Xenon's that dont look crap

[anonymous-user]

My 120d ive just bought has got halogen lamps - coming from a car that previously had xenons im really not a fan.

I have called BMW and they want about 3-4k to retrofit xenon headlights as they have to replace the rear lights as well.

I dont want to be one of those who put xenon headlights and ballasts in halogen housing and blind the world..what options do i have here? is there any way of retro fitting for under a grand?

Ta

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 14th March 15:50

[rottie102]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-1-SERIES-N-S-XENON-H...
etc?

But is it really worth it?

[Prof Prolapse]

rottie102 said:

But is it really worth it?

I really don't see the fascination with Xenons.

They're complicated and expensive if they go wrong for very little in return.

[confused_buyer]

Aftermarket Xenons shouldn't blind the world as long as you use the correct bulb type and aim them correctly.

If the car has "projector" headlamps you want a D2S type bulb, if it has "reflector" you want a D2R. A lot of the really bad blinding ones are where a D2S is fitted to a reflector lamp and the light goes everywhere.

You can check the beam pattern in correct against a wall - it should be the same as with Halogen - namely a flat even line with a well defined "kick" up towards the left.

[anonymous-user]

Prof Prolapse said:

I really don't see the fascination with Xenons.

They're complicated and expensive if they go wrong for very little in return.

I live in the sticks and after a deer recently 'ran into me' i want to make sure i can see everything thats infront of me. They give significantly more visibility.

confused_buyer said:

Aftermarket Xenons shouldn't blind the world as long as you use the correct bulb type and aim them correctly.

If the car has "projector" headlamps you want a D2S type bulb, if it has "reflector" you want a D2R. A lot of the really bad blinding ones are where a D2S is fitted to a reflector lamp and the light goes everywhere.

You can check the beam pattern in correct against a wall - it should be the same as with Halogen - namely a flat even line with a well defined "kick" up towards the left.

Thanks - can i buy a ballast and bulb set from somewhere like hids4u and fit that in the standard housing then? how do i determine if it has projector head lamps? (sorry i dont really have a clue what im doing)

[Munich]

Do you really have to replace the rear lights? What have the rear lights go to do with having Xenons at the front?

[bga]

Prof Prolapse said:

I really don't see the fascination with Xenons.

They're complicated and expensive if they go wrong for very little in return.

For me the return is significantly improved visibility at night.

[rj1986]

Does the car have headlight washers? IIRC, it's an automatic MOT failure if they don't have them for Xenon systems.

"Lighting.
Headlamps. Vehicles fitted with High Intensity Discharge (HID) and LED light sources will have a new reason for rejection, "A mandatory headlamp levelling or cleaning device missing, inoperative or otherwise obviously defective."

I used the Osram 190% bulbs on my 1 series, did the job nicely.

[Frances The Mute]

Munich said:

Do you really have to replace the rear lights? What have the rear lights go to do with having Xenons at the front?

The updated rears are probably LED and will be coded to the car so the systems need ot be compatible.

I've used plenty of aftermarket HID systems over the years and they've worked very well and have so far (touch wood) given me zero problems.
Two of my cars have them curently (one is an OEM set-up) and I wouldn't be without them - especially as I do a lot of rural driving.

[Prof Prolapse]

yammyfan said:

Prof Prolapse said:

I really don't see the fascination with Xenons.

They're complicated and expensive if they go wrong for very little in return.

I live in the sticks and after a deer recently 'ran into me' i want to make sure i can see everything thats infront of me. They give significantly more visibility.

In my experience living in a deer area buddy and it doesn't help.

Aside from the fact Xenons really aren't that much better (you can have spotlights if you like) when the deer want to cross you know fine well they often go at full pelt and they're camouflaged right up until they hit the tree line.

That and the fact they're more active at dawn/dusk anyway where your lights really aren't that much of an advantage.

If it makes you feel better go for it of course.

[g3org3y]

Prof Prolapse said:

rottie102 said:

But is it really worth it?

I really don't see the fascination with Xenons.

They're complicated and expensive if they go wrong for very little in return.

Aftermarket kits are in the region of £30 and if installed appropriately in the correct housing, shouldn't blind other drivers.

[Lee540]

I have two cars, a 2003 BMW 330Ci Sport with xenons and I really dislike them, the lighting is so poor on dipped beam.. In my 2009 Audi A3, standard type headlights, they are great!

I think xenons look best when you see a car with them, not when you are trying to drive with them..

