electroclashMJ said:

For me the main issue is the cost. I have them on the 500 and miss them every time I drive my company car, but when I was ordering my car it was a £900 option and I just couldn't justify it for an extra that adds nothing to the value at resale time. If I was choosing the spec for a new 500 I would be tempted but in reality I wouldn't keep the car long enough to get my money's worth. Seems like a nice to have if you are buying used.

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everyone i speak to says once you have them you miss them, in reality regret not ordering on current fleet, was tempted on the 500 but did have my resale hat on at the time

my gripe is only the halfrauds boys retrofitting without the auto leveling and washers, hopefully mot time will give them a shock

wigit said:

everyone i speak to says once you have them you miss them, in reality regret not ordering on current fleet, was tempted on the 500 but did have my resale hat on at the time

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I have ordered, hopefully catch the production run in time. Had to self justify the price, but as we will be keeping the car for a while it is worth having some good lights on the car when half the year is grey.

you won't regret it. I had xenons with my old alfa 145 and I really miss them a lot, difference is huge.

I've never been blinded by HID Xenon headlights of any sort, even the badly fitted kits Maybe I'm just lucky?

Lloyd71 said:

I've never been blinded by HID Xenon headlights of any sort, even the badly fitted kits Maybe I'm just lucky?

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Same here I just close my eyes for a few seconds when driving and let the oncoming car with xenons pass... only kidding. Its not an issue.

Lloyd71 said:

I've never been blinded by HID Xenon headlights of any sort, even the badly fitted kits Maybe I'm just lucky?

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I have. Its more of an issue on unlit country roads though.

They are very good on the 500. My last one had them and I thought for £500 they were a good buy.

There are a few draw backs though. Although the light output is excellent their actual appearance on the car somewhat ruins the good looks. Its rather like trading in your pair of Gucci specs for NHS one's and hoping you still look good. The 500 seems a bit boss-eyed with Xenons.

In winter (in reply to an earlier post) my washer jets froze (even with high concentrate solution) and stopped working altogether even when thawed.

The other slightly annoying thing is that your interior binacle still has the light adjust symbols on the "menu" buttons, however they are auto-levelling (which can be heard on every start-up) so they're completely redundant.

If you've never owned a 500 before it is impossible (without reading your handbook first Maxi) to tell which is the headlight washer reservoir. The symbols on both fillers are the same. This is only minor, but I find these little things can irritate - well me anyways

One other strange thing is that on a standard 500 the lower (DRLs) are also your mainbeam.On a 500 with Xenons they're bi-power, so offer dipped (which is excellent) and high beam. However the standard main beam is still present and activates with the xenons. Whats the problem then? The yellow light from the DRL main beam washes out the Xenon light virtually making them redundant.

I know, I know what an absolute whinge and whine that was. But having had them (and slightly missing them) those were the only bad things I found. If I was really picky I'd also state that they make the standard DRL bulbs appear VERY, VERY yellow in comparison - but I know Llyod has a fix for this with different DRL bulbs - so I won't mention it

TechHouseC

Thanks for a detailed description on the lights.

Its good to know the xenons have their own washer reservoir. My fear was if the headlight washers froze or broke would the main washer tank leak and empty out, but as there are 2 reservoirs this question is answered.

Onto the freezing... was your car under warranty, did it cover the freezing ? I would rather remove the fuse that operates the headlight washer in extreme winter months we have been having, can this be done ?

Not driven a 500 with them on, but I have HID lights and normal lights on different cars. I found the uprated normal bulbs actually better than the xenons if I am honest.

Mind you the uprated normal bulbs seem to blow quite quickly so you end up spending quite a lot on replacements.

arorat said:

Are there any major disadvantages of Xenons other than price on a fiat 500 ? I read another long topic on this but am confused. Anyway it may be too late if car is in production.

... multispoke help, you talked me out of chrome mirrors last time

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Hi Arorat. Just saw your post. I wouldn't go for the Xenons - not unless your eyesight is failing . The bulb upgrade (haven't done it yet) looks pretty good. Saw a demo about a month ago of how good the philips are in comparison with the standard bulbs. Osram nightbreakers appear to be better but more expensive (I don't really know). Would also consider upgrading the DRL ones as well (at least these will be still legal unlike using Fog lights on the sport spec - which I did ). Just bought a Funk white with 1.4 lounge and guess what - colour coded mirrors !

multispoke said:

Hi Arorat. Just saw your post. I wouldn't go for the Xenons - not unless your eyesight is failing . The bulb upgrade (haven't done it yet) looks pretty good. Saw a demo about a month ago of how good the philips are in comparison with the standard bulbs. Osram nightbreakers appear to be better but more expensive (I don't really know). Would also consider upgrading the DRL ones as well (at least these will be still legal unlike using Fog lights on the sport spec - which I did ). Just bought a Funk white with 1.4 lounge and guess what - colour coded mirrors !

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Too late, unless the order did not go through whilst car in production run, but I am sure they will be twice as bright as normal lights and help me find 306Maxi to blind

I will take advice on DRLs and change those bulbs in due course and if xenons are yellowed by DLRs yellow leakage as techousec says.

Post some pics of your new one, sounds great... coded mirrors

aro-rat

arorat said:

Too late, unless the order did not go through whilst car in production run, but I am sure they will be twice as bright as normal lights and help me find 306Maxi to blind

I will take advice on DRLs and change those bulbs in due course and if xenons are yellowed by DLRs yellow leakage as techousec says.

Post some pics of your new one, sounds great... coded mirrors

aro-rat

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My spanking new 2009 1.4 Funk white. It would have nice to have had RUI to help with the special effects and the shutter speed and the 2mph...

https://www.fiatforum.com/gallery/member.php?uid=96179&protype=1