You CAN, but I've heard that if you do it too often you will burn them. I only flash when my lights are on at night, usually when someone wants to move to my lane, I will flash to let them know is OK, I will let them move over.

 

Yeah, that's what I mean. I don't flash at all--those igniters are EXPENSIVE! I don't know what they are for the MINI, but for my BMW they are $400 each.

I generally run with lights on, so it's okay to flash--the bi-xenons just have a shutter mechanism.

 

Maybe I should just program my lights to be ON all the time.

 

But you can flip someone. Just swap to high and they raise up. Alternately you can flash your fogs...

 

You can flip someone OFF, too.

 

tee hee teee heee. In Canada we are required to use DRL (Daytime Running Lights) so flashing someone here is pretty basic; just tug on the stalk. I tend to use my fogs to flash though. On the other end, whenever someone lets me in a lane, I flash my rear fogs at them to say thanks.

 

My Corvette has Xenons, and I totally love them, I'm going to order a 2008 MC with Xenons too. They are much better.

 

I found out that in Japan when someone lets you in the lane you use your Hazard and let it blink like 2x to say Thank You. Never seen that in the USA.

 

It's common practice in Canada too. Everyone has hazards though, so to be a little different, I use the fogs.

 

thats because people arent as nice in america.

 

Anyone here have the regular OEM halogen headlights? Are they bad enough that it is worth reorder when my car is already on the ship?

 

I think you can order a better light bulb for the car. But there is nothing like Xenons. I remember early on this year I was driving my Toyota Corolla when I see behind from far away a pair of blueish-white lights and fog lamps fast approaching me. I thought it was a Porsche Boxster or Cayman. When it passed me it was a Mini Cooper S. Man, Xenons make the car look so much better, besides improving visibility dramatically. If you can wait, I would just reorder.

 

I don't have DRLs programmed in my car--I manually put on my headlights. Are they the same bulbs? I thought they were different, and not Xenons. Which are the DRLs?

 

DRLs are daily running lights, i.e. lights that are on all the time except when your headlights are on.

Can someone explain to me why you can't flash with Xenons? What does this damage?

 

Count me in as one of those poor schmucks. Guess I'll be getting the Vision Plus bulbs.

 

teachinkids, why didn't you order them? I didn't cuz I thought they were overkill and I find them too bright on other people's cars. NAM folks have suggested they were worth it, do you think we should reorder?

 

Yes I would say so. They are not too bright like some other cars. And no body curses you because the way these headlamps are arranged it wont bother the person in the car in front you too much. They improve the visibility very well...

 

common practice if you're driving a rig.

 

It's up to you...but I don't like Xenons and will not have them. That said, I feel they're of little practical use where I live...under different circumstances I might feel otherwise. I don't like to buy options that I will not use.

 

gokartride, can you explain a littlemore about why you don't like them and why you wouldn't use them? Everything folks here have been saying about them has been positive, but I'm really interested in your perspective.

 

I do almost all of my motoring in the city and the extra illumination is just not necessary imo...visibility is perfectly fine with the standard lighting package. In the same way, in this setting I find Xenons overkill and a visual distraction. I have been bothered by improperly adjusted Xenons so many times I've developed something of a bias against them, although I will say I've never had any specific issues w/ MINI Xenons.

I know many folks love Xenons and that's fine...not everyone holds that opinion, though, and that really shouldn't come as much of a shocker. I don't want to appear to be arguing against Xenons...if someone wants them or feels they need them, fine by me. I do think it's rather silly, however, if the only reason one wants them is "because they look cool." I trust that's generally not the true motivator.

 

So the DLR (DAYLIGHT running lights), ARE a different bulb, right?

It's been explained to me that xenons are a gas light, as opposed to a filament bulb. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it's hard on the igniters to turn on and off, as you would when you flash. If you notice when they are turned on, they take a few seconds to reach max lighting level. Also, they have the self leveling mechanism which also would take unnecessary wear, since they start in a "down" position and rise up.

 

I guess I didn't buy them because I've always had halogens so I don't really know what I'm missing. We put some SilverStars in my wife's Honda Pilot and those seemed fine. I don't need xenons, I just need headlights. Any headlight will do. There are many after market bulbs that will be just fine. There is no way I'd delay my car over some bloody lighbulbs, russr. Think minimalist.

 

gokartride, I was thinking of getting them for the improved visibility. In the winter it is dark when I drive home and I could sure use some extra light to help me spot deer and so forth. The looks are not important to me since I don't like the look of xenons.

Can someone explain to me the self leveling mechanism? What does it mean that they start in a "down" position and how does that help with wear?

 

Don't know why this didn't post the first time, but I pointed out that it's best not to drive a xenon car at night so you won't see the difference. And, as gokartride pointed out, they're not worth much in a city environment. I live in the country, though...

As for the self leveling mechanism, they are required by law to have a gizmo (motor? Gyro? Whatever) that keeps them from shining into other drivers' eyes. They start pointing somewhat down, and you can distinctly see them rise up into the correct position for the position the car is in.