My biggest concern thus far is that it seems my Xenons are aimed a tad low. Now granted I think it would start annoying people if they were aimed higher, but when I'm out in the dark country it seems like I have an unsafe distance ahead of seeing. Now with brights on I can see the whole world, but with out them it can be hard to read signs that are really only about 4-5 car lengths ahead. Is this common or are my headlights not finding the right horizon? Also when do they do the horizon find feature? Is there even a way to get their horizon in a strange postion like too high or too low? If so how would you go about fixing that?

Now for the lesser concerns. I don't have a sunroof (a rarity it seems here), but the plastic vent thing by the rear passenger is an air vent right? How do I activate it? I suspect it is one of the settings on the air direction selector. Also I do not like how it doesn't click into place when you get to one of those settings...it is kind of like aiming your selector. Oh well just a tiny complaint.

Finally what appears to be the best way of removing that airbag sticker? I'd try pealing but I don't want to until I'm assured that there will be no stickiness left over. Otherwise I'll use a good suggested method.

Edit: one last little thing...the windshield mirror can get into my line of sight sometimes and the windshield is a little far forward...have to kind of duck to see some stoplights. Otherwise I LOVE LOVE LOVE this car. most of my complaints are tiny in comparison to the sheer joy I get just from driving it around town.

BTW where did all the MINIs dissapear to once I got one....I WANT TO WAVE and not get weird looks.

 

That little box looking thing in the roof? That's where part of the alarm system goes

ohh - and congrats on Baxter!

 

People are using this http://www.lightinsight.com/

 

I don't know if you can adjust the xenon headlamps. They are controlled by by a self leveling computer some where in the tail of your MINI. And your description of the light pattern is consistent with mine. On dark roads, the highs are best. Also, you'll see the drivers side light pattern is just slightly dipped. This is normal.

I just pealed it back. No residue. The mod warning sticker on the glass gave me way more problems. It took some goo-gone to finally get rid of the residue.

 

Mine were aimed low, too. Drove 3,000 freakin' miles NOT singing the praise of xenons. :impatient As paulr stated, it's a common misconception that the automatic height adjusters will get your lights to the right level. WRONG. They are only for changes in the angle of the car, i.e. if you have a few passengers, or a heavy load in back.
You can indeed raise them up a bit. Open the bonnet, and on the back of the lights you'll see adjuster screws. I started with half a turn, which was way too much. Try just 1/8 turn and see what you think. Initially, the cutoff for me was way too low. It's now set so the cutoff is right about bumper level of cars ahead of me, so I know I'm not blinding anyone. And now I can SEE the road. Try it, you'll be much happier.

As for waves, don't worry about weird looks - heck, you're in a clown car.

P.S. If you get tired of cleaning your white X-lites, come out to CA and I'll swap you for some silvers. You've waxed them already, haven't you?

 

Rowland, that is so great to hear about the screws...but I took a look and I was wondering if you could post a picture or diagram of it so I don't just start twisting things. Also, which way do you twist them? I guess it is something I'll have to do at night.

When do you use your fog lamps. I have both the front and the back, and I want to use them, but I'm nervous. I was followed home by a family member and when I first turned on my rear fog he called me on my cell and asked me to turn it off because it was distracting. Is it really all that bad? What about the front fogs?

 

The Front fogs, ok to use when ever you want, some will say that it's bling/for shown when it's not foggy......... each to there own...


As for the rear fog light... It should be only used when it is Foggy or real heavy rain when visibility is low, then it is polite to turn it of when the car behind has caught up... to prevent blinding effect.. the rear fog lamp is a lot brighter than the brake lights....

 

All Fog lights are to be used in the FOG. It should seem obvious but you will see a lot of cars, mostly SUVs, driving around with both the main headlights AND fogs lights on in normal weather. Pretty lame since the fogs are way down low, throwing a very wide beam directly in front of the car. Not going to do much of anything. In the fog, you will be driving MUCH slower because you cant see ahead and that very low beam directly in front of the car might be a life saver.

If you haven't driven in some really heavy fog it can be totally scary. Many bad accidents. I've been on an interstate ground to a Halt. People haul butt up to the fog and CRASH. You drive maybe 10 mph and the fogs are lifesavers.

Bottom line, you put them on in fog, the thicker the fog, the better. Your relatives complained because in the fog ... the rear light is GREAT ... cars behind you in the thick soup can see you rather than rear-end. Without fog ... they should be annoyed and irritated.

Fogs serve a purpose. Use them well. Keep them off unless if your not in the fog because they are pointless.

BTW, the OEM fogs are just about useless, if you want some real fogs, buy them

 

the controls for the zenon light adjustment are discussed here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ghlight=adjust

 

Thanks, I played around tonight with it and got it a tiny bit higher, but that made all the difference. Now I can actually see the signs at a distance. The lights just end so abruptly that it weirds me out just a bit.