A little patience here, please--I'm new at this. I ordered Xenons with my new MINI, and now I'm having second thoughts. I'm worried about maintenance, especially now that these cars have bi-xenons.

If I get a rock hit on my headlight, how much is it to replace the light? I had a problem with the igniter in a BMW headlight, and it was $400 (installed). Is this what I'd pay for a rock? I live out in the country and would like the light the Xenons offer, but I also do freeway driving where there are lots of semis throwing up junk.

It isn't too late to change the specs on my MINI--am I making a mistake by going with the Xenons?

 

Having driven MINI's both with and without Xenons, (and my car has them), I firmly believe that the benefits of having the Xenons far outweigh the possible negatives.

My vote is keep the xenons.

 

... and get the thick clear headlight protectors - I got them with my clearbra install - not bulletproof, but certainly rock resistant...

 

No.....

Nik

 

I, too, would vote to keep the Xenons. I've seen way too many people decide against the Xenons when they order their Mini only later to come back and want to retrofit them. Not only does it cost an outrageous amount to retrofit Xenons ($1000++), but it is a major hassle. I have Xenons and cannot imagine going back to halogens. I've driven 200,000+ miles in my day in all sorts of cars and conditions (much on Montana roads), and I have never had anything take out a headlight...windshields yes, but not headlights.

There are also headlight protectors you can buy to alleviate potential damage.

In summary, stick with the Xenons!

 

If you need a fifth opinion to further assure you...

GET THEM. Best option money you could spend, IMO. After all, what's more important than safety ? The xenons really do help you see better at night.

And as stated, the clearbra protection for the headlights is a good way to protect them. It came as part of my clearbra package. Can't tell it's on there unless you're a few inches from the headlights.

+

 

Daffodildeb,
I sometimes travel via the country roads in Tarrant/Johnson Counties. The Xenons are a major improvement. Don't change your mind. You'll be amazed at how much better you can see on dark country roads with the Xenons.

 

+1

 

Get them. They make a great difference on back roads. The one must is the clear 3M h/light film or whatever companies you choose.

 

Ok--will stick with the Xenons and get the clear protectors. But worst case scenario, if a rock does hit, what has to be replaced and how much?

 

The xenon bulb is inside the housing. The only thing exposed to rocks is the clear lense cover. Your risk is no different than the standard lights, unless you get a brick or a bullet that goes right through your lense and busts up the inner works. How often has that happened?

 

The xenon light is also relatively small and high in the housing so this should also help.

 

I had to have one replaced due to an accident - The entire housing with washer fluid sprayers was around 600

 

I have Xenons and I'm not impressed. Would be a different story, I'm sure, if they were Bi-Xenons but they're not. If you're concerned about seeing "out in the country" as you say isn't that the time when you would most likely have your high-beams on? If so, wouldn't your money be better spent on auxilliary driving lights rather than on Xenons? Think about it.

 

The new MINI halogens are 25% brighter according to the press releases. On MINI2 there are some comments that the halogens are brighter than before.

I have never driven a xenon car so I can only say that I have trouble seeing at night while driving and I can see fine in my newest 2 cars with halogens. The newer halogen lights seem much brighter than those of the 90's and before. I imagine it has to do with the extreme size headlight reflectors many have now. I could imagine better lights but not $500 better.

 

I have the Xenons on both the MINi and a 3 series and would NEVER go back. The front lens is polycarbonate and very resistant to rock dammage, then there is a large glass lens between that and the actual Xenon bulb. I have driven MINIs with hallogen and simply missed the clarity of the Xenon.
http://www.murmini.com/articles/2006...enon-headlamps

 

Gotta admit that the spot / driving lamps on the %6 are very good indeed, instant day light and they look good too.

 

The bad thing about halogens are they dim with age, so even if they start out brighter, as time goes on, they dim.

My first set of Xenons was on my MINI, and I will never go back to halogens unless I don't have a choice. I think there have been excellent examples listed above as to why you shouldn't have to worry, and how you can protect your lights. Unless you regularly get your headlights smashed in completely, I wouldn't second guess ordering the xenons.

 

Or better yet, Xenons Driving lights

 

I bucked this online trend and SKIPED XENONS. First, I don't drive at night much. Xenons or not, you'll find me checked into a nice motel sucking downa cold ale when the sun goes down. Second, I don't like cars with them coming at me and don't want to be one of them. Third, they are expensive to replace, and fourth there was a thread where it was revealed that they add over twenty five pounds right at each high front corner. (And I still question this...IS THAT RIGHT? I know there's a ballast unit and all, but how many pounds?? ) See you at the track. To each his own, I say. It's your money, so go have fun your way.
Tom
P.S. Yeah, I went all out on
this go round. Merry Christmas, everybody!!

 

For me, after I'd experienced the coolness of xenons for the first time, I won't ever willingly go back to candle power :p

As far as how inexorbitantly and unrelentingly heavy xenons are, I'd urge you not to rely on the Onion for your more serious news articles..

>yeah, I can barely lift my bonnet with those porkers lol<

 

Agreed...it's your money. I skipped Xenons and will skip them on my next MINI, too. I will say, though, that my normal routes are fairly well lit. Just not a need.

 

Duh, you might not need headlights if you don't drive at night.

Seriously, I'm old as dirt and find the Xenons really help my night vision. I'm not sure whether they are brighter than Halogens or not. The light just seems "whiter". My son recently traded cars. The new one doesn't have Xenons, and he tells me that he really misses them. I think you shouldn't worry. We can drive ourselves crazy wondering "what if" or "shoulda coulda woulda". It's really no big deal. My favorite quote is, "I never regret what I did in this lifetime; I only regret what I didn't do." Go for it. You'll be able to form your own opinion. Then you can give em hell. Ooops,,,, too much Cote d'Rhone tonight. Stay with your first feeling. You'll love your Mini regardless of which set of headlights you have.

 

Fortunatly $20 fixes dim halogens.

So how much would you guys spend on xenons? I think if they were say $200-300 I would strongly consider them or if I was buying a $30,000+ car $500 would seem more reasonable to me. I see the MCS as a value performance car and too many options start killing that idea. If you are getting most all the packages, leather etc. then xenons seem like a no brainer.

 

The only thing better that xenons are bixenons. I love the ones on my 06 & will never buy a car without them again if they are offered. With the high beam now being xenon IMO there may be no need for driving lights. I bought a set of clear plastic covers from Moss for my xenons. No rock problems yet.

Too me the cost doesn't seem too bad. Especially when folks spend hundreds of dollars for anthracite headliners & chrome bits. With xenons you gain a margin of safety for your money.