[SD987]

So as I thought, xenons are not a big step up from halogens performance wise. Plus they prolly cost an arm and a leg when they burn out and have to be replaced. But they look so cool...

Most xenon lamp bulbs are "lifetime". The chart below quantifies the difference between halogen and xenon in the 987. However, as Audioguy notes, the halogens in the 987 are excellent, the 986 halogens...not so much, which explains peoples reactions to performing the upgrade in the different models. (I've owned a 987 with each). It's a universal violation (in countries with a standard vehicular code) to run HIDs without self-levelling and washers, but I suspect most folks don't give a rat's ass.

Interesting bit of 987 xenon trivia, the washers actually route the water spray in the direction that the vehicle is moving. So instead of deflecting the water spray, the air flow actually increases its speed of delivery.