128 Halogen to Xenon?

[415Bradley]

Shopping for a 128- gotta have a 6sp manual and xenons (among other things). Dealer has a 6sp manual but with halogens- he says he can install xenons and eat the price since it runs him less than $200. Is he for real or am I going to check out the car and it's going to have some cheap blue bulbs from autozone?

[jpd]

I have grave doubts. Call the service department. Here you should find out the truth. Sounds like blue bulbs to me. BMW charges over 3X times to have them installed at the factory.

[415Bradley]

Thanks! That is what I thought. Looks like I'm staying away from this guy. If his deal was legit, it would make the $900 factory option seem silly.

[Tom K.]

About 4 years ago, one of the xenons on my Z4 was damaged in an accident. IIRC, the OEM replacement cost was $800 for the unit + $200 for the bulb + labor. Somehow, $200 doesn't really seem to cover it - unless there are new "magic" xenons which simply replace the halogen bulbs in the same housing!

On the other hand, the halogens in my '08 128i 'vert aren't bad at all. I can easily live with them - even after having cataract surgery in both eyes, (although I admit to having xenons on my daily driver E91). So if you find another 128i with the MT (A/T or DCT would be my deal breaker), you might consider it. I can understand avoiding the dealer you mentioned, although if the car is CPO and the deal is good, you might buy it there and have it serviced elsewhere.

Happy hunting!

Tom