American's and xenon

[Wannes]

Hey,

I've noticed, quite recently, that American don't really go for the xenon headlights. Boz has an Audi A6, almost fully loaded, but I fail to see those xenon lights. Also other people don't seem to really care about xenon in America.

Is there a reason for that? I've been driving with xenon headlights since they were released and actually, I would never switch back to normal headlights.

I'm just trying to start a small discussion about the subject.

Regards,

James

[Symbiotic Hat]

All the cars I've owned have not had them but I've put them on aftermarket.

[t_r_nelson]

There was some initial shock and pushback because of the brightness of the headlights for oncoming traffic. I thought there was actually a push to have them banned. You can really notice when vehicles have them installed.

Is there a cost benefit (short-term/long-term) or an environmental advantage to them? Or is it just the fact that they are brighter that you like? I really don't know much about them, myself.

[.Kompressor]

They hurt my eyes when coming towards me. so I don't mind they aren't the norm.

[Cara Veteran]

They hurt my eyes when coming towards me. so I don't mind they aren't the norm.

All the cars we currently own are equipped with HID lighting. I think some of the push-back about hurting people's eyes are aftermarket kits that were installed by enthusiasts without realigning their lights so that they are being focused higher than they should into peoples eyes.

Even standing directly in-front of one of our cars with the lights on they don't bother my eyes because the light is widely dispersed over the ground at my feet, not into my eyes.

That being said, even I am the victim of misaligned headlights while driving, HID or standard.

[Fred Derf Veteran]

There is push back in some places about the brightness of daytime running lights nevermind xenon headlights.

[Zip]

too many people have misaligned lights, dipped beams can be as bright as you want without glare as they should be pointing at the floor.

my experience is most americans do the aftermarket bodge-job. perhaps most manufacturers dont offer them standard due to the culture difference... i dont know. like chrome wheels? how many european cars come as standard with chrome? like, 3?

[t_r_nelson]

The ones that I've seen are in BMWs or Audis. I would wager those were installed prior to purchase so I don't believe they were the "aftermarket bodge-job."

[Zip]

i didnt say all. just a lot less than europe

[t_r_nelson]

Technically, you said "most", but point taken :D

[HawkMan]

too many people have misaligned lights, dipped beams can be as bright as you want without glare as they should be pointing at the floor.

my experience is most americans do the aftermarket bodge-job. perhaps most manufacturers dont offer them standard due to the culture difference... i dont know. like chrome wheels? how many european cars come as standard with chrome? like, 3?

you can't really compare a usefull thing like HID lighting with flashy chrome wheel that server no real purpose. and I think in many parts of europe wich is farther north brighter ights is more of a necssity than in most of the US. though I'm not sure how common Xenons are on new cars here anyway, unless you choose them as an option package.

oh and btw, chrome wheels are horrible, ugly flashy things, plain non shiny alu wheels are much nicer :p Chrome asa whoe is much mmore of an american phenomenon too.

[shockz]

Nobody has them over here... because they are only on vehicles that cost a ton of money.

Then you've got the people with civics, huge trucks, etc doing aftermarket jobs that do them completely wrong to where they blind people when they are driving.

In Ohio now I believe its illegal to use xenon headlights if your car didn't come with them factory equipped. Nobody ever gets in trouble for it though.

[AltecXP]

I'm debating an HID upgrade.

[MR_Candyman]

Too many people don't do it properly and just stick an HID kit in without putting in projectors. People see these and think that if you get HID or Xenon headlights from factory, that that annoying mess is what other motorists will encounter, so they don't get it.

[ObiWanToby]

I have them on an Audi A4. They make a big difference at night, it is hard to go back honestly. It has light sensors that dim them and aim them down when there is a car coming towards you, and it does work I've tested it by driving another car etc... One thing that is annoying though is they do not dim when there is a car in front of you, the mirrors reflect some godly light into your eyes. I keep a proper distance behind cars because of that (not that I shouldn't anyways) , but that cusion of safety and comfort I leave always means some jerk will cut in and slow down in front of me, so then it gives me comfort that they are being blinded.

I think aftermarket HID lights should be banned though. I am 90% sure that the ones i see around here, do not auto dim, they blind me to no end, it ****es me off.

[kombolcha]

i don't like em.. unless they were factory installed.. don't care for them.. i curse at people who install them after.. it's so tacky.

[Wannes]

(Ps. Sorry for the spelling mistake in the title)

You get used to those lights when you see a driver in the opposite direction. I have to no trouble whatsoever when someone crosses me and he has xenon lights. You don't directly look in the lights either, do you?

I just found it awkward that you hardly see them, factory installed, in America.

[ANova]

They exist mostly on luxury vehicles here in the states. I have them as I have an Acura TL but the problem is definitely aftermarket kits. These people blind oncoming motorists and those motorists tend to react, especially in a country where everyone is sue happy. It's not so much an issue though as it is more of an expensive option that most vehicles simply don't offer.

[rathefeare]

There seems to be a problem over here with people aiming their headlights incorrectly almost always too high. This seems to occur with all headlight types. HID's being most noticeable has created a backlash of sorts. It just seems strange that someone would spend the money on an aftermarket HID system and then not bother to aim it properly pretty much throwing away the advantage of better lights. Sorry bit of a rant there.

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

I have them on my Acura TL and the one on the passengers side went out. Turned out that there is some type of transformer that went. The cost to have one light fixed was over $1000.00. When the next one goes I am trading it in. (N)

[MR_Candyman]

I have them on my Acura TL and the one on the passengers side went out. Turned out that there is some type of transformer that went. The cost to have one light fixed was over $1000.00. When the next one goes I am trading it in. (N)

And you paid that? Shoulda just replaced the ballast with a new one. Woulda cost about $100. These Honda/Acura dealerships just LOVE their customers because they know they can screw them over like that.

[Wannes]

I have them on my Acura TL and the one on the passengers side went out. Turned out that there is some type of transformer that went. The cost to have one light fixed was over $1000.00. When the next one goes I am trading it in. (N)

That would be one of the few xenon headlights going. They are not only known for the extensive light they produce but also for their durability.

[duritz]

i hate those lights....but i do have xenon flares for my jeep :)

[Quickstrike]

I love HID lights (Xenons).

If I bought a new car with a Xenon option, I wouldn't hesitate to order them.

The amount of light you get from them compared to halogen makes it a no-brainer.

I think even with the lights turned off, the housing/lens looks better.

[Huleboeren]

Wish our car had xenon lights - regulars look so old and it doesnt match new cars :s