MINI2

ohmab · Feb 24th, 2004, 11:51 PM

What are the pro's and con's of the Xenon headlights? Are they really THAT much brighter than regular head lights? Is it an attitude thing or a practical thing? Thanks in advance!!

Shamster · Feb 25th, 2004, 12:02 AM

really depends on yr requirements. Here they are available as part of a package which most people go for. One major benefit is that they are self adjusting, although its debatable as to how much use this is on bumpy roads. However, the beam they give out is much closer to daylight than regular headlamps which are yellow as opposed to white from Xenon. There are many people who live in cities who say the regular headlamps are fine - however, if you drive in the country a fair bit then Xenons would prove there worth in no time at all.

BartMack · Feb 25th, 2004, 12:26 AM

after you've had xenons regular headlights look old and yellow...
they're something I am very glad I got on my MINI

ohmab · Feb 25th, 2004, 12:29 AM

Thanks Shamster! I do a fair amount of rural driving, and being on the other side of 40 my night driving eyes are not what they used to be, so I am leaning towards the Xenons. I am a little concerned about the addtional mechanisms of leveling and washing, but I imagine I can get over that! I think that they are a part of the sport package here, but I'm definitely not interested in the 17" tires, so I'll have to price them out seperately.

ohmab · Feb 25th, 2004, 12:30 AM

Thanks BartMack! You're not too far from me, I'm in the Fredericksburg area.

ERIN OLSON · Feb 25th, 2004, 01:48 AM

Ohmab - i say go for xenons , they really are worth the $$$$$$s. My last MCS didnt have them - my new car does ( BIG DIFFERENCE )

How long until you get your car ? Waiting is such a pain !

AndrewH · Feb 25th, 2004, 01:56 AM

I personally can't see the point of the xenon option on the Mini's as the xenon are only on the low beam (ie they are not bi-xenon which would include the hi beam as well). I only have the standard lights and do a lot of country driving and personally find the high beam fantastic - the best high beam I've had in a car yet. The standard low beam is more than adequate in city driving.

Here in Australia you can option them separately.

minidre · Feb 25th, 2004, 02:32 AM

love the xenons! feel like i was driving in the dark before them...

ERIN OLSON · Feb 25th, 2004, 03:04 AM

Andrew i dont disagree about the H/BEAM its great. The dipped beam xenons however are really good especially in the rain.

ohmab · Feb 25th, 2004, 04:52 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by ERIN OLSON

Ohmab - i say go for xenons , they really are worth the $$$$$$s. My last MCS didnt have them - my new car does ( BIG DIFFERENCE )

How long until you get your car ? Waiting is such a pain !

Thanks Erin! I'm waiting for an '05 (really want that Blackeye Purple & some of the other changes like the 3 piece dash) so according to my sales rep I can't even order until August. Which, fortunately, or unfortunately, allows me to spec and re-spec and re-spec again my car! Waiting really is a pain!

ohmab · Feb 25th, 2004, 04:55 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by minidre

love the xenons! feel like i was driving in the dark before them...

Thanks Minidre! I have an old volvo wagon, and that really is like driving in the dark! At this point, regular lights would be an incredible improvement!

swamos · Feb 25th, 2004, 09:50 AM

The lights really are excellent. I find they light the footpath as well, which is a really good safety feature. You can see pedestirans, animals, way before they walk in front of you

poki · Feb 25th, 2004, 10:20 AM

I agree wholeheartedly with Erin regarding the xenons in the rain.

Especially torrential rain.

BartMack · Feb 25th, 2004, 12:03 PM

I also forgot to mention that just turning them on and off is kind of a treat.
The self-leveling routine is just plain cool. And when you turn them off, they go off *instantly* rather than fading out. really neat.

Apial · Feb 25th, 2004, 07:15 PM

The xenons are one of the best options you should go for. They provide a very even beam of light that stretches long into the distance. My wife often forgets to switch to high beam anymore as the light from the dipped beam xenons is so good.

In the non xenon MINI, it was fairly scary passing a line of oncoming traffic. The light was very poor at lighting the kerb and you had to have faith in your directional skills at the wheel. Not so the xenons. The road, the traffic, and the verge are clear and non-dazzling.

With non-xenons on back roads you could not drive at speed safely without the main beams, however with the xenons visibility is good enough to see perhaps another 100 m or more extra. There is no need to switch on the fogs to illuminate the road edges anymore.

Buy them. You will not regret it.

Fullupo · Feb 25th, 2004, 07:59 PM

Yep, i love my xenons, wouldnt buy another car without them. The cool factor of the self levelling when you turn them on, and also the washing mechanism is priceless!

Spookyfish · Feb 25th, 2004, 09:43 PM

Another vote for xenons here. Huge improvement over my 2002 Clio with H7's. The bream is much brighter, wider and taller (deeper?). Plus it has the cool factor!

ohmab · Feb 25th, 2004, 09:55 PM

Thank you everyone! I am sold on the Xenons! Now, if the months would just pass so that I can actually order my MCS!

dav · Feb 26th, 2004, 04:11 AM

Good choice. You will LOVE them! I will not purchase another car without them. As a safety item alone, you will find that most drivers will actually use the turn signals when merging in front of you on the road. Those big and bright Xenon's really get peoples attention, along with lighting up the road in front of you unlike any halogen bulb. Unlike some Audi's, BMW's, and Porsches on the road with the Xenon HID's, our Mini's burn a white color as opposed to the others which burn more af a purple/bluish hue. It has to do with the degrees in Kelvin that the light burns at. One bit of warning; although the Xenon bulbs are very long lasting, a replacement bulb is somewhere around $130 at the moment. OUCH! You can't find them at the local auto parts store. Here is a photo of my MCS equipped with Xenon's and LAMIN-X optical blue headlamp covers...

ohmab · Feb 26th, 2004, 04:43 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by dav

Good choice. You will LOVE them! I will not purchase another car without them. As a safety item alone, you will find that most drivers will actually use the turn signals when merging in front of you on the road. Those big and bright Xenon's really get peoples attention, along with lighting up the road in front of you unlike any halogen bulb. Unlike some Audi's, BMW's, and Porsches on the road with the Xenon HID's, our Mini's burn a white color as opposed to the others which burn more af a purple/bluish hue. It has to do with the degrees in Kelvin that the light burns at. One bit of warning; although the Xenon bulbs are very long lasting, a replacement bulb is somewhere around $130 at the moment. OUCH! You can't find them at the local auto parts store. Here is a photo of my MCS equipped with Xenon's and LAMIN-X optical blue headlamp covers...

WOW! Very cool!

Feb 24th, 2004, 11:51 PM	#1
ohmab oswald's driving partner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: virginia, usa Local Time: 06:37 PM Posts: 143 Offline	To Xenon Or Not To Xenon, that is the question... What are the pro's and con's of the Xenon headlights? Are they really THAT much brighter than regular head lights? Is it an attitude thing or a practical thing? Thanks in advance!! maryann - OSWALD - Purple Haze MC!

Feb 25th, 2004, 12:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Shamster Lord of The Four Rings Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Reminiscing Local Time: 11:37 PM Posts: 10,745 Offline	really depends on yr requirements. Here they are available as part of a package which most people go for. One major benefit is that they are self adjusting, although its debatable as to how much use this is on bumpy roads. However, the beam they give out is much closer to daylight than regular headlamps which are yellow as opposed to white from Xenon. There are many people who live in cities who say the regular headlamps are fine - however, if you drive in the country a fair bit then Xenons would prove there worth in no time at all. 260909

Feb 25th, 2004, 12:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
ohmab oswald's driving partner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: virginia, usa Local Time: 06:37 PM Posts: 143 Offline	Thanks Shamster! I do a fair amount of rural driving, and being on the other side of 40 my night driving eyes are not what they used to be, so I am leaning towards the Xenons. I am a little concerned about the addtional mechanisms of leveling and washing, but I imagine I can get over that! I think that they are a part of the sport package here, but I'm definitely not interested in the 17" tires, so I'll have to price them out seperately. maryann - OSWALD - Purple Haze MC!

