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I was able to source a retrofitted projector into the oem halogen housing. I then installed a bixenon kit and as expected, the HIDs started strobing about 10seconds at initial start of the car (headlights off of course). This is the cold monitoring I assume?
Related question - would the dealer agree with coding my aftermarket HIDs? and if so, down the road would they use this as an excuse for any electrical issues I might end up with?
Hello,
Newbie here! I have a question regarding the headlamps on my R56. I just recently bought my second R56. This one is almost identical to the last one I had. Same year, 2007, same color, chili red, same body and style, hatchback S. One thing that is different though, the headlamps.
This is what they looked like on my first R56 . On my new one they look like this . Needless to say, I'm a little disappointed, as I liked the look of my first R56 headlamps over my current one.
Why the difference when both cars were 2007 R56 S? Was one car modified? I'm not sure if the build date of my first R56 but my current one was manufactured .
Any suggestions on changing the to the nicer looking, Bi-Xenon headlamps?
The filtering is the coding going from a halogen Xenon set up. The LKM / Foot well module is checking for resistance.
I don't know if a dealer would code for xenon with aftermarket light but some people have done it through NCS expert or similar coding software.
I found a guy that can remove the cold bulb check. But Im not sure how to code for xenon since bixenon kits usually come with a relay kit which is triggered only from either the driver or passenger side (which means the other side will have nothing attached)
If you can, answer one or any of the questions below
I've seen, just tonight, a 2011 R56 factory equipped 35W S522A Xenon Light packaged Xenon Headlamp car directly next to a 2012 R56 with OE-MINI 25W 'titanium' Bi-Xenon Retrofit kit ( 63102347698) shining at the same wall after dark. The 35w bulbs have years of use... the 25w kitted car has maybe 3 months on it.
Both are aimed correctly and installed correctly.
The 35W was noticeably brighter... and the 'self leveling' feature was pretty cool as well on the factory equipped car.
Question 1: What HID Bulb (type) is used on the OE-MINI 25W 'titanium' Bi-Xenon Retrofit kit ( 63102347698)?
I have an ENTIRE 2011 R56 Mini Cooper donor car that was delivered from the MINI factory with the Factory installed S522A Xenon Light Package.
Question 2: What parts would I need to remove from the factory S522A Xenon Light packaged car in order to do the swap to another 2011 R56 Mini that was delivered from the factory with halogens... but now has the 25W 'titanium' Bi-Xenon Retrofit kit ( 63102347698). Washers, lights etc?
Question 3: Is the coding straight forward following the swap?
Question 4: Any issues installing the 25W 'titanium' Bi-Xenon Retrofit kit ( 63102347698) into the donor car that the S522A Xenon Light package was removed from.
I really like the brighter output, self leveling light and the washer feature of the factory equipped setup....Which is MY reason for wanting to do the upgrade.
Thanks in advance!
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Last edited by mountainhorse; Jan 27, 2019 at 10:27 PM.
So, after looking into it a bit... The OE-Genuine-MINI Xenon Headlight Titanium Gray 25W upgrade set.... Comes with the 25W D5S bulbs which incorporate the ballast into the base of the bulb.
The lumen output on this bulb is capped, by govt. regulations, at 2000-lux according to OSRAM. This is the reason for running it... Euro regs. (wish they had a US version) By contrast:
The OSRAM 35 watt D1S bulb, that is fitted to the OE-Original self leveling HID R56 Xenon headlamp package is rated at 3200-3400
Both bulbs having the 5000k (bright white) in color-frequency.
Although the beam pattern and 'throw' are improved over the halogen units the OE-Genuine-MINI Xenon Headlight Titanium Gray 25W upgrade set was intended to replace... or even matching the factory... The INTENSITY of that throw is diminished (as I saw the night before last)... wish I took a photo... Maybe again if I can ask him to come to the shop with the car.
The beam pattern/cutoff and distance down the road, due to optics, may be very similar to the factory installed S522A Xenon package
BUT...
Simply, the 35w factory 'S522A Xenon Light package' is brighter on both LOW AND high beam settings than the Genuine-MINI retrofit kit and is self leveling.
Long story short... IMO.. the "cool factor" of the OE-Genuine-MINI Xenon Headlight Titanium Gray 25W upgrade set is great compared to base halogen headlights.
The beam and intensity is improved over the Halogen.
BUT... and for me ... it is a BIG but.
The actual intensity of the OE-Genuine-MINI Xenon Headlight Titanium Gray 25W in comparison to OE-factory-equipped 35W 'S522A Xenon Light package' is a "LESS THAN" scenario in terms of performance for the Titanium gray 25W.
There is NO washer function on the OE-Genuine-MINI Xenon Headlight Titanium Gray 25W set... nor is it able to be installed. There is no self leveling and the light output intensity is more than 30% lower.
Hence, My desire to swap from the OE equipped car.
Phillips/Osram D5S bulb
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Last edited by mountainhorse; Jan 28, 2019 at 12:07 PM.
