thebe3 Posted November 22, 2003 Report Share Posted November 22, 2003 mmmm.. weird ... it seems SOMEONE is using the term Xenon in the incorrect context.... mmmmm might have to look into this a bit further..mmmmm anyone got facts we could use to determine the correct use of the term XENON??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foggy Posted November 22, 2003 Report Share Posted November 22, 2003 Automotive Xenon Metal Halide HID Lamps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted November 22, 2003 Report Share Posted November 22, 2003 See the link Foggy posted, that "How Stuff Works" site is great. A quote from elsewhere: "Xenon light is based on the gas discharge principle , where an arc of light is created between two electrodes in a glass tube filled with metal salts and inert gases.(This is not to be confused with many manufacturers who call their halogen lamps Xenon)." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebe3 Posted November 22, 2003 Report Share Posted November 22, 2003 I found exactly the same one i was refering to here; http://www.partsforsaabs.com/product_info.php?cPath=40_96&products_id=1507 Weird how they call them xenons isnt it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foggy Posted November 22, 2003 Report Share Posted November 22, 2003 It is weird, misleading I would say Xenons as an option are generally in excess of £1k so I doubt £28 bulbs are the same thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted November 22, 2003 Report Share Posted November 22, 2003 It's indeed misleading. I think this could be challenged by a consumer organisation or TV program. And I'm not surprised people think they're buying Xenons, as a lot are not familiar with the technology behind it. I mean if they even manage to sell "penile enlargement pills" and whatnot, well... they can sell almost anything... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayBeeS3 Posted November 22, 2003 Report Share Posted November 22, 2003 just today i took out the foglights...... for 2 reasons..... 1. I never use them 2. I need more airflow going to the intercoolers (they are blocking the airflow in my S3) and on top of that I need more air for my new carbon stainless steel air box.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GCab Posted November 25, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2003 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Likewise how often do you see people in thick fog who do the opposite and don't switch them on!! [/ QUOTE ] Oh! Unbelievable!!! What's with that? And that's so dangerous... They don't seem to realise someone could overlook them and run into them... (whereas I'm more cautious of others anyway, so I make very sure I'm visible in fog) [/ QUOTE ] I've been noticing quite a few cars (OK, a LOT) with foglights/driving lights on, after reading all this. Interestingly, I hardly noticed them before. I gotta be honest with you: they don't bother me at all, and I wonder if some of this is that people find them bothersome mainly because they're looking to be annoyed, just because they don't like the idea of the sort of people who might be doing it. Certain amount of 4-wheeled snobbery going on, perhaps ? (I don't use them, btw). I can understand that in a country lane they might be blinding, but in the big city they are (a) unnecessary, I agree, but also (b) harmless. I don't find them dazzling at all, on a busy London road when there's so much else going on. So you could argue that rather than get annoyed about them being used inappropriately in the city, you could just shrug and say "they also make little or no difference, so why get het up about it". SUVs are equally pointless in town, are also used for nothing but image, and take up a lot more room. Rear fog lamps are a different matter entirely, I agree: they're even worse in a nose-to-tail queue. Anyway, re. the quote above: what I *really* hate is the mean-minded, unimaginative, unselfconscious middle-aged gits who think they are never allowed to put their normal lights on above half-beam/"sidelights" if it's daytime because their grandmother (or someone) taught them not to "waste electricity", regardless of how appalling the visibility is. You see them on the M25 in the middle of a raging storm, or appearing out of the evening gloom in London, with these pathetic, low-contrast, dim pathetic bulbs glowing feebly like candles. All around them everyone is on full headlights but do they notice this and think "OK, time to push the lever all the way up"? Oh no. Someone somewhere in 1975 has taught them that "daytime means sidelights", so even at 4 pm on a winter evening in driving rain, sidelights is all that they will ever use. I've nearly hit idiots like this while pulling out, because their other characteristic is that they drive at EXACTLY the same speed come rain or shine - 2 mph below the speed limit in bright clear sunshine on a dry road, and 2 mph below the speed limit when everyone else is 15 mph under it due to adverse weather. So you pull out from a line of well-driven Porsches, Audis, Mercs, or whatnot, all slowing down with lights on full due to the Atlantic gale hitting the windscreen, and get rear-ended by some geezer in a Vauzhall, totally invisible with lights half-on, doing exactly 2 mph under the limit, because that's what he always does. Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayBeeS3 Posted November 25, 2003 Report Share Posted November 25, 2003 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Likewise how often do you see people in thick fog who do the opposite and don't switch them on!! [/ QUOTE ] Oh! Unbelievable!!! What's with that? And that's so dangerous... They don't seem to realise someone could overlook them and run into them... (whereas I'm more cautious of others anyway, so I make very sure I'm visible in fog) [/ QUOTE ] I've been noticing quite a few cars (OK, a LOT) with foglights/driving lights on, after reading all this. Interestingly, I hardly noticed them before. I gotta be honest with you: they don't bother me at all, and I wonder if some of this is that people find them bothersome mainly because they're looking to be annoyed, just because they don't like the idea of the sort of people who might be doing it. Certain amount of 4-wheeled snobbery going on, perhaps ? (I don't use them, btw). I can understand that in a country lane they might be blinding, but in the big city they are (a) unnecessary, I agree, but also (b) harmless. I don't find them dazzling at all, on a busy London road when there's so much else going on. So you could argue that rather than get annoyed about them being used inappropriately in the city, you could just shrug and say "they also make little or no difference, so why get het up about it". SUVs are equally pointless in town, are also used for nothing but image, and take up a lot more room. Rear fog lamps are a different matter entirely, I agree: they're even worse in a nose-to-tail queue. Anyway, re. the quote above: what I *really* hate is the mean-minded, unimaginative, unselfconscious middle-aged gits who think they are never allowed to put their normal lights on above half-beam/"sidelights" if it's daytime because their grandmother (or someone) taught them not to "waste electricity", regardless of how appalling the visibility is. You see them on the M25 in the middle of a raging storm, or appearing out of the evening gloom in London, with these pathetic, low-contrast, dim pathetic bulbs glowing feebly like candles. All around them everyone is on full headlights but do they notice this and think "OK, time to push the lever all the way up"? Oh no. Someone somewhere in 1975 has taught them that "daytime means sidelights", so even at 4 pm on a winter evening in driving rain, sidelights is all that they will ever use. I've nearly hit idiots like this while pulling out, because their other characteristic is that they drive at EXACTLY the same speed come rain or shine - 2 mph below the speed limit in bright clear sunshine on a dry road, and 2 mph below the speed limit when everyone else is 15 mph under it due to adverse weather. So you pull out from a line of well-driven Porsches, Audis, Mercs, or whatnot, all slowing down with lights on full due to the Atlantic gale hitting the windscreen, and get rear-ended by some geezer in a Vauzhall, totally invisible with lights half-on, doing exactly 2 mph under the limit, because that's what he always does. Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggggh [/ QUOTE ] Must say I totally agree with you about the stupid half beam lights. Why are they on cars anyway? I mean it makes such a big difference in visibilty when everybody just always would use the normal beams on the car. I always have them on, day or night, summer or winter. I just think that its also for my safety when people see me and dont bump against me. High beams is a totally different matter. Only use them when there is nobody in front of me (direct or opposite direction) and when its dark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted November 25, 2003 Report Share Posted November 25, 2003 So if people find rear fogs annoying - how about people sat in traffic with their foot on the brake keeping the big high intensity 3rd brake light going - just as bright as a fog, and they could do as they are supposed to do and use the handbrake and neutral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drillslinger Posted November 25, 2003 Report Share Posted November 25, 2003 I don't complain about that, as those are the same idiots who forget that the handbrake is on, then try to pull off at the light and stall their car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted November 25, 2003 Report Share Posted November 25, 2003 Dude - you been following me recently?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted November 25, 2003 Report Share Posted November 25, 2003 a recent annoyance - all those 4x4s with Xenons, esp new RR they park behind you and the Xenons blind me via the side mirrors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted November 25, 2003 Report Share Posted November 25, 2003 And as for those stupid superyacht owners switching their underwater lights on whilst in dry dock! Sheesh!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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