Anyone else notice s2k headlights are way brighter than other HID's-- How do we get that intensity out of our coopers

 

Projectors?

 

right, s2000 and TSX projectors are widely used for retrofits for non-HID cars because they are some of the brighest and have a sharp cutoff.

 

Just a note about HID bulbs:

The brighter is not always the one that gives the best visibilty while driving. They sure look cool but that's about...

If I remember correctly, any HID between 4000k and 5000k give the best visibility. Higher than that, it is only for the look (you knot those aftermarket HID kits that you can get with 8000k bulbs...)

It also ahs something to do with the color of the light. From white to blue, to purple...

 

True HID systems are only a few types of bulbs
HID-D1S, -D1R, -D2S, & -D2R
MINIs with Xenon lights used D2R through 2004 and
D2S starting in 2005
Honda S2000s use D2S (although the headlight assembly may be
better designed).


[SIZE=4]Characteristic[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Unit[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Xenarc®
D2S[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Xenarc®
D2R[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Xenarc®
D1S[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Xenarc®
D1R[/SIZE]
Light Source Wattage

W

35

35

35

35

Luminous flux

lm

3200

2800

3200

2800

Luminous efficacy

lm/W

91*

80*

91*

80*

Color Temperature

K

4250

4150

4250

4150

Average luminance

cd/cm

6500^

6500^

6500^

6500^

Lamp Life B3

h

1500

1500

1500

1500

Lamp Life Tc

h

3000

3000

3000

3000

Arc length

mm

4.2

4.2

4.2

4.2


[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1]
[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]^Minimum value
* Light Source only [/SIZE][/FONT]

 

True HID systems are only a few types of bulbs
HID-D1S, -D1R, -D2S, & -D2R
MINIs with Xenon lights used D2R through 2004 and
D2S starting in 2005
Honda S2000s use D2S (although the headlight assembly may be
better designed).

here's a link

http://members.misty.com/don/d2.html

 

hahah perfect timing!!!

I just got my spare set of headlights ready to be put in the oven today.

I will be installing TSX projectors in mine

Just wish HIDplanet.com wasnt down....sad

Do you have any experience with retrofitting HIDs? This is my first time so it would be awesome to have another MINI owner that i could talk to about this.

 

He is talking about the projector. The S2k and the TSX have much better projectors than what is offered on many other cars as stock Xenons. They have a greater light output that is in fact BRIGHTER and increases visibility a large amount. Most people continue to use 4300k when they retrofit S2k/TSX projectors.

You are right though, bulb changes are usually just bling.

 

I dont just want bulbs, I was curious if anyone had replaced the actual projector lenses??

 

My old S2000's HIDs were by far the best I have had so far. Followed by my 350Z.

 

RallyMINI, be sure to take step-by-step pics and make a how-to as I'm sure this will be useful to many people in the future! Oh and, Good Luck!

 

Oh, do you have the MINI HID's? I never thought about that

I have halogen housings that i plan to PUT the TSX projectors into. I just got all the necessary tools to start, so after i post this I'm off to experiment with it.

 

Thanks dude....i definitely plan to take pics and write a little article or something up.

*warning though, this may take quite a while. Others who do this to other cars spend months...and that's probably where i will be headed too. I want it to look as clean as stock when done *

 

Still have that 350Z ??

I love that car.

 

Yeah I have the MINI HID's, I was just curious if anyone had done a conversion

 

I doubt it, especially a lense conversion. I haven't heard of anyone thinking about it

I started the project. I have it all in pieces and I'm measuring it all out to see what projector will fit and how. Getting the headlights open was the biggest pain in the butt ever....very well put together by BMW. Most cars' headlights just pop off when heated.

 

Rally how will you aim those HID's once you have them mounted? Will the leveling feature from the TSX work with your MINI? Every OEM HID that I've seen has a leveling feature, either automatic or driver controlled. That feature makes them livable for others on the road. The reason I ask is there are some young guns running around Hooterville with home brewed HID conversions that are painfully mis aimed. Yikes!

 

Well they will be hooked onto the stock reflectors which are levelled by ***** on the back

I do believe you have this conversion confused with the "HID conversions" you see on ebay. Those kits are used in halogen housings by many younger kids for pure bling. By using HID bulbs in Halogen housings they get A LOT of light that goes above the cutoff. This glare above the cutoff is what causes problems for other drivers. Because I am installing projectors into the headlight housing, i will have a MUCH sharper cutoff....even sharper than an OEM HID cutoff since i'm going with TSX projectors. This will eliminate the glare that causes problems for other drivers.

It will not have an auto-level system (which is technically required by law), but it will not cause any problems for on coming traffic. I wouldn't do something that puts others in harms way (which is why I'm putting in a whole projector rather than just putting HIDs in halogen housings)

I would point you towards HIDplanet for more information about the safety and effectiveness of these retrofits, but the site is currently down. They have some great shots of the cutoffs and detailed info about safely aiming the HID's...

 

here is a pic of the cutoff....notice no glare above cutoff at all...very clean




Just a pic of projectors installed in jetta headlights:

 

and a pic from the side during proper aiming procedure:

 

auto-leveling isn't required by law... cause the TSX doesn't have it

 

your correct, its only european cars that have auto-leveling... because the EU mandates it. Japanese cars don't...

 

I stand corrected, i could have sworn that the US required it now along with a washer system. My bad

 

Well that is sure different than the young bloods are runnin in uptown Hooterville. I do believe auto or driver adjustments are required for HID's. My friends STI has a **** that lets you adjust them from the cockpit & I believe the Mazda 3 also has that arrangement. If you take the time to aim yours properly, I'll welcome you into uptown Hooterville.

 

Rally, please keep us posted on this project.