I'm thinking about swapping my Xenon's with regular headlights to save the extra 15lbs for autoX. You know what they say, weight is everything!!!

Is this an easy swap?

Has anyone done this?

 

Is your driving that good where 15 pounds will be the difference between a hot lap and feeling bogged down by the weight?

ok, anyway

Can you just remove the entire headlight? I'm not intimate with the rulebook, but do you even have to run lights at all? How about just screwing a sheet of thin plexi over the holes in the bonnet?

Is it really 15 pounds difference? The only thing you're really removing are the ballasts, right? The housings and bulbs weigh about the same, I'm guessing.

 

double post

 

Triple Post

 

Maybe its not 15lbs difference, but thats what I was told.

Is my driving that good? I don't know, but I'd like to make my MCS the best it can be either way.

No, you can't use plexiglass, its stock class, you have to run stock headlights and Xenon's were an option that I should have avoided.

My goal is to trophy this year at Nationals, every .01 counts there so yeah, the 15lbs will make a difference, especially at the nose of the mini. And, at the Midwest Divisional this past weekend, I won by just over .2 seconds on a 2 day event in the 10 car field. On my last run, I widened the gap of only .07 seconds on the 2 day event, thats only .035 seconds per day!!! If he had regular lights instead of Zenon's(not sure what he had, but you get my point), he may have won the $500 Mini Contigency instead of me!!!

Just think how crucial 15lbs will be at nationals!!! It all adds up to a couple hundred pounds if you do everything.

Thats why my Mini is under 2450 empty and many other competitors are at 2600+. I weighed in at 2456 with magnets, helmets and Floormats in place!!!

 

I knew I shouldn't have had those 2 Big Macs on Monday.

 

That brings me to my last mod, I have cut out all Big Macs as of last weekend!!! Seriously, thats my last mod. I know, I'm a sick SOB. But why do you think Jockeys are so freakin small??

Think about it, if you ratchet down a 15lb bowling ball on the bumper, its going to change handling, no doubt about it.

Oh well.

 

In SCCA Solo II G-stock class-
Rule 13.2A (Bodywork)
Accessories, gauges, indicators, LIGHTS, and other appearance, comfort and convenience modifications which have no effect on performance and/or handling and do not materially reduce the weight of the car ARE permitted.

I think I read somewhere that the Xenon lights weigh 50 pounds for the pair. So maybe your estimate of 15 pounds difference between the standard headlights and the Xenons is roughly correct.

I also remember reading that it is not an easy or cheap swap, the xenons are very costly and it isn't too easy to functionally swap them out.

You could not just remove the Xenons and cover them with plastic in G-stock. The weight savings would be an advantage. I would think that a true functional swap to regular lights would be legal.

So for you autocrossers out there- just say no to ordering-
Xenons
Sunroof
Auto AC
Trip computer
Nav system
Any audio Upgrade (H/K or CD changer)
DSC
Any 17" stock wheels
Runflat tires
Roofracks
Fog lights
PDC

 

I love my Xenons

...much more than 15 added lbs. (if indeed that's accurate).

Unless autocross is covering your mortgage ~ just enjoy

 

I hope your planning on keeping both sets of lights when you get the regular halogens and just swapping for events right?

Would be a shame to give up Xenon's all together for 15lbs....

 

Thameth


thats correct, I would never permenantly give up the xenon's!!

 

You can do this per the option update/backdate allowance in Stock. Technically, you would have to make sure *everything* that is different on the regular lights is in place (wiring, relays, switches, method of attachment, etc.).

And you would have to be able to back it up with factory documentation at Nationals in case of a protest.

 

The way I see it is. Its not an option updat or backdate, it was the current model option, if I take the Xenon's out, then its 100% cool. No Doc's needed for that. People change wheel and tire sizes all the time in stock class if they have different sizes to choose with no docs.

 

Ballasts are probably a lot of it, but you've also got all that wacky self-leveling gear and the washers.

 

You need docs to prove you did the swap correctly, like the factory would have done. I meant option conversion, not UD/BD. The rules are pretty specific here. And people can be very serious at Nationals. Odds are you wouldn't get protested, but don't underestimate people's knowledge about such things and/or their ability to spot them...

Wheels are a bit different because they have a specific rule written about them.

