I saw several threads on this which have died out. With winter coming and my wife having night blindness I need to figure something out.

Previously I had put stronger halogen bulbs in until I saw a post warning about it hurting the lenses which it did. So I put back the stock ones.

With LED tech getting better I wonder if there is any feedback on what is now available? I spoke to PIAA who said they are coming out with ones for our headlights (H13) in Jan/Feb. Be nice to know if there's any present options.

Dealer said they could change over to Xenon for $1600

 

I think LEDs are still pretty expensive. I want to upgrade my Halogens as well. My plan is to get replace my lights with these aftermarket projector ones
https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2008-...hts/ES3141728/

and a retrofit xenon bulb here https://www.amazon.ca/HELIO-H13-8K-H...ds=hid+kit+h13

I know the housing's won't be the same quality as OEM, but for $320 it's worth a try.

 

I saw those and called on them. With the HID it makes sense it will make a difference. Please report back your experience for all of us. Should've ordered the Xenon when ordering the car. Bad mistake.

 

I'm not sure how soon I'll be getting them. I'd like to get them soon as now that it's winter, it get's dark at 5pm so I'll be using the lights more, and I'm really not a fan of the stock halogens.

 

It would be nice too see something that doesn't require a projector lense. There are plenty of LED's out there now that fit. Just not the right beam pattern and not DOT approved. Is this possible?

 

I ordered a set of these - https://www.carid.com/2012-mini-coop...172387819.html - but was unhappy with the coverage. Since the LEDs illuminate on only 1 side for the low beams & then both sides for high beams, I tried turning the bulbs in every possible way & either the lows were good or the highs, but not both.

I found that for the almost projector-like factory reflectors, the only way for it to work properly is to have a LED that illuminates from BOTH sides of the bulb on both low & high.

As soon as I get the others returned I'm gonna order these - http://www.xenonhids.com/dual-beam-h...t-kit.html?i=1 - since their bulbs for H13 have (4) LEDs per bulb (1 PER SIDE for low & all 4 for high).

If those aren't satisfactory, then I'm gonna exchange them for HIDs - http://www.xenonhids.com/dual-beam-b...n-kit.html?i=1 - as a last resort since I've been told HIDs are better with secondary power from a dedicated harness & relay. I don't really want to fool with doing that too, so HIDs are gonna be my last resort

I shall report back.......

 

I would run a projector if you convert, unless you have a bulb with a built in projector?

Otherwise you are blinding the on coming traffic with the low beams on.

 

After a silly amount of research I think these are the options

PIAA is coming out with one they claim is brighter than the Xenon. In development for 2 years to correct the normal cutoff problem. Releaseing 1st of 2017 PN 26-17313 Fanless. Plug and play.

The other is this one. It claims higher wattage. There are a couple Mini owner reviews all positive. Requires a couple resistors which they will supply to eliminate fault warnings.