Halogen bulbs in regular cars in 2017

ION08

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Jayzus, Halogen lights on a car in this day and age :rolleyes:

We have had xenons since the 90's and now have LED and all sorts of advancement in lighting technology ... yet here we are in 2017 and manufacturers are launching "New" models with halogen bulbs.

Would have thought Xenon should be the norm by now :rolleyes:

Toyotafanboi

ION08 wrote: »

Would have thought Xenon should be the norm by now :rolleyes:

Its grand though when a bulb blows in a halogen lamp it's like €5 and when a xenon blows it's like €300.

In a €25k car owners will expect maintenance costs in proportion with the purchase price.

ION08

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Its grand though when a bulb blows in a halogen lamp it's like €5 and when a xenon blows it's like €300.

In a €25k car owners will expect maintenance costs in proportion with the purchase price.

xenons don't cost anywhere near that and also should have a significantly longer lifespan than halogens.

You can get unbranded bulbs for 20 euro or OSRAM bulbs for 50

Juts seems crazy to me that new cars are still even being made with Halogens when we have come such a long way.

It's as outdated to me as manual windows and mirrors and hubcaps instead of alloy wheels.

No excuse to not have Xenons as standard in this day and age.

Especially with such a big focus on safety and visibility.

Carpentry

ION08 wrote: »

xenons don't cost anywhere near that and also should have a significantly longer lifespan than halogens.

You can get unbranded bulbs for 20 euro or OSRAM bulbs for 50

Juts seems crazy to me that new cars are still even being made with Halogens when we have come such a long way.

It's as outdated to me as manual windows and mirrors and hubcaps instead of alloy wheels.

No excuse to not have Xenons as standard in this day and age.

Especially with such a big focus on safety and visibility.

When xenon bulb went in my A5 I was told by Audi 250E each, sourced one myself for 100E each, would love to know where to find xenons for 20 quid.

Aldi or Lidl started to sell them ?

ION08

Carpentry wrote: »

When xenon bulb went in my A5 I was told by Audi 250E each, sourced one myself for 100E each, would love to know where to find xenons for 20 quid.

Aldi or Lidl started to sell them ?

I hyperlinked my text - couldn't have made it any easier for you

ripped off by an Audi dealer? .. who would have thought!!


Edit: For next time.....

OSRAM Xenarc - Twin Pack , 10 YEAR Guarantee , 106 Euro ..... you're welcome

https://www.hids-direct.co.uk/osram-ultra-life-10-yr-guarantee-d3s-twin-duo-pack-66340ult-hcb/


(83 euro for a twin pack of D2S) ... as I said, Absolutely NO EXCUSE for Halogens in this day and age.

dar83

ION08 wrote: »

Jayzus, Halogen lights on a car in this day and age :rolleyes:

We have had xenons since the 90's and now have LED and all sorts of advancement in lighting technology ... yet here we are in 2017 and manufacturers are launching "New" models with halogen bulbs.

Would have thought Xenon should be the norm by now :rolleyes:

I'm surprised it actually has alloys to be honest!

The Xenons won't make a difference to Mary driving the kids to school or to Tesco and back home again and sure she'll probably do just fine with the DRL's running all day/night anyway, possibly with the fogs if more light is required. Headlights are so pre-DRL! :pac:

Carpentry

ION08 wrote: »

I hyperlinked my text - couldn't have made it any easier for you

ripped off by an Audi dealer? .. who would have thought!!


Edit: For next time.....

OSRAM Xenarc - Twin Pack , 10 YEAR Guarantee , 106 Euro ..... you're welcome

https://www.hids-direct.co.uk/osram-ultra-life-10-yr-guarantee-d3s-twin-duo-pack-66340ult-hcb/


(83 euro for a twin pack of D2S) ... as I said, Absolutely NO EXCUSE for Halogens in this day and age.

They fit Audi, it doesnt mean that Audi is using them as stock bulbs, some type of Philips if I remember correctly. I was reading about people having problems with replacement bulbs, so went with genuine item.

if you need to replace 225/40-18 tyre you can use Maxtrek or Bridgestone.... they are both tires, but ...

