Hmmm, just wondering whether to get the driving lights or not.

Do they illuminate as good as the xenons and can I use them on the highway? Are they easy to steal?

If

 

You might be confusing the use of the lights

I had Xenons AND driving lights. Driving lights add a great deal more illumination way down the road.

However, get them aftermarket, much cheaper and a huge choice ... include Xenon Driving lights

 

Do a lot of country driving where deer lurk around almost every corner? If yes get both. If not then Xenons only.

 

Yep, two different things so they are not really comparable - the xenons are low beams, the regular headlights you have on, while the "driving lights" function pretty much to enhance the high beams and to be used under the same conditions (and thus not on the highway if other cars are ahead or going in opposite direction).

 

Bi-Xenons, as in the R56, provide both low- and high-beam coverage.

 

Ah, I see, I'd forgotten that - I'm familiar with them from other cars (with varying degrees of success IMHO, hope the R56s are good tho). Nevermind my 'splaination in that case. Guess the low xenons don't stay on with the high beams anymore then?

 

My understanding is that a shade blocks a large portion of the light from getting out when the lights are on low beam. When you switch to the high beams, the shade moves either up or down and allows all of the light produced to spread onto the roadway.

 

*smacks self on head* of course! I've been ill today and apparently its effecting my thought process some

 

Go aftermarket on the driving lamps. I had them spec'd originally, but after they raised the price and after discovering the price of installation by the dealer I decided against them.

I figured it'd be a fun project to do after I took delivery.

 

Have you found anywhere to buy the driving lights yet? I guess a new grill is needed to allow the mounting brackets to fit through.

 

BritBoy: I haven't found any yet. Reason being I want a light bar for the lower grill, but since the IC is located there I have to wait for a proper R56 aftermarket piece. Otherwise it would only be too easy to find aftermarket driving lamps (there are quite a few). I'm not too sure on the grille situation. As more parts/mods for the R56 enter the market it's only a matter of time before a solution becomes available.

 

Got my driving lamps installed today finally.

Although I like the look, the factory lights are not very practical.

They will come on with the high beams if you have them switched on. If you have them switched off, they won't come on with the high beams.

It'd have been nice to be able to switch them on independently, as alternative fogs/high-beams, but that's not the case.

I got the "chrome" lights, which are a plastic body and glass lens. The supplied covers are white, which makes me glad my state doesn't require that I cover them up on the street. If I were in such a place, I'd be getting some flat black spray paint for plastic. If I'd known the body would be plastic, I might have opted for black.

 

Thanks for all the input... as always. I was hoping the driving lights would compensate in situations where there's low light if I did not get the xenons... plus they look really cool!

I think I am just getting the halogens... I am not sure I like the xenons. I hate the cars behind me that have them plus I was told that they illuminate more upfront but the halogens illuminate further ahead (something I had read before too).