R50/53 Things You Didn't Know About Your MINI
#751
I havent seen this on here. If your MINI's headlights are aimed too low, you can adjust them, so that they're aimed a little higher. here's a quote from rawhyde, who helped me fix my problem
"Each headlight has two adjustment screws. They look like a hexagon that extends about 3/4 inch from the back of the headlight housing. There is a slot cut across the hexagon so you can use a straight blade screwdriver to turn them. Loosen to raise the light. The INBOARD screw is for up/down and the OUTBOARD screw is for left/right.
Take it out on a dark country road and make some adjustments! These adjustments are very sensitive. Most likely much less than a full revolution will do the trick.
Every MINI owner I've helped with this has said, "Wow! Now I see what the big deal is about xenon headlights!!" (or words to that effect)
I've heard all the BS and hype about how precisely the factory aims these lights but I don't buy it. I aim my lights well below where they annoy other drivers and have DOUBLED the effective range of them over the factory adjustment. Call me cynical, but I think the factory aims these things drastically low because they figure that most of the targeted audience for premium cars with xenon headlights live in an urban setting with abundant streetlights where headlights are just to let other drivers see your car at night. Proper headlight aim is the best "free mod" you can do.
Rawhyde"
"Each headlight has two adjustment screws. They look like a hexagon that extends about 3/4 inch from the back of the headlight housing. There is a slot cut across the hexagon so you can use a straight blade screwdriver to turn them. Loosen to raise the light. The INBOARD screw is for up/down and the OUTBOARD screw is for left/right.
Take it out on a dark country road and make some adjustments! These adjustments are very sensitive. Most likely much less than a full revolution will do the trick.
Every MINI owner I've helped with this has said, "Wow! Now I see what the big deal is about xenon headlights!!" (or words to that effect)
I've heard all the BS and hype about how precisely the factory aims these lights but I don't buy it. I aim my lights well below where they annoy other drivers and have DOUBLED the effective range of them over the factory adjustment. Call me cynical, but I think the factory aims these things drastically low because they figure that most of the targeted audience for premium cars with xenon headlights live in an urban setting with abundant streetlights where headlights are just to let other drivers see your car at night. Proper headlight aim is the best "free mod" you can do.
Rawhyde"
#752
If you have changed springs your adjustment will probably be out.
If you have changed rear control arms there is a sensor on the drivers side upper arm.
You can clamp a "L" bracket to the arm and still keep your self leveling lights.
You can adjust that at the bracket or on the adjusting screws
If you have changed rear control arms there is a sensor on the drivers side upper arm.
You can clamp a "L" bracket to the arm and still keep your self leveling lights.
You can adjust that at the bracket or on the adjusting screws
#754
#755
#757
Non self leveling headlights are adjusted a bit low so that if you put passengers in the back and a couple cases of beer, that when the back drops and the lights end up higher they don't blind someone. A margin is left for different car loads.
If you adjust the lights so they're just below bothering a oncoming driver with the car empty, or just a driver in it, guess what?
But as you say, the HID's are supposed to adjust. Perhaps they leave some buffer for hills.
I often get bothersome flashs that looks like highs beams being flashed from behind, that are in truth cars with HID's hitting bumps on the GW parkway I take home every night.
If you adjust the lights so they're just below bothering a oncoming driver with the car empty, or just a driver in it, guess what?
But as you say, the HID's are supposed to adjust. Perhaps they leave some buffer for hills.
I often get bothersome flashs that looks like highs beams being flashed from behind, that are in truth cars with HID's hitting bumps on the GW parkway I take home every night.
#758
#759
Auto Climate Control
I actually have the unit for the Automatic Climate Control, but I need to buy a temperature sensor for the back of the unit. I'm going to be replacing my manual controls.
Do you know of a good place that sells the parts for this such as the temperature sensor?
#760
I discovered the speedometer gives the speed when you drive in reverse. It doesn't give negative speed but reads up on the scale. I think this proves that the BMW engineers know if they are going forward or backward, so didn't build the speedometer to let me know. I guess, I'm usually pretty sure, unless I'm driving and talking on the cell phone at the same time.
#761
#763
I always back into my parking space at home but I have never discovered this. Of course, my spouse recently painted our bedroom and I didn't notice. Tomorrow though, I'll both put the top down while backing up with the radar (I have an elm tree, mailbox and Saab to avoid) and XM.
#765
#772
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hot Springs Village, AR
Posts: 4,743
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rilmsty, you talkin' to me? I've got Premium, Sport and Cold Weather; also LSD, Union Jack mirror covers. 'Course that gives me the sunroof, DSC and Xenons--not the most tricked out MCS on the road, but very complete for me! BTW, we wanted a bit softer ride for our Texas-sized bumps, so we swapped the 17" wheels for 16" Bridgespokes...
#774
#775
To my knowledge, the keys don't hold info specific to the use of the car
while using each key. They do hold a small amount of info which is updated
from the car each time the key is used. If you put a key in the car and start
it, then immediately start it with the other key, both keys will contain
virtually the same information.
while using each key. They do hold a small amount of info which is updated
from the car each time the key is used. If you put a key in the car and start
it, then immediately start it with the other key, both keys will contain
virtually the same information.