New to Mini and forums, headlight and aux light options

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Dec 5, 2016 | 07:01 AM
  #1  
Hey guys,

First time poster

I picked up a 2014 R60 All4 last week.

The first thing that I need to correct is the headlight situation. Its bad. I also have a 2013 Jeep wrangler and I thought it was the worst ever, but this R60 is giving it a run for its money.

What type of aftermarket options are out there?

I found some bulb replacements that had decent reviews on amazon

I've also been searching some junk yard websites for the Xenon headlights to maybe do a swap at a reasonable price point but I'm not sure if there is more to it than just swapping the housing or will I need to change out wiring and/or a harness.

Is there a comprehensive lighting thread out there somewhere.

Thanks!
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Dec 5, 2016 | 08:37 AM
  #2  
Interesting comments.

I have a 2011 All-4 with the Xenon Adaptive lighting, and it is one of the best systems I have ever used. Excellent night vision, clear distinct cutoff profile, and the adaptive system works very well to track with vehicle movement. Which lighting option is on your vehicle?

Mark
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Dec 5, 2016 | 09:02 AM
  #3  
Quote: Interesting comments.

I have a 2011 All-4 with the Xenon Adaptive lighting, and it is one of the best systems I have ever used. Excellent night vision, clear distinct cutoff profile, and the adaptive system works very well to track with vehicle movement. Which lighting option is on your vehicle?

Mark
my guess the halogen as original buyer maybe didn't opt for the HIDs

Snowren24, my understanding is that if we wanted to switch our halogen units for HIDs ones, best course of action is to buy the 25W retrofit kit.. runs a little over 1K.. I've looked at my headlights as I have halogens and it looks like it'll be difficult to do my own retrofit HID like I did in my truck. Swapping out to HIDs if they were bought as an option sounded a lot more difficult than the retrofit kit. Check the Electrical forum.
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Dec 5, 2016 | 10:27 AM
  #4  
yeah I have the standard halogens.

I'd rather not spend $1000+ on a headlight upgrade, but I figure it might come to that outside of just using some brighter bulbs or some Chinese knock off kits.

I'm leaning towards the brighter bulbs option. Just seems like the best bang for the buck.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JYC0OVO...D8OQ4VBM&psc=1


there are also some of the Xenon housings on ebay for a not unreasonable cost, but I'm thinking it would not be as easy as a plug and play.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-2012-20...pXz0eY&vxp=mtr
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Dec 5, 2016 | 10:39 AM
  #5  
Quote: yeah I have the standard halogens.

I'd rather not spend $1000+ on a headlight upgrade, but I figure it might come to that outside of just using some brighter bulbs or some Chinese knock off kits.

I'm leaning towards the brighter bulbs option. Just seems like the best bang for the buck.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JYC0OVO...D8OQ4VBM&psc=1


there are also some of the Xenon housings on ebay for a not unreasonable cost, but I'm thinking it would not be as easy as a plug and play.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-2012-20...pXz0eY&vxp=mtr
i've upgraded my bulbs.. but it still sucks.. i will eventually change to HIDs
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Dec 5, 2016 | 06:46 PM
  #6  
LEDs
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Dec 5, 2016 | 08:03 PM
  #7  
Quote: LEDs
any suggestions? a link to some you have tried?
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Dec 6, 2016 | 06:04 AM
  #8  
Superbrightleds.com. I then used the Mycarly app to program the car. I bought H13 headlights at Carid.com but you can also get them at Amazon. With the H13s they come with a resistor. I chose this path because of the cost.
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Dec 6, 2016 | 11:21 AM
  #9  
Quote: Superbrightleds.com. I then used the Mycarly app to program the car. I bought H13 headlights at Carid.com but you can also get them at Amazon. With the H13s they come with a resistor. I chose this path because of the cost.
Thanks!
So did you buy lights from superbrightleds and then a kit from carID? Im confused. I found the full kit on carID. Has a couple good reviews and is saying its plug and play.

sorry for my ignorance but what did you need to do in the Mycarly app?
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Dec 6, 2016 | 07:27 PM
  #10  
When you install LED lights the car recognizes low-voltage think the lights are out and comes up with a warning using the Carly app and an OBD tool you can program your car to ignore those warnings you could also program the car various functions such as what lights come on how the window acts and even fold in the mirrors. Google the Carly app and it will explain more
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Dec 6, 2016 | 07:30 PM
  #11  
New to Mini and forums, headlight and aux light options-photo816.jpg


