I noticed quite a while ago whilst shopping for my first MINI that some of the 2011+ models' xenon headlamps have black around the washer jets within the housing. Is there a reason that some of the headlamps have this feature yet some are the same as the pre-update xenons?

 

Do you mean like this?



If so, it is an option beginning with the 2011 models. It was part of two 2010 special models the names of which I forget.

 

Not the black headlamp housings, (which look fantastic on your Chili Red, btw), but actual silver housings with black covering the washer jets only.

 

It's called Plastiadip...

 

The washer jets are an option but I think the cover is in place weather or not you have the arms and nozzles under them.

 

I'm talking about the housing, not any exterior chrome pieces or anything like that.







The difference between these two is clear, but why?

 

You can also do it yourself if you like.. It's called a "Joey Mod". Search the forums and you'll find all kinds of talk about it.

 

Yetti, you are correct although when I picked the Dread Pirate up from the dealership, the guys in the garage were confused because the tubing WAS all there.

 

I think I'm being misunderstood. I don't mean black headlamp housings or the Joey mod or any of that. I'm merely talking about the small piece within the housing that is black on some cars and not on others. Not the exterior piece, or anything that can be plasti-dipped.

 

Here is an example of what you're talking about I think. Also the silver part of the headlight is somewhat frosted.

 

Precisely! Why are some like that and some not?

 

I've noticed that some have the matte silver finish instead of chrome inside too. I never really thought about why but now I do want to know!

Here's a couple better pictures of the two housings:

 

Oh Oh Oh!!! I think I know! I think the matte finish is the housing with the adaptive headlight option. Where the projector oscillates to help you see around corners.

I don't know for sure but I bet that's it!

Here's a video of one. It's pretty funny looking.

 

I bet you're right! I'm just curious as to why.

 

It's probably so that the beam pattern doesn't reflect off of the chrome interior as well which would diffract the beam output and possibly blind other drivers.

 

That's what I was thinking. Also, it could kind of defeat the purpose of adaptive if the beam is reflecting off of the entire housing.

 

Yup, I'm calling this one mystery solved!

 

Well your username says it all! We needed help and you helped!

 

Haha, yes. It's what I do.

 

Or, to see the grand-daddy of steering headlamps, introduced in 1967 on the Citroen DS:



Curiously, they choose to steer the high-beam lamp, not the dipped one, which seems to defeat the purpose to some extent.

 

The 1948 Tucker Torpedo had a single center headlight that turned with the steering as well. Mechanical linkage, like the DS appears to have.

 

Cool! There's always somebody who did something before the crowd. And there's YouTube again to prove it:

 

Did anyone figure out why some Xenon headlamp housings have black washer jet covers while some don't? Im waiting on my 2013 which is equipped with adaptive lights & washers and am hoping those covers are black since I plan on replacing the trim rings with black ones.

I've since found out (thanks to realoem.com) that the chrome cover is available separately as part numbers 61672752559 and 61672752560. I cannot find the black version listed anywhere although Im sure it must exist for those who order xenon lights with black housings.

Thanks in advance!

 

I ordered Xenon lights with black housings and my light bezels and washer jet covers were chrome. What you see in the pic above is vinyl from Vinyl Styles.

 

I've ordered the "black line" headlight and taillight trim rings
http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2010-C...ack/ES2608664/
http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2010-C...ack/ES2608661/
.....and figured since the factory offers those AND black light housings they must have a black cap available somewhere!
Im reluctant to cover the caps in vinyl because road debris is bound to mess that up within a year.
How's your vinyl holding up so far?