XBimmers X1   XBimmers X1
  XBimmers X1

Go Back   XBimmers | BMW X1 Forum > BMW X1 Forums > General BMW X1 (E84) Forum

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-04-2014, 06:32 AM   #1
fredrik_wt
New Member
2
Rep
26
Posts

Drives: BMW X1 23d M
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Sweden

iTrader: (0)

How about xenon lights in US?

Hi

I often see cars for sale in Sweden imported from US, last one I notice was a X3 35i - top of the line model, but without xenon lights? A lot of cars from US looks like it doesent got xenon light?

Is xenon rare in US or is it not allowed in some states? In EU itīs nearly not possible to sell a car with out xenon lights (if it isent a very cheap car like Kia Cee'd - but even a lot of them got xenon) I havent owned a car with out xenon since 2007, Subaru, Volvo, Kia, BMW, Merceds etc. When I have Subaru, the USDM cars dident got xenon and all EU has it.
Appreciate 0
      01-04-2014, 09:23 AM   #2
danielj
Second Lieutenant
United_States
16
Rep
201
Posts

Drives: 2018 x2
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Seattle, WA USA

iTrader: (0)

The x335i has xenons as standard in the US. The 4cyl models have xenon as an option. Otherwise you are correct, many imported models sold in the US do not have xenon as standard.

Xenons are legal in every US state, it's just that US buyers don't necessarily expect them as standard and many imported models are watered down, lacking some features keep costs down so the pricing appeals to a broader set of buyers.
Appreciate 0
      01-04-2014, 04:13 PM   #3
back2bimmer
Enlisted Member
back2bimmer's Avatar
3
Rep
40
Posts

Drives: X1
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Yeah in the US the 4cyl X1 is an option & is decently hard to find, almost IMPOSSIBLE to find with the panorama roof & Xenon's together. I had to settle with the option I thought I'd see & notice the most & that's the lighting package with xenons. I had to ask myself, "How many times do I really throw the moonroof back??? Even in California I'd say I'd open my moonroof about 3 times a year. So I went with the xenons.
Appreciate 0
      01-04-2014, 06:20 PM   #4
ScottMZ3
Captain
United_States
439
Rep
790
Posts

Drives: 2018 Camaro ZL1, 2019 X5 40i
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Roseville, CA

iTrader: (0)

Yeah, apparently I was somewhat lucky to walk into the dealer when I did and find a loaded sDrive28i with Ultimate AND lighting package. Glad I did because the lightning package is a must have in my opinion.
__________________
- Scott
Current Cars: 2019 X5 xDrive40i M-Sport, 2018 Camaro ZL1
Past BMWs: '16 528i, '00 M-Coupe, '14 X1 sDrive28i, '00 740iL, '02 325i, '99 M-Coupe, '00 323Ci, '79 323i, '83 320i

Last edited by ScottMZ3; 01-04-2014 at 09:34 PM..
Appreciate 0
      01-04-2014, 06:55 PM   #5
back2bimmer
Enlisted Member
back2bimmer's Avatar
3
Rep
40
Posts

Drives: X1
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottMZ3 View Post
Yeah, apparently I was somewhat lucky to walk into the dealer when I did and find a loaded sDrive28i with Ultimate AND lighting package. Glad I did because the lightning package is a must have in my opinion.
Man, yes you are lucky! A buddy of mine worked at a BMW dealership & we sat there for a good hour doing a search not only in his inventory but a 50 mile radius search & only found one in white, couldn't do white, although they look great, I just couldn't pull the trigger on it.

I agree the lighting package is a must. It's funny I see my xenon's in the rear bumper or trunk of another car & smile. So I know I made the right decision for me!
Appreciate 0
      01-04-2014, 08:08 PM   #6
BeEmVe
Lieutenant
United_States
258
Rep
565
Posts

Drives: '14 X1 x28i M-Sport
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: on the road to perdition

iTrader: (1)

I am seeing more and more vehicles with xenon lighting. We ordered our X1 pretty much loaded. The xenon as well as the adaptive lighting is really nice. It is certainly a much more crisp lighting.
Appreciate 0
      01-04-2014, 10:15 PM   #7
halfmoonclip
First Lieutenant
40
Rep
336
Posts

Drives: X1 28i
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: westsylvania

iTrader: (0)

With some past history of installing E-codes in Detroit iron, the xenons were on my 'gotta have' list; her ladyship's panzer (Audi A4) has xenons, as does my X1.
It also has the sunroof, which we got with no drama, tho' it will be some months 'till we get some use out of it.
If you live in a metro area with lots of ambient light, it may be a moot point, but in our dark westsylvania mountains, good lights are a thing well worth having.
Moon
Appreciate 0
      01-05-2014, 08:07 PM   #8
tominavl
Keeping it Real
6
Rep
75
Posts

Drives: 2014 X Drive 2.8i Sport Line
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Asheville, NC

iTrader: (0)

