Bi-xenon, Bending Front Lights - Worth

[Nick]

My order still not given a build date. Was toying with the idea of adding the Bi-Xenon option, what do you guys think? Is it worth the dosh?

[big_kev]

Nope !

[seatkid]

If you'd have negotiated them at the start you'd have got them at 50% off. I personally object paying

[big_kev]

Just a thought on HID lights in general.

 

Can you flash them to warn other drivers of your presence ( yeh ok...in reality to say hello or warn of speed trap ).

I thought they took some time to "warm up".

 

Surely this is a legal requirement of the MOT ?

[gaznlou]

Yep illegal for the year of Gal!

[seatkid]

Can you flash them to warn other drivers of your presence ( yeh ok...in reality to say hello or warn of speed trap ).

I thought they took some time to "warm up".

I think only the dips are HID, the main are still halogen.

[NikpV]

I wonder how long the lamps last? Bet they're not cheap to replace.

 

 

short of mechanically hitting the discharge tube and fracturing it there is nothing to wear out - its not like the filaments which vapourise slowly over time ....... but I seem to remember seeing somewhere that the tubes are expensive to replace

[seatkid]

I wonder how long the lamps last? Bet they're not cheap to replace.

 

 

short of mechanically hitting the discharge tube and fracturing it there is nothing to wear out

All discharge tubes - flourescent, sodium, etc wear out eventually.

[big_kev]

I have also heard that the control gear for HID lamps can interfere with airbags !

[Nick]

I wonder how you adjust these fancy bendy, self levelling optics lights for continental driving? Just a switch? Just a trip to the dealer and the diagnostic machine?

Certainly not stick on bits of tape.

 

Yes, good point about driving abroad.

 

Thanks all for comments.

[NikpV]

All discharge tubes - flourescent, sodium, etc wear out eventually.

 

 

you may well be correct but you need to bear in mind that xenons are different (significantly) than fluorescent tubes and sodium lamps since the active 'gas' is always such and does not rely on secondary emmission of photon which occurs in fluorescents (excited mercury vapour --> uv photons --> absorbtion in coating --> visible photons) the coating often fails/flakes, sodium vapour lamps relies on a lowe pressure to keep it a vapour (diffusion alters the pressure)

[mk2vr6]

they do fail,eventually,the igniter electrodes wear down,the crap from this coats the inside of the lamp and causes hot spots and eventually the glass cracks,the wear happens every time you switch them on

[NikpV]

what sort of life in hours/ignition is expected (cf filament lamps) for xenons?

[NikpV]

what sort of life in hours/ignition is expected (cf filament lamps) for xenons?

 

seen some replacements at