I just purchased a 2003 mini from our local dealer. It has 56K miles and even though my wife gets to drive it , i sneak it out once in awhile. Fun to drive
I discovered that the passenger headlight doesn't come on right away. I can get brights but not low beams. Eventually i can get the low beam if i turn the lights on and off . Obviously this is not usual operating procedure. What are possible solutions for this issue. Thanks for the help

Hawkeye88

 

If they are Xenon, it sounds like you might have a bad ballast. You can try switching them and see if the issue follows. If it does, you will need a new ballast.

 

by "swapping" you mean moving passenger side headlight to driver and driver to passenger ?

 

Yes, swap them from one side to another. The idea is to see if it is the ballast and if the problem follows it is. If not, then you may have a bad bulb.

I sent you a PM with a link to another thread to see if that helps.

 

No. The assemblies are not interchangeable side to side. First I would take it back to the dealer as the parts for the fix may be expensive.

But, if you want to troubleshoot it you first have to move the bulbs side to side, and then the control box (ballast). If the problem does not move, it is most likely the igniter which requires complete assemblies which the dealer will charge over $600 for. That is why I say bring it back immediately.

Rich

 

Thanks for the information. I have not had experience with zenon in the past. As an experiment last night i started the engine and then after about 10 seconds switched on the lights and no problems the passenger side lit up. Is it possible to have any electrical shorts that might cause the problem? There was no warranty with the vehicle so hesitant to take it to the dealer if i can trouble shoot the issue through this forum

Thank you

 

My bad, I meant that you should swap the ballasts from side to side, not assemblies. MINI sells it as all one assembly and will not swap parts. I have heard of this before, and generally it is the ballast.

 

VERY unlikely. Bad igniters are common. So common that the design was changed in later models so it can be changed. But for ours, it means changing the whole assembly.

I would still ask the dealer to make it good. Even with no warranty this probably was bad when you got it.

Good luck,

Rich