Are xenon headlights worth it?
- Thread starter Rubber Ducky
- Start date
Bringin' back an old thread....
With such a unanimous response, I may have to upgrade to some HID's.
What's a good price? Should they be professionally installed?
A place near me want's $750 installed and offer some type of warranty... have no idea if that's a good deal or a ripoff...
your thoughts pls...
With such a unanimous response, I may have to upgrade to some HID's.
What's a good price? Should they be professionally installed?
A place near me want's $750 installed and offer some type of warranty... have no idea if that's a good deal or a ripoff...
your thoughts pls...
another aspect comes in handy. when you want to sell the car in a few years, xenon will be stock in all cars of that class. when you don´t have it, the resell value might drop. same is with navigation. it becomes more and more standard in cars. when you buy one now and want to resell it w/o, there will be tons of others who do and with that are way more attractive to buy.
![[rofl]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_rofl.gif "ROFL [rofl]"){kind=icon}
![[hihi]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hihi.gif "Hi Hi [hihi]"){kind=icon}
IMHO, Get them , get them, get them.
Sure a bimmer w/out is a brilliant car, but get them if for nothing else than what other posters have said -- xenons are practically standard on all new "nice" cars. Imagine buying used in 3-5 years. If you had nearly equal 330's, the one with HIDs will sell first every time...
Plus they're wicked cool and much nicer to drive with...
Sure a bimmer w/out is a brilliant car, but get them if for nothing else than what other posters have said -- xenons are practically standard on all new "nice" cars. Imagine buying used in 3-5 years. If you had nearly equal 330's, the one with HIDs will sell first every time...
Plus they're wicked cool and much nicer to drive with...
I think the real question should be: how could anybody NOT opt for Xenons? I will never ever get another car without Xenon headlights ever again, and if I absolutely HAD to get one without Xenons, the first thing I would do is have projectors retro-fitted into the headlight housings.
Now will somebody please tell me what the f*ck happened to my l33t signature???
Now will somebody please tell me what the f*ck happened to my l33t signature???
If I had a BMW I'd get no less than Xenons. The kid I often talk about got himself some poser lights, they were just tinted blue and he ran them on High all the time so he could feel like he spend alot of money. That same car is now useless because he ran into the curb and bent his axle, cuz he couldn't see somehow ![[idea]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_idea.gif "Idea! [idea]")
Oh HELL yeaaa you hafta get the xenons. First off, youre missing out on one of the great technologies which makes BMWs stand out a cutt above the rest. Even other car makers with the HID options aren't as good as BMW, who has made the proection of the light just right. Besides, BMW was the first to come out with HID's, you gotta represent. Even with them off, the projector bulbs look much harder as well. I mean look at those bad boys!!!:
Answers to cons:
5) I don’t really understand what you mean by “overdriving” the lights. The sharper cut off point is there in order to eliminate glare, creating a focused, evenly dispersed beam. The sharper cut off point should be a pro, not a con.
4) Although Xenon bulbs are expensive, by the time you pay to replace them, you’ve already replaced up to 10 halogen bulbs (since HID bulbs can last up to 10 times longer than halogen bulbs). I’d say you’re getting your money’s worth here.
3) If the reason why you don’t purchase something is because you’re worried about it breaking later on, then you shouldn’t purchase any options at all when you’re buying a BMV. The power seating is eventually going to break, the performance tires will wear out faster, the sport suspension might be more expensive to replace once they go out, the leather will crack- the list goes on…
2) It is not likely for anyone to steal BMW HID systems. They would first have to take out the projectors without touching the parabolic reflector that is attached to the projector lens, since doing so would permanently ruin it. Secondly, they would have to remove the ballast, the Bi-Xenon mechanisms, and the Auto-height adjustments without killing themselves from electric shock (which is possible). This whole process will take considerable time and effort, which isn't appealing to a thief.
BMW HID systems are difficult to install into other car makes and it takes major body modifications to accomplish this. In other words, someone who would be interested in putting a BMW HID system in their car would have to spend a lot of money doing modifications on the body of their car in order for everything to fit correctly, so that person would most likely try to find cheap BMW HID components elsewhere instead of risking his life on stealing them, killing himself, and most importantly, the car project.
Xenon (HID) lights are not about the looks. If you’re buying them only for the looks, you shouldn’t be buying them at all. It’s easy to understand why you might think the Xenon lights are a rip off if you’re only concerned about the looks. It’s just like purchasing a BMV- if you’re buying one only for the looks, then you’re not fully appreciating it and you shouldn’t even own one IMHO. HID lights are about nighttime driving safety. With them equipped, it’s easier to notice hazards on the road, since the light is dispersed with high clarity over a wide range. BMW is all about “performance over luxury”. If you’re in it for the looks, you’re not an enthusiast.