Feb 25th, 2004, 12:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
ohmab oswald's driving partner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: virginia, usa Local Time: 06:37 PM Posts: 143 Offline	Thanks BartMack! You're not too far from me, I'm in the Fredericksburg area. maryann - OSWALD - Purple Haze MC!

Feb 25th, 2004, 02:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
minidre i don't wanna large farva Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: long island, ny Local Time: 07:37 PM Posts: 167 Offline	love the xenons! feel like i was driving in the dark before them... http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/15910/27319.jpg

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Feb 25th, 2004, 12:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
BartMack #1647 of 1960 Join Date: May 2003 Location: RS60ville Local Time: 07:37 PM Posts: 3,373 Offline	after you've had xenons regular headlights look old and yellow... they're something I am very glad I got on my MINI

Feb 25th, 2004, 01:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
ERIN OLSON MINI2 Regular Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: BALMAIN SYDNEY Local Time: 09:37 AM Posts: 209 Offline	Ohmab - i say go for xenons , they really are worth the $$$$$$s. My last MCS didnt have them - my new car does ( BIG DIFFERENCE ) How long until you get your car ? Waiting is such a pain !

Feb 25th, 2004, 01:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
AndrewH Were there Oompa loompas? Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canberra Local Time: 10:37 AM Posts: 4,181 Offline	I personally can't see the point of the xenon option on the Mini's as the xenon are only on the low beam (ie they are not bi-xenon which would include the hi beam as well). I only have the standard lights and do a lot of country driving and personally find the high beam fantastic - the best high beam I've had in a car yet. The standard low beam is more than adequate in city driving. Here in Australia you can option them separately.

Feb 25th, 2004, 03:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
ERIN OLSON MINI2 Regular Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: BALMAIN SYDNEY Local Time: 09:37 AM Posts: 209 Offline	Andrew i dont disagree about the H/BEAM its great. The dipped beam xenons however are really good especially in the rain.

Feb 25th, 2004, 04:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
ohmab oswald's driving partner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: virginia, usa Local Time: 06:37 PM Posts: 143 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by ERIN OLSON Ohmab - i say go for xenons , they really are worth the $$$$$$s. My last MCS didnt have them - my new car does ( BIG DIFFERENCE ) How long until you get your car ? Waiting is such a pain ! Thanks Erin! I'm waiting for an '05 (really want that Blackeye Purple & some of the other changes like the 3 piece dash) so according to my sales rep I can't even order until August. Which, fortunately, or unfortunately, allows me to spec and re-spec and re-spec again my car! Waiting really is a pain! maryann - OSWALD - Purple Haze MC!

Feb 25th, 2004, 04:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
ohmab oswald's driving partner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: virginia, usa Local Time: 06:37 PM Posts: 143 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by minidre love the xenons! feel like i was driving in the dark before them... Thanks Minidre! I have an old volvo wagon, and that really is like driving in the dark! At this point, regular lights would be an incredible improvement! maryann - OSWALD - Purple Haze MC!

Feb 25th, 2004, 09:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
swamos MINI Traitor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Local Time: 09:37 AM Posts: 4,985 Offline	The lights really are excellent. I find they light the footpath as well, which is a really good safety feature. You can see pedestirans, animals, way before they walk in front of you

Feb 25th, 2004, 10:20 AM	#13 (permalink)
poki Whatev. Join Date: Sep 2003 Local Time: 10:37 AM Posts: 2,885 Offline	I agree wholeheartedly with Erin regarding the xenons in the rain. Especially torrential rain.

Feb 25th, 2004, 12:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
BartMack #1647 of 1960 Join Date: May 2003 Location: RS60ville Local Time: 07:37 PM Posts: 3,373 Offline	I also forgot to mention that just turning them on and off is kind of a treat. The self-leveling routine is just plain cool. And when you turn them off, they go off instantly rather than fading out. really neat.

