Ok, I've searched and searched and can't find a definitive answer (it's entirely possible my Search-fu is bad)


Can I swap my 2003 xenon headlights for the 2006 xenons (the ones with the cool projector housing)?


Thanks in advance, and if I missed a thread that had this question, please throw me a link

 

can you post a pic of the difference in them

 

Yes, and for some reason in the last 12 months the acutal retail cost of these headlights has done a complete 180.*

Now the older MINI xenon style HD lights are MORE expensive than the newer projector style.....

 

OMG really, dang, how much are they and is the swap easy?

 

I swapped my '04 xenons over to '06 euro-spec xenons without any problems. It was a plug and play swap.

 

Connector is the same but instead of one wire cable from the ballast to the light assembly, there are three rather stiff / thick cables wrapped in individual rubber sleeves.

They are buched up a bit. The passenger side had zippiee tie that tied these cables together. At the mid area of that tie there was a push plug clip attached.

You have to push that zippee tie clip plug into the neaby hole so it holds the cable to the side and away from the hood latch, otherwise you could cut a wire or two. It wasn't terribly easy as the cables are short but doable.

Other than that it was plug and play...

 

Hmm. Now you've got me curious - I don't remember having to do anything like that with my headlights. I'll have to check on my lunch break...

 

Before ~






After ~




Illumination is bit more intense, not much but some. And the drivers side (L) needs to be adjusted up just a bit to make an even cut off.....there is a special long tool for this which reaches the back of the headlight housing adjusting screw while bonnet is closed. You snake it up thru an opening in the forward part of the front wheel well liner about the same area where most folks add those eye decals.