If you're going to order a BMV, you have to get HIDs. I shake my head with pity when I see BMVs w/o them- and I'll give you a few reasons why:
1) HID technology is one of many BMW innovations, and now that many car companies are following BMW and equipping their cars w/ HID systems of their own, it would be a shame to not have HIDs on a BMV.
http://www.bmw.co.za/Products/FIRST/Active/act-Headlights.htm [headbang]
2) HID stands for High Intensity Discharge, and it's the best lighting system that you can have for your vehicle. HIDs create light as a discharge from the arc struck between two electrodes when high voltage is passed between them in a sealed chamber filled mostly with Xenon gas, emanating light that is three times the intensity of halogen bulbs while using only a fraction of the power. HIDs last up to ten times longer than halogen bulbs because of the low power needed to function and the lack of a filament.
3) Since this technology is BMW's innovation, it's only natural that BMW's HID systems are top quality in today's car industry. Instead of using parabolic headlamps (reflector headlamps) like other car companies (Infinity, Lexus, etc), BMW uses highly efficient, Bosch ellipsoidal headlamps (projector lamps). This creates a finer cut off than what parabolic headlamps can ever offer, eliminating the stray light above the cut off found in parabolic headlamps. Since you don’t have to worry about glare in halogen bulbs, there isn’t much concern about how fine the light is dispersed. This is why BMW uses ellipsoidal headlamps for their HID equipped vehicles and parabolic lenses in their halogen equipped vehicles. More info about the differences of parabolic and ellipsoidal headlamps can be found here:
http://www.hidforum.com/ayh/about.php
4) To answer the money issue, new HID technology is available for those who are willing to dish out the well-spent $700 dollars. Bi-Xenon technology is provides HID light for the dipped (low) beam and full (high) beam, giving you that extra light when needed in those dark mountain passes. [headbang] Auto-Height Adjustment adjusts the angle of the beam according to the amount of load the car is carrying, so no manual beam angle adjustments are ever necessary. For another $100 dollars, ci owners have all the features mentioned before plus the Adaptive Headlight technology, which angles the headlights left or right up to 15 degrees according to the steering angle.
5) As said before, HID technology isn’t about the looks. However it doesn’t mean the looks don’t play minor role in the purchase:
5) I don’t really understand what you mean by “overdriving” the lights. The sharper cut off point is there in order to eliminate glare, creating a focused, evenly dispersed beam. The sharper cut off point should be a pro, not a con.
4) Although Xenon bulbs are expensive, by the time you pay to replace them, you’ve already replaced up to 10 halogen bulbs (since HID bulbs can last up to 10 times longer than halogen bulbs). I’d say you’re getting your money’s worth here.
3) If the reason why you don’t purchase something is because you’re worried about it breaking later on, then you shouldn’t purchase any options at all when you’re buying a BMV. The power seating is eventually going to break, the performance tires will wear out faster, the sport suspension might be more expensive to replace once they go out, the leather will crack- the list goes on…
2) It is not likely for anyone to steal BMW HID systems. They would first have to take out the projectors without touching the parabolic reflector that is attached to the projector lens, since doing so would permanently ruin it. Secondly, they would have to remove the ballast, the Bi-Xenon mechanisms, and the Auto-height adjustments without killing themselves from electric shock (which is possible). This whole process will take considerable time and effort, which isn't appealing to a thief.
BMW HID systems are difficult to install into other car makes and it takes major body modifications to accomplish this. In other words, someone who would be interested in putting a BMW HID system in their car would have to spend a lot of money doing modifications on the body of their car in order for everything to fit correctly, so that person would most likely try to find cheap BMW HID components elsewhere instead of risking his life on stealing them, killing himself, and most importantly, the car project.
Xenon (HID) lights are not about the looks. If you’re buying them only for the looks, you shouldn’t be buying them at all. It’s easy to understand why you might think the Xenon lights are a rip off if you’re only concerned about the looks. It’s just like purchasing a BMV- if you’re buying one only for the looks, then you’re not fully appreciating it and you shouldn’t even own one IMHO. HID lights are about nighttime driving safety. With them equipped, it’s easier to notice hazards on the road, since the light is dispersed with high clarity over a wide range. BMW is all about “performance over luxury”. If you’re in it for the looks, you’re not an enthusiast.
If you're going to order a BMV, you have to get HIDs. I shake my head with pity when I see BMVs w/o them- and I'll give you a few reasons why:
1) HID technology is one of many BMW innovations, and now that many car companies are following BMW and equipping their cars w/ HID systems of their own, it would be a shame to not have HIDs on a BMV.
http://www.bmw.co.za/Products/FIRST/Active/act-Headlights.htm [headbang]
2) HID stands for High Intensity Discharge, and it's the best lighting system that you can have for your vehicle. HIDs create light as a discharge from the arc struck between two electrodes when high voltage is passed between them in a sealed chamber filled mostly with Xenon gas, emanating light that is three times the intensity of halogen bulbs while using only a fraction of the power. HIDs last up to ten times longer than halogen bulbs because of the low power needed to function and the lack of a filament.
