and tried both high and low and flash-to-pass and couldn't discern any distinguishable difference. Is this normal? Could there be a fuse blown?

Rob in Atlanta
'98 900S, 5-Door, Manual, 169K miles

[Esfoad]

If the headlight switch was in the off position, the high beams will not work, other than flash to pass. Saab uses the low bwam circuit for daytime running lights. If this was in the right position, there was another problem. We have an 04 Aero convertible with bi-xenons. They are AMAZING!

[Rob in Atlanta]

I tried both with the headlight switch in the "on" and "off" position to make sure. Same response. No change in the lights. After doing a search on the board and reading some of the other responses about the dramatic difference between high and low beam, I really think there is something wrong with the lights. I'll mention it to the dealer when I return it at noon.

By the way, 7-speaker 150W system is only mediocre. I would have thought it would have been better that it is.

Rob in Atlanta
'98 900S, 5-Door, Manual, 169K miles

[thomjam]

Rob,

For sure something is amiss as you should be able to tell the difference between low and high beams. One really tell-tale sign is the right cut-off of the lens on low beams goes away when the high beams are on.

At least on ours.


Jaime