Hey you guys. Been reading a little. fairly new to the Mini Cooper world (loving it so far).

I have a 2003 Mini Cooper and I dont have Xenons or HID's or Xenons, whatever you wish to call them. I really miss that look. Going from my 3 series with having the Euro WKS HID's (4500) with Angel Eyes back to stop yellow is not too exciting.

I was wondering what methods I could take to add a little zing to my lights. Im not expecting to get HID quality (unless there is a kit out there.. I have yet to see one) so what ive ran across from reading is powerbulbs.com I believe the phillips bulbs.

am I correct? or better units or sites that sell them. Also is the install fairly easily if its just a bulb?

 

First, read http://www.danielsternlighting.com to understand about bulbs and what is legal and what is not. Most stuff on powerbulbs are not DOT approved.

Second, try http://www.suvlights.com/ Your highs are probably H7s. Phillips Vision Plus work well. There are also two different type of Osram silverstars, those for the states and the ones for EU. Some people like the silverstars.

If you read daniel stern, you will understand why the premier bulbs get more light for the same wattage.

Don't know what the non-Xenon lows are. Sorry.

 

awww. thank you for the site. I must agree, if what they claim on Suvlights.com is true about the Silverstars, I must say I also like them.
but the H7 is only for brights correct? So I also need to find what kind of bulb the regular lights take?

 

hi and low are h7

 

anything particular you recommend?

 

I got silverstars and was rather disappointed. They really werent much whiter then stock....and BARELY brighther.

I have been going with the bulbs from supremepower.com...the "super white" ones. They change the color a decent amount...and my eyes react much better to this light color. They arent brighter or anything.

PIAA is always a good choice....but $$$

 

PIAA is a poor choice. See http://danielsternlighting.com/tech/...uperwhite.html

Even my local speed shop told me not to buy them

 

Why exactly? I didnt see a specific mention about PIAA in there? Is it just the coloring?

Like i said in my post....i know im not going to get much brighter light from these bulbs....its about color and what my eyes feel better with. Along the same lines, i havent lost any sight ability....so why not?

It will be rather hard to get truly brighter headlights without going the HID route, or upping the wattage for real....which would require a lot of work.

 

From http://www.danielsternlighting.com. They are talking about PIAAs 55w = 100w or whatever and blue tinges


"Myths debunked

Here's an article on PIAA SuperWhite, Raybrig HyperWhite and Fet-Catz HyperBulb bulbs."

"REALITY: "Superwhite" ("Hyperwhite", "UltraWhite", "Platinum", etc., basically any bulb advertised as being "whiter" than normal) bulbs produce more glare and less seeing light than standard bulbs. The "55W = 85W" type claims are a sham. Here's how these kinds of pretend wattage numbers are cooked-up: ...

some people seem to think that others will look upon headlamps so equipped and go "Wow, cool!" ...

Bulbs with blue or purple tinted glass never improve the performance of your headlamps. They may leave it relatively unchanged, or they may severely reduce it, but they never improve it.

BOTTOM LINE: The laws of physics are the laws of physics. They don't bend even for the highest-paid advertising agency. There is no way to get "85 watts of light for 55 watts of electricity." Tinted bulbs aren't better."

Bottom line ... its all marketing hype. The last paragraph is true, you can't change the laws of physics. If you want brighter light, you must go, illegally, overwattage.

 

Reading this line, if you just want a different color, go for it. No problem there. However, the light will be "duller", not brighter. You will lose "sight ability"

I was in a speed shop asking these exact same questions and they just said it was to "look cool" and I would get less light (and they were selling the expensive PIAAs)

SO, if its just color, its a personal choice

 

I too have talked to many professionals....and many believe that the slight difference in color will not be detectable by human eye. I have had many different headlights now on my mini...and would fully agree.

It's really up to the owner

 

When people talk about Silverstar, they prefer to Osram silverstar that are available in Europe and performs much better than Silverstar in the US. I am currently using Osram Silverstar on my low beams and prefer Philips Vision Plus more. I used to have Philips Vision Plus, they reflect on road signs much better at night than Silverstar. The only downside to Vision Plus was that it only lasted one year for me. Anyhow, I think either ones performed outstanding compare to stock bulbs.

 

Daniel Stern sells 65W H7's....gives out many more lumens compared to the stock 55W H7's.....I bought them,,...seems a little brighter, maybe, but hard to tell...has any one else tried these??

 

I got H7's from visionbulbs.com and really like the look! VERY VERY WHITE!

 

I have them. They're a bit brighter. If you make the change at night then go for test drives before and after, you can see the difference. It's not a huge difference unfortunately. They don't cost much, and they do help.

Rawhyde

 

hhmm...lots of mixed results it seems...
2 questions.
A. Is it easy to open up the headlight and install the bulbs? ive never paid close attention but it just seems like 4 nuts and bolts?

B. Is there an HID route and who offers it? I have yet to see any. When I upgraded my 3 series, I spent near $1200 for everything but it was damn worth it.

 

A. its simple to get to them....no need to remove the headlight....there are just some rubber covers. Look at the headlights and you will see.

B. the only option right now is to buy all of the OEM xenon parts. It will cost about 1200 as you metioned....and then you have to install all the sensors and have your mechanic program the computer to recognize the xenons. I have gone more in depth on this install if you do a search for it.

 

However, as another option, you CAN buy Xenon Driving lights. See the FF200 from Hella, about $800.

 

is this what your talking about bro? FF200 ?? If so, do you open your headlights and put those puppies in or what? tad bit confused

 

No this http://www.hella.com/produktion/Hell...F200_Xenon.jsp

They are "Auxiliary Driving Lights", you know, instead of the MINI driving lights you install these. Look at this thread https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ighlight=ff200 but instead of the halogens, they are Xenon

 

leagal smegal



http://www.xtralights.com/


http://www.xtremehid.com/product.php?product_id=37

 

Now were talkin. Im familiar with the good old balaster installs and such (such a pain on the 3 series! Mini looks worse with small engine compartment)


I have a hard time believing a bulb will do that much diff...for $400 bucks too...eerrr

the extrmehid link:

The XD7 Bi-Xenon HID headlamp module provides an extraordinary performance upgrade for vehicles originally equipped with 7” round incandescent or halogen headlamps. The Classic Chrome bezel (front surface area) styling provides a very unique look—clean, distinct, noticeable. OE grade Osram bulbs and ballasts are used in this product.

The XD7 Headlamp Kit comes with everything you need to add performance and style to your vehicle. In some vehicles, modification to the light “bucket” may be required to accommodate the XD7 housing.

is ours a 7" roundle?... so im presuming this fits right on?

 

before you consider this, read this http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html

 

or just look at this....a jetta without the proper HID housings



and here is what it SHOULD look like....no glare

 

no no its saying old cars with the old sealed beam headlights, like the ones in my 71 dodge charger or motorcycles

its pretty cool, acually i have no idea what thats all about anyway!

you can buy the lense with the actuater inside to make it low and hige beam, alot of fabricating but hey it could work!

as far as that goes the first gen mini head lamps had an h7 housing for the H.i.D and you could do a HID swap very easily ware as with others its just as easy, you can acually get the h11 in HID and replace your foglamps

hey i live in detroit just about everybody out here drives with their brights on when they get behind you, i hate it, really bad when the suv's ride my butt with their brights on, makes me wish i had one of those 30,000,000 candle power spot lights on hand , heheehe