Interior/Exterior HID conversion of MINI
#1
HID conversion of MINI
Has anyone done it? I am looking into this for my MC.
http://www.xenondepot.com/product.php?product_id=54
http://www.xenondepot.com/product.php?product_id=54
#2
xenons
im in the process of doing now but im using the factory xenons ballasts and starters. i took an 02-04 headlight apart and gutted the pieces i needed and just put in the bulbs using the factory harnesses. as well. the hardest part was getting the older headlight apart. you can prob find the headlights cheaper on ebay. i payed like 18 bucks for mine because it was cracked and i just needed the parts. and the other one i swapped an 05 headlight for an o4 plus 150 cash. so that was pretty easy. but its definately worth it.
good luck
good luck
#3
Originally Posted by shoveit79
im in the process of doing now but im using the factory xenons ballasts and starters. i took an 02-04 headlight apart and gutted the pieces i needed and just put in the bulbs using the factory harnesses. as well. the hardest part was getting the older headlight apart. you can prob find the headlights cheaper on ebay. i payed like 18 bucks for mine because it was cracked and i just needed the parts. and the other one i swapped an 05 headlight for an o4 plus 150 cash. so that was pretty easy. but its definately worth it.
good luck
good luck
#4
#5
6500k is kinda blue...is that what you want? I believe a lot of the factory ones are 4k.
I think you could buy the factory hids and ballasts on ebay close to the same price as a kit but I don't know how you need to wire it.
P.S. I meant factory hid headlights(entire assembly) and not just the bulbs and ballasts.
I think you could buy the factory hids and ballasts on ebay close to the same price as a kit but I don't know how you need to wire it.
P.S. I meant factory hid headlights(entire assembly) and not just the bulbs and ballasts.
Last edited by meanboy; 03-26-2005 at 11:10 PM. Reason: further explanation
#7
Trending Topics
#8
#9
#10
backed out of buying hid kit in the past
I cancelled my hit kit purchase for our Lexus because of light scatter. Generally, the reflectors for xenons and halogens are different and when you put a kit in you will see the light scatter in one made for halogen lights. That's not something I wanted. I prefer the lower k because it's whiter and the visibility is better. People that are really into xenon headlights have pulled out their hid kits and went with the retrofit solution. But it's a bit more expensive.
#11
Originally Posted by meanboy
I cancelled my hit kit purchase for our Lexus because of light scatter. Generally, the reflectors for xenons and halogens are different and when you put a kit in you will see the light scatter in one made for halogen lights. That's not something I wanted. I prefer the lower k because it's whiter and the visibility is better. People that are really into xenon headlights have pulled out their hid kits and went with the retrofit solution. But it's a bit more expensive.
#12
It will be illegal unless you switch out the headlight housings,install the zke module, install the washing system, and install the sensors on your suspension. And without getting the new headlight housings, you will be blinding all drivers of oncoming traffic without the auto-level feature. Thats the light scatter that is talked about above, the glare will be VERY dangerous for concoming traffic...and you will lose nearly ALL of your luminosity.
I dont reccomend it at all...get some better halogens or something to brighten it....or actually do a complete switch. Just installing xenon's in your halogen housings will make your car look like some cheap civic or something with all that glare.
I dont reccomend it at all...get some better halogens or something to brighten it....or actually do a complete switch. Just installing xenon's in your halogen housings will make your car look like some cheap civic or something with all that glare.
#13
Originally Posted by RallyMINI
It will be illegal unless you switch out the headlight housings,install the zke module, install the washing system, and install the sensors on your suspension. And without getting the new headlight housings, you will be blinding all drivers of oncoming traffic without the auto-level feature. Thats the light scatter that is talked about above, the glare will be VERY dangerous for concoming traffic...and you will lose nearly ALL of your luminosity.
I dont reccomend it at all...get some better halogens or something to brighten it....or actually do a complete switch. Just installing xenon's in your halogen housings will make your car look like some cheap civic or something with all that glare.
I dont reccomend it at all...get some better halogens or something to brighten it....or actually do a complete switch. Just installing xenon's in your halogen housings will make your car look like some cheap civic or something with all that glare.
#15
Originally Posted by ditc
Did I understand correctly?
You realize they are illegal, you could potentially put yourself and other drivers in danger, but you're "cool with that"
You realize they are illegal, you could potentially put yourself and other drivers in danger, but you're "cool with that"
#16
That's pretty goofy...things like exhausts are illegal just because the noise is annoying to some of the population. non auto-levelling xenons are illegal because they have been found to temporarily BLIND people. There is a slight difference between their illegality. One is for noise ordinances...the other one is TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY from crashes due to temporary night-blindness.
