Xenon Headlight conversion kit

[Phido]

Xenon does have its advantages. It has a few disadvantages, like costs, dazzeling other drivers, complexity, aux support (jets, leveling etc).. But most manufacturers overseas now sell xenons as a option on everything from a small cheap hatchback to half mill uber cars.

This may be of most interest to older drivers that do a great deal of night time driving, as you get older your eyes definately do not work as well, improved lighting would make a much more noticible change.

Take a look at this site where you can see the comparisons. When these lights first came out onto the market many german magazines ran a extensive set of tests to measure how much better xenon is. Results were very positive at pretty much all settings. They tested diffrent reflectors, other globes, in a varity of conditions with highly accurate devices to measure colour, intensity, improvement on a varity of objects at diffrent sizes, material, surface finish, colour, distance, position.. Also road surfaces, bends, ice, fog, snow, etc... OEM and aftermarket.. Extremely extensive. These are on going. Ocasionally there are follow up tests where they shoot 25 diffrent models lighting against each other in a big comparison. They even constructed there own 100+ metre indoor testing centre for controlled conditions.

They discuss things like three dimentional parabolic reflectors, asymmetric styles, various forms of lens abberation..

Searching around www.autobild.de you will find about 20-30 stories on improving lighting or comparison tests.

VW's Tourag Xenon comparison