Xenon headlamp theft?

$10,000 to fix a fender!!!!

- GRL
"M." <spamme.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:jvnAd.82$Tt6.52@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
  > > The NYC suburban area is experiencing rampant thefts of RX300/330 xenon
  > > headlamps -- like HUNDREDS.
  > >
 > As in <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://whiteplainscnr.com/article3167.html" target="_blank">http://whiteplainscnr.com/article3167.html</a> ?
 >
 > I have no experience with this, but I'm curious how a "chip" can make one
 > xenon bulb fit in another car...
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Xenon headlamp theft? 

Yes. The headlights were removed from my RX300 in less than 2 minutes
(I know because it was the time that it took to leave the gas grill
get the chicken and return to the gas grill). The repair was nearly
$9,000 due to the interconnectedness of the lights and the airbag
sensors and the electrical wiring harness. Redesigning the
headlamp/ballast I think would just create more damage when the
headlights were removed and thus more repair costs. I'm planning to
trade my RX300 for an 05 Highlander Hybrid that doesn't have xenon or
high intensity (blue) lamps. Lexus lost me as a customer. I know they
didn't know this was going to happen, but the fact that their 05
models have the high intensity headlamps means I won't be buying
Lexus.


On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 18:08:24 -0500, Stephen Brown <steve DeleteThis @ssgny.com>
wrote:

 >The NYC suburban area is experiencing rampant thefts of RX300/330 xenon
 >headlamps -- like HUNDREDS.
 >
 >Anyone else experiencing this problem?
 >
 >The goal is is to make Lexus re-design the headlamp/balllast assembly to
 >
 >make theft more difficult -- or to offer an after-makrket fix.
 >
 >Any stories appreciated
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Xenon headlamp theft? 

J Golden <prettygoldenboy.DeleteThis@yahoo.com> :

 >
 >Yes. The headlights were removed from my RX300 in less than 2 minutes
 >(I know because it was the time that it took to leave the gas grill
 >get the chicken and return to the gas grill). The repair was nearly
 >$9,000 due to the interconnectedness of the lights and the airbag
 >sensors and the electrical wiring harness. Redesigning the
 >headlamp/ballast I think would just create more damage when the
 >headlights were removed and thus more repair costs. I'm planning to
 >trade my RX300 for an 05 Highlander Hybrid that doesn't have xenon or
 >high intensity (blue) lamps. Lexus lost me as a customer. I know they
 >didn't know this was going to happen, but the fact that their 05
 >models have the high intensity headlamps means I won't be buying
 >Lexus.
 >
 >


Personally, I *like* the HID lights...a lot. How did the damage come
out to $9,000? How were the bulbs removed that would cause that much
damage? Just curious.

Also, as HID's become cheaper (they will), their popularity will go
up. I envision that in the not too distant future, most, if not all
cars will have HID lights. Once the cost of these lights goes down,
so will the need to steal them.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Xenon headlamp theft? 

Ouch ! If I was you, I would think about getting a 3-rd party alarm with a
Prox sensor. If someone gets too close the car, it will churp. In some
places it can be a pain but, when your talking $9K to fix it (thank god for
insurance) it would scare crooks away...


-Dave


"J Golden" <prettygoldenboy.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:nv8ct0h0r6c54sbfb73c18bfmhe8qehmkp@4ax.com...
>
> Yes. The headlights were removed from my RX300 in less than 2 minutes
> (I know because it was the time that it took to leave the gas grill
> get the chicken and return to the gas grill). The repair was nearly
> $9,000 due to the interconnectedness of the lights and the airbag
> sensors and the electrical wiring harness. Redesigning the
> headlamp/ballast I think would just create more damage when the
> headlights were removed and thus more repair costs. I'm planning to
> trade my RX300 for an 05 Highlander Hybrid that doesn't have xenon or
> high intensity (blue) lamps. Lexus lost me as a customer. I know they
> didn't know this was going to happen, but the fact that their 05
> models have the high intensity headlamps means I won't be buying
> Lexus.
>
>
> On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 18:08:24 -0500, Stephen Brown <steve.RemoveThis@ssgny.com>
> wrote:
>
>>The NYC suburban area is experiencing rampant thefts of RX300/330 xenon
>>headlamps -- like HUNDREDS.
>>
>>Anyone else experiencing this problem?
>>
>>The goal is is to make Lexus re-design the headlamp/balllast assembly to
>>
>>make theft more difficult -- or to offer an after-makrket fix.
>>
>>Any stories appreciated
>>
>>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Xenon headlamp theft? 

The fix has already been implemented - during mid-2005 model year. Rest
assured - no one is getting the zenon lights off the RX vehicles now. If
the dealers are up to date, they should know this. Please upgrade your
Lexus to the new RX350 - you'll love it. No need for chirping vehicles that
everyone walks past and ignores.


"Someone" <Somone RemoveThis @someplace.com> wrote in message
news:W72dnbFj7cVkr47ZRVn-qg@comcast.com...
> Ouch ! If I was you, I would think about getting a 3-rd party alarm with a
> Prox sensor. If someone gets too close the car, it will churp. In some
> places it can be a pain but, when your talking $9K to fix it (thank god
> for insurance) it would scare crooks away...
>
>
> -Dave
>
>
> "J Golden" <prettygoldenboy RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:nv8ct0h0r6c54sbfb73c18bfmhe8qehmkp@4ax.com...
>>
>> Yes. The headlights were removed from my RX300 in less than 2 minutes
>> (I know because it was the time that it took to leave the gas grill
>> get the chicken and return to the gas grill). The repair was nearly
>> $9,000 due to the interconnectedness of the lights and the airbag
>> sensors and the electrical wiring harness. Redesigning the
>> headlamp/ballast I think would just create more damage when the
>> headlights were removed and thus more repair costs. I'm planning to
>> trade my RX300 for an 05 Highlander Hybrid that doesn't have xenon or
>> high intensity (blue) lamps. Lexus lost me as a customer. I know they
>> didn't know this was going to happen, but the fact that their 05
>> models have the high intensity headlamps means I won't be buying
>> Lexus.
>>
>>
>> On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 18:08:24 -0500, Stephen Brown <steve RemoveThis @ssgny.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>The NYC suburban area is experiencing rampant thefts of RX300/330 xenon
>>>headlamps -- like HUNDREDS.
>>>
>>>Anyone else experiencing this problem?
>>>
>>>The goal is is to make Lexus re-design the headlamp/balllast assembly to
>>>
>>>make theft more difficult -- or to offer an after-makrket fix.
>>>
>>>Any stories appreciated
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Xenon headlamp theft?