I notice quite a few folks with driving lights. How are you liking them? Are they effective? Can they be used when there is oncoming traffic?
I am on the fence as to whether to get them or not.

 

They work well for me on my 8 mile stretch of 2 lane highway that's not lit. Dealer installed so they complied with state law which means they're only usable when hi beams are active. They can be wired differently to work how you'd like them to, but keep in mind local laws. Can they be used when there's oncoming traffic? Sure, if you don't mind blinding whomever is headed your way and hope they don't drift into your lane!


Are they worth it? For me, I like the looks and they're effective for my use, but they are expensive installed for what they are. If you're handy, you can save a lot by installing on your own. I was on the fence until the wife mentioned that the car looks cooler with them than without. Sold.

 

I opted for Xenons instead of driving lights and have no regrets as these are superb.

 

Hey rkycyntst do you have pics with them on your white countryman, I have a white countryman on the way and cant decide if I want the black or chrome one. I have the chrome kit, and I dont know if chrome driving light would be to much with the other chrome pcs. Which one did you get. I seen pics of black ones on white countryman. but no chrome. Anyone have any pics of it.

 

Nope

The xenon low beams are quite good - I hope you ordered them.

 

I have the adaptive xenons and they're as good as any driving lights I"ve previously used. For the MINI, I'd agree they can be more of a style addition and lots of people like the look.

 

My husband wants me to get them on my CMS, because he thinks that without them, the S grill looks like, and I quote, "a sad catfish." I happen to disagree, obviously.

I agree that they're a bit (really more than a bit) expensive, and I don't think I'd ever use them unless we moved to the country or something, so I'm not getting them. But they do look really nice on the car, especially on the S grill.

 

Ann,
I had the same internal dialogue with myself. If I got them, would I actually ever take the covers off? Is this just a cosmetic mod vs. a functional mod? They look cool, but are there better (cheaper) cosmetic mods? I settled on using that $ on other stuff.

 

Now that's funny.

 

I have Xenon and the driving lights. They were OEM so they turn on with the high beams. To be honest they don't do a heck of lot, at least not against the Xenons. They don't do a thing for dead center but they are a "flood" light so you get more light up high, down low, and out to the sides. In the center where the Xenon beam is shining it's hard to tell they're on. On a dark twisty backroad they are great since they illuminate to the sides more than the Xenons.

 

Thanks for the feedback. It confirms what I thought in regards to using with brights only which translates to very little. I checked the box for the xenon option which I've already had on other cars and would no longer do without. Even with the xenons, as I get older there are times when I wish I had professional stadium grade flood lights.

 

Years ago I tried the super lights, doing some rallying with a single really bright light on the roof. While it was on you could see EVERYTHING - far, near, sides, etc. One night the light burned out - BOY WAS THAT DARK!

I'd say it was a bad idea in practice...

 

I personally like the looks of having the driving lights on my car. I do have the Genuine Mini lights and most of the time I keep the covers on them. I love the way they look.

As far as lighting up the road they do an excellent job. If I have to go out route 40 at 4:am I'm really happy to have them. They come on with my hi-beams and really do light up for a long distance. ( I never knew how many animals are out at that time until I used these lights)

They were expensive because I added them well after buying my car. I had my dealer install them. It's really up to you weather you like the looks of them or the expense.

 

does the cover come with the kit. I seen white cover for sale, but never the black ones. if they dont come with the kit, anyone know where I can get black covers.

 

White covers come with chrome, black with black. I have the white with my Crystal Silver but I think would prefer the black.

 

thanks for info, I had order chrome ones for my white countryman. You know anyplace I can get the black covers. the white ones looks cheap.

 

Working on that now but there is always spray paint.

 

Black part number is 63120432836 (each, order 2).

 

I agree with many above. I installed my OEM driving lights because I love the look of the driving lights in front of the grille and the white covers look awesome on my Lightning blue Cooper. I will totally agree, I have the adaptive Xenons too, and they are truly incredibly bright. The driving lights barely add to what those do. They also come on with the highbeams and you have to be hard pressed to find where the driving lights add to the light of the highbeams. That being said, I love the way they look and that was my reason for installing them. I knew I wouldn't use them regularly.

 

Perfect!

 

I'm a fan of the look with driving lights. While I don't have the OEM, I'm quite happy with the aesthetics.

 

Very cool look!

 

I def. like the way the factory driving lights fill in the space in the front grill area; otherwise it just looks a little funny.

I can't speak for the actual use on a CM; but they worked wonders for me on my R53 while driving on back country roads in the middle of the night. I had mine connected to work with the high beams, and yes....my car had factory xenon's as well.

 

Now that is one happy looking barracuda!!!

 

Ditto WinchM60. The main reason I got the DL was the fill in the "frowning" grill on the S. IMO that is the main design flaw on the CMS.