Xenons in UK: not very popular?

[VWKev]

Not ever having had them but been blinded many a time by them, usually by some 4x4s though, I don't know much about them.

Anyone know why they have to have washers with them? - Dono, but its against the law not to have them.

Also if they do that self levelling trick when you start up, can you drive off straight away or have to wait till they are settled
What if you are parked on a steep hill? - Yeah you can drive off right away, its only about a 5 secs quick check the car does. If you are parked on a steep hill, the lights will dip down to light the road rather than half the sky.

I take it you can drive off straight away and starting on a hill is no problem but just curious as to how they actually work. - Yep, all is the same as if you had ordinary lights. They work by focusing the light on where you are driving rather than being 'straight' ahead all the time. i.e. If you go round a bend, the xenons will move to the side to light up the road to whichever way your turning, so e.g. if your turning a left bend the lights will move into that turn automatically for you rather than staying straight ahead, that way you see more of the road/bend. If you go uphill, they will dip for you, and if you go downhill they will raise up slightly. They are a little bit of genius in my opinion.

my answers in bold.

[VWKev]

+ one major benifit of not having them means you dont stand out like a  sore thumb at night

i like standing out like a sore thumb at night - means people get the fook out of my way when they see my xenons making them squint 

if you're spending 24k odd on a car, its a no brainer to put them on.  plus you're adding other extras to the car so you might as well go the full monty.  they look better, they are better for safety and they add to the resale value (i certainly would not buy a car without them).

  god I've missed you mate 

[R32UK]

+ one major benifit of not having them means you dont stand out like a  sore thumb at night

i like standing out like a sore thumb at night - means people get the fook out of my way when they see my xenons making them squint 

if you're spending 24k odd on a car, its a no brainer to put them on.  plus you're adding other extras to the car so you might as well go the full monty.  they look better, they are better for safety and they add to the resale value (i certainly would not buy a car without them).

  god I've missed you mate 

I dont have any trouble getting people out of the way... its others sat in side roads with zappers that they seem to attract more.

[p3asa]

Cheers Kev. Do they also bend right on to oncoming traffic or are xenons only useful for going round left bends?  (Serious question by the way)

I know it is illegal not to have washers with xenons, but why? What function do they provide its not as if the washers come on automatically to clear the headlamps. It seems strange that the law insists you have an option with them but that option doesn't have to be used.

[Fanters]

I've got Xenons and they are Brilliant - Probably the best option i got ! (but at that price you should also get rear LED's)

[matchboy]

  god I've missed you mate 

ha ha i wish i could post as much as i used too - now i am more selective in my responses!! 

[VWKev]

Cheers Kev. Do they also bend right on to oncoming traffic or are xenons only useful for going round left bends?  (Serious question by the way)

I know it is illegal not to have washers with xenons, but why? What function do they provide its not as if the washers come on automatically to clear the headlamps. It seems strange that the law insists you have an option with them but that option doesn't have to be used.

Yeah, if your going round a roundabout, esp one of those big jobbies it will move to always give you the best/full view of the road ahead. I went out one night and had a right good play around with them, they are pretty clever.

This is a guess by the way, but I'm assuming there is some sort of sensor that will detect how much the wheel has turned and for how long then send a signal to the lights to compensate for the amount of turn that you have done, and for up and down I assume some sort of balance is in place to tilt or raise for how much the balance has been adjusted then send the signal again to the lights.

It must have a slight time delay because if you go over a hump on the road the lights dont go nuts (up and down) if you know what I mean, and if you zip through a roundabout and take a quick first exit you can be too fast for them.

[VWKev]

  god I've missed you mate 

ha ha i wish i could post as much as i used too - now i am more selective in my responses!! 

Quality mate, not quantity 

[bzqtang]

i got xenons and i love them but nowadays I see a lot of chavs driving around with their fog lights on.

[VWKev]

i got xenons and i love them but nowadays I see a lot of chavs driving around with their fog lights on.

Until the cops pull them over.