I'm seriously considering the HID's for my Cooper S. Anyone have experience with them? Do they put out a good amount of light?
I've driven a TL type S with HID's and loved it. Just curious if I should expect the same out of the mini's system.

Also anyone who has experience with the stock lights....... Are you happy with light output? Would you make the same decision over again...?

Thanks for any input.
SW

 

I have HIDs on my Honda S2000 and highly recommend them. Of all the options available on the new MINI they are at the top of my list. I like them so much that I wish I had the option to install them on my other cars (Volvo V70R and Acura Integra) without it costing a mint. Bottom line: well worth the money on the MINI!

 

We have stock lights on our new mini and they are very good,we also have the optional driving lights which are great. We also ordered an cooper "s" ( be here around christmas) with the HIDs because they are even better and I like the look.

hope this helps

 

Get em, they're great!

 

If cost is not an issue, get the HID. The HID lights are better than any regular headlights. Of course you could use the money elsewhere if you don't really want HID.

 

Are the mini'a available with hid lights I thought zenon was simply a type of halogen??

 

The HID bulbs are filled with Xenon gas, so you sometimes see them used interchangably. However there are regular bulbs which contain Xenon in the aftermarket which are HID-like but are not truely HID. You may want to buy them for your high beams and foglights.

 

The hid's are for the low beam only not high beam? :???:

 

yes, the MINI uses HID for low-beam only. Fogs and high-beams are still halogen bulbs.

I feel the HID low-beams are worth the price of admission, their light output is excellent; you'll get spoiled quickly :smile:

Cheers,
Ryan

 

>>The hid's are for the low beam only not high beam? :???:


Hi guys,

Our H.I.D. system has both low beam and high beam. Will post some pics here later.






Anton
NMC

 

Below is the pciture of the HID installed on my mini.

 

Both regular and HID lamps are really good in the Mini, even the regular ones have a very white bright output different from many other cars.

I have compared the light output of my car (regular) with a friend´s S (HID) and I absolutely fell in love with the Xenons. When you turn them on its like it is "opening" its eyes, first they blink in orange then level out and finally get the low beam in Xenon white.

If money is not an issue, definitely get them.

 

Add another vote in favor of HIDs:
I have the xenons (and yes, these are HIDs running at around 20kV), and really like them.
However, I should point out a few issues:
HIDs have a very sharp cutoff. Mine were initially aimed too low. The illuminated part of the road is so bright, that anything beyond the illumination range seems pitch black. I had them aimed a little higher and now they are great.
Since the life of HIDs is strongly related to number of "ignitions" of the lamps, much more than actual running hours, HIDs are NOT turned off when you flash or switch to hi-beams. The net result is that when hi-beams are on, you have BOTH hi and lo-beams, and thus really excellent visibility, even without driving lights! The hi-beams are halogen bulbs, but the fog-lights on MINIs are not, they are conventional incandescent bulbs, which cast a slightly yellowish light.
I also like the auto leveling feauter of the HIDs, but I don't know whether non-xenons have this or not.