Hello NAM:

I'm hoping a few of you can provide some quality input here. We have an '05 MCSc, Cool Blue with black stripes, and are looking for driving light recommendations.

We currently have a Palo Uber light bar with 4 x Hella 500s installed. We bought this setup used from a fellow NAMmer, and had a local BMW tech install it. It's currently set up with two toggle switches; one turns on the driving lights, the other turns on the fogs. They are *not* currently controlled by the high beam or fog toggles, so they're not legal right now.

While I think the Hella 500 fogs do a decent job, I'm not thrilled by the light put out by the driving lights. Also, I really want this changed so that if we have the driving lights engaged, they'll toggle on and off with the high beams. (And similarly, the fogs should probably be connected to the stock fog lights, so that the fog toggle engages them, and they turn off when the high beams turn on.) Basically make the lights legal, easier to use, and brighter.

We live on a twisty canyon road, and my wife drives the MINI on her commute as a night shift nurse. So I'm interested in finding the driving lights that will do the best job of lighting the heck up out of the woods in front of us, especially to see deer and other creatures earlier (before they leap in front of us).

I plan to keep the Palo Uber light bar. It's well installed and I like the position of the lights down low. Unless I got instructions that convinced me it's within my limited abilities, I'll probably have a local stereo shop install the lights and wiring.

My questions:
1. Does anyone have any strong suggestions for driving lights that would do an especially good job of lighting up forested roads at night? We want, if possible, VERY BRIGHT lights up ahead and toward the edges of the road, to see leaping deer.
2. Any pointers to instructions as to how to hook up the lights so that they are controlled as described? (One toggle switch, if possible, to "engage" driving/fog lights. If engaged, high beams will also turn on the driving lights. Fog toggle will also turn on the fog lights. If high beams are on, then fogs turn off.)

I like the look of the Hella Black Magics, in that I think the dark lights will look especially good on our cool blue/black stripes setup. But I'd really like to hear what others have found best for this environment.

I'll continue to search threads here, but please, if you can offer some input, do so.

Thanks all!

 

I have Hella 500s and think they do a great job of lighting up the road. Maybe you are looking for something with less of a pencil beam pattern to light up the sides also?
I've got LightForce driving lights on my truck and they throw a lot of light and also adjust similar to a Mag Light. You can go from Pencil to Wide pattern with a twist of the outside of the light. They are pretty "truckish" so it might look odd on a Mini.
I'd look into a wider patterned light and get the highest candlepower you can find.

Your wiring questions aren't too complicated. Just trigger the relay for the driving lights off the high beam wire and they will go on and off with the highs assuming the switch is on. I don't have a fog switch so I'm not sure what you can tap into to make that happen, but it would'nt be complicated if you have a factory fog light and switch. You can do amazing things with a pair of relays and tapping into the right leads.

 

I like my Hella 500 driving lights. I put 100 watt bulbs in them & for my use they are fine. There are other lights out there that will give you more light, but you will have problems mounting them on your MINI. I had Hella FF1000 lights on my Forester & they are a lot better than the Hella 500. The trouble I had with them is that they are larger & deeper & that keeps me from mounting them on my MINI with OutMotoring brackets.

If you want the best light from any driving light you'll need to mount them higher. That PU bracket is pretty low. The Hella black magic is a great light. It is the same as the old Hella Rally 1000 with the addition of the blackout glass.

By all means wire those lights to go off & on with the high beam switch. If you follow the wiring diagram that comes with the Hella's it is pretty easy.

 

Driving Lights...check these out Wipac LED, new MC2 article calls them the brightest driving lights, that they work better that the oem R56 xenon headlamps.
http://cgi.ebay.com/BMW-Mini-Wipac-x...3286.m20.l1116
I know the kinda mountain roads you talking about, summit, alpine, eureka canyon, etc. I lived there in santa cruz county. Might want to look at these too Phillips H7 Rally 80 watt headlamp bullbs. They are the best, I had the osram 65w before and these are slightly better, I got them installed on Hi and Low beams.
http://www.performancebulbs.co.uk/H7page.htm

 

I both had hella 500 foglight and driving lights and they did do nothing in the canyons. My factory highbeams helped me out alot more. I do have the 06 xenons though. Those LED's look pretty strong and should last longer and take less wattage then regular lights. It would be great if they came with a cover for street.

 

Wipac makes the oem MINI driving lights and it looks like the same metal casing, oem MINI covers might fit (not sure) could ask Dr. OBNXS if they fit. they are supposedly not road legal in US yet? But looks promising for mountain carvers. And yes the hi beams work great with 80 watt bulbs

 

Thanks for the suggestions, all. Time to dig up those Hella wiring instructions; I think they were missing as we got these second hand. (That, or the guy who installed for us just doesn't follow instructions all that well...)

I did refocus the Hellas over the weekend and they did an OK job. But they seem to throw a very focused rectangle of light, so if they're not carefully aimed, they're not too helpful. Mine seem to slip a little on the PU lightbar; I'll see if, once aimed, I can tighten them down a bit.

If I can get this to work right with the existing lights, then that would be the cheapest and easiest method. We had an unfortunate event right after the whole deal was installed. My wife drove the car home and got caught in bad stopped traffic. Got home and we realized the lights had been left on underneath the black plastic covers. Said covers melted and the lens glass cracked. I was able to pull off the melted plastic, and have since gotten clear covers over the cracked lenses ... so they're still working and don't look all that bad, but I wouldn't mind replacing them for something that works significantly better.

Off to check for the Hella wiring instructions. Thanks again, all.

