Why aren't Xenons standard yet?

scott212 said:
I'm pretty annoyed that some manufactures don't offer them as an option. Clio 200 Cup would be a car I'd consider but I can't imagine driving a car without Bi-Xenon headlights now I'm used to it and thus I've overlooked it.

I can't believe the other night I spec'd up a 135i coupe
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All you ever seem to do is 'consider' cars and 'spec up' stuff yet in all your many years on this forum (Remember your other account) you've never actually bought a car, yet have always been about to spec one up or considering something.

How odd.

and it didn't come with them as standard, they were at least £600 as an option.
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Lots of cars don't have them as standard...
 
It was a big thing for me when choosing my Cooper S - from my perspective they improve not only lighting but the overall look of the car.

They do add a premium feel to most cars but as most of said as they can be charged as an option that's the way the manufacturers keep it.
 
[TW]Fox;17734334 said:
They won't self level - but the self levelling is there for idiots who would load a car up, not bother to adjust using the adjustment wheel, and blind everyone. The self levelling is not responsive enough to be of any use adjusting on the fly for dips in the road surface.
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surprisingly enough, the self level IS responsive enough to make a difference. Ok, perhaps not quick enough to adjust themselves when going over a pothole at 80mph, but they make a hell of a difference in town, especially when going over the ridiculous amount of speedbumps this country has everywhere.
 
When you can charge in the region of a grand for them, and there are people willing to pay that, why include of them as standard.
 
I think it's a bit crap that almost a decade ago they were standard fitted to the Clio 172 but they aren't standard fit on the Clio 200 :(
 
karlbbb said:
Correct, but the "HID" part is only used as main beam/flash when the dipped headlights are on, and there will still be a reflector (whether it be open or a projector housing) with a normal halogen bulb to use as the flash when the headlights aren't on.

The main beam is created by moving away the shield inside the HID projector housing that creates the really sharp cut-off you see with dipped beam. :)
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My Car (e92) has just the H8 halogen bulb for the halo/angel eyes the HID is used for main dip and flashing the lights.
 
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I hate the way they flicker at me, I aways think my mates are flashing at me. I get blinded by them oncoming too :(
 
MikeHiow said:
What car do you have them fitted to?
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Standard equipment on a BMW Z4 M

I see others here don't have a problem but I live out in the sticks so use unlit country roads often. Definately noticed a huge increase in people flashing at me (unfortunately not naked women) since driving it. Lights are all adjusted fine also there's no problem with incorrect aim of the beams. I guess with fewer cars on quiet country roads they just seem much brighter. Inbright busy city roads I guess the lights just blend in
 
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[TW]Fox;17734361 said:
The only certainty in law regarding this is that it is a legal requirement if you are a car manufacturer and wish to sell a new car.

Headlight washers are not even tested on the MOT.

I agree, I wont buy a car with reflector lenses, but most people don't really notice.
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Just thought id point out that self levelling and headlight washers are a legal requirement when retrofitting HID's into cars that didn't have them as standard from the manufacturer

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps
 
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scott212 said:
I get flashed several times a week and I have mine on so they point as downwards as possible. Albeit I do have mine on most of the time (unless it's bright sunlight) so I guess they could just be flashing to tell me I've got my lights on.
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How did you adjust that?
 
ubersonic said:
Just thought id point out that self levelling and headlight washers are a legal requirement when retrofitting HID's into cars that didn't have them as standard from the manufacturer

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps
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Wrong. Read it again.

'In the Departments view'.

It is the opinion of the department and not law. It is simply how they interpret the law as there is no precedent as there has never been a case.

Look:

It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles.
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The same level of safety should apply.
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'It would be'

'Should'

etc

Basically they know it isn't illegal, but are of the opinion it 'should be'. Sadly they are barking up the wrong tree, they are trying to find ways to stop people blinding the world with HID kits in reflector lenses and in doing so have completely glossed over the fact a HID install in a projector headlight is a completely different kettle of fish and in most cases is indifferentiable from an OEM install.

The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.
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See? They assume people only retrofit into reflector lenses..
 
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There is a legal requirement when fitted new apparently. Some euopean directive or other.

But as above there is no specific law which governs the retrofitment.
 
Defcon5 said:
I have never had a problem with people thinking I had full beam on
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i fitted a set of HIDs to my old golf, quite a few years ago now, and in those years ive been flashed three times, and i think one instance was where i on a hoon and the other car wasnt happy about me exitting a corner at full beans
 
[TW]Fox;17740680 said:
'In the Departments view'.

It is the opinion of the department and not law. It is simply how they interpret the law as there is no precedent as there has never been a case.
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The Department are responsible for interpreting the law regarding road lighting, and the have been cases of people stopped by the police and given fines for HID retrofits, this is why all retrofit kits [should] have a sticker on them to say for show use only (i.e not street legal)


[TW]Fox;17740680 said:
Basically they know it isn't illegal, but are of the opinion it 'should be'. Sadly they are barking up the wrong tree, they are trying to find ways to stop people blinding the world with HID kits in reflector lenses and in doing so have completely glossed over the fact a HID install in a projector headlight is a completely different kettle of fish and in most cases is indifferentiable from an OEM install.
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Sorry dude but that's just not right, HID's are all unlawful (different to illegal) in the UK however brand new cars have EU type approval making them road legal throughout the EU and the UK dept of transport doesn't have the authority to challenge that.

Its similar to the way its unlawful to use a space saver wheel as driving with two different sized wheels on the same axle violates UK law however the police were instructed to stop pulling people for it not long after they came out because the cars they are supplied with have the EU type approval which overrides the UK law.
 
The Department of transport are not responsible for interpreting law at all, the courts are.

This is why that page is worded in the way it is and why none of it is stated as fact.

It is also fairly obvious the page refers to reflector lenses as well, they simply don't bother to acknowledge projector lenses.
 
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