Hi, can those that have successfully upgraded/retrofitted to an hid system share their experience.


1. What brand type of ballasts, relay harnesses did you use?
2. Did you have to do the computer reprogramming?
3. Any functional changes (i.e. flashing high beam not working when headlights not on).
4. Where'd you buy the hardware?

 

Go to the RetroFit Source. They will help create a package for you. It will run about 300 and some change. Im in the final stages of completing my retro-fit.

 

If you want a direct Xenon upgrade there is always the factory MINI kit.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rofit-kit.html

 

I used a 55w xentec h13 kit with kensun anti flickers, they work just fine with no warning lights and high beams and flash still work since its a bi xexon kit



hid kit:

anti flickers:

 

are you guys just replacing the bulb ? or cooking the lights and then opening them and painting ?

 

i just did the bulbs

 

well I ordered the stuff you had links to on amazon. I'm going to try the DIY and bake the headlights, slap a coat of paint on the reflectors and call it good for now. I have been looking at the OEM upgrades but they are 35 and you have to re-flash. I had my car coded for other options and if deal flashes I loose all my coding......
Will post a few pics of the disaster or the winner...lol

 

You may want to look and get projectors. That would require you to cut (dremel works the best) the middle of the headlights to make the projectors fit but that will give you the best results. Just putting those HID bulbs into a halogen housing is going to cause the light to scatter and decrease output. Just an idea.

 

oh I agree , projector is the way to go. I have been talking with Oracle Automotive lighting and Black Flame custom about putting the projectors in.
Right now I just want a quick fix to tone the chrome with some smoke black.

 

Exactly what I used, as well, an has worked flawlessly for months :-)

 

If you're going to open up the headlights to paint them you may as well install the projectors yourself. All you need is a dremel and some JBweld. You'll have to aim them before using the JBweld but it will save you a boat load of money over Blackflame or AAC.

 

depends on what year your MINI is, I can tell you that NONE of the "error canceler "
worked on my 2011 or 2013 MINI, the ONLY fix was the resistor harness. I tried 3 different brands/types and even the "can bus ready" type ballast, all gave bulb out warnings.

With that said just about any HID ballast will work fine so long as you install the resistor harness. I have done both types , just installed bi xenon into the factory halogen assy, they work ok, better than halogen did. And I've opened up and installed projectors, and I can say that after all the work it took to modify for projectors I would just suck it up and by the factory 25w kits and pay for programing, it's just not worth it , atleast to me. My free time is worth more than the hours it took to modify.
The projectors I did turned out nice and I sold them for $600 cause my wife traded in the 2011 for a R57 with factory xenons.

 

Do you have any pics of your install? Such as where you installed your ballast?

 

rckrzy1 - Thanks for your insight, seams like a lot of people have had headaches with the aftermarket bulb outs, flash to pass not working etc.
You do make sense ,biting the bullet and get the OEM 25w plug and play and drive away......

 

I've tried every way possible. I would not buy a new car without it, but if you don't have that option the 25w oem works the best, looks good, to me I prefer the gray color of the 25w kit, I'm not a blackout guy and the gray matches my bayswater scheme perfectly. But you have to find a dealership or INDY to do the programing for $100 , not the outrageous amounts I have heard some ask for. So I would find a source for programing before buying.

 

My dealer told me 219 for programing but said they could do better.... not sure what "could" equals to in money but...... lolol
They where about 300 bucks higher on the headlight kit vs ECS tuning.

 

PM me your email address and I'll send you pics. I blacked out the headlights and installed Halos on the projector and on the turn signal portion. Got them from the retrofit source. I cant seem to figure out how to put photos on here.