I must be missing the "magic" about xenon lights. I owned a Maxda RX-8 with xenons and I was not impressed. So when it was to time to consider spending $900 for a lighting upgrade I thought: why bother? I am very happy with the standard halogens, and I used the money to upgrade to leather seating - something I enjoy day and night...
Appreciate 0
      01-05-2014, 08:21 PM   #9
squishy
Banned
Zimbabwe
153
Rep
388
Posts

Drives: 2014 Ford Mustang GT
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Running away from an ocean vagina

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tominavl View Post
I must be missing the "magic" about xenon lights. I owned a Maxda RX-8 with xenons and I was not impressed. So when it was to time to consider spending $900 for a lighting upgrade I thought: why bother? I am very happy with the standard halogens, and I used the money to upgrade to leather seating - something I enjoy day and night...
Two main reasons I got it was for better visibility and it was more aesthetically pleasing than the halogens.
Appreciate 0
      01-06-2014, 06:19 AM   #10
CommaD
iDrive therefore iAm
CommaD's Avatar
5
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: 2017 X3 xDrive28i Alpine White
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Syracuse, NY

iTrader: (0)

I added the Xenon Package at the last moment to my X1 order. I wanted them all along, but was considering not getting them purely for financial reasons. In the end I just couldn't part with them. I decided to go without the cold weather package instead.
I have xenons on my 1 series now and without a doubt they make the vehicle look a lot better and I see them as a major safety feature.
Appreciate 0
      01-06-2014, 10:36 AM   #11
halfmoonclip
First Lieutenant
40
Rep
336
Posts

Drives: X1 28i
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: westsylvania

iTrader: (0)

We have had an ongoing issue with high-tech lighting in the US for many years. The really excellent E-code lights, which not only gave better illumination and allowed easy adjustment for non-professionals (the sharp cutoff that makes the E-codes so effective in sloppy/foggy weather from less bounce-back also made it easy to align the lights by simply shining them on a wall). For some reason, that selfsame cutoff bothered our bureaucrats who wanted a much 'fuzzier' line at the top of the beam, reputedly to scatter a little light on pedestrians. The fact that the E-codes made a much wider lighted area (which would have really made pedestrians show up unless they were hanging from skyhooks...) didn't sway our Federal regulators.
Eventually we have gotten Xenon lights in this country; I'm not sure if the cutoff is quite as sharp as the ones used overseas, but I am very pleased with these lights in the X1. Interesting fact; first Xenon lights I ever saw were searchlights on our tanks forty years ago.
Moon
Appreciate 0
      01-06-2014, 06:09 PM   #12
Youpaiyou
Enlisted Member
3
Rep
33
Posts

Drives: X1
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Southern CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tominavl View Post
I must be missing the "magic" about xenon lights. I owned a Maxda RX-8 with xenons and I was not impressed. So when it was to time to consider spending $900 for a lighting upgrade I thought: why bother? I am very happy with the standard halogens, and I used the money to upgrade to leather seating - something I enjoy day and night...
+1. I guess if one is making payments then what is an extra couple of bucks a month???? I personally didn't feel like shelling out an extra $900 for lights.
Appreciate 0
      01-06-2014, 06:37 PM   #13
STE92VE
STEVIL Empire
STE92VE's Avatar
United_States
213
Rep
6,297
Posts

Drives: Fast
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Long Island, NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by CommaD View Post
I added the Xenon Package at the last moment to my X1 order. I wanted them all along, but was considering not getting them purely for financial reasons. In the end I just couldn't part with them. I decided to go without the cold weather package instead.
I have xenons on my 1 series now and without a doubt they make the vehicle look a lot better and I see them as a major safety feature.
+1

Xenons are a priority for me and I went with heated seats only, since I don't care for the hood washing headlight washers that come with ZCW!
Wouldn't consider any vehicle that didn't offer xenons.
__________________
2007 E92 328i 6MT-Space Gray/Black Dakota/Gray Poplar w/heated seats-PCD 4/27/07 (SOLD)
2009 E90 328i xDrive 6AT-Space Gray/Oyster Dakota/Dark Burl Walnut w/ZPP,ZCW,Xenons-ED 4/17/09 - Redelivery 5/30/09 (SOLD)
2014 E84 xDrive28i 8AT-Alpine White/Black Nevada/Silver Matte w/ZMV,ZLP,494 - DD 3/14/14 (SOLD)
Appreciate 0
      01-06-2014, 07:36 PM   #14
danielj
Second Lieutenant
United_States
16
Rep
201
Posts

Drives: 2018 x2
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Seattle, WA USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tominavl View Post
I must be missing the "magic" about xenon lights. I owned a Maxda RX-8 with xenons and I was not impressed. So when it was to time to consider spending $900 for a lighting upgrade I thought: why bother? I am very happy with the standard halogens, and I used the money to upgrade to leather seating - something I enjoy day and night...
Mazda's projectors blow. BMW's aren't that great but much better than what Mazda uses.
Appreciate 0
      01-06-2014, 09:02 PM   #15
STE92VE
STEVIL Empire
STE92VE's Avatar
United_States
213
Rep
6,297
Posts