 

Wiring: You can tap off the high beam wire right at the bulb without modifying the wiring harness in your mini. I over-wrap the wire in electrical tape (spiral) just to further protect against abrasion, and attached a spade connector bent at a 90 degree angle. I hooked this into the plug on the back of the high beam bulb itself (see picture). It was tight, but I also used a small ziptie to lock it in place (the "belt and suspenders" method). I ran it out the vent port for the housing and securely fastened it along the underside of the hood.


Using that as a trigger, my driving beams come on with the highs only. I triggered my fogs to only come on if the parking lights are on, and the lightbar looks like this (one was when I had yellow fogs, currently running clears):



If you're running driving beams and fogs, with the xenons, you may not really need the fogs. You can trigger two relays with the one trigger wire (jumper it to the other relay), and use those other 2 positions for two more driving beams, and aim them in a somewhat splayed pattern. Note however that this may be illegal in some states that restrict the number of forward facing white lights you can run.

That said, my '06 xenons seemed to be a little glarey in heavy snow, so I like the fogs-only option.

Also, with the relays, you can run 100 watt bulbs, which whitens and improves light output. Anything more than 100W, though, mostly just makes more heat - which your clear plastic covers (I have them too) may not like so much.

Hope that helps!

 

Combo of aftermarket fog lights and driving lights is by far the best option.....long range visibility with the advantage of having the sides of the road lit up to catch those pesky deer.

 

Got a roof rack? That is the best place to mount for the furthest cast. Probably would look goofy.

I like my Hella FF700s but they are the same size as the FF1000 and Black magic (just over 7") so you won't be able to do 4 on the Paolo Uber bar.
You could do 2 700s and 2 500s with the 500s outbound and slightly turned out and down to get the low wide effect. then use the 700/1000/blackmagic for the down the road center pair. I wanted to take some decent pictures of my light output. This thread looks like the perfect reason.

 

Since that crosspiece is just steel angle, it'd be relatively simple to just get a longer piece and mount whatever you want (within reason, of course...)

 

I remade the bar with 2 pieces of 1/8" angle aluminum in a u shape to accommodate the big heavy FF700s. Then the brackets didn't support the bar fully so I made new brackets too.

Took some new lighting comparison shots. I made an animated .gif to save on download time.

The road ends 3 tenths of a mile from where the car is sitting. You will see the barricades in some of the frames.

 

Your driving lights seem to be aimed too low... but great shots!

 

I have to say those are the best shots illustrating light output that I've ever seen.

I'm with Dixon, your driving lights seen a touch on the low side.

 

They are a little low for actual driving lights but they still help. Not a lot of options with 7-1/4" lamps though. It looks like they are pointing at the ground but they aren't. The bottom of the lamps are only about a foot off the ground so the beam hits the ground pretty quick as it spreads.

Plus if I ever get pulled over for having all 4 on I'll point out they are installed as fogs (even though they are wired off the parking lights). "Thats why you see the bright spot on the ground right in front of the car officer. I didn't realize they cast that far out."

I never have all 4 on with my headlights unlesss I'm the only one around. I usually only ever light the 2 outmost since they cast a more fog looking hot spot. Even then they don't come on unless needed. All 4 without the xenons is awesome in fog. I need to get some yellowstar h3 bulbs so the outer 2 light yellow.

 

I agree having lights mounted that low does effect their performance. OK for fogs, but the driving lights would be better mounted on top of the bumper. My Hella 500 driving lights are mounted low too, because I haven't found a top of the bumper solution that I like yet.

 

That's why mine are *at* bumper height. I'm not partial to lights mounted on the hood, but I do like the look of them mounted in the lower grille. Unfortunately, that's just too low for anything other than extreme fog, and I don't drive much in that. Bumper height seemed "right", and both fog and driving lamp performance is adequate. I do think the Hella500 driving beam pattern is more of a pencil, though, and wouldn't mind a bit more spread. I wonder if the 500FF is any better in that regard...

Oh, and I'm with Crashton - those are about the best illustrative lighting shots I've ever seen. Nicely done.
(Now raise those beams!)

 

I'm thinking about a roof rack with a spare tire carrier and moving two of the lights up there. after I slam it on coils of course
need to work up a photoshop and see if I like it. if its ridiculous enough looking I may just do it. It might look ok with the black magic lights.

 

Remember, in most states having driving lights anywhere above the windshield is strictly verboten - illegal. There are also laws about how many white or driving/headlights/white lights can be illuminated at one time. Use caution...

 

Yep I'm in a 4 light state (driving/auxiliary/headlight) there is no limit on fog lights funny how that works.

 

Here in Ohio we have a law that says only 5 forward facing lights on at a time. We've run rally cars for years & years here with 6 & never once had a problem. I think as long as one uses the lights responsibly there'll be no issues.

 

l'm running 4 Hella 500's and they are working just great in the "Tumbleweed" area's of AZ. My eyes used to get tired driving the road to Vegas every week(300 miles one way), but with the extra light

 

Driving lights are great for that scenario, but adding fogs is the best solution for driving in the wooded twisties as they cast a nice wide light pattern so you can see "around" the corners and maybe catch that woodland creature that thinks he can cross the road before you get there...lol

 

When I know I'm driving some twisties I'll "cheat" the fogs up a little - just have to make sure to dim them when oncoming traffic comes. BTW, the standard Hella bulbs look pretty dim next to Xenons - when one burns out I'll upgrade to 100w with a more blue-ish tint...

 

Upgrading to 100W bulbs will help some, but don't expect miracles. It's the reflector & lens design that have the biggest impact on lighting performance.