[plymjack]

Originally Posted by jsbos

What makes a BMW unique is the 4 headlight design (which the angel eyes do signify) and kidney grill and how about the unmatched engineering and feel. I think the angel eyes are cool but not necessary. $900 for the xenon option is a bit much.

As for my car, I can't see the headlights from behind the wheel and don't care what others think...

Happy motoring!

Absolutely... yes they look good, but cost £1000 and I never see them from where I sit too!

[BMWLVX]

Originally Posted by April1

I had missed BMW Apps Because of wrong info and now dealer says its not possible to add. It's OK, my bad. I enjoy other features and love my car.

I feel your pain, April1
What miffs me most is the fact that BMW have since renamed their Smart Phone Integration to something like Telephone USB Audio Interface, which is something I may have investigated more. I already had Enhanced Bluetooth and USB so I didn't think Smart Phone Integration was going to bring me anything more. What's more, if I want BMW Apps now, I don't even have the correct base plate in my car which in itself is a big job to retrofit, I believe.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by jsbos

As for my car, I can't see the headlights from behind the wheel and don't care what others think...

Originally Posted by plymjack

Absolutely... yes they look good, but cost £1000 and I never see them from where I sit too!

Not true that you never see them boys

[Want the thrill]

Sfax, we think alike....

[clivem2]

Looking for reflections has to be a sign of desperation to prove the high cost of Xenons is worthwile :-). Now if you tell me you drive mostly on unlit roads and need the brighter lights - that's different. Even so the cost in the UK especially is a total rip off.

[Want the thrill]

Originally Posted by clivem2

Looking for reflections has to be a sign of desperation to prove the high cost of Xenons is worthwile :-). Now if you tell me you drive mostly on unlit roads and need the brighter lights - that's different. Even so the cost in the UK especially is a total rip off.

Seeing the reflection is an added bonus! Driving with them at night on dark roads makes them worth every penny to me

[leftee86]

Haha, yea, I will admit I saw the halogen DRL at the dealership when I test drove it and it was facing the plate glass...and then I sorta forgot cuz I wanted to get a good deal on a car they already had on the lot (new).

It was not a deal-breaker for me, but you would think BMW would make it standard because it's a signature design of BMW. If they must, bump up the base price.

[clivem2]

Originally Posted by leftee86

but you would think BMW would make it standard because it's a signature design of BMW. If they must, bump up the base price.

They won't, at least not until people refuse to pay the crazy inflated price they charge. In the UK the cost of Xenons is £920, that's about $1,500. A really quite amazing percentage of the price of the vehicle. BMW know that many people love the option so they pay for it. They won't want to bundle that level cost into the price as they want the X3 to look price competitive.

[plymjack]

Ha Ha - on reflection maybe my X3 is too good at overtaking so I am never behind anyone long enough to see them.....
Still the £1000 - ($1500!) is a lot of money, and the "standard" lights work fine for the dark roads I drive on and to be fair in the UK unlit roads are a lot less common then in the US.

[Cropwell]

Originally Posted by clivem2

They won't, at least not until people refuse to pay the crazy inflated price they charge. In the UK the cost of Xenons is £920, that's about $1,500. A really quite amazing percentage of the price of the vehicle. BMW know that many people love the option so they pay for it. They won't want to bundle that level cost into the price as they want the X3 to look price competitive.

Have to say that I totally agree, the pricing on this option is ludicrous. There is no way that the the additional cost should be this much.
I have Xenons on my 335d whch was bundled in the price, ok they look better when running the daylight running lights but for night use do not find them that good. The spread and brilliance on my wifes Golf is much better.

Should be standard kit on 3.0d/35d for car of that price.

[sfax]

They're standard on the X5 I believe - and on most premium cars. They're not alone in being an expensive option though. I give you the professional multimedia package. An outdated CPU, limited disk space and not much RAM by today's standards (should also be solid state not HDD). A snip at £2,500. The mark up on that must be HUGE

[leftee86]

I guess that's how luxury cars are targeting the entry level because they are seemingly getting less expensive.

I agree, 3k+ for the nav package!? I ended up getting the Premium and Tech package because I just had to have the toys...and forgot about the Xenon lights...sigh.

Just sent an email through BMWUSA to NA HQ to see if they have a different response than my local dealer, who said the Xenon's cannot be retrofitted (but that earlier models could).

Otherwise, I really hope they will make a 3rd party retrofit model...which will require you to remove the plastic housing (found this older post: http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x3/...trofit-x3.html)

[jegs2]

Fast-forward to 2015, and we ordered an X3 for my wife with all the bells and whistles

... well, nearly all the bells and whistles: The salesman apparently thought we were trying to cut corners and so talked my wife out of a headlight upgrade, and so it came with the standard headlights, with no corona rings.

Really? On a 2016 X3, corona rings are still not standard, despite every ad, commercial, and even the owners manual indicating they are? As others above posted, three years ago, they're a trademark part of a BMW ... even my BMW motorcycle came standard with them!

If you're planning to order an X3, keep in mind that corona rings still aren't standard.

[JSY]

Originally Posted by jegs2

If you're planning to order an X3, keep in mind that corona rings still aren't standard.

They are standard on the 35i though but I totally agree - it's as signature as the kidney grill in my opinion and should be made standard across the board.

