Lights? Newbie Question

[FaFaFooeY]

Can anyone tell me why the U.S. version of the 3 has Xenon lights, and Canada doesn't?

Also, are there Xenon aftermarket lights I can get in Toronto or are they a special part?

Thanks In Advance!

[alphavilln]

not to knock the car, b/c i think its a great value and overall pkg and will prob be picking one up in the next few weeks...but, the xenon lights are not all that great. i dont think they offer much over the regular halogens, although i didnt test drive a car with those. they are nowhere near as bright, crisp, or wide as one of my current cars xenon lights. they just looked like regular headlights to me. with that said, i'm sure i'll get them anyway, lol.

[btacular]

also, xenon lights are a hot item to steal these days according to some internet sites becuase they are expensive and easy to steal.... insurance companies may start charging people with xenon lights more for insurance

[6_funk]

Canada has a law that requires Daytime Running Lights.
and for some reason, i have no idea, it can't work with xenons

[TJL]

Canada has a law that requires Daytime Running Lights.
and for some reason, i have no idea, it can't work with xenons

It can work with xenons, but it's a lot more expensive. The law about daytime running lights says that full intensity beams are not allowed as DRLs unless all the other lights (parking, tail and side) come on. This isn't good for Mazda, because they'll be replacing them more often under waranty, since they'll burn out more often. You can used reduced intensity beams as DRLs without all the other lights on. The catch is you can't dim xenons, so they would need a second set of lights for DRLs. This would add a lot to the cost of the car, which would be bad for Mazda considering it's an economy car.

Personally, I think xenons are great for the person driving, and **** for everyone else. I would never get them in any car if I could avoid it. I find them completely blinding. Even worse are the idiots that get blue tinted bulbs or the very bright white bulbs so they can look like they have xenons. They are even more blinding, and actually provide less light on the road.

[Slalom]

Originally posted by TJL@Feb 6 2004, 09:06 AM

It can work with xenons, but it's a lot more expensive. The law about daytime running lights says that full intensity beams are not allowed as DRLs unless all the other lights (parking, tail and side) come on. This isn't good for Mazda, because they'll be replacing them more often under waranty, since they'll burn out more often. You can used reduced intensity beams as DRLs without all the other lights on. The catch is you can't dim xenons, so they would need a second set of lights for DRLs. This would add a lot to the cost of the car, which would be bad for Mazda considering it's an economy car.

Personally, I think xenons are great for the person driving, and **** for everyone else. I would never get them in any car if I could avoid it. I find them completely blinding. Even worse are the idiots that get blue tinted bulbs or the very bright white bulbs so they can look like they have xenons. They are even more blinding, and actually provide less light on the road.

it can easily be done in Canada... use the high beam halogen bulbs on reduced intensity... this is how BMW does it here...

the reason Mazda Canada gave me for not offering xenons was plain and simple... price... add xenons and side airbags and nav etc as options here and it prices the car out of its intended market... oh well for us

[///BHRpowered]

6 funk, daytime running lights has nothing to do with it. as gay and pointless as daytime running lights are, they are not xenon related. also, regardless of what mazda tells you, they are NOT xenon lights, tehy are H.I.D lights, xenon lights are rice lights. yes the hid lighting is better then halogen in all aspects, try driving with hids for awhile, then switch back to halogen, the road appears very dim, narrowly lite and you feel almost unsafe to drive at night. The best reaosn why the u.s version has them and why canada doesn't is because americans are ignorant asses who don't know jack **** about whats on a car and whats not, they just buy what someone tells them is hot, there are very few of us left who actually know whats going on.

[///BHRpowered]

fafa- you can get hid lighting, you simply need a kit, although as 8/15 aftermarket hids were banned in the u.s, you may still find some in canada. check out www.hidforum.com

[bryanj]

Will you get pulled over in the US driving with your high beams on during the day?

[929kid]

are 3s pretty quick