Hope you got the point now.

ION08

Carpentry wrote: »

They fit Audi, it doesnt mean that Audi is using them as stock bulbs, some type of Philips if I remember correctly. I was reading about people having problems with replacement bulbs, so went with genuine item.

if you need to replace 225/40-18 tyre you can use Maxtrek or Bridgestone.... they are both tires, but ...

Hope you got the point now.

Sorry to hear you got ripped off but you’re clutching at straws now :rolleyes:

OSRAM are the same if not better than Philips.

Yes you can use Bridgestone tyres... but you can also use other comparable brands such as Pirelli, Dunlop etc.

Besides, were talking bulbs not tyres (if a halogen bulb blows, do you think honestly think people replace it woth another OEM halogen bulb)

If you’re dead set on Philips, they are also nowhere near €250 or even €300 to replace (can be had for €60)

You point is futile and my point still stands that the cost of xenon bulbs is not as high as people think and given the significant longevity over Halogens, it is not a viable excuse for Manufactures to not offer Xenons as standard in 2017.

Hope you get the point now also

You know im right

Seth Brundle

ION08 wrote: »

Jayzus, Halogen lights on a car in this day and age :rolleyes:

Irish poverty spec edition?

Carpentry

ION08 wrote: »

Sorry to hear you got ripped off but you’re clutching at straws now :rolleyes:

OSRAM are the same if not better than Philips.

Yes you can use Bridgestone tyres... but you can also use other comparable brands such as Pirelli, Dunlop etc.

Besides, were talking bulbs not tyres (if a halogen bulb blows, do you think honestly think people replace it woth another OEM halogen bulb)

If you’re dead set on Philips, they are also nowhere near €250 or even €300 to replace (can be had for €60)

You point is futile and my point still stands that the cost of xenon bulbs is not as high as people think and given the significant longevity over Halogens, it is not a viable excuse for Manufactures to not offer Xenons as standard in 2017.

Hope you get the point now also

You know im right

I didnt get ripped of, it wasnt last week, it was probably beginning of 2016 when I bought them, and back then there was no cheaper option, trust me I've checked web throughout.
Of course Osram are as good, but as I said before, was reading about problems from fitting aftermarkets.
I suppose you can always buy product "as good", but I guess its personal choice.
I would never use, lets say "Mintex" brake pads, but a lot of people do and they are happy, and they go one, trying to convince other people to buy them and to be happy. Got it now ?
Can we finish here ?

colm_mcm

Who's getting ripped off more, the people who pay less for a basic model, or pay thousands more for a model that few € extra to build?

Del2005

kbannon wrote: »

Irish poverty spec edition?

It wouldn't be cost effective for a company to equip a new model solely for the Irish market.

Xenon requires a lot more equipment to be fitted and a halogen bulb is perfectly fine for the majority of people and results in a cheaper car, if you want xenon you can always add it as an option and increase the companies profits.

Carpentry

colm_mcm wrote: »

Who's getting ripped off more, the people who pay less for a basic model, or pay thousands more for a model that few € extra to build?

Bit of both I suppose. Whatever you want to add later on e.g. hid's, leather seats, parking sensors, comes from the very same pocket, if you wont get it at the factory.

colm_mcm

Oh absolutely. I just don't agree that base models are always a rip off. They don't make everything standard because there's enough people that will pay silly money for them.

Eric Cartman

I would consider HID's a safety feature, they really are a serious improvement. I couldn't go back. the OSRAM bulbs are grand value , and as above, D3S's for just over 100 for a twin pack is savage value.

even my 99 BMW e38 has factory xenons , its terrible to see new cars in the last year or so with halogens (maybe jap / Romanian budget hatchbacks aside )

Carpentry

colm_mcm wrote: »

Oh absolutely. I just don't agree that base models are always a rip off. They don't make everything standard because there's enough people that will pay silly money for them.

