I was curious if someone could post pictures of their Xenons working at night. I was thinking a driver's perspective type view. I was also hoping that someone could post a similar picture of the standard lights to be able to compare the views. I know the Xenons are going to be brighter but I'm curious how it looks. So, if anyone can help me out that would be great.

 

Could be challenging since a flash will wash out the headlights... This might be something that would be easier for your to talk to your local dealer about, especially since it gets dark early this time of year...

 

Yep

 

I am curious myself of the projection pattern and color. Like off of a wall or down the street.
Just turn the flash off!

 

Except unless you setup with a long exposure and tripod it's really not going to look that great. i.e. give you a realistic idea of what it looks like...

Color is white. As for the projection pattern, if you're wondering what effect if any the "beads" around the lens have on the projection pattern, the answer is none. While they do light up, not enough light passes through them has any effect.

Now if your looking for pictures because your wondering if the Xenons are worth the money... Let me put it to you this way, unlike with some other options the people debate over, I've never heard of anybody who regretted getting the Xenons once they drove with them...

 

 

Now you have.

I had bi-xenons on my E46 BMW and hated them. When I ordered the MCS, I specifically left them off.

The cut-off is too low, I don't like the height self-adjusting feature, and of course, I don't like the prices.

Of course, to be fair, I'm not all that enthusiastic about the stock lights on the mini now that I've got it. But I'm getting old and can't see all that well anyway. But the aim is rather strange, and so I'm trying to improve on it.


Michael

 

I have found that the xenons on both of our MINI's were initially aimed too low for me. A quick and simple adjustment is all that is needed to bring them up a bit.

 

I have the opposite problem... I blind people with my xenons. I think they are aimed a little high, like right into car's rear view mirrors. People flash me all the time... I will have the dealer check those out in about 400 more miles with my 1st checkup, for sure. But when I pull in front of a wall to see the angle, it seems to be right. Strange.

 

I don't have any pictures of the zenons, but I have them on my car. To my eyes they are the best headlights that I've ever had on a car. Flat out wonderful. If you don't have any experience with them go to the dealer & take a test drive after dark. Pictures on a computer just won't do them justice.

Chuck

 

I agree. The MINI was our first car with HID's and now it's hard to drive without them. We don't even have the newer projector beam HID's either.

 

I posted some photos in this thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=55789


I think the 05> Xenons do a great job of lighting the road, and they look great too

 

Except for a few things, one you never ordered them on a MINI, and two the BMW design is a bit different than the MINI design... I can't speak for owners of other makes, but everyone I've met who ordered Xenons on their MINI has been glad that they did...

 

I'm glad I got mine

 

Here in Canada, we have Xenon and ASC+T standard on every MINI sold.
But I would have paid for Xenon lights for sure if it was not included...

Here is a picture of my MCS with Xenon lights and fog lights on. (I disconnected the lights beside the turn signals because I find them ugly when lighted at night!)

 

I like that idea!!!! it does look better.. now for somethign to do when I get my mini back!

-Josh

 

Not the Cooper Classic, it doesn't have Xenon on that model. In effect I paid a grand to get my Xenon headlights in my Cooper, and they are very good, once I adjusted the aim a little higher. I made sure the headlight cut is just below the wing mirror level of a passenger car infront of me, so it won't blind people.

 

I agree with you there! Been debating just disconnecting vs trying brighter bulbs to see if that helps. I was gonna just disconnect and the SO showed a little resistance so I'm not sure

And Beemer Guy, we found that the Xenons on our E46s worked very well (mine for quite some time too), it does sound like yours may have just not been aimed well. We did not have the bi-xenons but have a couple of friends who do and they have never remarked on issues with how they work. 'Course if you don't like them or the leveling that's your choice, its just a shame if it was just bad aim causing you grief.

 

Thanks a lot guys. This helps a whole lot. I was pretty much sold on the Xenons to begin with, but I was just curious what they looked like. Thanks everyone.

 

My xenons are set slightly above the factory setting, I never get flashed, and I can see very well.
I find I'm driving blind in a car without HIDs

 

The xenons were new to me with this car, and I have to admit that although I was skeptical, I'm glad I went ahead and ordered them. As other people have mentioned, it's hard to illustrate the difference with pictures, but any future cars I buy will definetly be equipped with xenons too. I will probably look into having them adjusted at my first oil change, though, as I have been flashed while driving down particularly dark roads.

 

I drive once a week about two hours each way to visit my elderly father. The xenons are great at night. I don't get flashed and have great visiblity. I also use the fog lights and rally lights when required or sometimes just because I can.

 

how does one go about adjusting the xenons? i thought they are self-leveling

 

There are Hex head adjusting sticks on each head light. One for horizontal aim, another for vertical.

 

Yep. They also have a slot so you can adjust them with a dime.
I drove across the country with them aimed too low, cursing all the while and mistakingly thinking the 'auto adjusting' was supposed to adjust. Wrong. It only adjusts for ride height changes, i.e. if you have a bunch of heavy stuff in the boot (like you can fit a lot in the boot! )

I turned mine 1/4 turn or less, and it was almost night and day. Instead of seeing the tires on the car in front of me, I could see the rear bumper (and the ROAD when nobody was in front of me!) Suddenly the cutoff didn't cut off the things I was trying to see!
The cutoff makes adjusting them much easier than traditional halogens.