R56 - Halogen to Bi-xenon

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Mar 9, 2012 | 02:36 AM
  #1  
I've bought 2nd hand Bi-xenon headlights set for my R56.
Does anyone know what I should do for replacement of Halogen headlights?
I know it's quite complicated...anyway...really look forwards for the new outlook!
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Mar 9, 2012 | 02:54 AM
  #2  
When i was looking into this option, the dealer sells a retrofit kit for about 500, i think.
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Mar 9, 2012 | 04:22 AM
  #3  
Quote: When i was looking into this option, the dealer sells a retrofit kit for about 500, i think.


Not likely. The upgrade option to Xenons might be $500 at the time of ordering, but if you're thinking of P/N 63120422185, that's just the wiring harness. The cost in parts to get an OEM setup comes to around $2,000 for new headlamps, ballasts, the washers, etc., etc..

Best alternative is around $1000 for the Black Flame Customs setup. They build you a set of Bi-Xenon lights using aftermarket housings and Morimoto projectors. No washers or leveling, though, but still a MUCH better alternative than putting Xenon bulbs in a halogen housing.
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Mar 9, 2012 | 04:48 AM
  #4  
As said, to get it all working correctly, it will probably be cheaper in the long run to sell your car and buy one that has the Bi-Xenon lights already.
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Apr 2, 2012 | 10:57 PM
  #5  
Quote:

Not likely. The upgrade option to Xenons might be $500 at the time of ordering, but if you're thinking of P/N 63120422185, that's just the wiring harness. The cost in parts to get an OEM setup comes to around $2,000 for new headlamps, ballasts, the washers, etc., etc..

Best alternative is around $1000 for the Black Flame Customs setup. They build you a set of Bi-Xenon lights using aftermarket housings and Morimoto projectors. No washers or leveling, though, but still a MUCH better alternative than putting Xenon bulbs in a halogen housing.
Yeah I learned this the hard way, right now I'm working on fitting morimoto projector xenons in a stock halogen reflector like the ones from black flame customs. It's very tedious and you don't get the other features as the real factory xenons, retrofits are the best option, the morimoto mini H1 kit costs about $300 from theretrofitsource.com and you have to take apart and cut up the original halogens to make them fit, it's a nasty process but I'm determined to get projectors in my mini. They're not official legal xenons either but they're not going to be obnoxious like HID's in halogen reflectors
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Dec 19, 2013 | 02:17 AM
  #6  
Xenon Upgrade for MINI's with Halogen
For MINI's manufactured after 9/09, you can get this brand new and "somewhat" plug and play kit from MINI.


Instead of chrome or black, these are what I would call anthracite. They are same as the OEM ones using a little flipper for the bi-xenon. While you will see these advertised as "plug and play" they are not. The Xenon programing has to be activated otherwise once the car is started, the headlights will flicker like a strobe light.


They retail for $500.00 per side. While expensive, a viable solution if you wanted Xenons but your MINI didn't come that way from the factory. We fired up a 2010 with a set of these yesterday. They have the same factory cut off, and while they are 25watt, are very bright.


Sold individually. No additional parts required, and no instructions in the box.....I was not able to find any directions from MINI/BMW on these yet.


#63102347698
#63102347700


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Dec 19, 2013 | 05:06 AM
  #7  
Yea, there is little info on these, there was a person who might had coding problems, but that was on a Euro set and not the US set. They might have just not coded it right.

They are called Titanium Gray, but from your pic gray raven they do look a little more anthracite.

Here is a link to the parts. 9/2009+

63102347698 & 63102347700 US set.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-not-work.html
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Dec 19, 2013 | 05:34 PM
  #8  
Has anyone used a set of these?
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Dec 20, 2013 | 10:41 PM
  #9  
Quote: For MINI's manufactured after 9/09, you can get this brand new and "somewhat" plug and play kit from MINI.


Instead of chrome or black, these are what I would call anthracite. They are same as the OEM ones using a little flipper for the bi-xenon. While you will see these advertised as "plug and play" they are not. The Xenon programing has to be activated otherwise once the car is started, the headlights will flicker like a strobe light.


They retail for $500.00 per side. While expensive, a viable solution if you wanted Xenons but your MINI didn't come that way from the factory. We fired up a 2010 with a set of these yesterday. They have the same factory cut off, and while they are 25watt, are very bright.


Sold individually. No additional parts required, and no instructions in the box.....I was not able to find any directions from MINI/BMW on these yet.


