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BI Xenon and Sports wheel advice.

K

KPNut

New member
I have a Boxster on order for September delivery (July build). Lucky, lucky me!

The guys at work all say that the Bi Xenon lighting is a must. I have read in other threads in this forum that they are highly rated by many. Whilst this in not yet on the spec sheet, I'm thinking of going back to the OPC to see if it can be added.

Question 1: Has anyone got them fitted who does not rate them? If so why?
Question 2: Do they have a bulb as such, can it be replaced when it blows, and if so, how much, or are we talking new units at megabucks each?
Question 3: Can this be done by me or is this an OPC money spinner?
Question 4: Is it possible for me to alter them for continental driving or is this another OPC only item?

Finally, I'm also thinking about the three spoke sport steering wheel. Has any one got one fitted and would they care to comment good[:D] or bad[:mad:]?

In anticipation, thanks for any input.

Regards,

Kevin Powell.
 
Kevin,
I have Xenons on a new Boxster and it is the first time I have driven with them and they are great.
So,
2. They are designed to last the life of the car, but if ned replacing can be bought for £75.00
3. Yes, you can change the bulb. Full instructions in the handbook.
4. Yes, ditto above.

and, I have the 3-spoke sports steering wheel. I like it as it is a bit smaller than the standard one, and, in my opinion, also looks better.

Cheers,
Peter
PS. see if you can try both before you decide.

 
I've had Litronic and Xenon and they are nice but, IMO, not a 'must have'.

My wife's 987S has a very high spec, but we didn't bother with Xenons, and the standard lights seem excellent. Suppose it depends how much night time driving one does and how good your eye sight is.
 
The 3-spoke sports steering wheel in smooth leather is lovely. The Xenon's are awesome at night. Neither would have been on my wish list but the car that became available had these but i would now class these as nice to have items. But you should try the steering wheels and see which you prefer.
 
Thank you all.

Oliver: If the cost of the Xenons was all you had left to spend, would you spend it on them or something else? (Just to give me some idea of value)

Peter and Uppy. If you were buying the car again would you spend the money on the Xenons as opposed to something else? In light of your experience.

Thanks for your time.

Kevin.
 
As you can see from my signature, my car is fitted with most of the options available. The Xenons are excellent - but how often are you going to be driving in the dark? Other than the lights, what specification are you considering? Automatic climate control, heated seats and the wind deflector would be on my list before the lights; with those fitted, you'll be able to use the car with the roof down more often and in more comfort.
 
Delbox,

It's 987 Boxster with partial leather, 18 inch rims, climate control, a wind break and park assist in Lapis Blue with stone grey. I intend to run it into the ground over many years. Its a daily drive, and will do about 8000 miles a year. I have an MX5 at the moment, which is fabulous fun but without the comforts of the Boxster, and work shifts so it will be driven all hours of the day in every kind of weather.

If I did not spend the money on the Xenons, I would probably upgrade the sound pack and add the auto changer, but I actually doubt whether either would be used that much, so in the end I'd probably stay as is. It's more a question of whether the Xenons are worth the cost over the standard lights, which are already quite good.

Kevin
 
I understand that the performance of the standard lights fitted to the 987 models is an improvement from that on the 986 models; however, my 986S had litronics and my 987S has the bi-Xenons so I'm not best placed to comment. However, if you can spare the money and intend to use the car day and night in all weathers, and run it for many years, then I suggest that you may get good value for money from the 'investment'.[;)]
 
Hi
Just a quick observation and I agree very much with the advice given about the Xenons - I find them very good at night and they are easy to convert to continental driving on my 986S (987S arrives wednesday!).
You may be able to offset the cost of the Bi-Xenons with perhaps some haggling - my OPC threw in the CD changer, coloured wheel crests and mats FOC as I explained that the more they threw in, the more options I would tick!
Worked for me, so perhaps it might for you.
Also, make sure they mention the top-tint windscreen, as this is a no-cost option but you have to ask for it (at least at my OPC).
I agree with the heated seats and climate control - they are very worthy options in my book and are a godsend in winter!
Good luck , and have fun speccing your car - it's almost as much fun as driving it (I did say almost!)
Rob
 
LOL,

Thanks to you all. I think I was already drifting towards the Xenons being a good idea, so its off to the OPC tomorrow morning![:D] Considering the car's a daily drive, as Delbox suggests, they are a sound investment. I only hope there's a car in the showroom with the 3 spoke wheel I can grope as a comparison.

