You do know that when they say "xenon", they don't mean HIDs but just some xenon gas in the cheapie halogens?

Best of luck with that Walmart stuff

 

And what do the "Expensive" Xenons use as gas, "Halogen gas"??

The ones I saw at Wally world today were PIA, and all the other well known brands. They rated LUMEN output is marked on all of them. So you will know exactly what you are buying. BUT, most poeple (if not ALL) in this thread are saying they are for LOOKS anyway. So I bet you could take the bulb out of most of them and they wouldn't even know it for 2 years.

 

All of the lights at Wallyworld use a filament that burns in a mixture of exotic gasses; halogen bulbs have xenon in them too. The Wallyworld bulbs, including the well-made Japanese PIAA bulbs, have a higher content of xenon that produce a whiter light --- in the vacinity of 4000K as opposed to the stock bulbs' 3200K. Lumen output is usually higher with the PIAA & Narva bulbs too.

But beware. The coated bulbs produce a whiter light and are also rated at 4000+K but usually have lower lumen output. A blue coating filters out blue light (warm color; hardest color for the human eye to focus on/with). These bulbs make it harder to see at night.
If all you want are cool-looking blue lights, buy this crap. You're a ****** and don't deserve to see at night anyhow.

An HID light has no filament at all. It passes current via a step-up transformer through an arced tube filled with mostly xenon; the gasses are excited by the current and glow brilliantly. The light output is near 5000K and has an impressive lumen output, especially considering the voltage/amperage supplied.

Next step will be high output LED headlights that will put the other technologies to shame. Go to your Audi dealer and look at their flagship.
LED headlights are pricey right now but they will shortly be the standard.

OE driving lights a waste of money? I don't think so.
In their favor, they fit perfectly, look great, and are easy to service. They will last a long time without rusting and match the car.

Wallyworld lights? You get what you pay for, dude. They generally are Chinese-made and of dubious quality. You'll be replacing things several times and buying something of higher quality eventually.

Hellas & PIAA kits? If you can hump them on the car, go for it. I have PIAA 1100XX's on my bike along with Sylvania EDot's in all 4 of the OE housings; I can burn the retinas out of a bat at night. Seeing is good.

OutMotoring is just about ready with their kit for the R56. I might add a pair of yellow fogs in front of the bumper.

 

Nice post, Arnbut, except for this quote. Many mods people make are for appearance only. No need to dis the poster for it. He should, however, understand which lights are made for appearance and which are made for utility.

 

I don't make fun of people for buying chrome (not any more, anyhow) but, when it comes to safety gear, I draw a line in the sand.
Headlights are important...
Sorry to come off harsh but I'm being true to my idiom. Mr. Tough Love here...

 

I understand your point. My point, though, is that if they know they are buying it for looks, as opposed to safety, so be it, as long as they know what they are getting. After all, the car doesn't come with them. I just hope they are aimed right, so as not to blind other drivers.

 

Do you ACTUALLY think the MINI lights are NOT made in China????

I have some REALLY bad news for ya.

FYI: My "other", not as fun car, is an Audi A8.

Several sets of the PIA lights in Wally world have a higher lumen output than MINI OEM driving lights. I don't care what they are filled with. Lunens are Lumens. There is nothing magical about the MINI OEM lights, trust me.

And again, ALL of the posters above are saying they are simply for looks. Nobody is buying them for "safety", please. If you want to be safe, put on your seat belt.

 

Not quite.

 

LOL!! I never said I could spell!!!

 

I never saw real PIAA's at Wallyworld... (I like PIAA bulbs but prefer EDot).
And I've replaced the bulbs in my Minis with German-made bulbs...
And my driving lights are employed daily for safety reasons; I drive a 23 mile twisty route in the dark through the po-dunk foot-hills of north Georgia every morning. Dodging deer, black bear, coons, and other fuzzy creatures of the night is a serious affair...

I like lightbulbs: