07-10-2008, 08:13 AM | #1 |
dogged
Join Date: Dec 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: '22 M440 xDrive GC
Posts: 13,338
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Would you buy a used car without Xenon lights?
I've lived with them so long, I can't really imagine life without them--especially for driving through Rock Creek Park during deer season. But I have my eye on a thrifty used e91, and that's the only spec missing. Would they be expensive/possible to retrofit?
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07-10-2008, 08:17 AM | #2 |
Solving problems
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4
Location: Metro Boston
Posts: 25,277
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My last three cars have had them. I drove my brother's Cherokee a while back and I thought the headlights were off. Granted his halogens suck even by halogen stds, but still.
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07-10-2008, 08:19 AM | #3 |
redefined
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 14,903
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yes
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07-10-2008, 08:19 AM | #4 |
Relic
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: A very fast golf cart
Location: The Valley of the Sun
Posts: 12,821
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If you buy a used car with them, just hope a bulb doesn't die.
I had a Xenon bulb go out on my E39 in Dec. It cost about $400 to replace just the one bulb -- the bulb itself was over $300, and the rest was labor to put it in (you could probably DIY the install, but I was having other work done also).
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07-10-2008, 08:40 AM | #5 |
195
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 24,631
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I don't have Xenons in our Mini and I don't particularly miss them. I wouldn't let that stand between me and the right car; BMW's halogens are still quite adequate.
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07-10-2008, 08:46 AM | #6 |
No more BMWs
Join Date: Apr 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8
Location: Glenwood, MD
Posts: 14,753
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yes. Xenons are OK, but not a crucial feature for me.
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07-10-2008, 08:52 AM | #7 |
Founder emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21,007
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I just bought a new car that doesn't have them. The Audi just has halogens. And I don't miss the xenons one bit.We were on Georgetown Pike (outside the Beltway) the other night in the Audi and I never felt the lighting was at all inadequate.I cannot see myself ever specifically paying extra for xenons. They were standard on the 330 so I have them. But I've always felt they were overrated.
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07-10-2008, 08:56 AM | #8 | |
Relic
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,470
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Quote:
That said, I would have no problem buying a modern BMW with halogens. Put some osram (or sylvania if you have a different preference) silverstars in and they work great.
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07-10-2008, 09:00 AM | #9 | |
195
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 24,631
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Quote:
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07-10-2008, 09:01 AM | #10 |
Hello.
Join Date: Mar 2004
Carmudgeonly Ride: '09 X3, '11 328xiT, '11 135i C, '17 c2, '19 X5
Location: Downingtown, PA
Posts: 5,536
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The zkws with halogens on my e36 were just as good as the xenons on my e39. The halogens were far better after the autoleveling mechanism on the xenons broke and they drooped towards the ground.
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Josh (PA) - '19 X5 '17 991.2 C2 Cab '11 135i Convertible '11 328xiT '09 X3 |
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