Rob: Enjoy every minute of Wednesday with the new toy. May it exceed you expectations and bring joy to your motoring! I'll try your suggestion and haggle for the heated seats, you never know your luck.

Regards,

Kevin.
 
I would order the Xenon's if I was speccing the car again as they are really good in the dark.
 
Thanks for the input uppy.

I'll try to get them added to the build tomorrow. Looks like they are well worth the money. I'll also try a wheel to see if I like it.

Regards,

Kevin Powell
 
I know some people don't agree, and especially when it's 30C outside, but IMO the best option on a Boxster is heated seats. In fact, since having them on our first Boxster back in 1997, we've had them on all our road cars - my wife insists.

They will double the number of days you drive with the roof off, and on a cold morning the heated seats warm you well before the heating system has defrosted itself. Even in summer they get used on cool evenings. For the rest of the year I prefer to drive with the cabin cool and the seat set low/warm.

And most women adore heated seats.
 
Oliver,

I've never had heated seats, but I think I'd appreciate them if I did. I drive my Mazda, top down all year round, night and day, so I can easily see the potential benefit. I suggested them to the wife, but for some reason she didn't appear too excited with the idea so I left them off the list. As I have alreqdy pushed her munificence right to the limit, I'll have to quit before the divorce papers arrive. It doesn't matter how big the car budget is, there's always something you'd like to add but can't quite afford, no matter how sensible the gadget may be!

I've just come back from the OPC and have added the Xeneons to the build. They've gone up in price, one of the few options that have, from £626 to £705, and so that does not leave me any left for heated seats. I also tried the sports wheel, which I liked, but not as much as I was expecting, so I left that off the build.

Roll on September!

Thanks for the comments.

Kevin Powell.
 
I'd echo what has been said about the bi-xenons: I specced them on mine and I would definitely do so on the next one. Same with the sports wheel - so much more tactile and pleasant than the standard one though off course, it's all down to personal taste. Of the extras I got, the one I really COULD NOT DO WITHOUT are the sports seats. It transforms the way you can throw the car around on A roads: I'm a slim build and would slip around in the normal leather seats.
 
ORIGINAL: KPNut

Oliver,

I've never had heated seats, but I think I'd appreciate them if I did. I drive my Mazda, top down all year round, night and day, so I can easily see the potential benefit. I suggested them to the wife, but for some reason she didn't appear too excited with the idea so I left them off the list. As I have alreqdy pushed her munificence right to the limit, I'll have to quit before the divorce papers arrive. It doesn't matter how big the car budget is, there's always something you'd like to add but can't quite afford, no matter how sensible the gadget may be!

I've just come back from the OPC and have added the Xeneons to the build. They've gone up in price, one of the few options that have, from £626 to £705, and so that does not leave me any left for heated seats. I also tried the sports wheel, which I liked, but not as much as I was expecting, so I left that off the build.

Roll on September!

Thanks for the comments.

Kevin Powell.
Click to expand...
[FONT=verdana,geneva"] [FONT=verdana,geneva"]KMP of Audi TT fame???[FONT=verdana,geneva"]
 
Xenon:
I've had xenon lights on various cars, since 2001 (Audi TT first, now Boxster). Never had a need to change them, in 4 years of TT ownership. For me, they are a must have due to the improved sight at night. I've had Lasik surgery a few years back and my night sight was not the best to begin with. My cars are always daily drivers, in all weather conditions and at any hour. As for heated seats, I like them, but if I had to make a choice, I'd choose safety (xenon) first, over comfort.

3-spokes sports steering wheel:
Got it and like it, both for looks & feel. There is the theory that a thicker steering wheel can reduce your road feeling somewhat, but personally I'm fine with the level of contact I get to the surface, using the sports steering wheel.

Before my first Audi TT, I had a Mazda MX5 as well - barebone, no xenon, but sports suspension/package). You'll step your comfort level up quite a bit, switching to a Boxster (thinking speed bumps), and still get a real sportscar. Enjoy speccing your car. :)
 
Kevin,

You said you have a July build with Sep delivery? My dealer said my July build would arrive early August?
 
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