GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: VWKev on 04 November 2009, 11:54
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Is it just me, but how cool is it when the Xenon's are turned on ? They way they adjust themselves up/down, left right to get the balance and height etc perfect (or whatever it is they are doing). The way they tilt when you go up hills and the way they move to keep pointing at the road when you turn corners.
Ok, I sound like an anorak, but I love them. Plus, they are actually brilliant at lighting up the road, I'm beginning to think the £1000+ for them is not so expensive after all.
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I totaly agree, speced them for the second time and if your going to pay £300+ for rear fairly lights then they sure are good money :smiley:
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Is it just me, but how cool is it when the Xenon's are turned on ? They way they adjust themselves up/down, left right to get the balance and height etc perfect (or whatever it is they are doing). The way they tilt when you go up hills and the way they move to keep pointing at the road when you turn corners.
Yeah I liken it to a morning stretch! :grin:
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Is it just me, but how cool is it when the Xenon's are turned on ? They way they adjust themselves up/down, left right to get the balance and height etc perfect (or whatever it is they are doing). The way they tilt when you go up hills and the way they move to keep pointing at the road when you turn corners.
Yeah VW got it so right with these. Genius :smiley:
Yeah I liken it to a morning stretch! :grin:
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How do they cope with undulating road surfaces? I had a ride in a Focus ST and the self-levelling xenons on that were getting caught out by the constant up and down of the car's firm suspension. They were all over the place.
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How do they cope with undulating road surfaces? I had a ride in a Focus ST and the self-levelling xenons on that were getting caught out by the constant up and down of the car's firm suspension. They were all over the place.
They seem to have a slight delay on them, they are very intelligent to me.
i.e. When I go round a sharp-ish corner they seem to "know" not to move if you know what I mean as I have came out of the turn quickly, they will spring into life if I'm going round a long bend in the road. The same goes for going up and down little hills in the road.
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Having read this, I'm now contemplating adding these to my order. One question: how reliable are they? Changing a normal bulb will cost sat £10, I've heard changing a xenon can cost into the hundreds. Also, are the xenons just for the main beam or are they used for the dipped beam as well? Cheers
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The one bulb provides dip and main beam. Dependent on bulb type you are looking at £50 - £100 for a replacement.
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The xenon bulbs are covered by warranty. I had one of mine changed under warranty when it blew. It went pink for about 20 mins before it finally died :laugh:
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Thanks
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I've been looking at my xenons and have realised that the lights nearest the bonnet don't seem to come on at all, tried them at full beam, dipped and with the fogs - nothing.
So guys those with xenons how do I get these to light up?
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I am lead to understand that they are just indicators.
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Not meaning to be dense but indicating what?
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Not meaning to be dense but indicating what?
Turing left and right - you know, the orangy bits? :smiley:
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The one bulb provides dip and main beam. Dependent on bulb type you are looking at £50 - £100 for a replacement.
I had some xenons on my accord type r and as it was outside warranty i had to pay myself. they were 90 quid... per bulb! also needed the garage to fit them since they are very high voltage - this they did for free thankfully!
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Not meaning to be dense but indicating what?
Turing left and right - you know, the orangy bits? :smiley:
:grin: :grin: :grin:
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Not meaning to be dense but indicating what?
Turing left and right - you know, the orangy bits? :smiley:
Possibly the best post ever!
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I had some xenons on my accord type r and as it was outside warranty i had to pay myself. they were 90 quid... per bulb! also needed the garage to fit them since they are very high voltage - this they did for free thankfully!
have to ask what is high voltage about xenon bulbs? :huh: car systems run a 12V electrical system - its not exactly 11kV :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
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have to ask what is high voltage about xenon bulbs? :huh: car systems run a 12V electrical system - its not exactly 11kV :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
To maintain the arc in HID headlamps you need a higher voltage than 12V, so essentially a step-up transformer is used to raise the potential difference across the bulb to 85V or thereabouts. But to strike the arc the ballasts do generate a peak of around 10-12kV.
