Xenons - having a rethink

Fiskar

Been looking to spec a new car and top of the list of must haves is that it have Xenon headlamps. Now am having a serious re-think.

Mate has an S60 with these fitted, xenon bulb went and replacement cost was €90, few weeks later it blows again, garage think it is the ballast unit and €300 plus a new bulb at €90 brings the cost to replace 1 broken bulb to €480 + labour =600!

Now my S40 blew a set of €14 Nightbreakers after 18 months so reverted back to motorfactor bulbs at €3 a piece. I can live with that but not the rip off that is the Xenon. I thought Xenons were life time bulbs?

Anyone else with horror Xenon stories?

MuppetCheck

If its a new car the warranty would cover a balast. The cost of bulbs is saucy but they go relatively rarely compared to halogens. They'll obviously work out more expensive than halogens but there's a value in their use too.

I've had a xenon go (replaced both to match the colour) and it wasn't cheap, also had one of the levelling sensors detatch meaning they blinded everyone as they ended up pointing to the sky. But I'd still have them though but it depends on the value your place on the light quality.

Mycroft H

The lights good out of them but the cost is silly when the eventually go wrong.

I'd *ahem* less than road legal 100w halogen spots wired up the old Jeep. They were wired on a relay to come on when the headlights were engaged. As bright as Xenons but at a fraction of the cost. They were seriously useful for country roads at night. Bulbs were a couple of euro delivered off ebay.

I still don't know why 70w headlight bulbs were never made road spec legal. Once they're aligned right, the modest increase in power shouldn't be an issue.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

BMW have advertised free xenon bulb replacement this year and last. May be irrelevant but just to let you know

high horse

I just got a xenon replaced this week for free under BMW's see and be seen promotion. If I was a paying customer, it would have cost me €250!

Youngblood.III

It's a con...I laugh at people with these blubs fitted.
It's the modern version of yellow spotlights.

Avatar MIA

Youngblood.III wrote: »

It's a con...I laugh at people with these blubs fitted.
It's the modern version of yellow spotlights.

They give far superior illumination. No comparison.

Voodoomelon

Had xenons for 6+ years, never had a bulb go.

MuppetCheck

high horse wrote: »

I just got a xenon replaced this week for free under BMW's see and be seen promotion. If I was a paying customer, it would have cost me €250!

For a xenon bulb? Maybe if they supply and fit but they can be had for a fraction of that.

high horse

MuppetCheck wrote: »

For a xenon bulb? Maybe if they supply and fit but they can be had for a fraction of that.

They did supply and fit the bulb. The price was good this month of course.

Fiskar

Regular Halogen is cheap as chips compared to Xenons, there is enough other expense than these things. Think I will go for a car with regular Halogen lamps and wait for LED lamps with 50,000 hour life!

Neilw

Youngblood.III wrote: »

It's a con...I laugh at people with these blubs fitted.
It's the modern version of yellow spotlights.

Sounds to me like someone hasn't a clue :P

Factory fit xenons are far superior to normal halogen lights, I've had a few cars with xenons and really miss them.

Bulbs are not that expensive if you buy online, just make sure they aren't chinese knock offs.

Wibbs

FWIW, mine are 18 years old and 150,000 plus under their belts and still going fine. If one(or both die) then Neilw nails it, find out the model number and seek them out online. Major savings to be had.

Cee-Jay-Cee

From my experience with OE HID lights the bulbs are either D2S or D2R and both can be bought in their own for less than €20 on eBay. I had OE HID lights in a JDM accord a few years back, one of them went and I replaced it with an eBay bulb and was so impressed with the improvement in light output from it that I also changed the other one.

Maybe newer cars use different bulbs or throw error lights for non OE bulbs but if your car uses either of the two above then just get a replacement from eBay.

Edit: I just had a look, you'll actually get two bulbs for €20 delivered on eBay.

Special Circumstances

Fiskar wrote: »

Regular Halogen is cheap as chips compared to Xenons, there is enough other expense than these things. Think I will go for a car with regular Halogen lamps and wait for LED lamps with 50,000 hour life!

Yeah the diodes themselves might last 50,000 hours... but if ballasts can go on a HID (Xenon) system, then the current drivers can go in an LED setup. Could be more expensive to replace some of the matrix/array LED drivers than a ballast driving one or two HIDs.

bazz26

Youngblood.III wrote: »

It's a con...I laugh at people with these blubs fitted.
It's the modern version of yellow spotlights.

