Is it possible to replace regular halogen Cooper lights with the high end Cooper Xenons?

 

don't believe the hype. just upgrade your halogen bulbs.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...dvantages.html

 

Upgrading the halogen headlight to factory Xenon system on a MINI requires replacing the entire light assembly. In addition, the plumbing for the headlight washer function has to be installed, along with a tank for the washer fluid, which is separate from windshield washer fluid. All these amount to $$$, much more than $550 factory-installed option. Aftermarket H7 Xenon HID kit with ballast can give your MINI true Xenon HID lights. Most of the H-7 aftermarket kit is a direct plug-n-play installation without any wire splicing.

 

just so you know, there are no available DOT-certified HID kits available in this country. therefore although this setup does work fine, it is illegal in the US. i doubt you would ever get caught frankly....but regardless of all that, the main thing I want to stress is making sure you have these installed correctly so you're not blinding anyone...make sure they are shining at the proper angle. :smile:

 

In order to be DOT certified as I understand, the HID must have self-leveling feature like the MINI OEM Xenon. As hafid mentioned, as long as the lights are properly angled, it will not be a problem.

Here's a link to "How to aim your headlight." :smile:

 

No need to switch to HID. Just drop in an uprated halogen bulb - about $20 each.

 

Is there a website for the H7 Xenons?

 

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html

 

>>No need to switch to HID. Just drop in an uprated halogen bulb - about $20 each.


Sounds like a much better deal, but then you can't say. "I've got Xenon headlights". This is important.



R.E.

 

>>Is there a website for the H7 Xenons?

http://www.plasmagarage.com/XenonHIDconversionKit.html

Do a search on eBay, there're several vendors like this.

 

The United States DOT also requires headlamp washers on all HID Xenon equipped autos sold in this country.

BELIEVE the hype. I have them, and they are awesome. The $550 option price from Mini sounds high, but it's a lot of technology and extra parts (ballasts, wiring, HID bulbs alone run almost $300 a pair) and it's actually a bargain.

 

>>The United States DOT also requires headlamp washers on all HID Xenon equipped autos sold in this country.

The factory HID on my US model Porsche Boxter doesn't have headlamp washers. :smile:

 

>>>>BELIEVE the hype. I have them, and they are awesome. The $550 option price from Mini sounds high, but it's a lot of technology and extra parts (ballasts, wiring, HID bulbs alone run almost $300 a pair) and it's actually a bargain.
>>
>>HID is included in the Sport package, which makes it an even better deal. As a stand alone option at $550, it is a bargain in any case. If you're one of those who wish that you had the HID, the aftermarket kit is a good alternative. Just make sure to adjust the projection angle.
>>
I just knew there was a reason why when I drive PKT RKT at night I can see, if I drive any other car, I am as blind as a bat......but I knew that already....optometrist date tomorrow, see if he can improve my awesome 20/40.......

 

If you want to have xenon, go all the way and get the OEM headlamps. Two weeks ago my brother gave me an aftermarket xenon kit as a gift, so I went ahead and installed it on my MINI. I ended up removing it after only two weeks.

Even though the MINI halogen and xenon headlamps look pretty much the same, the light beam pattern on my MINI was twice as bright (and irregular) as an OEM Xenon MINI. I was blinding upcoming traffic all the time, and I had to keep my headlamps on the low # 2 setting all the time to avoid blinding cars ahead of me.

If you add to the fact that aftermarket kits are illegal in the US, my honest recommendation is to either order your MINI with Xenons from the factory, or just upgrade your regular halogens to Silvania Sylverstars. In any case, the MINI halogen headlamps are actually very good from factory.

Just passing my bad experience...

 

>> In any case, the MINI halogen headlamps are actually very good from factory.

My point, exactly.

 

>>Two weeks ago my brother gave me an aftermarket xenon kit as a gift, so I went ahead and installed it on my MINI. I ended up removing it after only two weeks.

A major cause of glare for oncoming traffic is improper projectile angle of the headlight, regardless of HID or halogen. Another reason of the apparent brightness of the HID is the color temperature of the light. The higher the color temperature, the more stimulating to the human eyes, even if the 2 bulbs have the same output wattage. A friend of mine who has OEM HID and changed only the bulbs to a higher color temperature ones while maintaining the same output wattage. The result is the light appeared much brighter than the original. Typically, OEM HID are equipped with bulbs that's around 4300K color temp. Anything above 6000K could appear blinding.

Factory headlight is a well designed system with excellent light dispersion pattern. It would cost much less to upgrade the OEM halogen bulbs to better ones, not to mention avoiding the legality of the aftermarket HID. :smile: