i have an 05 r53 with stock xenon headlights. my driverside light comes on when i turn the switch, but when i hit bumps the light goes out. so i concluded something was loose. i took apart the headlight and my ignighter was a little loose and the clip was sliding out. i taped the ignighter and clip so nothing would rattle around and wouldnt come loose. that worked for a couple of months and now its back to square one were the light goes out after i hit a bump. i replaced both ignighters and it still does the same thing. could it be the balast?

Also i just bought a pair of 04 stock headlamps with no xenon. could i just order a hid kit that will just plug in and play i would rather go that rout cuz im not spending 500 dollars on a new balast. what would be involved if i swaped out the headlights and orderd a hid conversion kit is ther any major wiring im guna have to do or would everything just fit right in and not give me anymore agravation please please help

 

Imo just fix what you have...putting aftermarket xenons in std headlights are pretty suboptimal ...and the kits wiring will be setup for halogen plugs and wiring...you do not have this...so another hurdle.

 

so how do i fix the problem? buy a balast, or hid conversion?

 

Okk knowbody knows

 

Sounds like a ballast to me but the reason that you aren't getting many responses is that MINI doesn't make it easy. The unit is not parted out so you would have to buy an entire light fixture and they aren't cheap. You might be able to shop around and get a ballast but I'm not real sure.

I would avoid a cheap HID kit as many have had problems with them.

 

Salvage....most folks look for both sides....you only need one side....you can likly get what you need for just 50% compared to new mini parts...
have you switched the bulbs from side to side to see if the issue follows the bulb....
After a few days if no change you can then swap the ballest from side to side ...same trick....
i kinda wonder....sounds like YOU FIXED IT ONCE....kinda points you in the direction of the fix...

 

Have you tried swapping the driver's side ballast with the passenger side and checking for the same symptoms?

 

so i switched the pasenger side ballast with the driver side and come to find out the driver side with the good ballast the light goes out still?? im so confused and dont no what the problem is. could it be the ignighter? pease help sooooo frusterating

 

Now imo swap the bulbs....this bit of work you are doing might be saving big $$$.

 

I agree with Zippy. Swap easy parts until you can find the culprit.

 

Frustrating is still better than expensive As Zippy mentioned, you can start ruling out expensive components this way.

 

ok so i finally fixed my problem. i switched my bulbs around and noticed what the problem is!!!! i took the pasanger bulb out and swaped it with the driver side, as i went to put the bulb in the driverside housing i noticed wer the bulb clicked in was loose. so i took the lock ring and ignighter and taped it together preventing anything to moove around or pop out of place drove around for a good hour and it stayed on, no flicker no going out no nothing, it finally works and im so relived...

thank you everyone for the help!

 

Congrats! But I wonder if this is an issue prevalent amongst other MINI owners...

 

Congrats!!
A couple minutes/hours of work just saved you $$$!!

 

-resurrecting thread to note that I experience the problem in my '04 R53 xenons as described by OP. Hit bumps and light sometimes cuts out. Just started this week.

I now have a chance at fixing it since finding this thread. Thanks!