Xenon headlamp theft?

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

The NYC suburban area is experiencing rampant thefts of RX300/330 xenon
headlamps -- like HUNDREDS.

As in http://whiteplainscnr.com/article3167.html ?

I have no experience with this, but I'm curious how a "chip" can make one
xenon bulb fit in another car...

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

- GRL
"M." <spamme (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote

The NYC suburban area is experiencing rampant thefts of RX300/330 xenon
headlamps -- like HUNDREDS.

As in http://whiteplainscnr.com/article3167.html ?

I have no experience with this, but I'm curious how a "chip" can make one
xenon bulb fit in another car...

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 (AT) ssgny (DOT) 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

J Golden <prettygoldenboy (AT) yahoo (DOT) 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.

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 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote

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 (AT) ssgny (DOT) 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

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 (AT) someplace (DOT) com> wrote

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 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:nv8ct0h0r6c54sbfb73c18bfmhe8qehmkp (AT) 4ax (DOT) 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 (AT) ssgny (DOT) 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