I bought a set of 2004 MCS xenon headlamps to install in my 2005 R53. These are the ones prior to using the projection lenses. They are without the washers.

Are these a plug and play install or do I need to go to the dealer and get my car programed?

 

If you currently have halogens, then no, they are not plug and play. Search on this topic and you'll see that there are a number of threads with some thorough information.

 

Ive read some a number of threads on the topic and I am still at a loss. So far there are some that say it was a PNP for the xenon lamps and the hi beams but not for washers/levelers. Then there are people that say the igniter for the xenons would not work but they could get the hi beams to work because they are halogens. Then Ive read where a resistor was used to make the igniter work and gave them xenon lights. And then the use of a bulb off resistor to do the same thing as well as trick the system into thinking it was a halogen bulb and was not burnt out. There are some threads that spoke about having to run new cables to the oem HID lights and then getting the ecm flashed but even some say that the dealer could flash the ecm all they wanted and it would not work. Ive looked for write ups on the subject only to come across after market HID's or even using the factory xenon housings with after market HID conversion kit. I will continue to search but nothing yet tells me how to install these and make them work.

 

I just left the garage after doing some work on another project. Figured Id do something on the MINI. So I went ahead and busted the multimeter out and checked the pins on the connectors for the halogen and xenon headlamp housings. Turned out they use the same pins for ground, lo beams, hi beams. Which was what was driving me crazy to begin with because when I would plug the xenons into my car the hi beams would work but the lo beams would never come on. Well tonight when I plugged the xenons in they worked. So it looks like the lights themselves are plug and play. As for the other options I will have to run new wiring harness if I want to be able to use the levelers and the washers.

As for now.... Im going to bed and getting some sleep.