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have to ask what is high voltage about xenon bulbs? :huh: car systems run a 12V electrical system - its not exactly 11kV :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
To maintain the arc in HID headlamps you need a higher voltage than 12V, so essentially a step-up transformer is used to raise the potential difference across the bulb to 85V or thereabouts. But to strike the arc the ballasts do generate a peak of around 10-12kV.
10-12kV? in a car?? :undecided: 11kV is something I'd expect to see running water pumping stations etc, not some bulbs in a car :undecided:
Fair enough if they do - just seems a little extreme!
EDIT - just found an article all about it!! CRIKEY!! lol :smiley:
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Do-HID-Xenon-Bulbs-Work-and-Are-They-Road-Legal?&id=2233501
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Yeah, they are basically little bolts of lightning in the headlamps!
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Xenons was the first thing I specc'ed on my GTI. I had them on a Clio sport 182 a few years ago and they make such a difference a night.
They are expensive, but worth it in my opinion, especially as they're adaptive in the golf
I can't wait to get mine :smiley:
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Not meaning to be dense but indicating what?
Turing left and right - you know, the orangy bits? :smiley:
Lol :grin: :laugh:
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I still dont understand why they're so expensive.
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Because it has a VW badge on the front of the car rather than SEAT, Audi, or Skoda :evil: :wink:
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I still dont understand why they're so expensive.
Maybe because those who decide the prices have studied the products price elasticity and realised that the highest overall margin contribution occurs at the current price? The overall investment in R&D needs to covered too. Margins generated from optional extra sales contribute hugely to thier bottom line, if everyone only brought bog standard Golfs their car prices would have to rise quite a bit.
I would have liked to have specced Xenons but had to stick to a £25k limit, it was a choice between the lights and ACC.
I reckon they should be priced at £650 tops but what would I know..
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I have had xenons on my old BMW and my new one but felt to spend Euro1.5k for the golf was perhaps overspending. And since I am using the GTI mostly in the city, the standard headlamps are more than sufficient. Xenons are really good for the highways, less stress on the eyes but for that I use the Beemer... Although I can afford the xenons, I am not going to splash on it just because of how it looks... :laugh:
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I just dont understand what's so special about Xenon lights that warrants the price? How do they cost that much more to manufacture, can anyone explain technically how much more complicated/expensive they are to make? I have a Xenon torch and it didnt cost much at all.
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I do know by law in UK they need those washers that pop out the front o be fitted aswell. I assume thats where some of the expense lies
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cornering lights? plus thats were they get most margin.. from upgrades and parts... so...
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I just dont understand what's so special about Xenon lights that warrants the price? How do they cost that much more to manufacture, can anyone explain technically how much more complicated/expensive they are to make? I have a Xenon torch and it didnt cost much at all.
Your xenon torch is just a normal incandescent bulb like those that have been available for more than 100 years. The 'xenon' moniker comes from the fact that the filament is surrounded by xenon gas rather than the more usual halogen, krypton or argon/nitrogen mix. You can also buy xenon-filled conventional headlamp bulbs, which allow the filament to burn hotter and thus brighter. The 'xenon' headlamps optional on the Golf and others are correctly termed 'gas discharge' or 'high intensity discharge' (HID) lamps and are a quite different technology. Rather than a glowing filament, these HID lamps use a high voltage to create an electrical 'arc'. The result is a brighter, whiter light which consumes less power and gives better vision.
A standard Golf headlamp consists of little more than a couple of single or twin filament bulbs and a silvered plastic reflector.
An HID is far more complex. As mentioned earlier in this thread they require an electronic 'ballast' to provide and regulate the high voltages required to create and maintain the arc light source. Together with a more complicated bulb design, this electronic module is an additional source of cost. The light from an HID is so much brighter than a conventional headlamp it requires a projector lens system rather than a simple reflector. In an HID lamp the dipped and main beam both come from the same source so the optics of the projector heed to be adjustable. HID headlamps are also required by legislation to have automatic self levelling which requires sensors, stepper motors and control electronics. Headlamp washers are also required and on the Golf these not only use a larger fluid reservoir but are retractable. Plus the new Golf HID's introduce the cornering function, which I am sure adds further complexity to the system as the lamp can move both up and down and from left to right. All this adds significant extra cost.