They are not rip offs at all, you get what you pay for basically.
I know from experience that Audi is insanely expensive if it comes to adding extras to the factory spec, and theirs factory spec is as poor as F... Fiat (no offence to the Fiat owners) if not worse.

McGrath5

Drove a rented car in America for 10 days with Xenons, honestly my next car will certainly have them.

But yes OP, I agree, for a 2017 car to not have them is shocking, though I suspect the average Irish buyer is happy once they have their cheap tax and the new reg plate sitting outside the house.

HONKEY TONK

colm_mcm wrote: »

Oh absolutely. I just don't agree that base models are always a rip off. They don't make everything standard because there's enough people that will pay silly money for them.

I fully agree

A majority of people in Ireland are happy to buy a New base model.

It tends to be mostly the people who are in Used market who get pissed off at the people who bought the base models new.

I hope that makes sense:p

colm_mcm

WHAt about all the other countries Mcgrath5?

Nonoperational

McGrath5 wrote: »

Drove a rented car in America for 10 days with Xenons, honestly my next car will certainly have them.

But yes OP, I agree, for a 2017 car to not have them is shocking, though I suspect the average Irish buyer is happy once they have their cheap tax and the new reg plate sitting outside the house.

God forbid people would buy a car to make them happy. Unreal.

Eric Cartman

colm_mcm wrote: »

WHAt about all the other countries Mcgrath5?

to be fair the UK and other countries are a lot more of a mixed bag, you'll get some who just want a new car but a lot more people than here will get some options thrown in. In the US 'got any options on it' is a common question when showing off a new car.

if seatbelts, airbags and ABS became optional on new cars tomorrow I would wager that a considerable chunk of Irish buyers wouldn't be bothered ticking those boxes. I would consider xenons in a similar category at this point.

colm_mcm

A Jetta in the US has steel wheels and halogen headlights.

EPAndlee

Eric Cartman wrote: »

I would consider HID's a safety feature, they really are a serious improvement. I couldn't go back. the OSRAM bulbs are grand value , and as above, D3S's for just over 100 for a twin pack is savage value.

even my 99 BMW e38 has factory xenons , its terrible to see new cars in the last year or so with halogens (maybe jap / Romanian budget hatchbacks aside )

Those ****ty HID sets should be completely illegal. Worse are the clowns with purple hids. Companies are keeping maintenance costs down so your only spending a tenner on a bulb compared to going into Audi and spending a couple of hundred. Most people wouldn't know the difference between bulb types. 95% of our customers wouldn't have a clue how to even change a bulb

ION08

Carpentry wrote: »

I didnt get ripped of, it wasnt last week, it was probably beginning of 2016 when I bought them, and back then there was no cheaper option, trust me I've checked web throughout.
Of course Osram are as good, but as I said before, was reading about problems from fitting aftermarkets.
I suppose you can always buy product "as good", but I guess its personal choice.
I would never use, lets say "Mintex" brake pads, but a lot of people do and they are happy, and they go one, trying to convince other people to buy them and to be happy. Got it now ?
Can we finish here ?

Bazzy

I got a 2nd hand Volvo v50 cheap and it has them and again its something i'd look for in my next car and would probably be a deal breaker if it didnt have them

I'd never buy a brand new car even if I won the euro millions

They offer an excellent degree of visibilty they auto adjust to your not blinding the ****£ out of everyone because a great majority of the irish republic have the headlight adjustment on 0 pointing as high as she will go

They should be made a legal requirement

MidMan25

The charging of VRT on optional safety equipment is baffling.

colm_mcm

MidMan25 wrote: »

The charging of VRT on optional safety equipment is baffling.

What optional safety equipment are we talking about?
VRT is on the value of the car so obviously if you spend more money, part of that is VRT and VAT and dealer margin.
Is safety equipment being optional baffling to you?

MidMan25

colm_mcm wrote: »

What optional safety equipment are we talking about?
VRT is on the value of the car so obviously if you spend more money, part of that is VRT and VAT and dealer margin.
Is safety equipment being optional baffling to you?

By charging VRT on safety equipment the government are disincentivizing people adding it.