[fusion0389]

Originally Posted by jegs2

Fast-forward to 2015, and we ordered an X3 for my wife with all the bells and whistles

... well, nearly all the bells and whistles: The salesman apparently thought we were trying to cut corners and so talked my wife out of a headlight upgrade, and so it came with the standard headlights, with no corona rings.

Really? On a 2016 X3, corona rings are still not standard, despite every ad, commercial, and even the owners manual indicating they are? As others above posted, three years ago, they're a trademark part of a BMW ... even my BMW motorcycle came standard with them!

If you're planning to order an X3, keep in mind that corona rings still aren't standard.

I ran into the exact same issue, heck even the dealer assumed they were included. The dealer agreed to take the car back and ordered us another one. Sure we have to pay $900 more for the xenons, but BMW is a "luxury" car manufacturer... We're not buying budget cars... IMO Xenons should be standard on upper level packages like X-Line and MSport.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by fusion0389

I ran into the exact same issue, heck even the dealer assumed they were included. The dealer agreed to take the car back and ordered us another one. Sure we have to pay $900 more for the xenons, but BMW is a "luxury" car manufacturer... We're not buying budget cars... IMO Xenons should be standard on upper level packages like X-Line and MSport.

I couldn't agree more. Some people say you do not need them! I say drive round the rural roads in the UK at night and you soon find out what a massive difference it makes to the visibility. Makes the car far safer and relaxing to drive at night.

I know that the High Beam Assist (HBA) is not an option in the UK, but it makes even more sense when you meet traffic on our back roads.

[exon]

well think this way: if the regular lights are bright and wide enough for you, then live with them. Xenon lights are great, but you can't see them when inside anyway.

Also, the four corona rings sometimes put some other drivers in racing mode or "BMW blocking" mode (especially for those with 4 rings on the grill?) bad if you just want to drive along anonymously.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by exon

well think this way: if the regular lights are bright and wide enough for you, then live with them. Xenon lights are great, but you can't see them when inside anyway.

I do not understand that statement. Of course you can see the benefits immediately it becomes dark. The visibility is far better and far safer and a huge difference from standard halogen lights. I regretted not having them on my f31 320d. I think you are getting confused with the corona rings (angel eyes) that you cannot see from inside unless you are sitting behind another car and you can see the reflection.

Originally Posted by exon

Also, the four corona rings sometimes put some other drivers in racing mode or "BMW blocking" mode (especially for those with 4 rings on the grill?) bad if you just want to drive along anonymously.

Not in the UK my friend. Anyway, mine have an option for switching them off in the iDrive.

Anyway, the BMW ones are hardly noticed anymore because the other manufacturers have different ones and more noticeable on newer cars.

[exon]

Originally Posted by Peter_R

I do not understand that statement. Of course you can see the benefits immediately it becomes dark. The visibility is far better and far safer and a huge difference from standard halogen lights. I regretted not having them on my f31 320d. I think you are getting confused with the corona rings (angel eyes) that you cannot see from inside unless you are sitting behind another car and you can see the reflection.



Not in the UK my friend. Anyway, mine have an option for switching them off in the iDrive.

Anyway, the BMW ones are hardly noticed anymore because the other manufacturers have different ones and more noticeable on newer cars.

Well for the first part, i was speaking of the aesthetics. Some people option the xenon lights just for the nicer looks regardless of the actual lighting improvement. On top of that, if OP drives in a well lit city/surburb area, I would even say the lighting difference is livable. It is not like all the other Hondas or Toyotas with halogen lights are crashing into each other or drive like grandpas when the sun goes down.

I hope the OP can enjoy his new X3, BMW did not gain its name from the headlights. Drive it, push it or cruise it and forget about the lights.

[Peter_R]

Originally Posted by exon

Some people option the xenon lights just for the nicer looks regardless of the actual lighting improvement.

I do not know of anyone doing that in the UK. Perhaps in the US!

Originally Posted by exon

I hope the OP can enjoy his new X3, BMW did not gain its name from the headlights. Drive it, push it or cruise it and forget about the lights.

Could not agree more. I drive mine like I stole it when I am by myself.

When the wife is with me and she is operating the brakes from her side., then cruise along gently.

[jegs2]

Originally Posted by fusion0389

I ran into the exact same issue, heck even the dealer assumed they were included. The dealer agreed to take the car back and ordered us another one. Sure we have to pay $900 more for the xenons, but BMW is a "luxury" car manufacturer... We're not buying budget cars... IMO Xenons should be standard on upper level packages like X-Line and MSport.

We bought ours in Memphis, so once they had the check in hand, we were politely invited to pound sand when we requested a new build.

[fusion0389]

Originally Posted by jegs2

We bought ours in Memphis, so once they had the check in hand, we were politely invited to pound sand when we requested a new build.

Sorry to hear about your experience... My dealer (United BMW Roswell) didnt flinch, they actually built out a new one and sent me a new Vehicle Inquiry Report within 2 hours of bringing the issue up with my CA.

To address previous comments, there truly is a very big difference between the halogens and the xenons. In the 2016 X3 it still doesnt make sense how the excellent LED fog lights are standard but the middle of the road honda-esque headlights are halogens?? There is a distinct difference in brightness and color between the two, it just doesnt work. JMO