Finally, the marketing and sales departments both deem all the added benefits and 'premium perception' of optional HID technology worthy of a larger margin, hence the prices we are asked to pay.
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Thanks, well explained.
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thanks mac7 :cool:
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I just dont understand what's so special about Xenon lights that warrants the price? How do they cost that much more to manufacture, can anyone explain technically how much more complicated/expensive they are to make? I have a Xenon torch and it didnt cost much at all.
Your xenon torch is just a normal incandescent bulb like those that have been available for more than 100 years. The 'xenon' moniker comes from the fact that the filament is surrounded by xenon gas rather than the more usual halogen, krypton or argon/nitrogen mix. You can also buy xenon-filled conventional headlamp bulbs, which allow the filament to burn hotter and thus brighter. The 'xenon' headlamps optional on the Golf and others are correctly termed 'gas discharge' or 'high intensity discharge' (HID) lamps and are a quite different technology. Rather than a glowing filament, these HID lamps use a high voltage to create an electrical 'arc'. The result is a brighter, whiter light which consumes less power and gives better vision.
A standard Golf headlamp consists of little more than a couple of single or twin filament bulbs and a silvered plastic reflector.
An HID is far more complex. As mentioned earlier in this thread they require an electronic 'ballast' to provide and regulate the high voltages required to create and maintain the arc light source. Together with a more complicated bulb design, this electronic module is an additional source of cost. The light from an HID is so much brighter than a conventional headlamp it requires a projector lens system rather than a simple reflector. In an HID lamp the dipped and main beam both come from the same source so the optics of the projector heed to be adjustable. HID headlamps are also required by legislation to have automatic self levelling which requires sensors, stepper motors and control electronics. Headlamp washers are also required and on the Golf these not only use a larger fluid reservoir but are retractable. Plus the new Golf HID's introduce the cornering function, which I am sure adds further complexity to the system as the lamp can move both up and down and from left to right. All this adds significant extra cost.
Finally, the marketing and sales departments both deem all the added benefits and 'premium perception' of optional HID technology worthy of a larger margin, hence the prices we are asked to pay.
Good explanation, then you spoit it by leaving that stupid sentence at the end. :rolleyes:
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Bonfires out, kids are asleep, wife's in bed... why am I here writing about headlights?? :shocked: :grin:
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Bonfires out, kids are asleep, wife's in bed... why am I here writing about headlights?? :shocked: :grin:
because your wife and kids would laugh at you if they caught you doing it in front of them? :laugh:
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Do you drive at night?
If so so do you you drive on C roads?
If so so don't buy HID lights.
You'll be blinded by ever car coming the other way.
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Do you drive at night?
If so so do you you drive on C roads?
If so so don't buy HID lights.
You'll be blinded by ever car coming the other way.
Xenons are excellent for c roads
Tips for night driving- as you sound to be having trouble:
Never stare at oncoming headlights, gaze slightly to the left
If you are dazzled slow down a little.....if you can't do this.....
Possibly don't drive at night. Just stop complaining about xenons.
Thanks :cool:
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My Jag and RR had them.
Everyone flashes you.
Might just be a Cumbria thing.
But if you townies do come up here DRIVE CLOSE TO THE HEDGE.
So many townies drive with a 3 foot gap.
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My last 3 cars have also had xenons... I've had the occasional flash as I live in rural Yorkshire, I just flash them back to show them my lights can get brighter aswell :evil:
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No one doubts that the xenon is good. I am just saying that in today's financial climate, its a waste of resources to get something that you may not need in the first place. Driving in the city 90% of the time would not require you to have xenons. If it was a 600quid add-on you may argue the pros and cons but 1k+, hmmm... unless you drive on the highways a lot or travel at night in unlit rural roads, I dont see the need of xenons. Its like having stadium floodlights in your home. he he he :nerd:
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They would put me off a secondhand car, £500 if a bulb pops.
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Etto!!!!!! :rolleyes:
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They would put me off a secondhand car, £500 if a bulb pops.
How'd you work that one out?
