The xenon is indeed brighter than the typical halogen. Because MINI's headlight housing is not a projector design, it can be blinding for the oncoming traffic.

Have you ever been flashed by the oncoming traffic when using Xenon in your MINI? :smile:

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04 IB/W JCW MCS

 

Yes.
But the number of fools with blazing badly adjusted fog lights, permanent full beam lights, or whatever else makes our MINIs minimal.
Some people just don't like the bluish light of Xenons. Tough for them

 

I've never been flashed. When my xenons are on at night, I can see a very defined line representing the top of the light field thrown out by them. This line appears to be below the level of an oncoming driver's eyes.

The angle of the xenons is adjustable. Perhaps people who are getting flashed a lot should adjust them downward.

 

constantly, and then I'll give a quick flash of mine to let them know that wasn't my high-beam.

 

I was flashed for the first time last night and until then had not thought much about my Xenons.

I was in front of a toyota camry the other night and the lights were blinding.

 

I did alot when I first got my MINI and after several trips to the dealer (not just for the lights but service and other stuff) and telling them to aim them for me, I aimed them myself. I tried to find the post about aiming the lights with the pictures and everything but couldn't. It is easy to adjust them, there are little screws (two on each light housing). They are black plastic screws on the outside and rear of the housing (inside the hood). One says L -R and the other says U - D and have little arrows to show you which way for each movement (like clockwise is to the right, etc). I did this one night and the auto level does move them up and down but when you adjust the screws it changes the "level" position so it does change their aim.

 

>>I did alot when I first got my MINI and after several trips to the dealer (not just for the lights but service and other stuff) and telling them to aim them for me, I aimed them myself. I tried to find the post about aiming the lights with the pictures and everything but couldn't. It is easy to adjust them, there are little screws (two on each light housing). They are black plastic screws on the outside and rear of the housing (inside the hood). One says L -R and the other says U - D and have little arrows to show you which way for each movement (like clockwise is to the right, etc). I did this one night and the auto level does move them up and down but when you adjust the screws it changes the "level" position so it does change their aim.

This is a really helpful post, thanks. I haven't been getting flashed, but do think my lights are a little high.

 

Mine were set correctly on the assembly line, and I have not been flashed yet. The Xenon's on the Mini are interesting. They are blue in color when first "ignited" by the ballasts, but turn white in color after 15-20 seconds. I have noticed the Xenon's on the Audi A4 for example have a definite bluish color to them when on. I plan on installing some Lamin-x headlamp covers in Optical Blue www.lamin-x.com/images/Header66.jpg this weekend to help prevent pitting and possible cracking from stones/gravel/rocks.

 

I was getting flashed when I had the foglights on. I put on some Lamin-x
yellow fog covers on and walla! :smile:

 

In my opinion, people use too much light for the situation.

Foglights get used when IT'S FOGGY!!! and you need to turn off
your main headlights. That should be the way the foglights work.
You shouldn't even be ABLE to turn them on unless you turn off the
main headlights.

And I think Xenons are a waste of money, and "Bling!"

So, those of you with the "Tough for them" attitude, get used to
getting flashed. Those Xenons are selfish and irresponsible.

Flame-on. I'm sure you all have reasons why it's impossible to
drive with regular old headlights like we've been using for the
last 50 years. Suddenly, now it's unsafe to use them.

Let's roll the excuses and rationalizations shall we?


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>>In my opinion, people use too much light for the situation.
>>
>>Foglights get used when IT'S FOGGY!!! and you need to turn off
>>your main headlights. That should be the way the foglights work.
>>You shouldn't even be ABLE to turn them on unless you turn off the
>>main headlights.
>>
>>And I think Xenons are a waste of money, and "Bling!"
>>
>>So, those of you with the "Tough for them" attitude, get used to
>>getting flashed. Those Xenons are selfish and irresponsible.
>>
>>Flame-on. I'm sure you all have reasons why it's impossible to
>>drive with regular old headlights like we've been using for the
>>last 50 years. Suddenly, now it's unsafe to use them.

just like how much noise can be created from such a tiny car... when its hot the Cooling Fan running the Loud tiny 4 banger the exhaust and then the electric steering LOL its like a jet comming through.

 

>>
>>This is a really helpful post, thanks. I haven't been getting flashed, but do think my lights are a little high.
>>

maddog - 'cause I sense you heading to your garage with a screw driver shortly after reading this - just a word of warning...BE CAREFUL about adjusting those lights on your own! About a year ago, there were several threads on this subject, and several folks destroyed their leveling motors by adjusting the lights too far one way or the other. If your dealer gets wind of what you've done, and they're being picky, they could deny warranty...and those motors are several hundred dollars each They're apparently easily stripped.

In order to do it properly, you need to adjust the lights with the hood closed and the system powered up. This is not easy to do at home. If you do, you should use a PLASTIC screw-driver (less you poke a live wire/connection...there's several thousand volts in them thar lights).

Point is, unless you're really sure that there's a problem and feel very confident in your abilities to tackle this...take it to the dealer and have them do it properly for free.

 

I was getting flashed all the time when I first got my S. Especially from cars in the right hand lane that I passed. Even had 4-5 people flip me off as I passed them. My xenons were too high and pointing too far to the right.

It was getting to the point where I almost hated driving at night.

Found out how easy it was to adjust the labeled screws (U-D, L-R) and haven't been flashed or flipped off since. :smile:

Dan

 

Oh, Trippy...you're so misguided here!

I raised the same question last February when I was spec'ing my MCS. The concensus was the xenons were not a problem for oncoming traffic.

I've logged almost 10K since I got the car in September. Not once have I been flashed by an oncoming car. I restrict my use of the fogs to either foggy weather or driving a one-mile stretch of very curvy, deer-populated roads near my house. I love the xenons.

 

Sincere kudos to those taking care to be sure Xenons are properly adjusted. If folks need Xenons for whatever reason, fine, but personally I agree with Trippy. My experiences with oncoming cars w/ Xenons...and just the look itself....take them way off my list of "wants".....which I admit is short.

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'03 IB/W Cooper

 

Trippy: You sure sound like a fun person to be around. What possessed you to but a Mini anyway?

 

The problem isn't the brightness. In fact, I'd argue that Xenons are marginally brighter than a good halogen. The problem is the COLOR. People still aren't used to seeing it on the road.

The same upheaval happened when halogens started replacing sealed beams. Even if the lights were properly aimed, people would flash cars that had the new halogens. Why? The color, NOT the brightness. What most people perceive as being TOO BRIGHT is actually the marked difference in color.

There's lots of good information on the web about this very subject. Get used to the whiter/bluish/purplish lights because in the future they'll become standard equipment on more and more cars.

 

Also keep in mind that many people are anti-xenon not because of real xenons, but because of fake blue wanna-be-xenons bought at k-mart by ricer boys. They aren't real xenons but are extra-bright with a blue tint.

I too thought xenons should be outlawed until I learned that real xenons (aimed properly) aren't offensive to the eyes and the ones that were blinding me were the fake ones.

 

>>In my opinion, people use too much light for the situation.
>>

>>Flame-on. I'm sure you all have reasons why it's impossible to
>>drive with regular old headlights like we've been using for the
>>last 50 years. Suddenly, now it's unsafe to use them.
>>
>>Let's roll the excuses and rationalizations shall we?
>>
>>
>>_________________
>>

Drive your MINI to the dealership and ask them for 4 wheel manual drum brakes. Damn the technology, full speed ahead.

 

I've been flashed twice in the two months I've had my car. I don't really care. Like someone else said, i can flash my highs to show them what they're really like!
But in the end, xenons on other cars don't bother me and I don't really care if mine bother a small majority of people. As far as the fogs go, those are so low they are not blinding at all. I put them on in inclement weather just so I am seen by other drivers. The more light the better. This is the same reason i opted to have the drl's turned on. I want people to see me coming.

 

I love the look of xenons, but don't like the abrupt cut off I've noticed in some cars I've driven. Don't have a MINI yet, I guess I should test drive at night, with and w/o xenon to get a better idaea.

Shelly

 

I have heard rumors that there is legislation being worded in California to ban the use of Xenons. Has anyone got solid knowledge of this coming up? Evidently, there have been a few accidents where people have said the other guys lights were blinding and that is what caused the accident. So, here come the lawyers!

 

Ah Trippy, one can always count on a progressive point of view from you.

jc

 

>>
>>Have you ever been flashed by the oncoming traffic when using Xenon in your MINI? :smile:
>>

yes, and they must hate it when i give them the highbeams + the rally lights back

 

>>yes, and they must hate it when i give them the highbeams + the rally lights back

That's totally irresponsible. You should be ashamed to drive a MINI.

Think of the other driver, and the damage you could cause by turning on your
brights AND your rally lights.

Think before you act like a jerk next time, or someone might ket killed.

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