- Upgraded headlights
- High beam assist
- Lane assist
- Blind spot indicators
- Head up displays

Manufacturers are free to decide what kit what they want to include as standard and what is optional. The government is free to decide how they want to apply tax to a vehicle.

tossy

Carpentry wrote: »

They fit Audi, it doesnt mean that Audi is using them as stock bulbs, some type of Philips if I remember correctly. I was reading about people having problems with replacement bulbs, so went with genuine item.

if you need to replace 225/40-18 tyre you can use Maxtrek or Bridgestone.... they are both tires, but ...

Hope you got the point now.

You are talking through your bulb holder lol who do you think makes the bulbs Audi sell you in a rebranded box? Audi use 2 manufacturers Philips and Osram.

Madnash

I had a hid light on my bicycle in the early 90s.They were a disaster as they were to fragile, to slow to heat up, to bulky and back then a bulb was 200pounds.HID lights were dropped fairly quickly from cycling equipment and replaced with ever more powerful LED. HID are not on cars due to the fact they were made obsolete about 15years ago. Anyone into cycling that regularly cycle at night will have headlights to match most modern supercars. If you want to know what kinda lights will next appear on cars then look to the lights for sale for cycling. A lot of stuff you see on cars first appeared on bicycles.

colm_mcm

MidMan25 wrote: »

By charging VRT on safety equipment the government are disincentivizing people adding it.

- Upgraded headlights
- High beam assist
- Lane assist
- Blind spot indicators
- Head up displays

Manufacturers are free to decide what kit what they want to include as standard and what is optional. The government is free to decide how they want to apply tax to a vehicle.

.... Oh and what's with the attitude??

No attitude, just that argument about VRT being unfair on safety equipment was nearly credible 15-20 years ago when things like ABS side/curtain airbags/ESP/traction control etc were options on a lot of cars. Nowadays cars have all the essential safety kit as standard, the items you listed there are all lovely, but nowhere near as important as some of the stuff that's already standard on cars.

My question would be how manufacturers can justify charging so much for these features.

jca

Madnash wrote: »

I had a hid light on my bicycle in the early 90s.They were a disaster as they were to fragile, to slow to heat up, to bulky and back then a bulb was 200pounds.HID lights were dropped fairly quickly from cycling equipment and replaced with ever more powerful LED. HID are not on cars due to the fact they were made obsolete about 15years ago. Anyone into cycling that regularly cycle at night will have headlights to match most modern supercars. If you want to know what kinda lights will next appear on cars then look to the lights for sale for cycling. A lot of stuff you see on cars first appeared on bicycles.

Rubbish post. Simple as that.

jca

Bazzy wrote: »

I got a 2nd hand Volvo v50 cheap and it has them and again its something i'd look for in my next car and would probably be a deal breaker if it didnt have them

I'd never buy a brand new car even if I won the euro millions

They offer an excellent degree of visibilty they auto adjust to your not blinding the ****£ out of everyone because a great majority of the irish republic have the headlight adjustment on 0 pointing as high as she will go

They should be made a legal requirement

0? That's where the adjustment is supposed to be unless you're loaded to the bollox.

Toyotafanboi

jca wrote: »

Rubbish post. Simple as that.

I think he has a point. Plenty of cars have LED lights now and they are cheaper, brighter and more reliable than xenons.

jca

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I think he has a point. Plenty of cars have LED lights now and they are cheaper, brighter and more reliable than xenons.

I know cars have led lights but to think they came from bicycles is ridiculous.

Harry Palmr

I like halogen bulbs - they're soft, LED's are like being cross examined by an angry car all too often.

jca

Harry Palmr wrote: »

I like halogen bulbs - they're soft, LED's are like being cross examined by an angry car all too often.

Ha ha, modern day Christine!!

Oafley Jones

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I think he has a point. Plenty of cars have LED lights now and they are cheaper, brighter and more reliable than xenons.

HIDs are brighter for the most part. I’ve full LEDs in my car and they’re fairly good, but they’re behind the bi xenons on the wife’s sharan. VAGs leds just seem slightly lacking.

