Would you buy a used car without Xenon lights?

wdc330i · 07-10-2008, 08:13 AM

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?

FC · 07-10-2008, 08:17 AM

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.

dan · 07-10-2008, 08:19 AM

ZBB · 07-10-2008, 08:19 AM

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).

JST · 07-10-2008, 08:40 AM

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.

John V · 07-10-2008, 08:46 AM

yes. Xenons are OK, but not a crucial feature for me.

TD · 07-10-2008, 08:52 AM

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.

Nick M3 · 07-10-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZBB

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).

I replaced a bulb in K's Turbo for $20. It's not that big a deal, unless you *have* to buy one at the dealer. The price difference between new OEM at the dealer, the same bulb elsewhere, and somewhat used takeoffs makes it worth using the takeoffs, IMHO.

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.

JST · 07-10-2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TD

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.

Having replaced the Xenon lamp in our Audi (twice!), I can say this: be glad you don't have them. The unit was, IIRC, $780, as opposed to about $250 for the halogen (which is what my insurance company first wrote it up as).

Josh (PA) · 07-10-2008, 09:01 AM

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.

07-10-2008, 08:13 AM	#1
wdc330i dogged Join Date: Dec 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '22 M440 xDrive GC Posts: 13,310	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?

07-10-2008, 08:19 AM	#4
ZBB Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: A very fast golf cart Location: The Valley of the Sun Posts: 12,821	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). __________________ ZBB

07-10-2008, 09:01 AM	#10
Josh (PA) Hello. Join Date: Mar 2004 Carmudgeonly Ride: '09 X3, '11 328xiT, '11 135i C, '17 c2, '19 X5 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 5,531	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. __________________ Josh (PA) - '19 X5 '17 991.2 C2 Cab '11 135i Convertible '11 328xiT '09 X3

07-10-2008, 08:17 AM	#2
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,271	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.

07-10-2008, 08:19 AM	#3
dan redefined Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 14,898	yes

07-10-2008, 08:40 AM	#5
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,620	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.

07-10-2008, 08:46 AM	#6
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	yes. Xenons are OK, but not a crucial feature for me.

07-10-2008, 08:52 AM	#7
TD Founder emeritus Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 21,007	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.