Driving Lights

[kyounger]

The "Factory" (Dealer-installed, actually) driving lights are not really all that bright compared to the Xenon headlights. Does anyone know of a brighter bulb that will fit? Or another lamp style that would mount on the original brackets?

Thanks,
Keith

2007 MCS R56

[ScottRiqui]

The stock driving light bulbs are 55-Watt H3 bulbs. You can get 85-Watt H3 bulbs from PIAA and other sources that will be brighter. They'll also be a little "whiter" to better match your Xenons. My wife and I have the Hoen "Xenonmatch" 55-Watt bulbs in our driving lights. They're not any brighter, but the stock bulbs just looked so yellow next to the Xenons.

If you go with the 85-Watt replacements, you shouldn't have any problems with the driving lights themselves, since the lenses are glass and the housings are steel, but I would upgrade the wiring from the lights to the fuse with some heavier-gauge wire.

[Psychout]

Originally Posted by ScottRiqui

The stock driving light bulbs are 55-Watt H3 bulbs. You can get 85-Watt H3 bulbs from PIAA and other sources that will be brighter. They'll also be a little "whiter" to better match your Xenons. My wife and I have the Hoen "Xenonmatch" 55-Watt bulbs in our driving lights. They're not any brighter, but the stock bulbs just looked so yellow next to the Xenons.

If you go with the 85-Watt replacements, you shouldn't have any problems with the driving lights themselves, since the lenses are glass and the housings are steel, but I would upgrade the wiring from the lights to the fuse with some heavier-gauge wire.

Hi - I'm interested in knowing if anyone has a guide/link to some documentation on how to get access to the bulbs/driving lights housing on the R56 Mini Cooper S? One of my bulbs just blue and the housing has quite a bit of condensation after some heavy rainfall.

[ScottRiqui]

I don't know if the construction of the driving lights has changed since the first-gen cars, but on my 2006, there's a Philips screw at the bottom edge of the chrome trim ring. After removing that screw, pulling outward on the bottom of the chrome ring will dislodge the chrome ring and the lens. The bulb itself is held in place with a spring clip arrangement.

I'm glad you asked this, because I didn't realize the OP had an R56. I can't confirm that the R56 still uses H3 bulbs for the driving lights, so my initial post may have been worthless.

[ScottRiqui]

Okay - I found the installation instructions for the R56/R55 driving lights here. They do still use 55W H3 bulbs. Section 10 of the PDF gives instructions for how to disassemble the lights in order to replace the bulbs.

[-=gRay rAvEn=-]

Originally Posted by kyounger

The "Factory" (Dealer-installed, actually) driving lights are not really all that bright compared to the Xenon headlights. Does anyone know of a brighter bulb that will fit? Or another lamp style that would mount on the original brackets?

Thanks,
Keith

2007 MCS R56

I have done this with a few Hella 500's I have owned. Only problem is that the added heat from the more powerful bulbs tends to shorten their life expectency some.....It also may distort your light pattern as well.

Not sure but maybe Sylvania Silver Star's would be best for this. They manufacture bulbs of oem same wattages but have more illumination with out added heat.

[ScottRiqui]

I've run the SilverStars in a couple of my other cars, and while they're a better visual match for Xenon lights, I'm not convinced they actually throw more light than other incandescent bulbs of the same wattage. They're cheap, though, so you might want to toss in a pair and see if they'll do the trick for you.

Oh, and to answer the OP's other question, the factory driving light brackets aren't compatible with aftermarket bulb housings. Likewise, you can't mount the MINI driving lights on other companies' brackets.

[kyounger]

The PIAA website says their 85W H3's have been discontinued. And I feel awfully hesitant about re-wiring in the MINI, or even going higher/lower in the wattage; I keep hearing about how finicky the computer is.

I'll take a look at some "whiter" 55W options.

Thanks everyone,
Keith

("Open the pod bay door, please, HAL")

[Psychout]

Originally Posted by ScottRiqui

Okay - I found the installation instructions for the R56/R55 driving lights here. They do still use 55W H3 bulbs. Section 10 of the PDF gives instructions for how to disassemble the lights in order to replace the bulbs.

Sorry Scott - I actually meant the front fog lights that are on the lower bumper part of the R56 Mini Cooper S. Does anyone have instructions/guidance on how to get access to these and replace the bulbs?

Thanks again

[-=gRay rAvEn=-]

Originally Posted by ScottRiqui

I've run the SilverStars in a couple of my other cars, and while they're a better visual match for Xenon lights, I'm not convinced they actually throw more light than other incandescent bulbs of the same wattage,

Odd....they didnt do that for you. I have used them in three other cars and they always illuminated more of the roadway and further ahead.....just as Sylvania has advertised and demonstrated in their web sites.

They have even recently upgraded them to Ultras, but I have not tried them yet.

[ScottRiqui]

Originally Posted by kyounger

The PIAA website says their 85W H3's have been discontinued. And I feel awfully hesitant about re-wiring in the MINI, or even going higher/lower in the wattage; I keep hearing about how finicky the computer is.

I'll take a look at some "whiter" 55W options.

Thanks everyone,
Keith

Well, obviously stick to options you're comfortable with, but upgrading the wattage on the bulbs won't affect the car's computer (footwell control module, actually). The control module only turns the control relay on and off, and the current drawn on the control module by the relay doesn't vary with the bulb wattage. As long as the relay can handle the extra current of the higher-wattage bulbs (its capacity should be marked on it), all you'd have to do to be completely safe is to upgrade the two wires from the lights to the control relay.

[ScottRiqui]

Originally Posted by -=gRay rAvEn=-

Odd....they didnt do that for you. I have used them in three other cars and they always illuminated more of the roadway and further ahead.....just as Sylvania has advertised and demonstrated in their web sites.

No, I never noticed any difference like that, but perhaps my standard bulbs weren't as sickly as the ones that Sylvania is using for their comparison baseline.

[toolazyforalogin]

SilverStars have a horrible lifetime - only have a 350 hour lifetime rating.

That's why for my headlamps, I went with the Philips X-treme white bulbs instead and love them. I know you guys are talking driving/fog light bulbs but they are manufactured for the same # of hours.

[kyounger]

Originally Posted by Psychout

Sorry Scott - I actually meant the front fog lights that are on the lower bumper part of the R56 Mini Cooper S. Does anyone have instructions/guidance on how to get access to these and replace the bulbs?

Thanks again

According to the owner's manual there is an access cover in the wheel well to get at the fog/parking lights. They suggest turning the front wheels to get some hand room.

Keith

[MInI___Gz]

JUST MOUNT SOME HELLA 500's !!!!!!! They turn night into day 2 blocks at a time(just a little more $$$ than the bulbs )

[scottab36]

I am running the SilverStars and they look great compared to the OEM bulbs. A bit more light too.

[Kenneth Roehl]

One point to note, before you take the lamp apart make sure you have a T8H torques ( hollow tip version). You will need this to remove the ground wire and hold down for the bulb. I hope this saves some of you some time. Take it easy, But take it Ken R.