I have been battling this problem for about a year now, on and off with no solution, until today. I bought factory OEM 05 projectors and Joey modded em with a friend (AZMCS). They turned out great. I went to plug them in and they worked, right up until I started my car. With the key in the on position, they worked, but as soon as I started the car, they flickered like a strobe light, then died. I thought I needed the retrofit kit that was talked about on Motoringfile (http://www.motoringfile.com/2006/12/...f-for-05-mini/) but I didn't. I took it to the dealer and had them flash the software for xenon upgrades, but that didn't work either. After that I bought an aftermarket wiring harness (http://www.izntrbl.com/bixenon-plug-...ml?cPath=44_83) which didn't even plug into the back of the OEM lights, so that didn't work. Finally, I had a shop near my house look at the lights, they flashed the computer, and I was good to go. It's all in the software. No additional parts, retrofit kits, harnesses or anything. AMEN!!!!






Thanks to everyone who helped me along the way, especially Burley, 03Indigo, Rally, Josh, Nick, Joel, and John.

 

looks great. so what did they do that the MINI dealer couldn't?

 

Well I have no idea what they did at the dealer...I am not sure if they know either...there are a couple options within the software used to flash the ecu that we had to try before it worked...the "xenon upgrade/retrofit" option was not the final the option that ended up working, it was another option within the software that actually did it. It was weird, but it worked. Good enough for me.

 

so what was it then. what option did you use to get it working? so you didnt need the harness? all u needed was the OEM lights and thats it? and whatever the shop did? ...

I've been wanting to do this for a while now but hasvent attempted cause of all the problems.

What exactly did they do at the shop by your house???

 

PS: lights look sickk!!!

 

No harness. No additional parts. All I used were the OEM projector headlight unit (ballast/igniter attached). I didn't do any of the auto leveling or spray washer stuff. The shop plugged in to the car and uploaded some factory software so that the car could recognize the lights. That's it.

haha thanks.

 

I am kind of surprised there isn't more interest in this...when I was looking for information I would have been falling over myself if I found this out...a search on NAM displays pages full of people asking about this, just wondering if they were just curious or if they actually wanted to do it. Hopefully this information will help someone in the future!

 

Trust me...

This is the best news I could hear!!

This was the #1 thing I wanted to do to my car. Projectors make the car look so much nicer (at nite and during the day). As soon as I get the money to buy them I'm guna try it myself.

Im still not understanding something tho...
What did the shop do lol
do u think u can ask them what the name of the software was that they uploaded and the version n all that good stuff about it??

I know its kind of a lot to ask for but these lights are worth it!!!

Thanks in advance!!!

 

I know the feeling, I was driving around last night marveling at the difference in lighting.

I understand the confusion. The shop I took it to uses factory software called Autologic. They use this software just like the dealer uses software to perform factory software updates, reflash the computer for upgrades, clear check engine lights, diagnose problems, etc. Any shop that has factory BMW/Mini tools to perform software updates or programming upgrades should be able to do this for you. I am sure you can find a local place to do it.

It's all good. The main issue for me with this project was the uncertainty surrounding it. I know there are still details to work out in terms of other people doing it, but now there is an actual answer, it's the SOFTWARE. No more trial and error with harnesses and parts.

 

So this is a Xenon conversion without installing a leveling sensor on the front/rear suspension?

 

That was your problem....you had Joel help you... The dealership should know whats up with that. Its an easy conversion. Its the same for my 3-series and all BMW's. Lights and flash....done deal...

 

i wan thta tooo... wish thre another easier way to do it...

 

Yes, you are correct. I have been using them for a couple months and after I manually leveled them, I have not had any problems.

haha, I was lucky to have met Joel, he taught me alot. It's a bummer the dealership doesn't know know their own product very well.

It's really not all that difficult now that the answer is available. It is just expensive, but totally worth it for me.

 

Now just lays the question. 05-06 Xenons on 05-06 halogens solved. But how about 05-06 Xenons to 02-04 Halogen?

 

dang! nice job!!! congrats on the retrofit!

what kind of paint and what color did you use for the joeymod?

ive been researching that and it seems like some people are having trouble with the paint cracking or bubbling from the heat of the bulbs.

 

Thanks. I haven't had any problems with the cracking or bubbling. I used the Satin black krylon fusion. I didn't do any pre-sanding or primering. Just took them apart and sprayed.

 

thumbss uppp!! GREAT write up..

great job on the mod.. exactly the mod i was looking into, but for a 03 halogen headlamp. the mod from the 02-04 halogen to the 05-06 projector xenons should be about the same as this one right? since both halogens models uses H7 bulbs? please correct me if im wrong anyone...

one question, were the new xenon harness the same as the halogen harness that came with the car?

Thanks!

 

i sold a set of xenons to a halogen car, he plugged his in and they fired right up without any additional work needed...
as for the joey mod, halogens are the same process, just different design.

 

I presume these are the halogens?



I have an 06 and want to upgrade to the projector headlights. They look so much more aggressive. So is it really as simple as taking out the old headlight, plugging in the new projector lights and getting the software flashed?

 

So how do we know what needs to be flashed or upgraded for this to work if they dont know what they did? I am looking for a new MINI, and Xenons are the one thing that is a MUST for me. But i can only really afford a R50, but 90% of the R50s have Halogens so i thought swapping would be a good fix.

 

Like I said before...you usually have to have the LCM flashed for the retrofit to work. The above poster must have had a miracle happen.... The dealership just needs to flash the computer wih the code for xenons...

 

Good that means when im looking for my new MINI i dont have to be that picky about having Xenons or not, although having the auto level and washer work would be nice.

 

i sold a set of xenons from my 04 to an 03 halogen owner...she plug plugged them in and they fired right up....so who knows.