[username604]

My car never sees the automatic mode of the light switch.
When i bought the car i realized that every time i pulled into the garage (or started the engine in the garage) the xenons would ignite.
I figured that's 2 extra on/off cycles each day.

I also use my parking lights, drls, and fogs when it's cloudy or rainy. I see no use for the headlights since they don't light up the street much, but being seen by other cars is obviously important.

Am i irrational for rationing my xenons? Ever since i was a kid i always tried to save stuff. Don't get me wrong, i wasn't poor or anything, both my parents had doctorates. For example, i would save my nice hotwheels and play with my crappy ones. I eventually stopped playing with hotwheels and never got the chance to play with the Viper or the Porsche hotwheel.

I apparently also think about saving my brake pads. When i'm having fun i could care less about gas or tires, but i guess i do think about efficient driving techniques for the boring old tuesday drive to work/school.

Let the therapy session begin.
Why do i think about saving stuff so often? No answer is too ridiculous.

[justinnum1]

i wouldnt worry? how long are you planning on keeping your car? might want to consider getting it cpo'd(if thats possible) or getting an extended warranty

[username604]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

i wouldnt worry? how long are you planning on keeping your car? might want to consider getting it cpo'd(if thats possible) or getting an extended warranty

i have CPO, and i plan on keeping the car forever. When i'm out of school (hopefully med school) i'll be driving my e90 until i get on my feet which will be a couple of years. After that i'll need a car to tune and use as a daily, or possibly a track car.

Do xenons die because of the number of hours on or how many times they're turned on?

[carve]

I do the same thing. The extra cycles will dramatically shorten their lifespan. You will eventually spend hundreds or even $1k for the luxury of saving yourself a few minutes of switch turning.

Same with brakes, too. I make it a game to see how much speed I can scrub off without using them. Better mpg that way, too. For the last 5000 miles or so, my service indicator indicates I won't need new ones in front for 90k miles :P That's driving mostly in town, too.

[dtwyim]

If you want to save $, don't drive a BMW.

However, nothing wrong with trying to get value out of your dollar.

Kind of like me trying to fill up when gas price is down. When I can save more $ by just driving slower!

Btw, I think we have similar taste in cars. I have a loaded SGM 135! Not unlike your 3.

[hks786]

I do the exact same thing! lol. I think it's pointless when people have lights on during the day they serve no purpose. I do use sidelights though when it starts getting dark. Also, I think every time I put them on/off they are just getting wasted. I also hate replacing bulbs just cant be bothered. Anyway, at least I'm not alone now lol.

[talisman311]

I do the same thing with the lights since i occasionally park in a garage. Pretty sure I read somewhere it's 1) not good to turn the light on until after the salts have cooled (about 5 minutes) and 2) the lights have a limited number of fires, with each dimming ever so slightly.

[SilverII]

i do the same thing but also i like to show off the LED rings so i dont turn on the HID until it is dark enough

[username604]

Originally Posted by carve

I do the same thing. The extra cycles will dramatically shorten their lifespan. You will eventually spend hundreds or even $1k for the luxury of saving yourself a few minutes of switch turning.

Same with brakes, too. I make it a game to see how much speed I can scrub off without using them. Better mpg that way, too. For the last 5000 miles or so, my service indicator indicates I won't need new ones in front for 90k miles :P That's driving mostly in town, too.

that's awesome haha, my front brakes say around 50k after they're replaced, and the backs say 30k after they get replaced. I figure it's because of that "e-diff" using the back brakes all the time.

Originally Posted by dtwyim

If you want to save $, don't drive a BMW.

However, nothing wrong with trying to get value out of your dollar.

Kind of like me trying to fill up when gas price is down. When I can save more $ by just driving slower!

Btw, I think we have similar taste in cars. I have a loaded SGM 135! Not unlike your 3.

If i was trying to save money i wouldn't go on 40 mile canyon drives, but i agree about getting the most for my dollar. Why waste brakes/gas on mundane driving when they can be better spent.
SGM is the best color! Wish my car was a 6 speed like your 135i, but the steptronic is tolerable.

Originally Posted by hks786

I do the exact same thing! lol. I think it's pointless when people have lights on during the day they serve no purpose. I do use sidelights though when it starts getting dark. Also, I think every time I put them on/off they are just getting wasted. I also hate replacing bulbs just cant be bothered. Anyway, at least I'm not alone now lol.

I don't sweat it with the side lights or drls, when they burn out i'll replace them with HIDs (white ones), and tail lights are really cheap and easy to replace.

Originally Posted by SilverII

i do the same thing but also i like to show off the LED rings so i dont turn on the HID until it is dark enough

My friend got a ticket near sunset because he was trying out his new angel eyes on his e46. $200 ticket and traffic school meant he was $290 out of pocket.

[BrokenVert]

Well im 75K miles and 4 years into mine and they still work. Well see what happens. I got backed into by a truck and he cracked one of my housings and sheared off an attachment point.

Im replacing the housings and debating not replacing the ballast to save some cash

[carve]

Miles and years don't mean anything to xenon life span. Cycles are the main thing.

Normally, I might only need to turn my lights on 3x a week. If I left it in auto, it would ignite twice a day when I start and return to my garage, and twice more in the parking garage at work. That would be 27 cycles a week. That would deliver about 11% the lifespan of controlling them manually. They should last the life of the car this way.