Owner's Manual for the vehicle. With a quick reference ... - E38.org

190nXenon lamps*
390de134
The xenon lamps light up the side and
front areas of the vehicle with significantly
more brightness and uniformity
than the traditional halogen lamp.
In a xenon lamp, an electric arc replaces
the filament in order to generate
intense illumination. A gas mixture in a
quartz piston with metal vapor is ignited
by a high electric voltage. The arc that
is generated is then sustained by a
lower voltage. When the lamp is turned
on there is a brief period of high intensity.
Maximum brightness is attained in
approx. 15 seconds.
Xenon lamps provide significantly-improved
visibility, especially during adverse
weather conditions and driving
situations (driving at night in heavy rain
or through road repair areas where
there are no lanemarkers, for instance).
Vehicles with xenon lamps are
equipped with automatic-dynamic
headlamp range control. As a result, the
highway is always optimally lighted, regardless
of load conditions, and drivers
in oncoming traffic are not blinded.
Xenon lamps make a significant contribution
to highway safety since other
highway users, bicyclists and motorcyclists
in the right lane, and pedestrians
are more easily detected.