I don't know about the X5, but on any Mercedes with the Xenon headlights, the vehicle is equipped with HRA-Headlamp Range Adjustment-which keeps the light beam adjusted automatically based on a pair of chassis level sensors. I wouldn't want the Xenon headlights without HRA, which is why I am always a little negative on the whole "Xenon Kit" scenario. This is just no good IMHO.
In regards to the original post, let me quote this:
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see many offers for Xenon Gas Filled HID lights
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You have to realize that if they are advertised as HID that by definition HID lights use an ignited arc in an inert gas, typically Xenon gas as this promotes the light wavelength very close to daylight, usually blueish looking, although other inert gases would also work. These require transformers for ignition and ballasts to keep the arc going. The power consumption is minimal to keep them going, but high consumption to start the arc.
What Tabo discusses in his first post on this thread is an assumption that what is beng offered isn't truely Xenon HID, but a filament-type incandescent bulb which may truely have xenon in the bulb, but is not HID. If they state HID, then it should be, unless the advertisement is misleading.
Mercedes just starting using Xenon-filled incandescent lighting in the tail lights of some models, i want to say the 211 chassis. These are non-removeable, the entire light base is replaced as a unit. They must feel the bulbs like this will last longer to build it this way. Nothing was mentioned about a higher light output or color difference, I believe they look like a normal white light.
Typically what I see being done is an illegal wattage bulb being installed with a tinted glass bulb, which do "sorta" look like a Xenon HID, but serve mostly to annoy people.
If given the option between Xenon HID bulbs and no HRA, or "Halogens" and HRA, I'd take the Halogens and HRA.
Gilly