So I went down to my local auto parts store after doing some research here(on company time of course ) and picked up some H7 silverstars as they were the most recommended bulb. only to find that they wont fit the connector!! I guess its my fault for trying to put halogens into an HID system! (stupid me) BUT...here's the best part! when I went to put the stock bulbs back in and closed the bonnet, the light started working again!! even though when the lights are on, it looks much dimmer than the other(a good sign that its going to go out soon) I guess more than anything I wanted to vent my frustration, but are there any recommendations on the best place to get HID bulbs or perhaps something that will fit the stock connector without too much customization? I've read a lot about http://www.danielsternlighting.com/ but I was hoping someone knew a local shop(south orange county).

Thanks in advance!

 

Ummm, you need halogens for the high beams but they'll only fit in one way (they're tabbed to fit correctly). Were the tabs aligned? Silverstars fit my '06 Xenons just fine... Check your connections too; if you're getting "some" light but it's not bright enough it's either the bulb (most likely) or you have the bulb in crooked (less likely), or it's the connections/wiring (least likely).

 

well the bulb that was out was my passenger side low beam. the electrical connector for the stock lights simply will not fit in the silverstars. the silver stars were two pronged and the stock connector isn't.

 

Does your MINI have HID's? If it does and your trying to fit Silverstars in the lowbeams, they will not work. Lowbeams are HID's. Highbeams are H7. If you need to replace your HID's, you will need the following info: older MINI's have a reflector-style headlight enclosure and require D2R HID bulbs. Newer models (06 and possibly 05) have a projector-style headlight and use D2S bulbs.

 

ooOOOOOOooh. LOW beams. Well, THAT is another story.

^^ what he said ^^

 

oh and i realized that after the guy at the shop assured me they would work. but....moral of the story, im retarded

its cool tho, live and learn!

 

You want to replace your stock HID bulbs? If you want OEM quality bulbs I'd go with the Philips Ultinon (true 5800k color temperature). They are the bulbs used in BMW 7-series and such. Really nice looking HIDs. BUT, their roughly $200/pair on eBay and that's cheap lol. My sister has some McCulloch's and the quality seems to be very good. I would recommened McCulloch if you can't spend the cash on the Philips. McCulloch 6000k are WHITE with a tiny hint of blue from the distance.