3) Since this technology is BMW's innovation, it's only natural that BMW's HID systems are top quality in today's car industry. Instead of using parabolic headlamps (reflector headlamps) like other car companies (Infinity, Lexus, etc), BMW uses highly efficient, Bosch ellipsoidal headlamps (projector lamps). This creates a finer cut off than what parabolic headlamps can ever offer, eliminating the stray light above the cut off found in parabolic headlamps. Since you don’t have to worry about glare in halogen bulbs, there isn’t much concern about how fine the light is dispersed. This is why BMW uses ellipsoidal headlamps for their HID equipped vehicles and parabolic lenses in their halogen equipped vehicles. More info about the differences of parabolic and ellipsoidal headlamps can be found here:
http://www.hidforum.com/ayh/about.php
4) To answer the money issue, new HID technology is available for those who are willing to dish out the well-spent $700 dollars. Bi-Xenon technology is provides HID light for the dipped (low) beam and full (high) beam, giving you that extra light when needed in those dark mountain passes. [headbang] Auto-Height Adjustment adjusts the angle of the beam according to the amount of load the car is carrying, so no manual beam angle adjustments are ever necessary. For another $100 dollars, ci owners have all the features mentioned before plus the Adaptive Headlight technology, which angles the headlights left or right up to 15 degrees according to the steering angle.
5) As said before, HID technology isn’t about the looks. However it doesn’t mean the looks don’t play minor role in the purchase:
Here's a quote that I've found at a site that specializes in automotive lighting.
"Fog lights
First of all, fog lights works best in fog or low visibility, with headlamps turned off and at speeds below ~70km/h or 50mph. Authorities standards for fog beams are very general, so be ready to see a lot of variations out there. They lit up the road relatively close to the car, spreading from far left, to far right, at relatively low max. brightness. By having a low cutoff, and a low mounting point, glare from the fog will not be reflected back to the drivers eyes, which typically headlamps do. I have seen many OEM applications where you are not able to turn fog lamps on without having headlamps on. This is what I would call cosmetic fogligths.
I'd like to kill a myth that lives out there: Most people don't need fog lights because it very seldom fog appears unless you are close to the ocean or great lakes. But hey, it looks cool, nicely inserted underneath the bumper.
Car magazines and car shows have presented several cars that have replaced headlamps with fog lamps. This is not a good solution. Its dangerous at highway speeds. A typical fog lamp doesn't have the enough brightness straight ahead.
Some HID fog lights have shown up on the marked. Nothing wrong with using HID, but its a waste of money. HID usually means brighter output, and that is defiantly something you do not want in fog light. A too bright fog lamp used in fog will only lit up the fog better, increasing the "wall" effect of fog, and make the road less visible. I would suggest to usage of a 10 or 18W HID system instead. They are available in flash lights for divers. See: http://www.extreme-exposure.com/. If it is good enough for underwater usage, its good enough for a automobile use. "
*found at http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/aux-ligths.htm
"Fog lights
First of all, fog lights works best in fog or low visibility, with headlamps turned off and at speeds below ~70km/h or 50mph. Authorities standards for fog beams are very general, so be ready to see a lot of variations out there. They lit up the road relatively close to the car, spreading from far left, to far right, at relatively low max. brightness. By having a low cutoff, and a low mounting point, glare from the fog will not be reflected back to the drivers eyes, which typically headlamps do. I have seen many OEM applications where you are not able to turn fog lamps on without having headlamps on. This is what I would call cosmetic fogligths.
I'd like to kill a myth that lives out there: Most people don't need fog lights because it very seldom fog appears unless you are close to the ocean or great lakes. But hey, it looks cool, nicely inserted underneath the bumper.
Car magazines and car shows have presented several cars that have replaced headlamps with fog lamps. This is not a good solution. Its dangerous at highway speeds. A typical fog lamp doesn't have the enough brightness straight ahead.
Some HID fog lights have shown up on the marked. Nothing wrong with using HID, but its a waste of money. HID usually means brighter output, and that is defiantly something you do not want in fog light. A too bright fog lamp used in fog will only lit up the fog better, increasing the "wall" effect of fog, and make the road less visible. I would suggest to usage of a 10 or 18W HID system instead. They are available in flash lights for divers. See: http://www.extreme-exposure.com/. If it is good enough for underwater usage, its good enough for a automobile use. "
*found at http://faq.auto.light.tripod.com/aux-ligths.htm
