I've been casually looking at used MINIs. Can I tell if the headlights are xenon by looking at them?

 

There may be an easier way. I would just look for the "BI-XENON" writing on the middle of the lamp. The other way "by looking at them" would be to turn them on! You will definitely know it's not just halogen.

 

What year car?
The styles vary by year.....

 

I'm looking at hardtops, 2005-2006 and 2011/newer.

ZippyNH, where in NH are you? I'm a Nashua boy now living in Colorado.

 

Hudson...
Lol...spent about 5 years out there... Based in Denver...but spent most of my days in most any town big enough to have an airport.....so lots of time out in Durango, Montrose, Grand Junction, Hayden/Craig/Steamboat, Rifle, Alamosa, Canyon City, and in various places up in Wyoming, Montana/Nebraska....Beautiful area!!
The oem xenon's are VERY nice....most of the aftermarket add on kits are pretty bad...more glare than light...
All the post 2005+ xenon headlights are projector style...self leveling and the main tell...they all have HEADLIGHT WASHERS that pop up to wash the housings when you do the headlights (required by euro law to reduce glare, just like auto leveling) on all but a few odd cases very recently.
A quick look under the hood will get you the typical clean factory look with a few warning stickers for high voltage....most eBay kits look added...

 

Nope not on all - in the US the washers are an option and have been for at least the last year or two... But the earlier MINIs all had the washers, most of the newer ones do, but it's not a given any more.

The 2005+ projector style lights are distinctive compared to the halogens - the projector style lights kinda look like a futuristic cannon...

 

I have them with the Adaptive Lights. 2013 S Coupe. No problem seeing and the Adaptive (Turning) lights are great.

I do get people flashing at me? Boy are they surprised if I flash my real brights at them!

Nice to see the road and then some. Got the fog lights too.

 

you can simply tell if they are xenon, if the headlight has a project lens rather than reflector. cheers

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...vindecoder.php

 

^ this. if you search you should be able to find differences.