Recent article on Xenon headlight theft:

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?...Y3dnFlZUVFeXky


And another one from Patrick Bedard at Car & Driver (July 2004):

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=8216


New Jersey has the highest rate of Xenon headlight theft in the nation!

Some leasing companies in NY/NJ have dropped the Nissan Maxima due to the recurring problem with Xenon theft.

I hope the MINI is not the next victim of this type of crime.

I think they are also after the projectors.

If someone is concerned about theft but still would like to get Xenons.....I offer them my 04 style Xenons and some cash for their 05 Xenons .

You will never go back once you have had xenon light in your car.

Alex

Like Wanda, I wasn't blessed with eagle eyes... The more light the better! I ordered the xenon lamps and rally/driving lamps as well. After I inspect the circuit (and install an interceeding relay if needed) I'll upgrade my driving lamps to 100W bulbs or maybe even get the new xenon driving lamps from Hella. They just introduced a real HID driving lamp that's a virtual clone of the OEM MINI lamp.

Of course I use all this illumation responsibly, and I do live out in the sticks. If I lived in a big city, my perspective may be different.

Let there be light!

Rawhyde

I can see,I can see.
Xenons,get them

Personally, I think it's downright silly to make a decision that's partially influenced by hypothetical car thieves. I live in NJ too but there was no way in hell that I'd be scared out of getting Xenons just because they might get stolen by some thugs. If you want the Xenons, get the Xenons! If you decide not to get them, do it for a real reason (e.g. price, appearance, etc.). I actually was like you: they were originally ordered w/ the car, then I had second thoughts and wanted to take them out but the car was already in production. It ended up for the best because of all the options I got, Xenon is the one that I'm most happy about getting.

See

Something I didn't do, but now realize I should have gotten. Protection covers for the Xenons. Try AutoClearGuard (see part number H4701B-1) It's only 43.95 and well worth it. Unfortunately, it's too late for mine now...they are totally pitted. I'll have to get replacement lights which sounds expensive.

The lexon covers are tough.But I'm going to start to put some clear guard stuff on soon.

Great photo Lot15 Like I said earlier the xenons, no doubt, look great. Popcult, I think that the rate xenons have been stolen in NJ, is a real reason to consider not getting them. Yes, I am scared that some thugs may steal the xenons. I know that if they are stolen, most likely there is going to be further damage and it wont be as simple as replacing the xenons. As Cooper4us has stated, its not the headlamp assembly, its the bulbs and ballasts, which thieves are interested in. Once they realize that the MINI has xenons, the theft rate most likely will increase. I have heard of thieves following vehicles that have xenons at night, which they have spotted, waiting for the driver to park somewhere and leave the vehicle. They then strike and remove the lights

If you come canyon-carve with me, Cooper4us, I'll take you out to lunch and dinner! Come on out!

Clover

lot15,

With how cold it is where you are, you sure do take a lot of pictures. Keep em coming. You are a trooper.

Hey Clo, next time I am out there I will take you up on the invitation

Never done any sort of Canyon Carving myself, so that will be a new driving experience for me.

Lot, great pic dude!

You lives out in the bunnies of Manitoba, you can certainly justify those Xenons.

So what's the temp there right now? Like -114F ?

Right now it is 51F here in Miami and people are shiviring and running away from the "cold"

never mind that it once snowed here back in 1976, but this ain't snow blizzard baby!:smile:

Like this

My daily veiw

Damn boy! that is coooooooldddddd

Is that -33.5 centigrade? How much is it in Farenheit? (Feeling lazy to do the conversion by hand)

At that temp. in C about -29 in F.- 40 is -40,C or F

The xenons on the acuras and maxs are very easy to steal. Porsche Litronics are easy to steal as well. The minis ones probably won't come out unless the bonnet is opened. But never say never.

I don't know what the market is for the ballasts and bulbs but plug and play kits are in the $300 range. It's much easier to buy one of those kits and put them in the stock housing then trying to retrofit projectors and making a harness for it. But if the bulbs and ballasts are free then it makes it much easier to attempt a retrofit.

C4U, there is the funniest tee shirt for sale in the little shop at Deal's Gap, at the Dragon. Rather than the 318 turns in 11 miles slogan, which is true of the Dragon, it says: "Florida: 11 turns in 318 miles!"

I'm buying one when I get up there in May! You going to the Dragon?


Clover

I live in NYC and have never had anyone try and steal my Xenons.
Like someone said-- nite and day difference. Get the lites and the LSD, without question. (i think-- get the leatherette-and you can get both and save money- the real leather seats that Mini has sags after awhile.)

Go ahead and get them. The lighting they provide is amazing (you'll wonder how you lived without them). As to theft - if you're really worried about it, buy some undesirable car. Or leave New Jersey

I worry about my car every time I park in a parking lot because lot's of people just don't care about other people's property.
Get what you really want and hope for the best.

I have driven the suburban and some rural roads in NJ and with the number of deer, I think the Xenons would be well worth it. Also, the bulbs that are popular are the hotter, blue bulbs (7000K-10000K) that the Audi, Acura and Nissan have. The MINI xenons are warmer, just very slightly bluer than a halogen, close to the 'blue' halogen bulbs. Not the 'bling' effect that would make them tempting.