Xenon HID upgrade

[Odenator]

Tesla is offering Xenon HID as an option on the Roadster now - the supplier of the headlights for the Model S came up with them. They are apparently also available as a retrofit upgrade but I'm told the price is $2,250. Since I got the initial fix on my fogging headlights (there is apparently a better fix coming) I am more than happy with my current headlights; it's amazing how bright they are when they're not fogged up!

$2250 for HID upgrades? I haven't ever upgraded my headlights before, but this sounds overly expensive. Any thoughts?

 

[Doug_G]

$2250 for HID upgrades? I haven't ever upgraded my headlights before, but this sounds overly expensive. Any thoughts?

Expensive, but I'm going for it. The high beams are fine, but the low beams are marginal. On a dark, rainy night it's hard to see.

 

[vfx]

Anyone here try cover just one headlight? And then the other?

Those with stock headlights and especially those with the homebrew HID conversion. I found something weird. Maybe I'm not the only one...

 

[Nvbob]

OK, I'll bite. We tried it with e-brake on, car in park. We covered one headlight and then the other. Nothing unusual happened.

What are you seeing?

 

[bonnie]

I'm not home or I'd run right out and try it! Curiosity is killing me. What happens??

 

[bonnie]

And why exactly did you think to try that?

 

[vfx]

Wow you guys are thinking something magical happens. It's nothing like that. More like an anomaly. Just want to see if other have it

 

[bonnie]

Wow you guys are thinking something magical happens. It's nothing like that. More like an anomaly. Just want to see if other have it

I'm sitting in a small town in southern Minnesota. I can imagine that covering one headlight makes something really cool happen or I can look at the hunting equipment on sale at Cabelas or I can listen to the farm report. I vote for magic from covering one headlight. And now you harshed my reality. Pfffffyt.

 

[TEG]

You aren't talking about the aim / pattern being different are you?
Lots of cars have the driver's side aimed a bit lower so as not to 'blind' the oncoming traffic to your left. (For North America)

But, maybe you know that, and something else more peculiar was observed?

 

[S-2000 Roadster]

$2250 for HID upgrades? I haven't ever upgraded my headlights before, but this sounds overly expensive. Any thoughts?

My impression is that HIDs have always been expensive. In 1998, it was more than $1,000 to upgrade my off-road truck with HIDs. In 2000, after looking into the cost of upgrading my 1990 car with HIDs, I ended up buying a new car that came with HIDs rather than spend the money retrofitting a ten-year-old car. Perhaps $2,250 is double the actual cost, but the Tesla Roadster is such a small market that it could easily add that much to the cost to get something that fits perfectly and works to the Tesla Motors standard of quality. Considering the $4,500 price tag for the Infotainment system (formerly $3,000 from Tesla), I think $2,250 sounds like a steal.

i.e. There's a reason that the teenage rice rocketeers buy tinted halogen bulbs to look like HIDs instead of actually footing the bill for the real thing: The real thing costs too much!

 

[donauker]

Wow you guys are thinking something magical happens. It's nothing like that. More like an anomaly. Just want to see if other have it

I have noticed my Roadster would appear to be a bit cross eyed, I believe the driver side headlight illuminates the road edge and the passenger side the center at a distance.

 

[7racer]

aww man...looks like I will have to wait.

Hi Bob,

Hope you had a great weekend!

We've very recently introduced the Xenon headlight option for improved lighting and style. At this time it is only available as an option upgrade to the custom-order Roadsters. This option was released after you had placed your order, so will not be included on your Roadster. However, sometime in September, the Xenon lamps will also be available as an upgrade to already built Roadsters. We will make an announcement when this option is ready.

Kind regards,

 

[dsm363]

Looks like Tesla is going to release an official Xenon headlight upgrade for existing Roadster owners (it's an option for recently ordered Roadsters).

 

[bonnie]

Looks like Tesla is going to release an official Xenon headlight upgrade for existing Roadster owners (it's an option for recently ordered Roadsters).

I was told a couple of weeks ago that they expected to get the first upgrade kits in October. Initial shipment is limited, so I already put in my order so I'd be on the list.

 

[vfx]

The price is pretty steep. 2,500?

 

[bonnie]

Yes, it IS steep. But I live away from bright city lights & the current headlights are pretty wimpy. I need some light!

 

[dsm363]

The price is pretty steep. 2,500?

The Tesla rep that sent the e-mail didn't give a price but that's what I heard as well. I'll probably do it as well. The stock headlights are not good and would rather have the upgrade done under warranty by Tesla if possible.

 

[7racer]

is it on the website to pre-order? how did you guys go about getting on the list?

 

[bonnie]

is it on the website to pre-order? how did you guys go about getting on the list?

I talked to Jake at the Menlo Park service dept - but I'm sure you can just call/email your customer advocate, too.

 

[dsm363]

I talked to Jake at the Menlo Park service dept - but I'm sure you can just call/email your customer advocate, too.

Thanks. Just sent an e-mail. Do you have any details on the HID lamps (technology used, how much brighter they are..etc)?