Xenon bulbs for headlights, high beams and side lights

[Chris369]

So I'm forever seeing cars with these bright lights that have a blue-ish tint to them and they look quite cool and I'd quite like something similar on my Cooper (it's a 55 so old style).

I've been having a look on the net and found some bulbs which are pretty cheap. Some on eBay here - Find BMW MINI COOPER, S, WORKS XENON HEADLIGHT BULBS HID SET on eBay within Bulbs Lenses, Lights Lighting Accessories, Car Tuning Styling, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 17-Nov-07 19:59:14 GMT)

Will these give me the effect I want?

Also, the normal headlight bulbs and high beam bulbs are the same on that link ... will my high beams still be brighter than my headlights when I put them on even though the bulbs are the same? I'm guessing they just get more electricity sent to them or something which makes them brighter but thought I better check!

Thanks in advance

[Chris369]

Anyone?

I forgot to say I only have the bog standard lights on my car ... Halogen I think? Dunno if that effects whether I can use these bulbs or not?

[3rdpillar]

Thinj you need a responce from someone who knowss aboutthese things, I bet its real easy to buy the wrong thing ..


Wait for an informed reply, maybe from one of the site sponsors

[ALD0]

The link you have posted are just Halogens with a Bluish tint, Xenon Lamps are far more expensive than this £9.95 thing on Ebay.

If your car has not got Xenons to start with from factory, you will need a HID kit which are about £200 for a decent kit, even still these will not be legal as you should by law have Headlamp washers and self levelling system built in to the lamp!

[Chris369]

It says they're Xenon gas bulbs though not Halogen? Would it be a complete waste of time me getting those then or will they still look better and brighter?

[Suj999]

It could say what ever, as most ebay items do.. but they won't give the same look.

Some bulbs do offer a fuzzy whiter light that you may like but it has less light on the road.

For better light try Phillips Xtream Bulbs, they are about £25 for a pair for the head light. But it won't make it blue.

The aftermarket HID conversion just mess up your light and annoy everyone else on the road.

You can buy xenon bulb kits made for mini by mini, but there is a problem. As your onboard computer says its not designed for xenon when you switch on your engine it will start to flash, and I don't know anyone who has got around it yet.. but it may be just be able to get the on board computer accept xenon, if you are mates with a mini dealer.

[Buz999]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chris369 (original)

It says they're Xenon gas bulbs though not Halogen? Would it be a complete waste of time me getting those then or will they still look better and brighter?

I recently brought some bulbs off ebay to replace my yellowy standard ones and im impressed with them. They said they were zenon but in reality they are just halogen bulbs but i think they are charged with zenon gas which produces the brighter beam. Anyway whatever /however they are made they produce a much brighter whiter light than standard and a worth while buy

[Chris369]

Cool, I might order some then and see what they're like. Not a huge loss if they're crap / don't work!

Cheers.

[Derek J]

on a similar related matter.........

with having xeons and driving lamps, the yellow light from the middle pair is very noticible, has anyone bought brighter bulbs for the driving lamps to compliment the xeons..?

i intend to call at our local auto electrics centre to have a chat with them sometime....

[Damo]

Xenon gas bulbs and HID bulbs are not the same.

Xenon gas bulbs are standard Halogen bulbs but the bulb is filled with Xenon Gas to give it its blue look. The filment is still want emits the light.

HID bulbs are a bulb filled with xenon gas and a charge is applied across the gas, and the gas itself emits the light.

You'll find a lot of HID kits are illegal, but just because they don't have Self leveling or wash facilities, but also because the lens for a halogen light is usually considerably different to a HID lens. A HID bulb emits a lot cleaner light that is easier to control than a filment style bulb.