#63102347698
#63102347700


I cant wait to get mine!
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Dec 21, 2013 | 12:00 AM
  #10  
Quote: I've bought 2nd hand Bi-xenon headlights set for my R56.
Does anyone know what I should do for replacement of Halogen headlights?
I know it's quite complicated...anyway...really look forwards for the new outlook!
From the looks of your post you already have a set of OEM Xenon lights, Correct? Check the compatability of the wiring first and go from there. Like others said, even after they're installed you may have to get your car reprogrammed to recognize the option. You saved a chunk of change by having the OEM set to use in the conversion.
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Dec 21, 2013 | 01:14 AM
  #11  
I had a local company near me do mine and they are fantastic. The visibility is 9.5/10. I paid $650 all together and they haven't done more than two MINIs. There's a thread on here by them somewhere. And a couple of pictures of my headlights on my car(I have halos too).
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Jan 9, 2014 | 03:03 PM
  #12  
I just installed these headlights (#63102347698 #63102347700) yesterday and yes, re-programming was needed. Cost for programming at MINI dealer was very high and took long time as well(approx. 4HRs).
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Jan 9, 2014 | 06:09 PM
  #13  
4 hours to reprogram a car for xenons?? So at MINI dealership rates of like $200 an hour....it cost $800 to program a car just for xenons?

That sounds awful and I'm throwing up a BS flag towards that dealership.
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Jan 9, 2014 | 06:27 PM
  #14  
That is terrible. My buddy reprogrammed my car in an hour. Paid him $200 for it since he also rewired my halos. Keep in mind I have retrofit projectors.
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Jan 9, 2014 | 06:28 PM
  #15  
Quote: I just installed these headlights (#63102347698 #63102347700) yesterday and yes, re-programming was needed. Cost for programming at MINI dealer was very high and took long time as well(approx. 4HRs).

Most shops charge 1hr programming.


4hrs is insane.
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Jan 26, 2014 | 06:10 PM
  #16  
I have to get these!!!!
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Jan 27, 2014 | 10:51 AM
  #17  
We have them right here:



Xenon Headlight Titanium Gray 25 W - Left part # 63102347698


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/63102347698/


&

Xenon Headlight Titanium Gray 25 W - Right Part # 63102347700


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/63102347700/



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Jan 27, 2014 | 05:12 PM
  #18  
Love mine so far!!!
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Jan 27, 2014 | 06:37 PM
  #19  
mine are being installed on Friday!
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Jan 27, 2014 | 06:49 PM
  #20  
I'm wondering if there is any more of a difficulty level splitting these up to paint the inside compared to the halogen lamps
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Jan 28, 2014 | 04:31 AM
  #21  
Quote: I'm wondering if there is any more of a difficulty level splitting these up to paint the inside compared to the halogen lamps
Same amount of work. 200F for 5-7 min and slowly work the seal.
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Jan 28, 2014 | 04:44 AM
  #22  
Quote: Same amount of work. 200F for 5-7 min and slowly work the seal.
Does the plastic lens soften when baked for 5-7 mins or just the sealant that holds everything together? I've thought about Joey Modding mine (mine are halogens), but I'm a little nervous about damaging the lights. Also, to put them back together, do you just bake them again, or is there a need for new sealant?
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Jan 28, 2014 | 08:27 AM
  #23  
Quote: Does the plastic lens soften when baked for 5-7 mins or just the sealant that holds everything together? I've thought about Joey Modding mine (mine are halogens), but I'm a little nervous about damaging the lights. Also, to put them back together, do you just bake them again, or is there a need for new sealant?
It should not damage the lens. I'm in the process of retrofitting mine now.
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Jan 28, 2014 | 09:18 AM
  #24  
Quote: Does the plastic lens soften when baked for 5-7 mins or just the sealant that holds everything together? I've thought about Joey Modding mine (mine are halogens), but I'm a little nervous about damaging the lights. Also, to put them back together, do you just bake them again, or is there a need for new sealant?
No, that plastic is pretty tough at those temps. I did 7 min and released all clips and began to pry a little all of the way around but it didn't look like much progress. I rebaked for 5 min and then walked the lens right off, working my way around and cutting the black sticky sealant. You can rewarm them in the oven to reattach, but I have found that the FL sun for an hr or so will soften them up enough...but that is in the summer, winter would need a heat gun or hair drier to do them in place or a few minutes in the oven.
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May 25, 2014 | 06:57 PM
  #25  
Quote: We have them right here:



Xenon Headlight Titanium Gray 25 W - Left part # 63102347698


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/63102347698/


&

Xenon Headlight Titanium Gray 25 W - Right Part # 63102347700


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/63102347700/



Reviving a dying thread here... I am in the process of purchasing a 2013 hard top with OEM halogens. I asked the dealership to throw in the upgraded xenon headlamps without doing due diligence. I have not completed the purchase, so, here I am...

These titanium headlamps shown above --- are they an exact duplicate of the factory OEM's? I'm hoping they are - they just look so simple in the above photos, that it has me questioning...

Do they come in a darker color? I would love the black internal housing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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