I want to replace the headlight bulbs on my 06 MINI. I did this on the 03 and it was a snap. The way the bulb is held in place is different on the 06. Anyone have a link to a good DYI video? Or maybe a hint. On the 03 you just moved a wire clip. There is no wire clip on the 06.

I did a search you put in headlights and was overwhelmed with information not related to my particular issue. I did the same on you tube and found all kinds of info on the early R50 but not on the newer type of headlamp. I do not know when they changed (04 refresh maybe).

 

changed 07/2004

you need to find a way to look into the hole where the back plate of the bulb is ... you'll see that the metal back plate is held by 3 metal clips or 'fingers' around the edge.

Use a very small screw driver to press the 'middle' clip out away from the center of the bulb and the bulb should pop back ... if necessary repeat on another clip and the bulb should wiggle free

when you replace the bulb pay attention to the location tab, this keeps orientation correct, and just push the bulb in until all three clips snap onto the backplate.

If this does not make sense or you just can't make it work PM me and I'll send you the page from Haynes . . . scanned.

hardest part for me was getting into a position where I could see what I was doing!

 

Thanks Capt BJ.
A friend of mine and I figured that out, thought we used needle nose pliers.

Basically it bothered us so much that we pulled the headlight assembly off the car. It is held on by three 8 mm nuts. The nuts are easy to get to and can be removed using the wrench in the provided toolkit.

Pulling the lamp assembly off the car was so easy as compared to working upside down we did that for the second light as well. The process was just what we though before I came in here (NAM) to post. My old lights were just stuck from being there for so long. One of the two had a big black spot inside the bulb but it still worked somehow and I just passed the yearly VA safety inspection (it is not that easy to pass here).

I think if one removes these on a regular basis it is easy to do upside down, my next time I will remove the headlamp. It is just to easy that way.

 

after I did it once I can do it by touch now - I know what I'm feeling . . . but since I do a bit of work for others I've done this a few times too . .

recommend you check your headlight aim b4 it gets dark .... easy to not have things back JUST RIGHT and have the beam searching for the space station . . . ask how I know ...

 

We were lucky the headlights were very close to where they should have been. I know that is very rare. They were close enough that I could have just left them. I went over to his place and used the walls to get it just right. Now I am ready for fall and winter.

 

Did you go for +50 or similar upgrade? I used them on my 03 with good results and no reflector damage.

 

Just stock.