Feb 25th, 2004, 07:15 PM	#15 (permalink)
Apial MINI2 Master Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Lincolnshire Wolds Local Time: 11:37 PM Posts: 819 Offline	Xenons 10/10! The xenons are one of the best options you should go for. They provide a very even beam of light that stretches long into the distance. My wife often forgets to switch to high beam anymore as the light from the dipped beam xenons is so good. In the non xenon MINI, it was fairly scary passing a line of oncoming traffic. The light was very poor at lighting the kerb and you had to have faith in your directional skills at the wheel. Not so the xenons. The road, the traffic, and the verge are clear and non-dazzling. With non-xenons on back roads you could not drive at speed safely without the main beams, however with the xenons visibility is good enough to see perhaps another 100 m or more extra. There is no need to switch on the fogs to illuminate the road edges anymore. Buy them. You will not regret it. Balloons? http://www.loony-balloony.co.uk

Feb 25th, 2004, 07:59 PM	#16 (permalink)
Fullupo MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cambridge Local Time: 11:37 PM Posts: 338 Offline	Yep, i love my xenons, wouldnt buy another car without them. The cool factor of the self levelling when you turn them on, and also the washing mechanism is priceless! 2003 DS/DS Cooper S

Feb 25th, 2004, 09:43 PM	#17 (permalink)
Spookyfish I'm probably out motoring Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Overijssel Local Time: 12:37 AM Posts: 397 Offline	Another vote for xenons here. Huge improvement over my 2002 Clio with H7's. The bream is much brighter, wider and taller (deeper?). Plus it has the cool factor! Black / Whte Cooper

Feb 25th, 2004, 09:55 PM	#18 (permalink)
ohmab oswald's driving partner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: virginia, usa Local Time: 06:37 PM Posts: 143 Offline	Thank you everyone! I am sold on the Xenons! Now, if the months would just pass so that I can actually order my MCS! maryann - OSWALD - Purple Haze MC!

Feb 26th, 2004, 04:11 AM	#19 (permalink)
dav MINI2 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA; So. CA Local Time: 03:37 PM Posts: 256 Offline	Good choice. You will LOVE them! I will not purchase another car without them. As a safety item alone, you will find that most drivers will actually use the turn signals when merging in front of you on the road. Those big and bright Xenon's really get peoples attention, along with lighting up the road in front of you unlike any halogen bulb. Unlike some Audi's, BMW's, and Porsches on the road with the Xenon HID's, our Mini's burn a white color as opposed to the others which burn more af a purple/bluish hue. It has to do with the degrees in Kelvin that the light burns at. One bit of warning; although the Xenon bulbs are very long lasting, a replacement bulb is somewhere around $130 at the moment. OUCH! You can't find them at the local auto parts store. Here is a photo of my MCS equipped with Xenon's and LAMIN-X optical blue headlamp covers... 2004 MCS BORN 9-'03 http://images.snapfish.com/33%3A4%3B...C7823535wp1lsi http://images.snapfish.com/33%3A4%3B...74853%3Bwp1lsi

Feb 26th, 2004, 04:43 AM	#20 (permalink)
ohmab oswald's driving partner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: virginia, usa Local Time: 06:37 PM Posts: 143 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by dav Good choice. You will LOVE them! I will not purchase another car without them. As a safety item alone, you will find that most drivers will actually use the turn signals when merging in front of you on the road. Those big and bright Xenon's really get peoples attention, along with lighting up the road in front of you unlike any halogen bulb. Unlike some Audi's, BMW's, and Porsches on the road with the Xenon HID's, our Mini's burn a white color as opposed to the others which burn more af a purple/bluish hue. It has to do with the degrees in Kelvin that the light burns at. One bit of warning; although the Xenon bulbs are very long lasting, a replacement bulb is somewhere around $130 at the moment. OUCH! You can't find them at the local auto parts store. Here is a photo of my MCS equipped with Xenon's and LAMIN-X optical blue headlamp covers... WOW! Very cool! maryann - OSWALD - Purple Haze MC!

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