Think if you really love them, you're only option is the full retro-fit, no cheapo aftermarket ones with be suitable or legal (in everyones opinion)

[Prof Prolapse]

g3org3y said:

Prof Prolapse said:

rottie102 said:

But is it really worth it?

I really don't see the fascination with Xenons.

They're complicated and expensive if they go wrong for very little in return.

Aftermarket kits are in the region of £30 and if installed appropriately in the correct housing, shouldn't blind other drivers.

I'm on about the BMW ones as pictured.

Wasn't cheap to get them repaired last time the ballast sensors started playing silly buggers.

ETA: Also £30 with ballast sensors? What about a headlamp wash as well so you can keep the lamp clean so you don't dazzle people? Is that even legal?

[Cyder]

Prof Prolapse said:

rottie102 said:

But is it really worth it?

I really don't see the fascination with Xenons.

They're complicated and expensive if they go wrong for very little in return.

I've recently done a number of late night headlamp evaluation exercises and in the majority of cases Xenon's are vastly superior to Halogen lamps.

They are expensive but they're not really that complicated, it's just a bulb with a smooth reflector and then a lens over the front. (Plus a drive unit on the back).
The main issue is the levelling and wash requirement.

I think optically a reflector is more difficult to get right.

Generally from best to worse (in my subjective opinion)
Bi-Xenon lamps (Both dip and high beam are operated from same unit)
Single Xenon projector (Usually Halogen reflector high beam)
Halogen projector (Halogen bulb in a projector unit)
Halogen reflector

[dave_s13]

I've got adaptive xenons on my E61 and they are bloody brilliant, literally. They bend round corners and all sorts of magic $hit, what's not to like!!

I also had them on a previous Saab 9-5 and although didn't do the look round corners thing they were still a world better than a standard halogen set up.

I can't see them stopping you tw@t a deer though.

I assume it depends on the car but in my experience Xenon lights are far better than halogens.

[g3org3y]

Prof Prolapse said:

g3org3y said:

Prof Prolapse said:

rottie102 said:

But is it really worth it?

I really don't see the fascination with Xenons.

They're complicated and expensive if they go wrong for very little in return.

Aftermarket kits are in the region of £30 and if installed appropriately in the correct housing, shouldn't blind other drivers.

I'm on about the BMW ones as pictured.

Wasn't cheap to get them repaired last time the ballast sensors started playing silly buggers.

ETA: Also £30 with ballast sensors? What about a headlamp wash as well so you can keep the lamp clean so you don't dazzle people? Is that even legal?

£30 including ballasts. My E36 already had headlamp wash. No self levelling however.

I never had a problem with the 325i running aftermarket xenons. Only very rarely would I get a flash from traffic in the opposite direction.

For the 'new' 328i, I just went for Philips X-Treme vision. Couldn't be bothered with the missions, plus iirc, they are supposed to be coming down hard on it come MOT time.

[Dr Interceptor]

I wouldn't want one of the HID kits that could potentially cause a headache at MOT time.

Just invest in a decent set of Nightbreaker bulbs, you'll get a good increase in light output, and should improve night vision.

[RDMcG]

I have bi-Xenons on every car I own where they are OEM. There is simply no comparison with the alternatives. The one nasty part. Is if they fail. I had a low beam go on my 2003 SL500 which I have had from new and the replacements cost was $2300. Eye watering.

Still, I love the things.

[Frances The Mute]

Lee540 said:

I have two cars, a 2003 BMW 330Ci Sport with xenons and I really dislike them, the lighting is so poor on dipped beam.. In my 2009 Audi A3, standard type headlights, they are great!

I dare say the lenses on the E46 are past their best.

I have a 2000 B3 and my xenons were great. Even better when I replaced the lenses because of pitting and age.

[confused_buyer]

rj1986 said:

Does the car have headlight washers? IIRC, it's an automatic MOT failure if they don't have them for Xenon systems.

"Lighting.
Headlamps. Vehicles fitted with High Intensity Discharge (HID) and LED light sources will have a new reason for rejection, "A mandatory headlamp levelling or cleaning device missing, inoperative or otherwise obviously defective."

I used the Osram 190% bulbs on my 1 series, did the job nicely.

You recall incorrectly. It only has to work if it fitted, along with levelling devices. If it isn't fitted, it doesn't need to work or be there. However, the light still has to pass the beam pattern test whether halogen or xenon so an incorrectly fitted aftermarket xenon kit should fail if it does not produce the correct beam pattern.