A comprehensive family of xenon bulbs for every driver

In 1991, the debut of BMW’s 7 Series with innovative xenon headlamps revolutionised the world of automotive lighting. These metal halide discharge lamps, more widely known as xenons, provided a significant increase in visible light emission compared to conventional halogen bulbs, making them a symbol of safety and comfort when driving at night. Their intense light, with a colour temperature close to daylight, improves the visibility of road signs and lanes, regardless of weather conditions.

Xenon lamps work on the principle of an electric arc between electrodes in an atmosphere of xenon gas, enriched with halogen metal salts. A key component of the system is an inverter with integrated ignition, generating the 23kV necessary to initiate the discharge and start the lamp. Once the arc has stabilised and the gas has warmed up, the voltage drops to a working level of 85V, characteristic of the D1 and D2 bulb models. bulb wear manifests itself as the electrodes gradually burn out and move away from each other, leading to a drop in xenon gas pressure and a change in light colour. Worn bulbs start to emit a warm glow and then a pink light colour. For this reason, it is recommended to replace the xenons in pairs to avoid uneven wear. It is also worth remembering that it is not only the bulbs that wear out, but also the inverters, which, having lost their ability to generate 23kV, may only produce short flashes of light when trying to switch on - this applies to both aftermarket and factory products. Reputable inverter manufacturers guarantee a service life of up to eight years.

Initially, expensive xenon installations were only available on luxury cars, but over time they have become more accessible, appearing even in the lower end of the market. This allowed the aftermarket lighting market to grow, offering not only replacements for factory installations, but also halogen conversion kits. Over the past decades, xenons have grown in popularity, allowing the development of more affordable products for the average driver.

M-TECH, one of the market leaders in automotive lighting parts and accessories, has a wide range of discharge lamp products on offer, and was the first company in the economy segment to introduce the Powertec Long Life range of xenon bulbs with a 4-year warranty. The ‘D’ bulbs offered by M-TECH under various brand names are popular and trusted by users throughout Europe.

The Premium series represents over 16 years of M-TECH’s experience in the industry, which has allowed the company to develop technology that combines high quality, longevity and satisfaction with performance comparable to that of renowned brands. The most characteristic element of the Premium series is a glass bulb post with a characteristic convexity, additionally increasing the capacity of the gas bulb. This unique solution offers many advantages. First and foremost, the larger gas bulb results in greater light emission and the increased glass heat transfer surface aids bulb life. This solution is found in the D2 and D4 models.

All components used by M-TECH in the production of its Premium series xenon bulbs come from reputable manufacturers from around the world, of which the electrodes are Austrian and the noble gas mixture is from the USA. All bulbs are equipped with UV filters, so they are safe for the reflectors of the headlamp, lenses and extremely sensitive to infrared radiation - polymer lamp shades. The Premium Series bulbs exploit their potential due to the quality of the components, have an increased efficiency of 30% while maintaining the power consumption level of standard 35W xenon bulbs and emit a light output comparable to products of renowned, much more expensive brands, amounting to up to 3200 lumens in the case of bulbs with a colour of 4300K. What’s more, all bulbs in the Premium Series for factory xenon installations with a colour temperature of 4850K or less are road-approved under the R99 directive and can be legally used in cars on public roads.

The range of xenon bulbs offered by M-TECH under the Powertec Long Life brand is a true revolution in the market for economical automotive lighting, as they come with a 4-year warranty, allowing them to compete directly with the conditions of use and lifespan of products from brands considered to be reputable. Since its introduction, the Long Life range has been very popular with demanding professional users who expect trouble-free operation and bulbs that will not show a decrease in performance and brightness over a long period of time, while maintaining a reasonable price level

The best-recognised and most popular among bulbs designed for factory xenon installations is the Basic series. Its main features are its very wide range and attractive price. Users will find here not only the popular D1S and D2S bulbs, but even the exotic D4R. What’s more, all these bulbs come in a wide range of colour temperatures, between 4300K and even 12000K.