Just wondering if it's as easy for some thug to rip off a Mini's Xenons as it is with the infamous Nissan Maxima. I know the ones on BMWs are nearly impossible to steal because of the way the headlight array is built. Are the Mini's just as secure?

 

Unlike the Nissan lamp setup which is bolted in from the outside of the car, you have to open the MINI bonnet to unbolt and remove the light assemblies (xenon or standard halogen) from the inside. If you have the MINI alarm system, opening the bonnet sets it off. There is no 'easy' way to swipe the headlights from a MINI.

 

"If there is a will, there is a way". Thieves will eventually find a way to steal the MINI's Xenon headlights. I agree on that it will not be easy, but somehow these thugs will figure it out.

The Xenon problem is not only with Altimas but also with Audis and nearly any other car equipped with Xenons.

 

I read on a thread on this forum back in 2002 where a guy came downstairs after work started driving, but thought it was a little strange that his headlights were not giving enough light.
He pulls over only to find his lights missing. After I read that I was kinda glad I didn't get them.

But it is true. If thieves want something badly enough no alarm, nothing will get in their way.

Lolo

 

Big article in Porsche Mag about 911's getting their Xenons ripped off too. They steal the entire headlight unit on those... ouch$$$$

 

fortunately less than 90,000 MINIs have been sold in America since 2002, and the percentage of used on the market is still low, with most owners hanging onto their cars. So who are the thieves going to steal them for? They have to have a market....

Now in a decade or so as more MINIs land over here--with a much larger used market--then yeah I could see xenon and other expensive part theft. Right now tho I'm much more concerned about badge theft--the same punks who collected Benz ornaments just for kicks. that would really tick me off Jimbo

 

The bad guys are stealing the bulbs to use on their own (caution sterotype ahead) riced-out Hondas & Acuras.

 

I would agree that the used MINI market is too small. Many of the other popular import models sell several 100,000s of cars each year.

If they steal badges then go badgeless (naked)
For that "smooth" look.

To steal a xenon light isn't that easy- but to steal a whole MINI might be if it lacks an alarm. If you copy the special MINI key then you can steal the whole car, alarm or not unless you have an aftermarket alarm or brake pedal lock enabled. I have all those things.

 

So you're saying all xenon bulbs are universal fit? That MINI bulbs fit japanese cars, and vice-versa? This sounds very odd.... Jimbo

 

"all xenon bulbs are universal fit"? How do you get that from what I said?

I Read an article in one of the Porsche mags last month that related the growing problem of headlight housings being stolen just for their xenon bulbs. Housing were showing up on eBay sans the bulbs. Do Porsche bulbs fit Hondas... do MINIs bulbs fit Hondas...? I have no idea. I guess the theives might know.

 

Re-read post 6 where in the first paragraph I was specifically referring to MINIs. Your reply in post 7, when U refer to "the bulbs," made it sound like the crooks could use MINI bulbs, that they were somehow universal. That's why I replied in post 9 the way I did.

I already knew about the xenon theft problems with Hondas and Nissans, that's way old news, for my cousin got his xenons pried off his 04 TL about a year and a half ago. Best, Jimbo

 

The "advantage" that thieves have is that they don't care how much damage they do to the rest of your car, as long as they get the parts that they want. It may take a mechanic several hours to do a job correctly that a thief will do in seconds. The difference is that the mechanic can "undo" what he has done, the thief leaves a mess.