Are Xenon Headlights Worth It? (Pros and Cons)
Xenon headlights, also known as high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, are one of the newest headlight technologies. In some cases, you may have the option to replace your car’s existing factory headlights with these high-quality xenon headlights.
You don’t have to buy a luxury car to benefit from this technology. You can buy a xenon headlight kit that allows you to upgrade your car’s existing halogen headlights with these xenon headlights. This is perfect for anyone who owns an older car and needs to upgrade their classic halogen headlights so they can see more of the street than ever before. Keep in mind that the headlight housing also plays a big role, so factory xenon headlights are almost always better than aftermarket headlights.
You might be wondering what on earth “xenon” is. It’s actually a type of gas that has no color or smell. However, when heated with a little electricity, they shine very brightly.
In fact, the light is much brighter than the typical halogen headlights that have been equipped on vehicles for decades, and can even surpass many LEDs in brightness. When xenon headlights were introduced, no other headlights on the market could match their performance.
Benefits of Xenon Headlights
There are mostly good things about xenon headlights. Here are 4 reasons why you should upgrade your vehicle with xenon headlights:
1) Whiter Light
Xenon headlights produce a very white light. With xenon lights, almost all dark areas are clearly visible. Not only that, but the white light spreads much further than regular halogen headlights.
2) Brighten the Lighting
The biggest attraction of xenon headlights is their outstanding brightness. They are brighter than halogen and LED lights. If you are driving at night, turning on your xenon headlights can make your surroundings look like daytime.
3) Long Life
The xenon bulbs used in xenon headlights contain xenon gas. This gas never runs out or runs out quickly. While halogen headlights last between 400 and 1,000 hours, xenon headlights last up to 2,000 hours.
4) Energy Efficiency
Xenon headlights are very energy efficient. Remember, xenon is a gas, and that’s why it lasts so long. Only a small amount of electricity is needed to conduct this gas and make it bright. Because of this, xenon headlights use much less battery power than halogen headlights.
Disadvantages of Xenon Headlights
With too many good things, there are always some bad things. Xenon headlights have a few drawbacks that are worth mentioning. Below are two negative aspects of xenon headlights to consider:
1) Glare
The brightness of xenon headlights may make driving easier for you, but it doesn’t make it easier for other road users. The brightness can cause glare to reflect in your mirrors, making it harder to see the road.
This can lead to accidents or situations where others feel uncomfortable about the brightness of your headlights.
2) They’re not cheap
It’s true, you get what you pay for. Xenon headlights are one of the best and brightest headlights, which means they are also one of the most expensive.
Xenon headlights are not usually made for a specific make or model, so you will need to purchase a xenon headlight kit that can upgrade the headlights of almost any make or model. This is the main reason why they are expensive.
Additionally, you will likely have to pay for the labor costs of a mechanic to install the headlights. However, if you are confident in doing this job yourself, you could save hundreds of dollars.