The mini kit from miniusa.com is $582 plus tax (lights, grille with brackets, and switch) and $465 from outmotoring.com

The hella black magic kit is $139, but im wondering how the LOOK and fit will be with their brackets, and I would still have to get the grille and switch from mini. I like the hella's because of the darker lens!

Anyone have the hella black magic 500s? What do you think about overall look of the lamp housing, light produced and ease of install? Or should I just get the mini lamp kit and get differet bulbs if I didnt like the color/intensity and add a different lens filter (althought I would probably have issues with heat).

Any opinions/pics welcome! Sorry if this is a repost...

 

I have 4 hella 500s and they are actually for sale with wiring and clear covers. I love look and the install wasn't any harder than any other lights.

 

For light produced: many manufacturers (but not PIAA or MINI) have charts showing the light spread. I've never found a lighting chart for the OEM lights, but I wouldn't expect much of them at their size. Hella 500 or 1000 should be much better, especially for spread, and they have excellent charts on their web site. I use Hella Black Magic 1000s on Outmotoring brackets which mount in front of the bumper. Very happy with them - adequate distance for 60mph and excellent spread. The 1000s do burn through globes at a rate, though, even with the lights mounted rock-solid. The lighting chart shows the Black Magic to have very similar light spread and distance to the standard 1000s.

For my new MINI ( ) I'm exploring alternatives (OutMotoring doesn't yet have mountings for the 2011 model with its different facia) and MiniMania have brackets that apparently fit to the OEM mounting points or bumper mounting or some such and sit the lights where the OEM lights go.

As for appearance, the OEM lights would be better quality. Hella 500 or 1000s are mid-priced and lightly constructed. I wouldn't go rallying with them but for general use they're fine. Lohen in the UK have LED driving lights - they might look good. Also, after-market lights have the mounting and adjustment bolts clearly visible, whereas the OEM lights hide that away somehow.

 

I just got for birthday A set of Hella 500 Black Magic, and than ordered a set of the Out Motoring Gen one light brackets. Have not have time to installe them yet, but the Hellas look good. i have a Set of Normal Hella 500 on my Jeep Cherokee and they Work GREAT. that is why i bought these. Super gald to find out the had the 500 in Black Magic. Hope this help you out.. also want to mentions that the OUT MOTORING brackets seem to be the best ones out there, you can choose from 3 different positions.