I'm still shopping for a Cooper and looking at a few S models. One has Xenons and the others don't.


Were the Xenons an OEM option?

Can Xenons be retrofit into one without?
Difficult? Costly?

Of course, I'm not fully aware of the pros/cons of the Xenons, either.

Thx,
Jon


PS - I could swear I already posted a similar query, but can't find it.

 

Yes, xenon/hid lights were a factory option, personally I love them and will never have another car without them, better visibility, better reflectivity off road signs, striping and markers.
A full factory retrofit is expensive and there may even be some wiring issues, but there are decent aftermarket options available from full kits that include housings to basic bulb kits that can be used in factory projector housings (if you find a used set of those)
Just be certain that you use a projector style housing, xenon/hid bulbs should not be installed I'm standard headlight housings, they create glare for the other traffic and in some states are actually illegal. The projector lenses are needed to focus the brighter beam.

 

Thanks for your reply. Helped clarify a decision for me.

Thx,
Jon

 

Of note....
There were TWO different style xenon headlights on gen1 cars....both used halogens for high beams...
The difference is the 2005+ "refresh" headlights are projector beams....superior units....
The 2002-2004 units are actually reflector units....both units had washer jets active when sold from the factory with xenon's....usually not active on retrofit units...
The newer ones had replaceable ignitors....the older ones, not so much....could be done...but not officially. They use slightly different bulbs.
Yes, once you have xenons you are spoiled.