Ciao from Italy. Im over here now as is my father, who has the latest model Renault Espace. It is nearly 5 years old and has xenon HID headlights. One of them blew on monday, so he went to local official Renault garage who diagnosed a blown bulb. Price of a new BULB only was e385. In the UK they are GBP 140. Anyone any idea why the price difference is so great?? (That was the part price only, fitting cost 40e here).
He got the new one fitted as had no choice really, as he is heading back to blighty tomorrow.
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Am I reading this right---- e385 for a bulb? gbp140 for a bulb? Thanks for the warning, that model is definitely off my buying list!
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Yep, i think you'lll find dealer prices for pretty much all makes on HID bulbs are equally eye watering. Presumably 'equivalent' bulbs are available via eBay etc. at marginally less scary prices. Being a bangernomics disciple HID lamps are up there with electric handbrakes on the 'things to try and avoid' list.
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Am I reading this right---- e385 for a bulb? gbp140 for a bulb?
Thats about the right price for a xenon burner!
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Strewth!
The last headlight bulb (H7 halogen) I fitted to my S80 cost 99p - that was two years ago. Perfectly adequate, even with my aged eyesight :-)
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I've just bought a Laguna II with HID lights. I checked before I bought the car, bulbs are about £35 on Ebay (Phillips bulbs).
I HOPE that for that amount of cash they last longer than regular bulbs but I doubt it....
Edited by a900ss on 16/09/2009 at 17:09
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HID bulbs should last a long time... we'll see. My Mazda6 has Xenon headlights and two years to go before I swap cars.
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Sounds like another reason not to buy a Renault.. (not that I need another)
(To add to cheating at F1- apparently admitted)
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HlD bulbs for £21, 99p first site on the net I found and this for a pair.So why the diference between this and Renault.
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I am no expert on this but is there not a big difference between HID bulbs and xenons that are fitted to the like of Espace etc?
There seems to be various aftermarket kits to convert your standard lights to HID but these are of disputed legality.
IIRC also, normal xenons carry very large current / voltage or whatever it is that makes them dangerous for the average DIY bulb change?
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Yes I did find a bulb for around GBP 70 but as I said option not really open. The question was how a manufacturer can justify a RRP of 3x the amount in another country. He is going to write to Renault and ask them this when he returns.
And yes the HID and xenon gas bulbs are very different. IIRC the voltage involved in teh HIDs is in the region of 30,000V.
Edited by PR {P} on 16/09/2009 at 19:02
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The question was how a manufacturer can justify a RRP of 3x the amount in another country.
Seems ironic to complain about being ripped off elsewhere when we complain so much about "rip-off Britain".
I remember halogen bulbs first being fitted and had to buy one for my Cortina GXL in about 1975 and was horrified that it was £3.50. I thought I was being quoted the price for the whole lamp unit. :)
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Thats exactly the point. Even the labour rates over here are half they are in the UK, maybe that is the answer? Anyway, he will contact Renault on his return home and I will let you know their answer.
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And yes the HID and xenon gas bulbs are very different.
HID and what many call Xenon headlights are one and the same aren't they? Mine are what I'd refer to as Xenon headlights but they are HID - that's what causes the light in the light unit. The arc lights up the Xenon gas.
One day all cars will end up with HID lights as the powers that be will say it uses less energy for a given light intensity with HID.
But going back to the cost difference - that does need an explanation!!
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HlD bulbs for £21 99p first site on the net I found and this for a pair.So why the diference between this and Renault.
Not all HID bulbs are the same it's a bit like H1, H7, H4 in regular bulbs. My car takes D2R's I think, bit you also get D2S, D1R and D2R bulbs, all HID.
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But all those types can be had for a few beans on various websites.
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Yes and a quick search turned up one for GBP70, but as I said couldnt go down that road unfortunately
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Well he got a reply from Renault UK. They said they checked with Renault Italy and the price charged was indeed correct. Im still puzzled as how a part costing £140 here can justifiably be charged at e350 in another country. They stated they could not control prices in other countries (Im assuming they meant Renault UK cant), I am assuming Renault (the parent company) can however. No more Renaults for him now anyway.
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