Hi Everyone,
My 03 MCS has been having headlight problems. I read a lot about this already on NAM and it seems to effect a lot of '03 minis. Basically one of the headlights doesn't work. It will randomly work and then randomly not work. Changing the bulb won't do anything. Ive heard that you just have to change the entire light fixture or housing. Now these are very expensive. Ive seen OEM light fixtures upward of 500 bucks each! Too expensive for me. Recently I saw this on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-04...QQcmdZViewItem

Does anyone know anything about these? They seem like a good product but I'm weary to buy anything that seems like a good deal on ebay. It states that these are plug and play. Does anyone have these? Will they fit on my 03 MCS? are they bright? Looking for any opinions.

 

They look like they'll be a direct swap, and the seller has 14,000+ feedbacks with 98.9% positive. That's about as good as you're likely to get for anything similar.

 

I just looked at the picture again. They have the washer jets in the ring. That means that they're Xenons. You may have issues if you're swapping out non-Xenons, because you don't have the leveling motor/sensors, and you don't have the fluid bottle to hook up to the washer jet. If you have Xenons now, they should be good.

 

Also You may just need a balast for the one headlight. I think its like 150. This happens to my MINI at leat a few times a year, I just turn my headlights off then on again slowly. Usually its the balast thats not charging completly.

 

I would say these are not Xeon lights (look at the wiring). The headlight washer ring in the picture mounted on the car are in the wrong place. They should be positioned towards the inside of the hood not outside (not enough room). I think they are just for looks.

 

yah they are halogen headlights

If you have a HID-equipped car...you might wanna see if they work.....this one says they dont. Though it's not uncommon for ebay sellers to be wrong about fitment issues since they sell parts for so many different cars....http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-03...spagenameZWDVW

 

I don't think they are made for the HIDs, they are meant for halogens. I doubt they have the motor for the autoleveling. However... has anyone tried them with HIDs is the question... if they are cheap made then the plastic will burn... just a thought

 

Maybe, but the OEM Halogen light housings are also all plastic.......it is so thin ther reflectors distort when changing bulbs

I put aftermarket HIDs in my Vette's stock plastic housings and have had no heat issues at all.
These ebay models might be great with aftermarket HIDs in them

 

The bulb is about 150. I got a price on a ballast from my local dealer and they told me about 425! But, I wanna get one at some point because my passenger side light is doing it, too.

 

Oh don't buy the balast from a dealer. I know I saw it for under 200 bucks online. On a website for HID OEM stuff.

 

Just a guess but I had a problem with the grounding cable on the driver side loosening up by itself (nut fell right off) and the driver side headlight would flutter in and out...... Put a new nut on there and presto! No more problems....

The cable is attached to the hood near the edge....