I find it intriguing that so many people seem to think it's a disadvantage that xenons have a "sharp cutoff." Personally, I think it's an advantage--PROVIDED that the lights are aimed properly. Mine were too low upon delivery, the dealer boosted them up a little too high (oncoming cars sometimes flashed), and they had to be lowered just a tad. Now I see everything, with or without brights, as appropriate, but don't get flashed more than about once every other month. And the parts of the road that I need to see, including the shoulders, are very well illuminated.

I agree that you don't absolutely NEED them in city areas that are well lighted, but can you guarantee that you'll always be in those areas? Things change--I typically own a car about 10 years, and my needs a decade ago were far different than they are now. Why limit yourself to an archaic system?

 

After reading all the for and against on Xenons, I knew the only way to decide was to take a test drive on the same night in one car with xenons and one car with halogens. Because the color temperature is different between the two light types, it was important for me (and personally I would say for anyone) to compare how my eyes perceived the difference in illumination (note: I don't know what the actual amount of light the two systems put out).

I wanted the Xenon's to fail this test, in part because I really didn't want to get them as an option. However, I decided that if they did allow me to see better in the dark, then I would get them. And now I have xenon's in my build.

I do not claim that they will be worth it to everyone, but they did allow me to see better (or more comfortably, objects were more readily distinguishable to me) during the test drive than the halogens.

 

xenon - yes
hi fi - that would be a big NO - save your $ and buy aftermarket.

 

The night I placed my order I took another test drive, only because I wanted to see how the dash lights looked at night. I had no intentions of ordering the xenons, but when I saw how much of a difference they made - how much better I could see at night, first thing back to the dealer I said "add xenons to my build!". WELL worth the extra $500!

And as for the HiFi, I had it in my build since day 1. I'm a huge music buff, so I wouldn't even consider the base stereo. But like everyone else has already said, just listen to the same song in both systems back to back and then make a decision.

 

I would get the Xenon's but not the HiFi stuff. Not really big into stereo stuff, as long as it works its fine with me.

 

Yes and yes

 

Xenon's a big no. Hi-Fi, yes, although not fantastic it does a good job.

 

When I give up my 04 TDI for a new MINI S....I'll also be givin up the best stock sound system to me....VW Monsoon...rated in the top ten best stock system in 04...I'm 58yr. and still like to rock..but drivin's more fun, better pay attention to the road !!! Ha! Ha!

 

Personally, I didn't get the Xenons and haven't missed them at all. I can see just fine with the regular headlights. I don't drive a LOT of back roads but there is a short stretch (half a mile) behind my neighborhood that has no lighting and I have never had a problem seeing or being seen. Not worth the money to me...though I do like the way Xenons look.

 

With respect, I would disagree. I have poor, dare I say, horrible eyesight. The Xenon's give me confidence to drive at night. I'd give the Xenon's a big yes. With respect to the Hi Fi system. I don't have it and wish I did, or at least something better than stock. I love music and I can tell you that the stock audio system is sub par.

 

Regarding the Bi-Xenon headlights I would definitely recommend them since they put out much better light at night then the stock ones.

For just 1 day I had a 2008 CR/W MCS with the stock headlights and they were decent but because it was a 6 speed manual driving in local traffic which is what I mostly do on a daily basis was a real pain on my left knee (arthritis) so I exchanged it for a 2008 MCSa the very next day.That car and my replacement 2009 MCSa both have the Bi-Xenons and I can see much better during the night now and will always have a car equipped with them.

I only have the base stereo so I can not comment on the hi-fi but I would have gotten that too if I ordered my Mini instead of buying from the dealer stock.

 

I'll never buy another car without xenons after having experienced them.

 

I'd also not get a new car without HID's. They also simply look so much better than the halogens which nearly makes them worth the price IMO!

 

Xenons yes, HiFi no.

 

To sum up these past 4 pages many people like/dislike the xenons, while many people like/dislike the halogens.

Also, we found that some people like/dislike the HiFi, but surprisingly some others like/disliked the standard stereo.

Really, drive cars with both and decide which you prefer. None of the options are bad, it all about owner preference.

 

+1 . That's why it's called Youification.

 

yep. make it yours. I'm sure that there is someone out there that thinks every option on my car is terrible, but I still love it.

 

I will be replacing my totaled MINI and I won't buy the Xenon's again. They have a lighted area cutoff that makes me feel like I"m driving with a black curtain hanging in front of me.

Now, that's on low beam. High beam was great, but you can't drive around like that. I'm told that you can adjust the low beams up a degree or two and it eliminates that black curtain effect. Don't know. Didn't get to it before I rolled the car.

 

Here is an idea. I wanted the Xenons but like many here mine came off the boat and I was not able to pick and choose the little extras. But what you can do thats a massive help if you want to save the cash is get the Hyper Blue bulbs. You will get the same brightness and color temp and the Xenons. Only difference you will pay hella less and they dont self aim. I have used those Hyper Blue bulbs on ever car and truck I have owned except my BMW X5 because that came with them.

 

That brings up a point. I wonder how many of the xenon lovers are older, and how many who don't particularly want them are younger. I'm 58, and have "the beginnings of cataracts,"
according to my eye doctor. Do I simply NEED higher lighting than younger drivers?

One bad thing about the bi-xenons is that you can't flash them. Yeah, I know, you can just pull back on the stalk. Trouble is, if they're not already on, you're putting a lot of extra wear on the leveling mechanism as the xenons first turn on. They're also slow to do so. I now drive with my headlights on all the time since the high beams use a simple shutter mechanism that doesn't rely on a motor. Then again, having headlights on all the time--especially the hard beady eyes of the xenons--helps keep people from pulling out in front of me on the highway, which is where I do most of my driving.

 

umm no, they won't have the same brightness and doubtful the same color. They may be good but they don't output like a xenon.

 

I see a lot of blue headlights that aren't "regular" xenons. Are they the Hyper Blues, or is that an after-market filter or xenon?

 

+1 on the xenons. I will never go back. Don't become the next "halogen regret" sob story so evident here on NAM. besides, it's one of the only options that's dropped in price over the last few years.

A tentative +1 on the upgraded hi-fi. It sounds fine for what I listen to, but I wish there were more EQ adjustments, like mid-range.

 

not sure what U mean here. I flash mine all the time at eediots with their high beams on... (like how I use my rear fogs as false brake lights against tailgaters in BIG trucks)

 

If your lights are off and you flash bi-xenons, you are making that little leveling motor go up and down (slowly) every time. Since you say you are flashing people with high beams on, I'm assuming that your dims are already on. Flashing then doesn't present a problem since it's a shutter action that is working. It's only a daytime problem (unless you leave your lights on all the time, as I've learned to do). Keep in mind that in my part of the world flashing is common for signaling, anything from cops ahead to greeting another MINI. That might not be common where you live.