Stupid aftermarket cheap ebay HID kits fitted to reflector type headlights blinding oncoming traffic yes. Proper xenons like the ones straight from the factory are far superior to standard halogen headlights or cheap aftermarket HID kits. Drive a car with proper xenons and you see the difference straight away.

OP, xenon bulbs can be sourced online for alot cheaper than from a main dealer.

tossy

Youngblood.III wrote: »

It's a con...I laugh at people with these blubs fitted.
It's the modern version of yellow spotlights.

You are dead right,it was Charlie Mccreevy invented them - money making racket.Give me oil lanterns anyday.

CrowdedHouse

I'd say in a couple of years they'll be history anyway.

LED/Laser seems to be the way forward

tossy

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

I'd say in a couple of years they'll be history anyway.

LED/Laser seems to be the way forward

Lasers lights will be lethal, an unfocused beam could take someones head off.

mickdw

My xenon bulb exploded at about 2.5 years old.
Audi quoted 243 plus vat for the part.
Bought a Philips genuine identical to the one that came from the factory for 60 online. They were available from 20 quid upwards at the time.

colm_mcm

tossy wrote: »

Lasers lights will be lethal, an unfocused beam could take someones head off.

Special Circumstances

tossy wrote: »

Lasers lights will be lethal, an unfocused beam could take someones head off.

Chinese eBay retrofit laser f*glights... save me jebus :-(

bazz26

I cannot see lasers going down too well.

kirving

Aside from the BMW free scheme, which is fantastic to be fair, some of the manufacturers prices to replace Xenons are insane. I got a genuine replacement for €30 from a guy who could only buy a set of two at a time and sold the second, so didn't do too badly, but would have been €60 or thereabouts online.

Are LED lights an option? Would be the best option imo.

Drummerboy08

Orlando Helpful Hemp wrote: »

Are LED lights an option? Would be the best best imo.

Yeah they are on certain cars alright!

milltown

I've factory xenons on my 13 year old car and they have never given any trouble. I couldn't be without them in my next car now. Hat tip to the guy who specced them on my car when he bought it new. They weren't a cheap option and I doubt many people would have even considered them in 2002.

The Rape of Lucretia

Avatar MIA wrote: »

They give far superior illumination. No comparison.

But does that make any difference in practice to driving though ?

landmarkjohn

I wouldn't take the reliability of bulbs in a Volvo as a typical example. My '97 S40 from new would blow bulbs for fun, especially rear lights. I defy you to find one 97-02 with all four rear bulbs working with same illumination. We have had a Mazda that would rarely blow a bulb. Currently have two BMW with Xenon that have not failed, 8 year old car and 9 year old. Anyway point being they should last and the benefits are worth having for country driving.

*Kol*

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

But does that make any difference in practice to driving though ?

Well if having the road in front of you lit up better is of any use then yes.

The Rape of Lucretia

*Kol* wrote: »

Well if having the road in front of you lit up better is of any use then yes.

But equally, if it isnt better, then no.

If you discount the higher likelyhood of alcohol influenced driving, and frost/ice, in the dark, is there any evidence that driving in the dark with normal lights is more dangerous than in daylight, and that the brighter light of zenons makes any positive practical improvement on it if so ?

listermint

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

But equally, if it isnt better, then no.

If you discount the higher likelyhood of alcohol influenced driving, and frost/ice, in the dark, is there any evidence that driving in the dark with normal lights is more dangerous than in daylight, and that the brighter light of zenons makes any positive practical improvement on it if so ?

Oh God...... .. ..

Stealthirl

Summer wind

Hi Fiskar you said in your first post that to spec xenons was the most important thing for you. I would go with your gut instinct and spec the xenons. I've had them on two cars now and wouldn't be without them. They have a lovely bright white light that's fantastic especially on dark country roads.

OldmanMondeo

Youngblood.III wrote: »

It's a con...I laugh at people with these blubs fitted.
It's the modern version of yellow spotlights.

Cheap branded Xenons will give a yellow glow and not the bright white light you should get.

MarkN

I'd call it a lottery OP. I've had 8 cars with xenons, I've had one bulb go (and BMW paid for it a few weeks ago ).

You'll be grand!