Hey guys, I have an R50 with a Xenon bulb that needs to be replaced. The dealer wants $265 to replace 1 bulb...lol. I just ordered a new bulb from Minimania to replace myself...however...the owners manual that came with the car says that the Xenon bulbs should only be replaced at the dealer due to the risk of "Fatal Injuries" that may occur. When I remove the rubber boot that covers the bulb, the back of the igniter has a large Lightning Bolt logo on it to warn you of high voltage.
So my question is this: Is there really a risk of being electrocuted while changing the bulb? Should I disconnect the car's battery first? Your thoughts?

 

Certainly battery negative terminal disconnect and the system possibly has some sort of ballast or capacitor that retains power for a certain amount of time.

Note the warning on this page https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/r...lights/EFMyMJp

 

Perfect! I checked the warning, and it states:
"Warning! Xenon headlight: Danger to life due to high voltage! Disconnect all components from voltage supply before removal. Work on the entire xenon lighting system (ignition device, control unit and xenon bulb) may only be carried out by qualified personnel."
I'll definitely disconnect the battery first. Thanks!

 

Yes, just disconnect the battery or at least the wires from the ballast and main connection to discharge the light.

 

I have changed many xenon bulbs and installed bunch of xenon kits back in the day, I am still alive. Manual also calls for taking car to the dealer to replace the reflector bulbs on the arches.

Just use your common sense.

 

The Bulb that I'm going to be installing is a D2-R for a Gen1. Any tips on how to remove the igniter from the old bulb? Does it just twist off, or is there more to it than that? Should I remove the igniter from the bulb while the bulb is still in the housing, or should I remove the bulb/igniter from the housing and then remove the igniter from the old bulb? Just looking for the best method so I don't have any issues with the install.

 

Here is the DIY and the bulb types. D2R


https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...enon-bulb.html

 

it's not bad to do if the head light bucket isn't messed up on the inside like mine is, the bulb won't come out. due to lack of space. the other side is just fine. should take 5-8 mins.

 

UPDATE: I received my new bulbs and swapped them out. Super easy job, and I saved a ton of money doing it myself. I host a YouTube channel centered around my '97 Mazda Miata, but I decided to film our R50 Mini Cooper and put it up as a "how-to". I try to make my videos entertaining and informational, so here it is if you need instruction on how to do this job:

 

Thank you Sir, great tutorial and funny. Much appreciated,

 

^^ Nice video, DIY for the win. Should be matched and nice and bright after all those years.

 

That is So much easier than the refresh setup. Talk about an exercise in needless frustration...

 

Bro, is your eyesight really so bad that you need to drive with 5,000 lumens? I get around with 700 lumens. 1,200 on high-beam. I really don't understand this fascination with brighter, bluer headlamps. It's just plain rude and inconsiderate at best. Rude and dickish at worst. Don't you remember being taught never to flash your brights at oncoming cars? Well, when your Xenons are 2-3 times brighter than my brights what is the point of me being polite anymore? Consider this, there are people who can drive on the road at night safely with the headlamp choices of a half-century ago. Why on earth are we pretending that we need headlights brighter than the Sun??? Why pretend our lo-beams are still low when they are as bright as a supernova appearing directly in the uncorrupted vision of oncoming drivers?!?! Am I seriously going to have to drive at night with sunglasses on just so your vanity can be satisfied? Just spend $10.00 USD on your dad's old-school 700Ls halogens, why don't you? I'm seriously asking. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DRIVE WITH XENON AND LED?????
Just go back to 700 lumen lo-beam, 1200 hi-beam. The next step is touring with sirens on alllllllll the time! And flashing, alternating red and blues on top of your car! For safety's sake!!! So you don't get overlooked. What a joke.
SMH
YOU are a danger if you drive around with Xenon.
Xenon isn't the danger.
And if you even contemplate the "need" to spend the better part of three-hundo replacing a bulb, you might "need" to be the first against the wall.
How many jagoffs does it take to screw in a light bulb? One just to stand there and all the rest to spin the whole world around him.
@-'----

 

Come on don't hold back! Tell us how you really feel😀😃