I'm ordering a Mini S Roadster and have a question about the driving lights. Are they much like brights and have to be shut off when driving on a highway or any place there's lots of oncoming traffic? I would like to add to my visibility at night, but not if I need to constantly play with the toggle switch.

 

Yes, the driving lights are like the high-beams - they must be turned off to avoid blinding oncoming traffic.

They are however turned on and off with the high-beams, so it's not an extra control to fool with.
(They don't have to be used - they do have their own control, but it essentially "enables" them to be on and off in concert with the high beams)

If you have the Xenon headlights, you honestly won't notice much difference with the driving lights - the Xenons are pretty good!

That said, I had them on my JCW (as much for the looks as anything) and did like the slight supplemental light they provided when driving on very dark highways. It was a bit more light to the sides of the main beams.

I'm debating them on my new Roadster as well. I got a very good deal on the parts (purchased by someone else for a self-install and then daunted by the difficulty) for my previous set, since this one would be full price it's definitely a harder decision.

Don

 

Don, thanks - very helpful information. Yes, I'm ordering the Xenon headlights and am rarely on dark, country roads so I think I'll probably pass on the driving lights. Thanks -

 

Like Island Don say'sI have just the regular lights on my 2009 JCW and the driving lights are a great asset on a long dark road. I never knew there were so many animals in Florida until I got the driving light installed. Going across route 40 in Florida I never knew that there were bears along the side of that road until the driving lights lit them up. I have mine set to beam straight down the highway and they still give me excellent side lighting. They are hooked into the high beams so no extra effort is needed to do what you will do if another car is coming at you.

Not only the way they work but the way they look on a Mini is worth having them installed.

 

Hmmmm....thanks for that perspective on night driving. Where I live, deer are an issue at dusk and night but maybe we have bears and I've never seen them without the driving lights! Thanks for weighing in - appreciate it.

 

I too have the OEM lights on my 08 and also have xenons. I can barely see the additional light when using the lights, but I installed them because I love the look of the lights in front of the grille.

 

Thanks - I love the looks of those lights, too, but I'm trying to prioritize some options. Thanks so much for your response.

 

I have Xenons on my hardtop with quads, there is a big difference. With that said if you like DIY projects this is a good one to do and save. You can see them in my Gallery

 

No disrespect intended, but are you not fearful that the way you have them mounted, some half-wit might actually use your bumper as a bumper when backing into the parking space in front of you and wipe them out?

Just curious...

 

I understand your point, but I normally don't run my car up to the parking blocks as not to tear up the lower part of my bumper. So with that in mind I have no concerns about my lights. I have had quads on the front of my car for over 5 years and the biggest danger is rocks, not other morons which BTW I have my share where I work.

 

FYI: You might want to go over to Michigan Mini and check how many like their driving light when they are down on the Dragon.

http://www.michiganmini.org/forum/in...p?topic=4569.0