Quick question...... I have already ordered my Mini Cooper S which has finish production but stupid me I forgot to add the Xenon lights . Can they be installed at the dealer or can I do it myself after I receive it. Also is it hard to install on your own and where would I purchase them from????

 

I am sure that It can be done, but I would expect to pay at least 3-4 times what they cost during the build. It would be cheaper to cancel your order and order another car.

The bulbs alone are $217 each. I would expect the ballasts to be around $400 each. Add in the actual headlight and other electrical parts and you are probably looking at well over $2000

 

Yea, If you really want them the most cost effective way would be to cancel your order and reorder. Retrofitting OEM lights $$$$ will scare you.

 

WOW.... That sucks cause I really want MY Mini. I don't know if I can wait any longer. I think I might just deal with it for now.

 

they are totally worth the wait.

 

I wish I could wait but I'm too impatient :impatient . Does anyone know where they can be purchased from if I decide to change them out???

 

probably a year from now they will have aftermarket Xenon lights for the R56.

 

Yup, it's going to cost some serious cash if done right.

If your MINI has just come off the assmbley line you may as well order a new one even if it meant forfeiting any deposit you had on it.

 

Unlike most folks here, I don't care much for Xenons. I honestly find them rather obnoxiously bright to other drivers. Obviously they aid in your own visibility and some folks really like the way they look, but I purposely did not order them on my MCS.

If it is something you'll always look back and wish you had gotten, then reorder. If you feel like you'll forget about it in a month or two then just stick with the one you ordered.

 

I am very satisfied with my OEM standard lights. I have the OEM driving lights , which I installed myself.. The question that you have to answer to yourself is :-- Do i need them for driving.?? or do i need them for looks?? or macho.??.

 

Not only are they brighter but it looks really good. All the high end cars have them, and I wanted them on mine too. Plus the high Beams are Xenon too, very bright. For $500, is a bargain to get them ordered. They also come with self leveling.

 

It was more for looks than anything but I think I will be just as happy without them. So long as the car has lights I will be good . It's more about the car it's self. I just really want my car like RIGHT NOW.

 

Thank you all comments. I am thinking to order for my new 2008 MCS. I know what I am going to order only except the lights. If I go with Xenons then it needs them for looks. I will be OK with OEM lights as long as it works. But still I cannot decide .....

 

spam.at.trash, it's a fairly easy call really...if you like the way xenons look, would like a brighter beam and wouldn't mind paying $500 extra, go for it. If none of that stuff is important to you, stick with the standard halogens.

 

The lights that blind people are on riced out trash....factory designed xenons are designed to enhance visibility and not blind others. The aftermarket trash is not! In fact the biggest complaint about xenons is the sharp cutoff in illumination, because the optics and refractive housing are designed that way. the MINI's xenons are also self adjusting and attitude sensing.

After having the xenons on my car I will never have another without them they are THAT good!

 

The xenons that have blinded me have not been on aftermarket riced trash as you put it. They were on regular high end cars such as lexus, acura, bmw, etc.

 

Ah, but how were they adjusted? I had the dealer raise mine a little because they were clearly too low--after that I started getting flashes from other drivers. Dropped in again at the dealer when I had a few minutes, and they went down just a tiny bit, and no more flashes--great for me, great for others.

You know, "regular" headlights can blind, too--all in the adjustment. I might add that sometimes people look at them because they stick out in a crowd--that's not good for the vision, either. My old man found he was doing that.

 

Oh how I wish more drivers would do this.

 

if a car has incorreectly adjusted headlights, HID or not, they will blind on coming drivers, its just that HIDs are brighter so its even more important that they are adjusted correctly.

As for the retrofit, i would guess that the housings themselves will probably run upwards of 12-1500 bucks each, i have a friend who got sandwhiched in an accident and had to replace one of this headlights, it was for his 2003 BMW 330i... total for 1 housing was 1500 bucks i believe. Also, im not sure how the car accommodates the headlight washers if they were not factory installed.

 

ienglish05, after reading this thread of yours, I too am deeply regretting not adding xenons to my build. My car is already on the boat though and I'm trying to decide whether I should cancel my order and reorder. If I do, I will have to wait much longer obviously.

How bad are the halogen lights? Worth reordering with xenons?

 

i didnt get mine with xenons either. im going to start searching the junkyards soon for a cannibalized set

 

I don't know your location, but I had my totaled MINI with unscathed xenons go to the junkyard about 2.5 months ago. Point is, with some rummaging around, you should definitely be able to find a reasonably priced set. Now installation cost/difficulty will most likely be a very different story...

 

russr, I want my car more than I want the lights so I'm not going to cancel my order. Right now he is at the port awaiting transport .

 

I switch between NY and VA. But im thinking of going to a couple U-pull-it yards and having a look at the mini xenon system b4 i decide to take it. if it looks like i can do it myself i will. should just be two housings two ballasts and harness. shouldnt be to bad.

 

Well there's a power washer too, don't forget about that.