 

From first page of Stock rules:

Option package conversions may be performed between specific vehicles of a certain make and model, but only between configurations from within a particular model year. Such conversions must be totally complete, and the resultant car must meet all requirements of this Section. Alternate parts not listed in a factory parts manual are not authorized unless their use is specifically referenced in the factory service manual or in a service bulletin for the specific model.

The entrant has the burden of proving that his/her car conforms to these Rules by his/her owner's manual, manufacturer's shop manual, manufacturer's catalogs or other manufacturer's documentation... Failure to provide appropriate manufacturer's documentation regarding vehicle specifications will result in disqualification (if protested).

 

Basically, this swap is legal because Mini options can be ordered individually. To be completely legal, you would have to install the non-Xenon lights just like the factory did in your particular model year. If say you have an '03, you can't use '02 or '04 install methods if they are at all different from '03 (different wire routing, etc). You will need Mini documentation to prove you did the swap correctly.

Sounds extreme, but I've seen protests like this before. Amazing what that trophy/jacket from Topeka will do for a person...

Personally, I don't think the weight savings is worth the trouble. Much more time to be made up with the driver.

 

1. In as much as you are running on a national level and...
2. that you posted this on a international board ...

I will make the following comment. I think I read some where that either the springs or struts are different for cars with the HID lights. I'll be the first to say that I am very likely not correct. But I thought the SS+ on the MC had the samd springs and struts as a MCS. I was wrong. You might want to check that out before you go to far down the path.

Good Luck
John

 

I believe you are correct on the spring rates and HID for the Cooper, however, I am 99.9% sure that the Cooper S is the same spring rate either way.

 

You think so? Maybe so maybe not

Why not work on both? Thats my theory, I'm to the point in my driving, where I feel I should extract everything I possibly can out of my stock class car and then get as much seat time as possible since this is my first year in the Mini.

Why not do every stock mod possible?

 

From Autoweek on the EVO RS:

"Mitsubishi trimmed 146 pounds of “nonessential” items from its already-stellar Lancer Evolution for even more performance. Those items include the wing; HID lights (replaced with halogens); rear wiper; air conditioning; ABS; power motors for the windows, doors, locks and side mirrors; the entire audio system; trim in the trunk; vanity mirrors; rear assist grips; map lights; lots of sound-deadening material and even that little piece of leather wrapping that goes around the parking brake lever.

 

Absolutely so. Save a VERY small handful of people who have unbelieveable natural talent, every driver can improve in the driving department. Even multi-time national champions. I won a ProSolo event in STX last year against better prepared cars. Why? Driver.

I'm not saying you shouldn't, just pointing out how you have to go about this mod. Its a lotta work for 15 lbs, which is not a lot of weight in the grand scheme of things in Stock class.

I personally think the effort/cost is not worthwhile unless you are literally losing first place at every national-level event you attend by thousandths of a second. Unless you've already exhausted them all, there are better options in Stock class mods to exploit.

You mentioned seat time. That is where you should concentrate.

 

Keith

I appreciate your input, but, I disagree with you on this.

I think if I can do a mod in stock class, I might as well, however minor it may be.

Sure, who couldn't use seat time? Every pro practices in every sport, thats what its all about. Not that I'm a pro, but I'm certainly going to practice whether I choose to mod or not to mod.


However, if you don't prepare your car in every aspect available, eventually you'll get caught by that .005 second loss.

That's my theory. And, Of course, I'm going to get as much seat time as possible, thats what its all about. In the mean time, my car will be prepared to the max all the way through.

I do think I have exhausted all other mods, this would be the last possible mod that I am aware of besides Koni DA's and it would leave my cooper at an amazing 2430lbs!!!!

I suppose Nitrogen is my last mod.

 

Well, I just squeeked out the Midwest Divisional Championship by .026 seconds on the final run at Forbes Field in Topeka KS!

I wonder if I had not exhausted all my mod options if I would have still came away with the win. If not, I'd have lost an extra $250 from Mini. I guess it does pay afterall to work on setup instead of driver for once. Literally!!

Well, needless to say, were currently pursuing the Xenon to standard light swap, I'll let you know if it works out or not.

 

Spring rates are different from MCS to Cooper based on options. There are 12 (6 Cooper, 6 MCS) different spring rates for the Cooper and MCS. This is because of additional weight over the front wheels of the MCS. I saw a car with SS+ installed at the dealer and it had the wrong springs on it. The dealer charged the owner and did not do the work.