Just finished installing a pair of Hella Optilux 2500 driving lights with the OEM driving light brackets ala Outmotoring. (Thanks Matt for the great Howto!) Took about 2 hours start to finish and I pretty much followed Matt's method. Slight differences were that I used the rivets on the two lower connections but the top connector was a little less than 1/8" away from touching the metal ('05 MCS) so I ran a 3/8" bit through the top hole in the bracket to enlarge it a bit, tossed 2 neoprene washers between the bracket and bonnet and used the 10mm self taping screws that came with the Optliux. Final results were very tight and solid w/ no jiggle at all.

I don't have my good camera or tripod so I only got a few postable pics:



In the dark:



Compared with CCFL AE from Umnitza on E36 M3:



Compare in the dark:



Both with headlights on:



Although not as bright the Optliux look pretty darn good compared with the CCFL. Considering they're only $50 you can't beat the results for the value.

I think it would be cool to put dual CCFL rings over the silver rings that float in front of the lower lights in the xenon and black out the interior but the cost would be tough to justify for a non-show car.

Oh, on a side note, if anyone wanted to compare xenon temps, the mini has OEM (4600k?) and the M has 6000k.

-/flea

 

I have these too and I love them. Your install looks great! Good job.

 

ugh i only see red x's :(

 

I was just looking on ebay for these, and stopped by here to see if anyone had them. First one that pops up, and no pics...

 

Direct pic links:
http://home.comcast.net/~fleance/Optilux_flash.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~fleance/Optilux_dark.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~fleance/AE_compare_flash.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~fleance/AE_compare_dark.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~fleance/AE_..._lights_on.jpg

If this helps, cool, if not flame Comcast! <grin>

-/flea

 

Oh, and since you're looking for them, I just got mine from Amazon for $46.67, free shipping. That was definitly the best deal I could find.

-/flea

 

thanks, and I had actually already been there as well. BUT, 22.53 shipping to hawaii...

 

Thanks for the link! They look sharp.. you definitely have my attention. I would love to do this.. but i can see myself getting into a major major issue.. ughhh!! i really get nervous modding.. so i shy away from it.. and now lol that i uploaded your photo's and posted them the lil x's are gone so now.. if you see two sets of pics. im sorry lol i was trying to help..

 

are we talking about the lights in the middle or a mod to the headlight?
Is this for the lights and everything to mount or install?

 

The driving lamps on the grille.

And FYI - I was I believe the very first person to ever mount the 2500's, and I have to report that when Nano was wrecked last month, the paint on the 2500's was beginning to chip/wear (after about 18 months of use). I wasn't too concerned - after all, they ARE only $50 lights as was pointed out, but I do plan to rough them up and put 2 coats of High-Temp matte black BBQ paint on the housings when I put a replacement set on my new MSC. I also plan to seal the inner mechanism with silicone prior to installation, to see if that helps with my mild (but annoying) fogging issues. Updates will follow when I install them.

Congrats on going with the Hellas! They're not perfect, but for the low cost I really like them, and the effect they give at night. The "angel eyes" are clearly visible at night, even with the headlights on.

 

Does this include the mounting brackets and everything to mount?

 

No, just the lamps. The brackets are extra. The lights come with mounting hardware, but I replaced it with stainless steel nuts and bolts and some extra anti-vibration nylon'rubber washers for about $8 extra. In the end you pay 1/3 to 1/5 as much for the Optilux lamps as you would for PIAA or OEM, and the main lamps are basically the same (55W driving beams).

My main reason for getitng the hellas however wasn;t cost but the fact that the Optilux lights:

1. Are small - only about 4" across
2. Have black housings - I dislike chrome
3. Have the Angel Eye ring light... the next Hella light to have them is the 4000-series with CELIS - those cost about $250 per light (but the ring is visible in daylight).

 

The entire install ran me like $250, and I bought a new full toggle bank to use my rear fog toggle to operate them.

Lights: $60 (on Amazon at the time)
Brackets: $50 (OutMotoring.com)
Toggle bank: $60 (Classic after NAM discount)
Circuit from Ian Cull to make toggle operate lights: $60
Assorted nuts, bolts, neoprene washers, etc: $10

You can't even get the lights for that for other set-ups...and honestly the toggle is completely unnecessary, I just have an "OEM appearance" issue with stuff. So you could do it for $120ish if you just install it to the supplied switch.

 

Yeah, they are an outstanding value for sure. I'm wainting to receive a new powder coating gun after which I'm going to probably going to get a strip of 3/4" wide steel and bend it into a bracket that will hold the lamps exactly how I'd like 'em.

There are a few sources for CCFL rings w/ inverters for about $40 and I was thinking about investigating how difficult it would be to crack 'em open and install the cathodes but it might be a bit too bright w/o AE in the main lamps for what I prefer.

Even with a self CCFL install you're not looking at more than $200 total installed for a pair of 'enhanced' 2500s (which look better on the MINI than OEM or the 4000s)

-/flea

P.S. I almost forked over the $$ for the OEM lights until I saw Nano. Not only were they cost effective, they look much better IMO. Thanks Matt!

