Hi, I just purchased a 2009 Mini Cooper S. I drove it for 80kms. Came back to the garage 30 mins later and touched the headlights and noticed they were quite warm. Is it normal for the headlights to be hot?

 

Halogen or Xenon headlights? Seems normal to me, lights generate heat and in a sealed container like the headlight there's nowhere for the heat to go but the lens.

 

The halogens can get hot and the Xenons tend to be cooler , but on long runs near the top can get hot. As long as you dont see any warping or discoloring in the lens.

 

The halogens can get hot

That is an understatement! I once forget and grabbed the glass of a hal' bulb when pulling it out hot ... BIG MISTAKE .... BIG BIG!!!!!

On the other hand I believe I no longer have fingerprints on those fingers!!!!

 

Talking about the whole headlight outside, not the bulb. Yea the bulb itself...yikes.. thats a burn. And loosing your fingerprints.

 

Just be sure you have typical stock/OEM grade bulbs....no "off road" only bulbs that are illegal to use on a road car....they ARE higher wattage, but make enough excess heat that can melt plastic in housings not made for them....a couple folks have had headlights damaged.
Yes...lightbulbs make lots of heat...even a LED can get hot....but the stock housings do fine with stock/stock equivalents....heck....if you drive in the snow+ice at night, the heat can be a good thing....keeps the ice from blocking them....and if you have the OEM headlight washers/squirters, then you can wash off the dried salt....