Xenon.

Once you've gone Xenon, you'll never go back ...

 

I'd skip both, especially the Xenons. The bright white oncoming lights bother my eyes at night a lot more than the yellowish standard lights. Even if I could see better with them, I wouldn't get them because they are likely to have the same effect on a lot of people that they have on me.

Not really sure about the HK, but I am underwhelmed with the standard stereo, although I've gotten used to it.

 

Well, that settles it! JiggyJaymz has quite a choice ahead...

You people are really great and passionate about you cars and choices! I'm really glad that you are here and participate. Everyone, give yourself a little pat on the back.





BTW: Get the H/K -- it's great and you avoid the instant warranty void that comes with aftermarket sound systems (and some aftermarket retina fryers if you must - but oops, you get the instant warranty void with those too - damn!)

Sorry, I've been reading the forums a bit too much today...

 

Sounds to me like the performance of your sound system is not a priority, so I'd skip the HK and go for the xenons, which is what I did.

My vote = xenons.

mb

 

Regarding the 'want to be seen' aspect of the xenons, I don't understand. Low beams of any variety are visible to other drivers without any problem.

 

[quote=Merkursport]You people are really great and passionate about you cars and choices! I'm really glad that you are here and participate. Everyone, give yourself a little pat on the back. quote]

I second that!

 

XENONS no question. Stock sound is very high quality, infact I like it more than HK system....plus if you keep your mini long enough you know you will replace the speakers anyhow.......I say XENON!

 

ditto to the Xenons, I also have the add on rally lamps, i can see just about everything at night, short of through hill sides. I have H-K, not so happy with some of its functions, but generally happy with it.

-my two cents

 

I don't think anyone answered this yet... I think that Xenons are just what MINI calls HID. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure that they're HIDs. HID bulbs, if I'm not mistaken, are filled with Xenon gas. There are regular bulbs that have Xenon in them but still aren't HID.

 

I said screw it.... I got both when i ordered my 06... the xenons are sweet... and the h/k unit is sweet too... but if it is really one or the other... get the xenons and then upgrade your headunit at a later date, if you decide to.... seems like almost every car man. is or eventually will be swapping to xenons....buyers are just in aww with the bright lights of the xenon over the halogens...

 

I agree, that's just an excuse that people use for paying $500 for cool bluish blingy lights.

By the way, I love your username!

 

I have both the H/K and halogen headlights... couldn't be happier

Also, get the rear fog light for added safety plus you'll get a full 6 toggle switch bank

For the person that said that the standard stereo sounds as good as the H/K..... sorry dude but can I ask you what the heck have you been smoking?

The standard stereo is MERELY adequate to my ears. I have it in my '02 MC CVT. Gets the job done that's all. But if I want high quality sound, punchy bass and crisp, clear highs, the H/K is hard to beat at $500 from the factory.

 

Xenon headlight assemblies are pretty much in "demand" among thieves here in Miami. I have seen many luxury cars being driven around devoid of any headlights... Nissans, Acuras, Audis you name it. No thanks. I don't want to give vandals another "excuse" to take a closer look at my car. Ditto for aftermarket stereos which are the #1 window smasher cause in metropolitan Miami.

 

Isn't most of the cost of the Xenon's really because of the washers? Is that really that necessary? Shouldn't we be wiping down our Mini's with diapers every day anyway? I would defintiely get the HK before I spent $550 on headlight washers. Get the stereo and buy some new bulbs for the standard lights.

 

Pardon the pun but HID's are the difference between night and day. I look at oncoming traffic at night and feel sorry for the poor rubes with the dirty yellow flashlight bulbs struggling to pierce the darkness. Just kidding!(kind of). Really though it often results with some **** with his or her(knobette?) high beams on which really compromise my vision. I can look right at an HID without it bothering me. Xenons/HID's make a big difference in spotting deer or other night hazards. I was not going to buy my MINI without HID's but I was lucky. I got mine off the lot and it had both HID's and the H/K but the H/K is off more often than not because I just love to listen to the sounds of my MINI .

 

Oh, by the way.......

 

Xenons - used to work for Nakamichi, Recording Studios, etc...

The stock radio/cd player is fine.

 

[quote=MiniMaxx] I can look right at an HID without it bothering me. quote]

I'm impressed, I find the Xenon lights far more annoying than standard halogen lights.

 

When the lens is dirty, the light scatters and the Xenons would produce worse glare than high beams. I don't know if it's true, but I've heard that the washers are required by DOT regulation.

 

Xenon glare?

If you have trouble looking at what you might think are true HIDs, think again before judging so quickly ... see http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...e/bad/bad.html

Most likely your looking at those cheap "cool" xenon wannabes that are not real Xenon bulbs but halogens tinted too look "cool". Not only do they put out LESS light than stock halogens but add MUCH more glare.

True HIDs are a different animal.

 

My late vote... Xenon

..no wait, HK

no scratch that - Xenon

Oh, flip a dern coin already

 

Xenon and HID are two ways of saying the same thing.

The first mod I do on cars is improve the lighting. I live in a rural area and my eyesight doesn't win any trophies. If you are a city dweller, xenon lights are more decorative, out in the boonies...very useful.

Go for the lights if you have a need. One word of warning...maximize your xenon investment by properly aiming them. Mine were too low and therefore unimpressive, but my buddy's '03 MCS's xenons were aimed so ridiculously low that the foglights had as much reach. I've put night miles on 4 different MCS's all with xenons and all aimed too low from the factory. Just loosen the inboard aiming screw half a turn or so and reap the rewards!

Then contact Daniel Stern Lighting and get his CLEAR 65W H7 bulbs for the high beams. (Not a huge difference, but significant.) Don't mess with the blue tinted bulbs. They are a sad joke. Read Mr. Stern's website and you'll find out why. I aimed my headlights and put in the 65W high beams the night after I picked up my car. Get Cibie Tangos or Hella driving lights. The OEM MINI driving lights are pathetic. I unwisely blew about $800 on them, then replaced them with Cibie's....giant difference! There are lots of MINI owners that love PIAA lights, but I've never used them and I can't comment either way. I've used Cibie and/or Hella for over 20 years with great results every time.

Rawhyde

 

A friend of mine once remarked that there three things you never skimp on in a car. Brakes, Tires, Lights. You have to be able to stop, you have to have contact with the road, you have to be able to see where you going, everything else is optional. Xenons.

 

from : http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...e/bad/bad.html

"Many motorists have been confused by marketing claims for the blue bulbs, which falsely and incorrectly equate the blue bulbs' performance with the very expensive arc-discharge ("Xenon") headlamps found on top-line luxury cars."

I drive a top-of-the-line luxury car!!!!!!!!

Don't you want to, too?

 

My xenon's were aimed right into the rear view mirror of the car in front of me until I had the dealer lower them...

About driving lights, I was going to get the PIAA set, but how are those Cibies? I don't think I've heard of them...