Are the optional Xenon headlights on the Mini the same lights as seen on late model BMWs?

 

Yes and NO. The xenon lights on most BMW's are projector beam xenon for both low and high beam (I think) whereas the MINI has them only on low beam and the beam does not look like the projector spot which is all the craze these days. They are the same very blue-white in color temperature. The high beam and daytime running lights are not xenon. I don't know why this so.

 

I opted to get aftermarket xenon lights. They replace the stock ones. I don't know if they are leagle, but I don't care. They look great and since cops don't know the MINI comes any other way... I'll take my chances. However I don't know if this will mess up the electronics in anyway. Does anybody know?

 

>>I opted to get aftermarket xenon lights. They replace the stock ones. I don't know if they are leagle, but I don't care. They look great and since cops don't know the MINI comes any other way... I'll take my chances. However I don't know if this will mess up the electronics in anyway. Does anybody know?<<

Chances are if the wattage is the same as stock, you won't have a problem. My problem with "illegal" lighting is that it's illegal for a reason. There is nothing worse when driving at night than to be blinded by some "i don't care driver" with lights that are too bright or focused in my eyes. Give the rest of us a break , why don't you and run legal lights. It's not 'cool' to blind other drivers.

 

Driving the MINI at night, you find lots of lights blinding you. Especially where I live (the land of SUVs). I had do tint the windows just to handle it. I look at it this way. The MINI is not very big, and you need an advantage to be seen. It may not be cool to be blinded from behind, but if I'm on your tail... Move it to the left!! (USA). Don't get me wrong I'm not meaning to be rude, I just get sick of people driving in the right lane, just because. :evil:
BTW: The bulbs I'm running are 80w vs. 55w stock.

 

Here are the problems with aftermarket Xenons (HID4LESS?)

1) The bulb is a different shape than the H7 bulb it replaces. Thus, it is no longer in the right place to have the light project correctly out of the lens (i.e. the beam pattern is now different).

2) You don't have the headlight washers, required by law for xenons.

3) You don't have the autoleveling motors, again required by law for xenons.

The $500 MINI wants for the xenons is a bargain. You would never be able to retrofit the factory system for that kind of money, and the aftermarket systems aren't designed for your specific car, and don't give you all the necessary hardware to be legal.

On thing to be careful of with your 80W bulbs Since the factory bulbs are only 55W, the wire harness may not be able to support the additional current draw. On the newer VW's (MK4), if you install 80W bulbs, the wire harness will eventually melt. It's quite expensive to replace since the harness runs thoughout the engine compartment, not just to the lights. So, the part itself is expensive, and the labor to re-route it is expensive (Again, this is on the VW, so the MINI may be a little different).

 

>>I opted to get aftermarket xenon lights. They replace the stock ones. I don't know if they are leagle, but I don't care. They look great and since cops don't know the MINI comes any other way... I'll take my chances

Actually, the cops read this site. And we'll be watching for you...

 

I read on the MINI USA website that even the regular headlights have auto levelling motors. Is this not true?