There is nothing cool about blinding people. And no matter what you say, people who know cars will know you cheaped out and dont have enough money to get real xenons, i have seen comparison pictures, and non-xenon housings stick out like a sore thumb. And i certainly hope i never pass you in traffic....i like my sight while driving
I suggest you find a better way to achieve greater light...or actually man-up and get real xenons.
There is nothing cool about blinding people. And no matter what you say, people who know cars will know you cheaped out and dont have enough money to get real xenons, i have seen comparison pictures, and non-xenon housings stick out like a sore thumb. And i certainly hope i never pass you in traffic....i like my sight while driving
I suggest you find a better way to achieve greater light...or actually man-up and get real xenons.
#17
I can tell if some of my friends and I drove by in our different cars (MINI, Matrix and Passat) we'd get weird looks for our mods. The only Ricey one being the lights. But we all have our different tasts and opinion. I respect that and understand your points. But as you can probaly tell I am young and stubborn.
I was posting originally to see if anyone has gone ahead and done such a change on a MINI. According to the people I am buying from they have done a MINI.
I was posting originally to see if anyone has gone ahead and done such a change on a MINI. According to the people I am buying from they have done a MINI.
#18
They are illegal to ship in the U.S. DOT has crack down on lighting dealers. The retrofit would be the best way to go. I don't know if you need to go as far as the self leverers and washers but definititely at least the hid housing and ballasts. It's about twice as much as a kit but it will definitely have the factory look and feel.
#19
Originally Posted by meanboy
They are illegal to ship in the U.S. DOT has crack down on lighting dealers. The retrofit would be the best way to go. I don't know if you need to go as far as the self leverers and washers but definititely at least the hid housing and ballasts. It's about twice as much as a kit but it will definitely have the factory look and feel.
#20
Any HID retrofits are a bad idea. The light temp is too high. 6500k is too blueish purple not the proper blueish white like the factory 4300k. Not to mention that the stock halogen housings arent ment for HID lights, they dont have the proper cut off or reflectors. Plus it is getting illegal to do things like this cause of the hazards and the improper light it gives, and since its not aimed properly and/or reflected it gets in peoples face and is why you hear people complain about those "Bright Lights". Like i said its a bad idea. If you want HIDs buy a car that has them or retrofit OEM ones.
#21
They have some retrofits that rival the factory installations but they cost $$. One company will take your factory non hid housing and put projectors in them for around $700.00. Then you will need to buy the hid bulbs and ballasts and splice it all together. It can be done...but not for cheap. I would say at $1,200 or so would complete the job. The OEM HID option at $500 is a steal.
So when is the next cooper?
So when is the next cooper?
#22
Originally Posted by mdsbrain
I can tell if some of my friends and I drove by in our different cars (MINI, Matrix and Passat) we'd get weird looks for our mods. The only Ricey one being the lights. But we all have our different tasts and opinion. I respect that and understand your points. But as you can probaly tell I am young and stubborn.
I was posting originally to see if anyone has gone ahead and done such a change on a MINI. According to the people I am buying from they have done a MINI.
I was posting originally to see if anyone has gone ahead and done such a change on a MINI. According to the people I am buying from they have done a MINI.
Yah, im young and stubborn as well...i think its a good thing at this age
Anyways...i'm fine with the way it looks and stuff...i just dont want you hurting other drivers...and maybe yourself
People have done it...a buddy of mine in japan who had a VERY modded cooper had them....they definitely glared too much and blinded other drivers so he ended up taking them out(they were high quality phillips bulbs and ballasts) and he had the xenon housings etc installed, they worked much better with the aftermarket set up
#23
Originally Posted by mdsbrain
Yah But then again most aftermarket MODs are not DOT approved for road use. And I think they will replace my high beams so they will only be on when I really need the light.
#24
I actually didnt notice that you are ONLY putting them in your high beams...if that's the case, my view might be changed a little
Technically that is alright by my standards since you should never have high beams on when other cars are coming near you. Now...whether or not it will help brightness with the wrong housings, i dont know.
Technically that is alright by my standards since you should never have high beams on when other cars are coming near you. Now...whether or not it will help brightness with the wrong housings, i dont know.
#25
Originally Posted by RallyMINI
I actually didnt notice that you are ONLY putting them in your high beams...if that's the case, my view might be changed a little
Technically that is alright by my standards since you should never have high beams on when other cars are coming near you. Now...whether or not it will help brightness with the wrong housings, i dont know.
Technically that is alright by my standards since you should never have high beams on when other cars are coming near you. Now...whether or not it will help brightness with the wrong housings, i dont know.