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No one doubts that the xenon is good. I am just saying that in today's financial climate, its a waste of resources to get something that you may not need in the first place. Driving in the city 90% of the time would not require you to have xenons. If it was a 600quid add-on you may argue the pros and cons but 1k+, hmmm... unless you drive on the highways a lot or travel at night in unlit rural roads, I dont see the need of xenons. Its like having stadium floodlights in your home. he he he :nerd:
In today's financial climate, no one needs to spend £20-30k on a car!
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They would put me off a secondhand car, £500 if a bulb pops.
How'd you work that one out?
That's exactly what the tax man said when he returned my return.
He wanted a sheet showing CGT workings out.
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That's exactly what the tax man said when he returned my return.
He wanted a sheet showing CGT workings out.
Gotta love the tax man. :angry:
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I dont see the need of xenons. Its like having stadium floodlights in your home. he he he :nerd:
That's fine...and you save £1000.
But if someone else does see the benefit, and wants to drop £1000 into them...what's the problem?
Their value/worth is decided by the buyer...I've spent more on them in the past, I've spent less on them in the past...on each occassion I've been impressed with how good they are...and will continue to spec them in the future.
But I wouldn't expect everyone to....each to their own.
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i would much prefer to spend the money on xenons than say sat nav or leather
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Agreed, it's all about choice and personal opinion. If you think they're worth the money, and you want them, then have them. If you don't, then save your cash.
It's your choice
Personally, I did think they were a bit pricey, but I really wanted them so I've specc'ed them. I do a fair amount of my driving on unlit roads so they should prove their worth to me :cool:
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Standard on the proper golf models :cool:
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Standard on the proper golf models :cool:
Surely not! :sick:
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All R32's have xenons as standard :cool:
Not picking xenons is like asking for less BHP or smaller brakes! They hugely improve your vision allowing you to drive faster and safer than any other mod will allow at night! I live in London and they are even useful here with all the street lighting etc, more so now with it being dark by 5pm!
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I thought all londoners had these...
(http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/g-wiz-1.jpg)
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All R32's have xenons as standard :cool:
Not picking xenons is like asking for less BHP or smaller brakes! They hugely improve your vision allowing you to drive faster and safer than any other mod will allow at night! I live in London and they are even useful here with all the street lighting etc, more so now with it being dark by 5pm!
All I can say is that perhaps you need your vision checked... How much faster do you want or can you do in London? ha ha ha You are hilarious Jules... You sure you aint working for VW marketing? :laugh:
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Takes no time to get out of london onto some driving roads, i can drive fast much safer than anyone else thanks to xenons and awd.
If you live in london you would be amazed at the amount of unlit roads there are mate.
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Takes no time to get out of london onto some driving roads, i can drive fast much safer than anyone else thanks to xenons and awd.
including the plod? :wink:
If you live in london you would be amazed at the amount of unlit roads there are mate.
are you north or south? east or west? i'm south west, zone 4. not many unlit roads this neck of the woods until you head out of london to surrey. light pollution alone is immense.
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North untill feb (walthamstow) Doesnt take long to get up to hemel etc where theres some decent roads.
Police see my drive quick a lot but leave me alone usually, have more to do in London so they dont get bored and pull people over for doing 31mph :laugh:
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......... i can drive fast much safer than anyone else thanks to xenons and awd.
:shocked:
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......... i can drive fast much safer than anyone else thanks to xenons and awd.
:shocked:
Better vision and more grip. Whats your point?
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......... i can drive fast much safer than anyone else thanks to xenons and awd.
:shocked:
Better vision and more grip. Whats your point?
Main point is that your attitude is quite frightening.
2nd point is that no one else has xenons or awd in a performace car? :rolleyes:
I don't believe you do have more grip, you may have more traction but thats different :wink:
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......... i can drive fast much safer than anyone else thanks to xenons and awd.
:shocked:
Better vision and more grip. Whats your point?
Main point is that your attitude is quite frightening.
2nd point is that no one else has xenons or awd in a performace car? :rolleyes:
I don't believe you do have more grip, you may have more traction but thats different :wink:
:shocked:
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i can drive fast much safer than anyone else thanks to xenons and awd.
Funniest thing I've read on this site.
Well done V6 london chap
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lol - agreed. i'm sure there are Evos, Scoobies, GTRs, RS4s, etc out there that would beg to differ