Bazzy

jca wrote: »

0? That's where the adjustment is supposed to be unless you're loaded to the bollox.

Most people I know carry something or other in the boot and wouldn't bother adjusting the lights if they had passengers,

A lot of people dont know what the button does.

This technology makes sure the lights are always at the correct level.

oppenheimer1

The reason they're not standard is fairly simple. Cars are built to a price point, so because of high purchase taxes on Irish cars a lot of equipment is made an extra.

The same is true in Denmark where purchase taxes are extremely high. Up until recently at least it was common for base models there to have hand winders on windows.

bear1

We have xenons both on the auris and the 159 with the 159 being bi-xenon. Will never go back to halogen.
Personally I can't stand drls, and the reason I hate them is cause of the amount of people I see at night time driving around without actually having their lights on is baffling.
The question of whether xenons should be standard in 2017 is a moo point.
For a certain degree of car? Yes.
For a basic fiat/dacia or generally a cheap car then no.
Sure have them as an optional extra but no need to have them as standard.
Also this whole Irish paddy spec is pretty old now considering a lot of cars being bought are generally well equipped in standard form.

Tuco88

Thats a myth imo that Irish spec bollox. You get what you pay for.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Carpentry wrote: »

When xenon bulb went in my A5 I was told by Audi 250E each, sourced one myself for 100E each, would love to know where to find xenons for 20 quid.

Aldi or Lidl started to sell them ?

A xenon bulb went in a work colleagues car about 2 years ago, she was quoted something similar as you by Audi. I got her two D2S bulbs on eBay for €30 and fitted one in the space of 10 minutes. It’s still going perfectly and the light colour is identical to the OE bulb in the other side and she still has a spare should it or the other one go.

Seth Brundle

Tuco88 wrote: »

Thats a myth imo that Irish spec bollox. You get what you pay for.

My earlier post about poverty spec was being sarcastic.
However, in the past (and still), Irish people will go for the cheapest car available - smallest engine, no extras, steel wheels, lowest motor tax, etc. There may well be similar people in other countries but in the past we exceled at it.
In fairness the country was poor and many people didnt want to spend much on a car.
It's no myth though!

mickdw

Re the Audience at xenons, the owner above is correct that the dis bulbs could not be got for that type of price a few years back.
My A5 headlight went and I rang audi. 243 euro plus vat and fitting.
I did source a genuine Philips bulb myself but 60 quid was best that could be found at the time (2012).

Wibbs

Madnash wrote: »

HID are not on cars due to the fact they were made obsolete about 15years ago.

What? They're pretty much the standard above the very base entry level cars?

tossy

Wibbs wrote: »

What? They're pretty much the standard above the very base entry level cars?

Yeah but bycycles.... thye are pioneering, they had wheels and brakes long before cars also. Ahead of the game.

Carpentry

tossy wrote: »

You are talking through your bulb holder lol who do you think makes the bulbs Audi sell you in a rebranded box? Audi use 2 manufacturers Philips and Osram.

Now you have really surprised me, I always thought Audi has hidden bulb plant somewhere under Ingolstadt.

Carpentry

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

A xenon bulb went in a work colleagues car about 2 years ago, she was quoted something similar as you by Audi. I got her two D2S bulbs on eBay for €30 and fitted one in the space of 10 minutes. It’s still going perfectly and the light colour is identical to the OE bulb in the other side and she still has a spare should it or the other one go.

I did change mine in 5 minutes, but thats not the case, I bet you can source xenon bulbs from aliexpress for under 5$, but is that the point ? If you can afford to own A5 why to spare money on service ?

jca

Carpentry wrote: »

Now you have really surprised me, I always thought Audi has hidden bulb plant somewhere under Ingolstadt.

It in the Netherlands....

tossy

Carpentry wrote: »

Now you have really surprised me, I always thought Audi has hidden bulb plant somewhere under Ingolstadt.

Yeah they grow Tulips :rolleyes::D