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Dec 7, 2016 | 07:55 AM
  #12  
If you put leds in a stock housing it will not focus the light will blind oncomng traffic. If you get the retrofit its a clean pattern and will not blind oncoming traffic. They are also bi-xenon. Also they come in black. 63102289650 & 63102289651

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r-r60-r62.html





Otherwise silverstar H13 are the most popular if you have halogen bulbs and want a little more light.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...s-led-kit.html


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Dec 7, 2016 | 01:29 PM
  #13  
Interesting because I tested my lights with some friends and they didn't blind anyone nor have I been flashed from anyone in traffic. The light be more spread out but it's focused downward.
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Dec 7, 2016 | 01:33 PM
  #14  
Yea, most I have seen with LED in the halogen or xenons in halogen head lights without a focus projectors built in, blind people as they are too intense without a direct cutoff. I know because when I see trucks around here they have them without projectors they blind me. Maybe the ones you have are more focused or have a lower intensity.
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Dec 7, 2016 | 03:44 PM
  #15  
Tacoma and honda guys here in hawaii love to just throw the hid bulbs in their halogen housing.... blinding everyone...

it may have the majority focused low but it's still very blinding at night.
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Dec 9, 2016 | 07:32 AM
  #16  
Quote: Tacoma and honda guys here in hawaii love to just throw the hid bulbs in their halogen housing.... blinding everyone...

it may have the majority focused low but it's still very blinding at night.
We see it all over in Ohio too including a ton of lights on older trucks that have been outfitted with the Audi style border LEDs

It looks good but so bright. Honestly most of the factory ones I've seen feel too bright to be safe for on coming traffic.

For my Jeep there are a good number of legit housing options in the 400-600 range, I wish that were the case for the mini.

At this point I feel like its a if you can beat them join them thing.
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Dec 9, 2016 | 08:31 AM
  #17  
It's the picture and the angle
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Dec 12, 2016 | 02:07 PM
  #18  
just want to give you guys a heads up. We now have halogen => projector LED DRL headlights from spyder. These are in the F60 design for your R60/ R61. They are just like the halogen spyder ones for the R56-R59( https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ggestions.html ) but these are for the R60 Countryman / R61Paceman. No Xenon to Xenon version yet.

But these take halogen H9 bulbs ( or if you want to do your own xenon/ led retrofit H9) Bi-halogen. This means they have 1 bulbs that has a flap like the Xenon factory system and when you use the highs, the flap moves up.
Bottom turn signal is standard P21 bulbs and this system is plug and play. Tap line for the F60 style DRL so it can used with a 12V turn on or the front position lights.

Sold as a Set:

PRO-YD-MCO11-DRL-BK

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES3188142/


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Dec 23, 2016 | 01:09 PM
  #19  
Quote: just want to give you guys a heads up. We now have halogen => projector LED DRL headlights from spyder. These are in the F60 design for your R60/ R61. They are just like the halogen spyder ones for the R56-R59( https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ggestions.html ) but these are for the R60 Countryman / R61Paceman. No Xenon to Xenon version yet.

But these take halogen H9 bulbs ( or if you want to do your own xenon/ led retrofit H9) Bi-halogen. This means they have 1 bulbs that has a flap like the Xenon factory system and when you use the highs, the flap moves up.
Bottom turn signal is standard P21 bulbs and this system is plug and play. Tap line for the F60 style DRL so it can used with a 12V turn on or the front position lights.

Sold as a Set:

PRO-YD-MCO11-DRL-BK

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES3188142/

Any pics yet on a Countryman?
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Dec 23, 2016 | 01:18 PM
  #20  
Not yet, possible sometime soon.

In the mean time imagine F60 style on your R60. Of course the F60 ones have a halo all the way around, these are like the F56 part halo leds. But these lights look awesome in person and look like quality. Just like the other spyder F56 style headlights.


R60 MINI Countryman M7 with stock halogen headlights



to


F60 MINI countryman LED factory headlights.










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Dec 31, 2016 | 10:54 AM
  #21  
Finally found pics of these on a Countryman



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Jan 17, 2017 | 05:48 PM
  #22  
Thanks 808keith!
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Jan 18, 2017 | 05:09 AM
  #23  
Yes, looks like someone installed a set.
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Apr 1, 2017 | 06:18 PM
  #24  
Has anyone tried that halogen projector set from ECS yet? How's the lighting vs the not so great factory halogens? I would love improve the lighting situation on my spouse's Countryman, but she isn't a fan of rally lights. These might be just the ticket.
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Apr 3, 2017 | 06:05 AM
  #25  
See https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-led-swap.html
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