Ok im sure this has been asked before but with a little research on the forums i come up with squat, Im looking to swap my headlights, i currently have the stock base halogen headlamps not so pleasant to look at and kinda blows at night i want to see if i can swap out them for the projector headlights i don't care if there halogen or hid, i guess what i want to know is where to buy them and if i can just plug and play them? im not quite sure. my previous car had the projector lenses in them and i loved it. any ideas or comments? for the price should i just try brighter bulbs in my current headlights?to the left is my current setup, was looking for headlight assembly like the one on the right

 

it will take a retrofit of all of the wires etc... and a flash of the vehicle order to the ECU before the lighting upgrade would take effect.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/electrical/217638-xenon-retrofit-w-ncsexpert.html

have a look at this thread on where to start but to let you know off top its gonna be close to 1k for the xenon headlight assembly and I am not sure if it includes the ballasts and other things you may need... I would go check local junk yards and see if you can source the parts from there to save some cash.

 

So, would this kind of thing not work? Just curious.

http://www.carid.com/2009-mini-coope...it-343562.html

 

That would work, but would also be illegal in most (if not all) states. Xenons need to have self-leveling as to not blind oncoming drivers. The halogen housings do not have the 'cutoff' that the projector housings have. The light will flood too high and into oncoming cars.

Personally I'd pass. Your best bet is to just get better bulbs for the halogens. Putting in ballasts and blinding others...not worth it. If you get the chance to see another MINI with xenons ask them to start it up and you'll see the headlights adjust themselves. It's a neat little show

 

doesn't the projector headlights come halogen and xenon? that's what i was under the assumption of, i just want the projector headlights i dont care if there xenon or not.

 

r53's have an aftermarket halogen projector housing that I know of but I have never seen anything produced for the r56. But yes, projectors can be halogen as well. Good luck with your search/project!

 

so if i take the headlights from another mini with the projectors lenses they just wont plug in and work on mine? that kinda blows lol

 

you would have to re pin the connectors with the appropriate ones from the xenon swap... i would at least get a shop manual if i were you as it might have some important info in it regarding this, have you even searched for the xenon retrofit PDF or googled it to see if one even exists?

 

well either way looks like its goin to be expensive... think im goin just try brighter bulbs and see how that works.

 

Here's another expensive option. Some of them look really good.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...me-custom.html

 

I installed the PIAA H13 bulbs and there was a big difference at night. It is worth the $75 and 10 minutes to try them.

Mike

 

PIAA? whats that? lol

 

Sorry, here you go.

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...ight_bulb.html

I don't know if they are available local to you, or cheaper elsewhere, but Outmotoring is a good place to start.

Mike

 

I had the standard halogens in my '11 WRX, and they sucked badly! The road that leads to my house doesn't really have much in the way of street lighting, and couldn't use my hibeams much due to oncoming traffic. I went to AutoZone, and bought a set of Sylvania SilverStar Ultras. They put them in for free, and I haven't had to turn my hibeams on once since they've been installed. Best $50 mod ever!

 

it will take a retrofit of all of the wires etc

 

Yes, it's bad news for us Halogen owners who want HIDs. The others are correct, you can't simply replace your halogen wirh a set of factory HID lights. Some of the issues you will encounter:

Different wiring to the lights, and different main wiring harnesses.
Different voltages to the lights.
Different computer programming.
Headlight leveling sensors on the suspension and the associated wiring on HID cars.
Different light switches on the steering column.

Best to just add driving lights or go with a Black Flames aftermarket set of HIDs.

 

Thanks guys for all the help, i picked up a set of brighter bulbs for the mini seems to be little better.

 

My understanding is that there is a Retrofit kit available from the dealer. for installing Xenon OEM lights in a Non Xenon car.

Install kit part number is 63120422185 and the cost is around $325-330

From the price I would say it does not include the actual lights though. Those would be and extra $350 to $650 or so each not sure exactly what the difference is that makes some of them almost twice as much as others.

 

Bi-Xenon headlamps will be at least $600 each from a dealer or parts department, the $300 ones are for halogens. Not sure what comes in the retrofit kit, maybe leveling sensors and wiring harness conversion parts and connectors.

IMO, OEM retro is way too cost prohibitive and a retrofit is the only way to get it done relatively cheap (ie <$1k)

Then if you buy a cheap HID kit from say DDM tuning you don't need the pricey control unit and bulbs from MINI:
01 63217217509
Bulb Xenon light with ignition element D1 12V 35W 2 In Stock $271.89 $240.61
02 63117182520
CONTROL UNIT XENON LIGHT
Production Split: Up To 09/09 2 In Stock $528.67 $467.85
02 63127255724
CONTROL UNIT XENON LIGHT
Production Split: From 09/09+ 2 Ships in 48 hrs $528.67 $467.85