Drives: Fast
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Long Island, NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by danielj View Post
Mazda's projectors blow.
Not so with the xenons on my CX-5.
__________________
2007 E92 328i 6MT-Space Gray/Black Dakota/Gray Poplar w/heated seats-PCD 4/27/07 (SOLD)
2009 E90 328i xDrive 6AT-Space Gray/Oyster Dakota/Dark Burl Walnut w/ZPP,ZCW,Xenons-ED 4/17/09 - Redelivery 5/30/09 (SOLD)
2014 E84 xDrive28i 8AT-Alpine White/Black Nevada/Silver Matte w/ZMV,ZLP,494 - DD 3/14/14 (SOLD)
Appreciate 0
      01-07-2014, 06:52 AM   #16
xyz100
Private
21
Rep
92
Posts

Drives: Challenger
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Texas

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Youpaiyou View Post
+1. I guess if one is making payments then what is an extra couple of bucks a month???? I personally didn't feel like shelling out an extra $900 for lights.
When I was buying mine 2013 Xenons upgrade would cost more like $6000 - the whole package. It was impossible to add just Xenons. So I got plain headlights.
Appreciate 0
      01-08-2014, 03:16 AM   #17
fredrik_wt
New Member
2
Rep
26
Posts

Drives: BMW X1 23d M
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Sweden

iTrader: (0)

Thanks for info

If you dont see the advantage of xenon, you cant have been driven in dark or you must have a crapy car. Itīs a huge advantage with xenons compare to standard halogen. In sweden it would be pretty hard to sell a car like BMW without xenon if it isent a cheap non-equipt version...
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2014, 12:03 AM   #18
back2bimmer
Enlisted Member
back2bimmer's Avatar
3
Rep
40
Posts

Drives: X1
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tominavl View Post
I must be missing the "magic" about xenon lights. I owned a Maxda RX-8 with xenons and I was not impressed. So when it was to time to consider spending $900 for a lighting upgrade I thought: why bother? I am very happy with the standard halogens, and I used the money to upgrade to leather seating - something I enjoy day and night...
I gotta be completely honest. I bought mine purely for aesthetic reasons alone. I don't do a lot of night driving & we don't have much harsh weather here in Socal but I can't resist the bright "white" angel eye glow.

You know us guys, we like flashy lights & buttons!
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2014, 12:28 AM   #19
ScottMZ3
Captain
United_States
439
Rep
790
Posts

Drives: 2018 Camaro ZL1, 2019 X5 40i
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Roseville, CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by back2bimmer View Post
I gotta be completely honest. I bought mine purely for aesthetic reasons alone. I don't do a lot of night driving & we don't have much harsh weather here in Socal but I can't resist the bright "white" angel eye glow.

You know us guys, we like flashy lights & buttons!
Yep! Love our flashy lights & buttons!

Here are my flashy lights!
__________________
- Scott
Current Cars: 2019 X5 xDrive40i M-Sport, 2018 Camaro ZL1
Past BMWs: '16 528i, '00 M-Coupe, '14 X1 sDrive28i, '00 740iL, '02 325i, '99 M-Coupe, '00 323Ci, '79 323i, '83 320i
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2014, 08:49 AM   #20
Youpaiyou
Enlisted Member
3
Rep
33
Posts

Drives: X1
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Southern CA

iTrader: (0)

I also live in Southern Cali. There is simply no need for them here.
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2014, 09:15 AM   #21
Red Bread
Major General
United_States
4462
Rep
9,160
Posts

Drives: Smog machines
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

Agreed, having lived in Southern California and DFW, you could use a single candle and be fine.

I mountain bike and have used halogen, HID and LED lights over the years and LED's are so much better than zenons it's amazing. But I'm sure the US gov't will keep us from getting the full potential of them. The A6 I drove with LED's was better than zenons, but not a huge difference.
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2014, 09:35 AM   #22
halfmoonclip
First Lieutenant
40
Rep
336
Posts

Drives: X1 28i
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: westsylvania

iTrader: (0)

I've got to ask a question here...looking at the estimate to repair my X1, (I'm the guy who hit the deer), replacing the left front xenon light is over $1K, and the guy at the shop tells me that is the light alone, not a bunch of the ancillary parts that make it work.
I've got to ask, are the xenons really any better than incandescent E-codes with uprated 100w bulbs? With relays and all, the ones in my TJ Jeep can't have cost $200, and, subjectively, they are every bit as good as the xenons.
Now, granted, they are standard 7" round lights, not aero lights that would be specific to the vehicle.
I'm pleased with the light output of the xenons, and pleased that they are factory and not something I had to cobble up, and pleased that they are 100% legal. I've never been challenged about my E-codes on state inspection nor by MrOfficerSir by the side of the road, tho' mine are aimed conservatively.
But is seems to me we may be dealing with a bill of goods here, either courtesy of the car companies or the Gummint thru' regulations, and an expensive bill at that.
Moon
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:56 PM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST