I'm just wondering what the general concensus is.

I would be stretching myself to pay the extra for xenons but if they make for a significantly improved night driving experience I just might.

I suppose what I mean is - do they offer value for money? Return for my buck? Will I get any money back on resale?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Money back on resale is questionable, maybe a few quid but might make it easier to shift.

As to are they worth it in my view definitley, far better illumination an hence general night time driving.

Edited 7 March, 201016 yr by simonsheil

If you drive across to Europe regularly its worth getting maxidot to go with the xenon lights. Using maxidot you can then change the xenons from LHD to RHD dipping in about 30 secs and vice versa.

I dont think i could not have xenons now if i was going back to a modern car

They are a must have in my book

I would not waste my money having xenons as an extra again, better going for uprated bulbs imo. Unless you do drive a lot on unlit roads at night, but then you will probably drive on main beam so unless Bi-xenons are fitted you would gain no advantage. Great if they are std but worth £xxx No.

Thanks for the input so far.

At this point I'm hesitating between the first 4 and last 1 opinions

Unless you do drive a lot on unlit roads at night, but then you will probably drive on main beam so unless Bi-xenons are fitted you would gain no advantage. Great if they are std but worth £xxx No.

I agree...

For 100-200£, for shure, but with the high price, you can get a lot of other extras in my opinion ...

Hi in my book they are a must...I had them on my MG ZT and then moved to a car without :( I have added them to my new car. Honestly they make a massive difference, like driving in daylight.

Its not only the Xenon. You get a waterlevel indication also + the washing something and cornering light?

I paid the ridiculous extra amount Skoda Australia want for Xenons and even after 2 1/2 months of ownership they are worth the money imo.

I personally loved them in my Octy 2 - they were fantastic. If you've never driven with xenons before, then I would be inclined to say don't bother (as you won't know the difference), but after I had xenons then went to the Primera, even with philips x-treme bulbs across the board, I was really missing the xenons. So basically, they're great, but once you've had them, you may find it difficult to to ever have another car without them!

It must just be me then

but before blowing your wad ask yourself do you actually have any difficulty driving with the lights you have now, and are they a £XXX requirement or a fashion/ kudos statement for other people?

One comment that has come up is headlight washers, I don't know if the non xenons come with them or they are an option? However, in my vewif you do long trips they are essential. I do around 100 miles a day and in winter the difference between a car with washers and without is immense. If I drive a car without washers I wipe a thick layer of grime of the headlights every night due to the eduction in light output, where as with washers I would maybe wipe them once a week and barely remove anything.

I had a choice between getting Xenons or full leather interior. In the end I went with full leather - my reasoning was because I'd use the interior every time I drive the car, whereas the Xenons I wouldn't. Then there's the fact that the leather seats are a bit more practical/easier to keep clean instead of the standard ones. For me, that's the right decision as I don't do much night time driving, certainly not enough to justify the expense of Xenons.

Plus, as others have said, I've never had them before so I don't know what I'm missing. I'm sure they're great, and in an ideal world I'd have them "just because".

I would not have them, just do not think they are worth another £600 to £700 extra which you will not get back on re-sale. As SlimAdy said, I'd go for the leather for roughly the same price

Nearly all my driving is on motorways with lights.

Having said that I have not actually driven a car at night with xenons

If you drive across to Europe regularly its worth getting maxidot to go with the xenon lights. Using maxidot you can then change the xenons from LHD to RHD dipping in about 30 secs and vice versa.

I agree; in fact I would say maxidot is essential if you are going to spend £600 on xenon upgrade.

Here's my view.

They are very expensive option for what they are.

Many people say that Philips Extreme bulbs are just as good or are an alternative. They are not as good but are a good alternative so this is what you should compare the xenons to.

I regularly drive a car with xenons and a car with Philips Extreme bulbs. Most of the time the headlights are just not an issue, however, one of the regular trips I do shows how much better the xenons are.

I head across to Boston in Lincs (it may not be the end of the earth but you can see it from there) on a regular basis in the evening. The roads are pretty bad and many have ditches at the side with no hedge or barrier or even a white line. If you drive on this kind of road on a regular basis in the dark, the xenons are probably worth it as they really do light up the edges.

Pair of Philips X-Treme bulbs £27, compared to Xenons £700, think i would rather have leather and fit a pair of X-treme bulbs.

Probably have more chance of re couping the extra outlay on having leather fitted as opposed to having Xenons fitted, but then if you go for leather you have the question of having heated seats for those cold winter mornings - too many options !!!!!!!!!!!

Pair of Philips X-Treme bulbs £27, compared to Xenons £700, think i would rather have leather and fit a pair of X-treme bulbs.

Probably have more chance of re couping the extra outlay on having leather fitted as opposed to having Xenons fitted, but then if you go for leather you have the question of having heated seats for those cold winter mornings - too many options !!!!!!!!!!!

I paid less than £20 including postage for my Philip Extremes... Shop around

You can always get a Xenon upgrade kit for about £80

Yes before you all start i KNOW it is technically illegal but i guarantee not one person on this forum has never broken a law in their life.

My Car passed it's MOT with them in so :p

But if was getting a new car now if Xenons were not a standard piece of equip i would defo spec them

I disagree with others comments that you will not see the benefits.

Phillips X-treme/ Osram Nightbreaker bulbs are no match for Xenons ( i know i tried them both )and the very fact they are 2.5 times brighter (35w) or 4 times brighter (50w which is what i have) you can not fail to see the benefit. You don't have to drive around unlit roads. Even in built up areas you will pick Signs & Darkly Clad Pedestrians up a lot quicker than you will with normal headlights.

Carl

Thanks for the feedback.

Looks like I might wait couple of years, i.e. when they come standard!