Anyone with input on Swapping the S522A Xenon Light package from the same model year and model, R56, into a halogen car. Note: I already have an ENTIRE 2011 R56 donor car in my driveway that was delivered from the MINI factory with the Factory installed S522A Xenon Light Package... so that is a ZERO issue for components.
Question 2: What parts would I need to remove from the factory S522A Xenon Light packaged car in order to do the swap to another 2011 R56 Mini that was delivered from the factory with halogens... but now has the 25W 'titanium' Bi-Xenon Retrofit kit ( 63102347698). Washers, lights etc?
Question 3: Is the coding straight forward following the swap?
Question 4: Any issues installing the 25W 'titanium' Bi-Xenon Retrofit kit ( 63102347698) into the donor car that the S522A Xenon Light package was removed from.
Again, Any help/insight is much appreciated !
This was an interesting video that has some info about the 25W Xenon bulbs
Although it is for a different car... they talk about the comparison of the Lower Watt D5S bulbs that are used in the MINI-Genuine Xenon Retro fit.
Dang, these things are pricey....as are any high quality D5S bulbs.
D5S: The entry into premier league of car lighting
The first vehicles with 25-watt Xenon lighting have been on the road since 2013. Find out more about the new Xenon bulbs, what they can do and where they are used here.
In vehicles from the mid-range upwards, the new Xenon lights frequently replace the halogen bulbs that were previously used as standard, which significantly improves the lighting. For the small car and compact class vehicle range, where the standard Xenon 35-watt lighting has so far not been offered at all, or where there has been very little demand, the 25-watt version is an attractively priced optional extra.
Automatic headlight range control and headlight washer system?
The common perception is that automatic headlight range control and a headlight washer system are compulsory for cars with Xenon lights, but this is only partially correct. The international regulations set out by ECE R48 do not actually refer to the type of bulb, but rather to the light stream emitted by the light source of the dipped beam. If the light stream is greater than 2000 lumen, the car must be fitted with both automatic headlight range control and a headlight washer system.
This was a relatively simple matter in the past. Halogen bulbs were always below this limit and Xenon, with around 3200 lumen, were always above. This is what first created the reference to Xenon technology as it still appears in the StVZO (Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung – German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations). The special feature of the 25-watt solution is that its light stream is now "only" 2000 lumen.
This means that the automatic headlight range control and headlight washer system can be omitted, although they can still be included. However, many car manufacturers are choosing to retain the automatic headlight range control and only dispense with the washer system. This maximises the benefit for the manufacturers, as only a small water tank is required, saving on space and weight.
Philips D5S with fully integrated electronics Figure 1: Xenon D5S
The 25-watt solution from Philips is called D5S and integrates not only the starter—as with the D1 and D3—but also the complete ballast unit in the base. Additional electronics are no longer required. The D5S has an optimised light arc and is installed in a specially designed projection module.
The aim is to focus as much as possible of the available 2000 lumen onto the road, thus matching the road illumination achieved by the classic 35-watt Xenon as closely as possible.
D5S compared with D3S
According to the figures, the D5S with its 2000 lumen is closer to a H7 (1500 lumen) rather than to a standard Xenon bulb. The following comparison images from the Philips application laboratory show that this impression is deceptive.
The D5S bulb has an optimised, more compact light arc with a higher luminance. This is the measure for the brightness of the luminous "surface". Together with the specially adapted lens, the available light is utilised more effectively and is projected onto the carriageway more efficiently. The bulb also has a higher colour temperature of 4800 kelvin compared with the 4100 kelvin for a standard bulb.
D5S in the Citroën C4 Picasso 2013
H7 in the Audi Q5 2010
D3S in the Audi A4 2010
The D5S is installed in the basic models of the new Audi A4, A6, Q3, Q7 and TT, the Maserati Ghibli and the Alfa Romeo 4C.
It is available as an optional extra in the Vauxhall Corsa, Citroën C4 Picasso, Skoda Rapid, Alfa Romeo Gulia, Fiat 500X and the Jeep Renegade.
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Last edited by mountainhorse; Jan 29, 2019 at 01:44 PM.
It seems from reading above... that there is coding for the 35w factory set with leveling... and different coding for this Factory retrofit kit??
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Thats my guess on NCS Expert people talked about coding back in the day. I think the 35w has the level sensor coding vs the 25w does not. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...fit-kit-5.html post #112 disables auto leveling
Were you able to transplant the harness and FRM from the donor car and get this working? I’m in the same boat, I bought a complete r55 clubman S with no motor and am wanting to transplant the bixenon lights and associated wiring and FRM into my halogen equipped r55 clubman S.
I’ve read several articles and threads here and nobody ever seems to follow up with solid results. If I swap the FRM and wiring from the donor car will I still need to complete the coding?
the halogen car has one light and it’s busted. The passenger side is gone and I don’t want to buy replacement halogens when I already have the bixenons. I found out quickly they weren’t a direct plug and play swap which is what led me here.
