I've got an R56 with Xenons, and like the amount of light they provide. In fact, my other car (BMW) also has Xenons, as did the one before that. I'm sold on them, especially since deer and other wild animals are so prevalent in this state. I just found out that the F56 only has LEDs. I have no experience with them. Can anyone enlighten me (pun intended), as to the differences in pure brightness at night? I've seen LEDs for years used as accent lights, but not as primary headlights--or maybe I just didn't know what I was looking at.

Assuming I get an F56, rather than another R56, I do expect to get the adaptive LEDs. Good move?

Comments?

 

No, the LEDs are an option and from all the reviews I've read, they are pretty good.

 

What is standard? Halogen?

I dunno, it seems that we're backing off from max illumination compared to Xenons. That's a huge issue where I drive, which is largely rural. Arkansas is #8 in the country for deer hits!

Or am I wrong?

 

I asked the salesman when I test drove an MCS last week and he thought the standard lights were halogens.

I'd guess there are different grades of xenon, halogen and LED lights. Just because headlights are one or another wouldn't necessarily make them superior.

 

I ordered the LEDs with cornering lights based on reviews. It was a no brainer for me. I wanted the brightest and best lighting available on my MINI. For those who go with this option I would rather doubt you'll be disappointed. I've yet to hear a negative review of them. In a few more days I will get to find out for myself when I take delivery of my MCS.

 

No more xenons available, either halogen or LED (plus adaptive/corning if you want)

 

I ordered the LED with adaptive cornering also after a test drive. I have a 2011 R56 and the LED lights seemed to me a lot brighter and then when I turned on the LED fog lights it really lit up. The cornering is pretty cool little feature also.

 

Of course we don't know if the halogens in the 2014s are better than the ones they used in your 2011. I guess we'll have to put two 2014s side by side. I didn't go for the LEDs -- seemed really pricy.

 

I have the LED headlights w/out the cornering option on mine, and I find them to be extremely bright. They have a very white/bluish tint that is different from any other headlight I've seen. It matches the light color you see in some LED indoor bulbs. I don't know how they compare to the standard headlights, but I bet you would be able to see any wildlife near the road.

 

I've got the same lights (and year car) as you, and although I'm happy with the lights my wife's 20004 Mazda 3's lights were just as good as mine. I don't drive at night much, but I'd get the LEDs just because they're new. They can only make headlights so bright so as to not blind the car coming at you. I really wonder if the xenons are better than the halogens on my car .Plus is jacks up the price of the car so you get more back at trade-in!

 

Thanks for all the info on LEDs, people. When you get your ordered cars, please be sure to post your impressions, okay?

No question in my mind that Xenons are brighter than halogen. We have one car with halogen to compare with, and we hate to drive it at night. And frankly, the price isn't that big a deal in my mind. One accident avoided more than makes up for it, especially when it involves Bambi...or her daddy.

20004--boy, that's futuristic!

 

Some info on the three types:
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ba...led-26530.html

 

Yeah, I actually read that article before I started the thread. A couple of things concerned me--the heat generation that was mentioned in the article, and the apparent lack of candlepower. At least that's how I read it. Then again, it was written in late 2010, which is light years ago (pardon the pun). Apparently there have been improvements since then, if MINI is willing to use it on a ground-up new design.

I'm hoping, anyway.

 

Daffodildeb, I could not agree with you more !
Not sure where Maryland is on the deer hit list but I am sure it is high.
I have Xeon's on my 2010 Clubby and have the same question about the LED's.
I love those lights, everyone that rides with me at night thinks I have brights on.
My daughter has a 2012 Hardtop with halogen's and those cannot hold a candle to mine.
I would like to test drive a 2014 with LED's in the dark to see.

 

I'm going with the standard head lights and adding Hella 500 driving lights. That is what I did with my current R56 and they light up the world at night.

 

I have the Xenons on my 2011MCS and when I drove the F56 at night it was awesome!! They are real bright and then I turned on the fog lights and they just added to it, but also real expensive but after I saw them I had to have them. Heck I even went with the auto cornering ones.

 

Those HELLA's look great.

 

I just took a video and here's what it looks like on the road at night:


Sorry for the wind noise...

 

I had Xenons on my previous R56. Loved them.
I have a new F56 with the adaptive LED's.
The cornering feature is interesting on dark tight twisty roads, or driveways.
As far as the LEDs go. I prefer the Xenons. I find that the LED's are not as powerful and they have this weird purple glow.
I use LED lights at home where ever it is appropriate - are they as good as the halogens they replace - NO but they are close and cost a fraction to run and last forever. Honestly neither of those factors count for much in a car.
I wish my F56 had Xenons and I had the $1250 for some new rims!

 

You do find the cornering feature works on the twisties? The fellow I'm working with is currently a Lexus manager (his MINI dealership is opening any day), and he said the cornering light feature is for illuminating driveways and turns onto other streets, not for highway corners. He also told me when it came out on the Lexus, everyone ordered it. Now (again, according to him), most people don't.

 

Yes how fast do you drive on a mountain road in pitch black night anyway? might help a tiny bit but rally no more than the "light bounce" you get off really powerful headlamps. More for drives and stuff I agree.

 

True and the cornering lights only come on at low speeds, not carving through mountain roads. Good for areas that aren't well lit or have no curbs.

 

I believe there are "cornering lights" and "adaptive headlights" available. I think the cornering lights are the lights that come on at low speed and when turning the steering wheel past a certain degree. This illuminates driveways, entrances, streets, etc. My car does this and I have the standard LED's.

Then there are the "adaptive headlights" that actually move to illuminate the road ahead in a bend. These are common on many luxury cars.

Now I know that Mini doesn't call them what I've called them above. But I also know that my car does not have the "Mini LEDs with Cornering Lights". Mini describes these lights how I described the adaptive lights above.

Basically I believe there are 3 style lights: halogen, LED's (which do include a low speed light that illuminates at low speed, and LED's that actually move side to side with higher speed bends in the road.

 

If the latter is an option, I'd like to get it, but the manager doesn't know about it. Then again, it's a brand new dealership, and there's a lot to learn about a totally new species of car--beyond just learning the F56. If you do see what I'm wanting, please let me know what it's called. I don't care about turning onto a specific street--I'm interested in the larger picture. The vast majority of my night time driving is on twisties, as is my day time driving. And there's generally a deer watching...somewhere.

 

I have no experience with the lights myself, but I am rather sure the Mini LED Cornering Lights do not swivel. They just turn on more lights. See this article: http://www.motoringfile.com/2014/02/...nering-lights/

They just light up more lights at different angles as you're turning. The description in the user manual says two different functions, both a high speed for 'twisties' and a low speed turn: "...during cornering, the cornering lamp also lights the interior area of the
curve. Below a speed of approx. 25 mph/40 km/h when the flasher is switched on and the steering angle is detected, there is automatic activation."

I read that as two things, when on, at any time, the lights will light the direction you are cornering. But, if you're driving slow and put your blinker on, it'll wait til you start to steer and light up the place you're turning into.