Hi everybody,

I own a 2002 Mini Cooper S and I was wondering if there is a headlight swap you can do from the '06 Minis. I really like the look of those headlights and I would really like to have them on my car. I know that on my car the headlights are mounted to the hood, but I thought maybe they made some of the headlights from the '06 model that could mount to the hood. If anybody can help me I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

 

The 06's are mounted to the hood also. Just a little FYI. Are they all interchangeable, not sure, but I bet a quick "google" would tell ya.

 

Yeah I realized that after I started looking on google.

http://www.lmperformance.com/558291/97.html

I saw these and another set on the same website that I liked, but I am worried that they won't work on my car. I went to the Mini dealership in town and they said there was nothing I could do about it. I figured they were just saying that, but I wanted a second opinion. Thanks for your help though!

 

I'm guessing here, but MINI dealerships arent too keen on cheap aftermarket parts.

 

And another guess is that your liking the hid projector style stock mini headlamps. You could just ask that dealer if they can install those for you if you get the necessary lights. If you don't do it yourself.

 

I really do like the projector headlamps. I doubt the dealer will install them though because they have never like anything aftermarket. I wanted them to look at something on my aftermarket exhaust and they said that they won't look at or work on anything aftermarket. I have no problem working on it on my own, I just needed to make sure that the headlamps are interchangeable.

 

Swapping the headlights is a really easy job. Just a few screws and a plug on either side.

 

I've done a headlight swap on an 02 Passat before and it was really easy, so I knew the job would be easy, I just really wanted to make sure that this was doable. Thanks for all the help!

 

Sorry what I meant was the better OEM MINI headlamps. And this really can be done yourself.....

 

Are you guys saying the headlamps from an '06 are compatible with a '12? Aren't they shaped differently and definitely have different mounting options? Also if he doesn't already have the OEM HID option then thats a second set of problems.

 

They were saying that the '06 headlamps were interchangeable with the '02 headlamps. I have HID's on my car right now, I just needed to make sure that the '02 and '06 headlamps were shaped the same. The website I found thy had aftermarket projector headlamps said that they would fit an '02-'06 so I'm assuming I'll be okay.

 

Oh yeah, that makes sense. I read '12 multiple times. Nevermind me then, carry on.

 

It will be fine as long as your 2002 has xenon lamps..I just saw a post about this yesterday...I just don't remember how I came across it.

Xenon to xenon (hid) is fine as all the sensors are already in place, and the computer will be able to self level.

Halogen to xenon is a no go and quite a bit of work...to the point where most people have deemed it not worthwhile.

I don't know why you would go xenon to halogen but I don't think that would work either.

 

How would I know if they are xenon? I bought aftermarket HIDs for it a while back. Does that mean anything? I don't know a lot about lights.

 

First HID = XENON.

So if you put in aftermarket HIDs -- you do not have stock Xenons...so the headlights from a 2006 OEM (or stock) that came from the factory will not just plug in...there are leveling motors and sensors and the ECU needs to be programmed...the install is quite involved.

If you are just going for looks -- the ones on ebay that are projector STYLE -- will work, but it won't give you the same light output that the stock 2005/2006 headlights will - it will not be HID..those use Halogen bulbs.

If you were to put your HID kit into the ebay ones -- it might work but again those projectors aren't designed for HID so I don't know how well you will be able to see.

EDIT: I just took a look at your link -- yeah those headlights you are looking at will fit -- but I remember looking at the images of the back of similar ones on ebay and not liking all the extra wiring...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Cooper-...bd33e8&vxp=mtr

Look at the back of that one

Now look at the back of your OEM headlamp -- there aren't all kinds of wires running everywhere.


A questions for you:

Can you take a picture of your HIDs from inside the car -- I want to see what the light dispersion looks like and if you can actually see anything with them...most of the time you can not put HID kits into Reflector style headlights because it just scatters the light all over the place and blinds everyone around you.

 

Yeah I'll take a picture tonight and post it here. I really do appreciate all of this help!

 

Here is what it looks like from inside the car.

 

Actually much better than I thought..would you mind if I ask for a few more. One against a wall Parked maybe..15 feet from it and one on a dark road? Thanks again and good luck with your next project.

 

Ding, Ding Ding!!!!

Thanks Kahnfucious. That's all that I was trying to get at, but I terribly didn't do that!

 

Those look darn close to my Xenon 06 ones. More pics will help, but looks pretty darn good & bright man.

 

Here you go!

 

And yes, that IS a huge crack in my windshield. Haha

 

Thanks for the pictures -- to be 100% honest I am actually kind of surprised that the light is not being thrown all over the place -- it doesn't look like you have the best range on the lights but the actual concentration of it is not that far from what stock lights do.

Now that being said -- I had a HID kit in my 2003 VW GTI and it really didnt work very well at all. The beam pattern was OKAY on flat ground but as soon as I got onto a dark street -- I could only see a few feet in front of me and it became kind of scary to drive.

I would be curious to see how well you do if you drop those into some of those ebay projectors.

Good luck

 

Well I'll be sure to keep you posted on how it turns out! Thanks for all the help!

 

Ok, so from the first pic you posted I should say this now.