BMW models with "bi-xenon" headlights still have halogen high beams to retain flashing capability. Xenons just can't be flashed.

 

Here is a link to Daniel Stern's HID disadvantages: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...dvantages.html

Cheers,
Gianni

 

It would seem that his discussion pertains more to aftermarket design then OEM. I think that because the reflectors are different for oem hid and oem halogens.

 

I like them, and I waited some 12 additional weeks to get them (the early MCS didn't have the xenon option). That said, was it worth the extra wait? Hmm, balancing the better lighting versus losing out on all motoring for a number of weeks...I'd have to say no, but now without the additional wait, I'd get xenons if I were to order a new MCS today. My other vehicles are perfectly acceptable with SilverStar Halogens, and in retrospect, I'd probably have been happier getting my MCS 12 weeks earlier and having halogens all around.

 

I ordered them. They seem to light the road up nicely but there is a very evident light cut-off point. There is no "grey" light area to warn you of something up ahead in an unlighted area. (Which of course means you should actually have your high beams on)

They'll do nicely, IMHO, as a re-sale point should I EVER want to sell Bloo.

Luis

 

Gotta have Xenons. Just gotta. We have a Nissan Murano as well without them... it sucks seeing the yellow light! I love my MINI with xenons... Just my two cents!

 

I just read this thread beginning to end. I have the HID Xenons on my MINI and really like having them.

Am I reading correctly that I can change the HID bulb to get a different color light? That would be awesome. Are the replacement HID bulbs legal on a car that was originally equipped with HID Xenon?

I think the Xenon's on MINI's are unobtrusive to the oncoming driver. Actually IMO they are better because they have a very distinct cut off pattern. Appearently not all cars that have Xenon's are autoleveling. The Mazda 3 has Xenons and they are not auto leveling. They are Manual.

 

Love my xenons (05.) hard to drive my halogened Toyota at night tho. J

 

Good linkBut after motoring for 16 months with the Xenons,with ALOT of miles in the dark,I find them great.It took awhile to get used to the hard cut off.But when I pass,or get passed,my lamps are throwing light further down the road,are brighter,and wash the road and ditches more than most.I never get flashed,ever, and I drive most of my 100 mile daily commute in the dark,on the highway.
One must remember to not stare,either at the bright spot,or oncoming cars.
I scan the sides of the road,looking for bambi,dodged 2 this morning,and down the road,to right in front,rear view,back to the sides,dash,down the road,rearview,dash,right in front.Constant movement of my eyes.
If I see oncoming,poorly directed lamps,I look to the right,down and use the wide spread of my lamps to show me the way.Now if we could get the goofs with the badly aimed fogs to turn them off,we all could see better.

 

The xenons stay on when you hit the high beams. The high beam comes on as a secondary bulb. The xenons stay on continuously at night.

 

Got it!:smile:

 

I have a favor to ask of MC/MCS owners. I work third shift and drive mostly at night. I was wondering if you know some one who has normal headlights and maybe you own Xenon headlights or maybe vice versa..

Anyway could two people get their cars together on a dark night and get a side by side picture of the differences in the headlights? Preferably both from inside the car and outside the car looking at them.

$550 is $550 that could be saved or applied to get metallic paint.

Some pictures on the web would put an end to this debate once and for all!

Thanks in Advance

 

I dont have side by side pictures, but I have looked at them side by side, and the difference is huge. I mean 100% more light.

If you are driving mostly at night, put the 500 into something you can see in the dark - e.g. the lights, and not your paint.

 

Xenons! No kidding.

How many cars more than 22k still use the regular lights.
I mean, come on!
You miss it now, it will cost more than 1000 to get a new Xenon after market lights! look at in the future. two years later maybe even sooner, when almost every car has one, you will think about to spend way more money to buy one!

 

Click here Xenon for recent opinions on the Xenon's. $550 for safer nightime driving is a no-brainer in my book. I have them and would highly recommend the option.

 

Indeed this remains true.

Most of the hidesouly bright poorly done lights out there are aftermarket D2S bulbs put into a reflector style housing designed for halogens and not projector style housings for HIDs. These will indeed cause massive glare and are NOT legal for onroad use.

Properly done HIDs with leveling and sharpcutoffs do not blind people.

 

Daniel Stern makes his living selling halogen bulbs, and spends all his time knowing HID. He is not even CLOSE to a unbiased source. He also has no scientific research published, unlike the makers of the lights (phillips, et. al).

If you read his page VERY closely, theres a lot of stuff that way off, including his discussion of CRI. CRI has NOTHING to do with visibility, and everything to do with color correction, which isn't germane to the subject of visibility. Its a straw man argument, and either way, a difference of 3 in CRI is basically nothing.

He never cites sources, and always makes sweeping claims .

He is biased, and doesn't admit it.

What matters, as long as the light output by your lamps is properly aimed and reasonably disitrubted across the spectrum (a CRI above 90 ish), is lumens. HIDs make FAR more lumens, its as simple as that.

 

When I pass or get passed by mosted cars at night,and I drive ALOT in the dark on highways,my zenon lamps light up more road,both straight ahead,and to the sides than most.The odd beemer or vw will be as good,but the MINI xenons light the road like no other lamps I know.Great spread,from side to side way into the ditch and down the road,with a high intensity that show everything in your path.I motor with lots of critters around,deer,skunks,racoons,the odd black bear,and I dodge them all the time.
The hard cut off of the lamps takes some getting used to,but they still shine farther down the road than regular lamps,the illuminated area is brighter,and I never get flashed by oncoming traffic.The halegon brights are also wonderful,punch way down the road,and you will get flashed by oncoming traffic,and they are a long way off.
The hard top cut of the Xenons helps in rain and snow,as there is NO light scatter,thats what blinds you in bad weather.The OEM fogs work pretty good also

 

had an 03 MCS with xenons...gave it up for an 01 325Ci...with halogens. Man that was painful going back. I noticed that the xenons light up street signs much better, i guess because the intensity of the diffused light is much greater than that of halogens. My 05 MCS on order has Xenons once again :-) Get the Xenons, I tried to retrofit xenons in my 325...and was looking at over 900 dollars...that I had to wire the harnesses and ballasts etc all by myself.

 

These are a must have. Take red or white or black paint if you must. get the lights.

 

[QUOTE=mcowgerWhat matters, as long as the light output by your lamps is properly aimed and reasonably disitrubted across the spectrum (a CRI above 90 ish), is lumens. HIDs make FAR more lumens, its as simple as that.[/QUOTE] Yup pretty simpleLamps need to be aimed right,even if they are dim.If your looking for monkeys in the trees get a flash light.
I have asked folks that know my car who have seen me oncoming at night,and they have no problem with the Xenons,they say they are bright,but don't blind them.

 

Some things you should never get unless you're prepared to be spoiled from that point forward. A high performance sports car is one example. High intensity headlamps are another!

I agree with the others. If you have to choose, forget the paint and get the xenons.

 

but compare with the better Xenon lights on other new cars, i wish MINI could have more blue or puple color.

it has a excellent color tune when it turns on, wait after a while it goes to super white, not really blueish like the other BMW lights.

 

I like the white light.that is what lights things up.We use blue light to not be seen back stage,I want to be seen,and see what is in front of me.
I work in theatre,and open white is brighter than any other light.You add colour and you dim the light.Colour only comes into play when fog or snow get added into the mix,then a slightly yellow light works better.In bad weather scatter is the problem,or diffusion as we call it in theatre.Tends to light the fog or snow,rather than the road.It is really all about focus,not colour.

 

belive me... the xenons are worth every penny... prior to my 05 MCS, I had an 03 MC with just the regular headlights..... the difference is quite obvious.... not to mention that it looks too cool for words as well....