I installed my PIAA 540's about 2 weeks ago and was impressed with how much more light I had with them on. But of course, I wondered if it was posible to get even more powerful bulbs and get the light of 4 rally lights without having to order a complete new set.

I tracked down a place that sells higher rated PIAA H3 xtreme white bulbs. These bulbs are rated at 85watts instead of the standard 55watts. With the "xtreme" technology, they put out the equivalent of 135watts of light per bulb.

Of course, it is hard to see in the picture, but my rally lights seem to put off as much light as the xenons and regular high-beams put together.

Note: the higher rated bulbs are NOT DOT approved and are for race/show/off-road use only. PIAA part# 15286 (sold as single bulbs)

PIAA customer service has assured me that their wiring harness can easily handle these higher wattage bulbs, so no worry about frying the harness :razz:

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WHOA! Them's some mighty brighty whitey lighties, tee hee! :lol:

Wow! I don't think I'll need to turn on the lights in my room... I can just use that picture. It's giving off it's natural light.

And I'm sure you'll only use those lights for off-road/show purposes, correct? :lol:

I like!

Here's my take on this: Whenever I turn these babies on, they are guaranteed to illuminate things that are both "off-road" and on-road. So I think I should be just fine and dandy.

I've been running non-DOT approved bulbs in my Land rover for 10 years with no problems, so I am not worried one bit. I am also very good at turning off my highbeams before oncoming traffic has the lucky opportunity to view them :razz:

Okay Yuckster. Where do I forward the invoice for my new computer monitor. You fried my pixels. I now have your Pics on my laptop as wallpaper and just throw that up on thedash when I drive at night.

Those be fire breathing. Like a Dragon if you know what I mean

You light up my life! :cool: :wink: :wink:

Good thing my glasses are photograys. I would need a seeing eye dog now. :grin:

Jack

My next lighting mod will be to replace the stock 55watt high-beam bulbs with 100watt PIAA amber colored Ion Crystal bulbs. The amber color penetrates fog best, and will be a lasting memory for those unfortunate enough to actually see them! :razz:

Because the stock lamp control unit cannot handle the added power requirements of these bulbs, it will require re-wiring them to an independent relay.

This will allow me to project the light output of 7 or 8 auxillary rally lights while keeping the appearance of an ordinary MINI with 2 rally lights :grin:

Too much of a good thing is still a good thing! :grin:

I'll probably wait until after the Dragon for this unnecessary mod.

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Future's so bright I gotta wear shades :cool:

Yucca: "I tracked down a place that sells higher rated PIAA H3 xtreme white bulbs. These bulbs are rated at 85watts instead of the standard 55watts. With the "xtreme" technology, they put out the equivalent of 135watts of light per bulb. "

Me: They'll burn out faster too.



Yucca: "Note: the higher rated bulbs are NOT DOT approved and are for race/show/off-road use only. PIAA part# 15286 (sold as single bulbs)"

Me: Since the MINI is unlikely to see off-road use, I can only assume that it is for "Show" only, as using them in addition to the very bright xenons on a regular highway would be too blinding, if not illegal.

Save your money for other mods. :roll:

I still get people in the opposing lane of traffic flipping their highbeams at me thinking the Xenons are high beams. One lady actually bitched me out when I came up behind her, and passed her a little. She flips her highbeams on behind me. Then we had flavourful words at the next intersection. She didn't like that too much, and proceeded to ***** at me some more still not understanding what I'm talking about. So I followed her around behind, with my highbeams on until she turned off. I'd love to have those lights for when those exact situations arise. Moo hoo ha ha haaaaaaaaa. :grin: Stupid people are a pain in the a$$
Cheerio,

I often travel through very rural areas of lower Alabama late at night, and being able to see critters before they become road-kill is important to me. Nobody gets blinded if the high-beams and rally lights are turned off before the oncoming traffic gets a chance to see them.

But for people living in densly populated urban areas, I agree that there is little need for the additional wattage. . . . you people have streetlights for gosh sakes :razz:

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looks good...

looks awesome with the checkered stripes

>>looks good...
>>
>>looks awesome with the checkered stripes

Yeah, I agree with coopingindc -- the lights look really sweet at the end of your checkered bonnet stripes -- very cool!!! Every now and then I think maybe the driving lamps might not be for me, then I see one of these pics and just have to get them!!!!!