R50/53 Best headlights for an R53
#1
#3
Did your car originally come with Xenons? There is a leveling system on cars with xenons so that the lights don’t blind on coming drivers. The plugs at the headlights will be a strong clue also.
If not, then you may want to get regular OEM halogens and get good quality bulbs.
If you don’t know what the car originally was configured, plop in you vin into one of the online decoders to see the build sheet.
#4
Try Minipartsdirect.com
For OE mini stuff I usually start with Minipartsdirect.com . they are a dealer in NC and you can search parts via VIN. I have used them several times and they have always been super helpful whenever I call them up with questions.
Also they are almost always the cheapest place for genuine Mini parts, not including shipping.
Also they are almost always the cheapest place for genuine Mini parts, not including shipping.
#7
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#8
#9
I like the Depo ones,
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...installed.html
if you want to keep it OEM and have headlight washer then the genuine ones are good. Most i have seen used need polished. So try to find some good ones.
https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2005-...ng/Headlights/ You can get them aftermarket that are matched to the OEM but they are a little pricey.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...installed.html
if you want to keep it OEM and have headlight washer then the genuine ones are good. Most i have seen used need polished. So try to find some good ones.
https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2005-...ng/Headlights/ You can get them aftermarket that are matched to the OEM but they are a little pricey.
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
Last edited by ECSTuning; 12-15-2022 at 07:55 AM.
#10
I like the Helix ones,
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...installed.html
if you want to keep it OEM and have headlight washer then the genuine ones are good. Most i have seen used need polished. So try to find some good ones.
https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2005-...ng/Headlights/ You can get them aftermarket that are matched to the OEM but they are a little pricey.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...installed.html
if you want to keep it OEM and have headlight washer then the genuine ones are good. Most i have seen used need polished. So try to find some good ones.
https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2005-...ng/Headlights/ You can get them aftermarket that are matched to the OEM but they are a little pricey.
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ECSTuning (03-14-2019)
#12
Yep, welcome.
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
#14
Frankly, I'd run the Helix blacked out lamps that don't look like ****, and then wire in some auxiliary lamps. Something that throws another ~2400lumens or more down the road with whatever required beam pattern.
Otherwise it's just expensive mediocrity for light output.
Otherwise it's just expensive mediocrity for light output.
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ECSTuning (03-18-2019)
#15
#16
I'm sure they are, even to other drivers on the road, which is not conscientious or responsible. I'm actually surprised they ever put xenon lights in non-projector housings in these cars from the factory. Considering my 2003 325i has bixenon lights, the availability of the tech wasn't the issue. I had Hella projector lights in my 1997 VW Golf and they were amazing, even with halogen bulbs. Same with the Helix projectors currently in our MINI. There's a reason you see them as standard on later model vehicles (before LED technology came into the picture).
#17
I like our helix one because they are projectors and have the correct cut off so you dont blind oncoming traffic on low beams.
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
#18
I'm sure they are, even to other drivers on the road, which is not conscientious or responsible. I'm actually surprised they ever put xenon lights in non-projector housings in these cars from the factory. Considering my 2003 325i has bixenon lights, the availability of the tech wasn't the issue. I had Hella projector lights in my 1997 VW Golf and they were amazing, even with halogen bulbs. Same with the Helix projectors currently in our MINI. There's a reason you see them as standard on later model vehicles (before LED technology came into the picture).
The big deal here though folks is wattage. A 55w bulb (halogen, LED 25w or 35w is comparable I believe) is only physically capable of putting out so many lumens. If one really wants some output, 100/130 bulbs in auxiliary lamps are basically required.
#19
I'm sure they are, even to other drivers on the road, which is not conscientious or responsible. I'm actually surprised they ever put xenon lights in non-projector housings in these cars from the factory. Considering my 2003 325i has bixenon lights, the availability of the tech wasn't the issue. I had Hella projector lights in my 1997 VW Golf and they were amazing, even with halogen bulbs. Same with the Helix projectors currently in our MINI. There's a reason you see them as standard on later model vehicles (before LED technology came into the picture).
#20
#21
new HID Sylvania D2S zxe dull and yellow
Hi, I have recently bought these new Sylvania D2S zxe. They are supposed to be white bright light but no rating on color temp bu says OSRAM on the bulb, maybe 5000k? I have bought cheap 6000K bulbs 3 years ago and just last couple of months they started to turn on and off on their own, so I put back my original HID bulbs that are 17 years old for my 2005 Cooper S, and they work just fine they do not turn on and off. My question is can any components like ballast or igniter cause new HID bulbs to not be their brightest? These new Sylvania ones are brighter than my original 17 year old Philips but not significantly brighter and are quite yellow compared to what they are advertised to be could they be defective? I plan to return them as they are not nearly as white as the 3 year old $75 6000k ones.
Thanks
Anthony
Thanks
Anthony
Last edited by a2coopers; 10-02-2022 at 09:48 PM.
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