 

I have a CCFL source as well but have been holding off - the LED ring lights are mounted into the glass front lens and they're NOT designed to come apart (if I recall). Doesn't mean that it CAN'T be done - I just never got around to it on my own 2500's.

If you end up disassembling the lights to get to the LEDs let me know how well/poorly it goes. if it goes well, I'll look at making a CCFL "kit" for the Hellas, which I can get from my supplier and then re-sell with minimal mark-up to the MINI community.

 

Hmm...on my 2500s the LEDs pop right out from the back. There's a little rubber plug and the whole thing comes out, and ta-da, there are the bulbs.

But I know mine are newer than Matt's were so maybe they're different? Or maybe I'm just crazy...I'll check them again tomorrow but I'm 99% sure they do because my first set were all jacked up and that particular plug thing was out and I couldn't figure out why TF the bulbs were out of the housing.

 

Well I have to replace mine now, so as soon as they arrive I'll look, too. Hopefully you're right and getting the LED diffuser out is simple. I can have CCFL rings made custom at any diameter, and they'd be VERY cool to have for daytime use.

 

Yeah, you can get at the LEDs pretty easily, but to remove the entire diffuser assembly you'll have to crack the main case. I looked at it and it looks like it's just moulded aluminum and glass with some glue. I think if you take out all the glowy and rubber bits it should be easy to bake the main case enough to melt the glue and get a good seperation. I think I might grab a second set for this from Amazon and try it out.

Matt,
On a side note, what would you think about getting a pair of CCFL rings mounted on the silver plastic 'rings' that sit over the high beams low on the xenon lamps? It would definitly be a custom job, but seems pretty easy if you can get the group buy order level to get 'em produced. I think the dual ring design would look fantastic and uinque and if someone could get a headlight to a friendly CCFL manufacturer the results could be amazing. (any chance Nano could donate an eye to the cause?)

-/flea

 

So to revive a thread from the dead, we baked and *attempted* to crack open one of my dead-ish 2500s tonight. It did not go well; I think we needed to bake them for longer.

I personally am having major issues with these lights. I get the annoying fogging. Now, the LEDs are rusting (even though I sealed everything I possibly could with silicone sealant) and on one side, the LEDs died. The other side is about to go.

So I had this thought that I could crack them open, get to the diffuser, and run some EL wire through there. I have a spare from where I put a rock through one of the lenses and had bought a new set, so we baked one tonight for about 15 minutes @ 250 but we broke the lens. Not a *big* deal, but it would have been really nice to finally figure it out.

I think now I might look into just a plain-jane set of 4-inch lamps and see if I can't get them open and run some EL inside. The diffuser on the 2500s is just plastic - I had been hoping it was tunneled through, so I could just run the EL through it, but no luck....so back to the drawing board!

 

The best mod value out there!! I have these behind my lower grill and they come on with ignition. Subtle driving light, with the halos.

I'd like to upgrade the main bulb to match th rest of my HID set up, so I'm interested if that can be done.

 

Yeah Matt, I think you and I were the first. If anybody was at MOTD this year and saw mine, well, you saw what they will look like soon. The rings turn yellow after a while, the paint oxidizes bad, and the LEDS don't produce as white of a light now that I've had them on for all these years. About 5 months ago, I just started getting moisture in the passenger side's lens. The driving lights are still bright as hell though. Not a bad light when they are new. They definitely don't hold up to the elements as well. But for the price, you really can't go wrong. Here's a shot of mine with the halo headlights to compliment them.

 

I'll have to look at my Optiluxes to see what can be done. I'm sure there is a way to repair these. I have already replaced the LEDs in my headlight angel eyes. The headlight LEDs use and inverter (stupid), and so one side went out. I just got pre-wired 3mm LED's from Oznium and fixed that problem right away. They are much brighter than what came on the stupid things. This might be able to be incorparated into the Optiluxes, but I'll have to wait until tomorrow to take a look. Keep us posted with whatever you come up with.

 

I really think had the moisture not gotten in they'd be fine. But I've sealed up at least 2 sets now using various sealants and somehow, water still gets in there and I get the fogging and then eventually the LEDs rust out and fry.

I wonder if popping the LED plug out, replacing the LEDs and cleaning out the area of the housing they go into is the easiest answer...these lights are cheap but I'm going thru them at about the rate of a pair a year, between the moisture and rock hits.

 

Yeah.... I eventually punted and went with PIAAs... more expensive and no angel eyes... but much nicer lights...

 

Wow, we're all having the same moisture problem. I just bought a new pair, and haven't installed them yet beause I have to remove the whole front bumper to get at them........

I'm going to wait until I hear the final solution as far as an additional seal, and if there is a brighter bulb that can be adapted......not sure why I need it, since I only waited the look of the angel eye, but I want it.........

And yes, I copied the idea from you guys....Thanks!!......I think....

I' going to shop for another brand with angel eyes and see if there's a better product out there