Last night, I got my MINI back from it's "free oil service" at the dealer. They also fixed my leaking windshield washer tank (it would magically transform a full tank into an empty tank in about 30 minutes)

My MINI driving lamps' mounting studs were broken, so I had those fixed as well. I never really liked the OEM MINI driving lights, but since they were damaged upon installation; I wanted them fixed before I removed them and installed something better. I'll either donate them to my buddy's wife with a '04 MCS, or install them on the golf cart I use for shooting clay targets.

Back to topic...
After being without my MINI for several days, I decided to celebrate by installing the Cibie Tango Driving Lights I bought from Daniel Stern Lighting.

Mr Stern advised against installing 100W bulbs in the OEM lights and advised me to get the Tangos. He told me that the reflector and lens quality (or lack thereof) was the reason I was unimpressed with the OEM lights.

The original lights had lenses that just weren't that clear upon close inspection. They were blurry to look through, and the reflector was shiny but it made a grainy reflection. The Cibie's had crystal clear lenses, and the reflectors looked like mirrors. Perfect reflection.

I disassembled the Tangos and the OEM lights and verified that both sets of lights had 55W bulbs. I did this to make sure I didn't need to add any relays to the circuit.

I fired up the setup in my shop with one Tango and one OEM MINI light and the difference was astounding! One Tango puts out much more light than both MINI lights did.

A few minutes later, the other light was installed and we hit the road for some aiming. After modifying car lighting for over 20 years, I've never been as impressed as I was last night!

These things are absolutely amazing! I've seen the PIAA's a few times, and they are better than the stock lights, but they're just a flicker compared to these. If you're looking for some really good looking driving lights that are actually functional, bolt on a set of these and you'll be astounded!

I know that cosmetics plays a big role in the MINI community, so I'll rest assured that the chrome on these lights is much better than the stock lights. The Tangos are maybe 3/8" bigger diameter than the OEM lights, so the original covers won't fit.

If you get these, please wire them with the high beams and use them responsibly. They're much too bright and powerful to fire up just to "look cool".

Rawhyde

 

wow, those look pretty cool!!!






picts please....:impatient

 

I agree...post pics. There is an extended thread on this subject ongoing in 'Int & Ext mods'.

 

great write up...please add pics & price!

 

I'll add some pics as soon as I can get home before dark!

I bought them back in March (my MINI was delivered mid-April), so I can't exactly remember the price, but I think they were in the neighborhood of $75 each. Pretty reasonable for the quality that you get.

I know they never work well, but I'll make some pics of them shining down a desolate country road compared to regular high beams.

Rawhyde

 

hehehehe

 

Quality wise, nothing beats Cibie! The ones on my car are over 25 years old and I'd still put them up against almost any other brand on the current market. (The MINI is the 4th car they've been on.)

 

Aint that some FRENCH company.

The French build quality

 

Yep it's French & yes Cibie's are great lights with great build quality. Far better than some of the stuff out there now.

Chuck

 

Cibie's were de rigeur for rally cars in the 1970's era.......

 

Wow, 1970's I wasn't even born then..

 

They were also into the early eighties. That's what was on my rally car! They were Oscar's not Tango's.

Chuck

 

Right.....I had the Oscars on my '79 Ford Escort RS2000 !!

 

Agreed. I was just joshing you. Much of the new stuff is junk. Not Hella though

 

Quote>> Agreed. I was just joshing you. Much of the new stuff is junk. Not Hella though

Some of the Hella lights are great in function & construction. I put a set of FF1000's on my old Forester. The performance was great, but the build quality of that light was junk. It hasn't turned me off to Hella, but it has made me a wiser consumer.

Chuck

 

Does anybody have pics of the Tangos? I'm in the market for driving lights and can't even find a listing for Cibie Tangos anywhere. Thanks!

 

Um, I found this after roughly five seconds with Google. "Anywhere" must mean "anywhere I bothered looking."

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/p.../products.html

Scroll down, and there they are. Use Control+F and Tango to save even that time.

 

I admit it - I'm technically challenged -thanks for the link!

 

I picked up a pair of Tangos in the UK recently. Hope to install them soon.

 

Ah, well I apologize for the snark then. I have to remember that not everyone has the same level of usage of these boxes we all sit in front of.

Incidentally, I just emailed Daniel, and he responded already so his email communication is friendly, and immediate.