I have to say, these lights are very very bright. Don't let the 25w fool you. I drove a couple of hours through some heavily wooded areas the other night, and with the high beams on, I could see deer from at least 500 or 600 feet away. I felt extremely confident with the lights because of how bright everything was. It even shocked my roommate how bright they were. I've never been in another car with headlights so bright.

 

I everyone
I've tried to retrofit a OEM bi-xenon 35w version on a not xenon equipped mini... today...
I add.$522 to VO in both CAS and FRM modules
Default both CAS and FRM modules
(Using ncs expert)
..but nothing work (i'm sorry for my bad english)

Any ideas??

 

So, we picked up our 'new-to-us' Mini with these retrofit lamps...

After installing them, the local dealer said it would be 1 hr labor to reprogram... two days later we got the car back. Why so long, you ask?

They tried programming it the first time --> screwed something up and had to order a brand new radio/nav unit --> and do the whole install over again (the paper they gave us said they had to program it 3 times to get it to work)

Long story short, they didn't charge us anything at all lol.

I am SO glad I took it to the Dealership instead of the local BMW specialist!

On another note, Where do I adjust the lamps? ANSWER = THE WHITE **** THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED WITH A PHILIPS SCREW DRIVER-...Will that adjust the Horizontal plane of light

FOR HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT!
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...889-post5.html

Adrian

 

It's weird how varying the information is on how to program these. I first got a quote at my dealership and they said programing could take 2-6 hours. It was obvious they didn't know the exact coding, and told me they'd quote for two hours.

Detroit tuned said they couldn't do it, only dealerships can program them.

Like you see in this thread, quite a few people have done it themselves so I got a cable and after tons of frustration on setup of the software, when it came down to it, it was about 5 minutes total for programming them. Adding the $522 and editing two lines in the text file.

As for adjusting, yes, the white plastic screw adjusts vertically (your horizon) and there's a cap on top towards the outside and under that is another white screw for adjusting horizontally (left/right).

 

Cool, I found another link and provided it above for adjustment

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...889-post5.html

 

Great, yeah pictures help a lot more than words haha. And if you need it, I could post a picture of the horizontal adjustment screw.

 

Yes , looks like its a allen, with Phillips in the center adjustment. That nylon color screw on the back tab. Also adjustment large screws ( with holes ) on the two tabs to align to the hood ring trim and hole.

Xenon Headlight Titanium Gray 25 W - Set 63102347698KT

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/63102347698KT/





Thanks

 

Yeah, the large holes ECS pointed out are in this pic, and are for lining the assembly up with the holes in the hood.



If you need further adjustment even though they're centered in the holes (mine were still 'cross-eyed' noticably), you'll need to use the other nylon adjustment screw, located under this black cap for some reason. It's tricky to get off without feeling like you're breaking it.





First pic is from google, the manual is from https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...147-post5.html.. I spent forever trying to point my driver side light straight. This diagram should be in the regular manual.

 

Installed these lights last week in 1/09 R56S, had them coded @ Minihaus in Westbrook, CT. Took Art (owner) appx 30 minutes or so using the same scanner as the Mini dealers have. First time he did this but no problems encountered. I did have to reset my "stalk settings" - 3x directional, auto up window, etc for each key.

After physically aligning them in the openings I aimed them and.........

Love em, very happy. IMO far superior to original halogens.

Art & his shop are top notch, highly recommended for CT area owners who need service.

Thanks to the intrepid souls who guinea pigged themselves (jai, ragingmini, others) & provided info on making these lights work on earlier cars.

 

Awesome, glad you were able to get them additional outside MINI coded for the pre 9/2009 MINI.

Post up some pics.

 

Are the xenon's the daytime running lights? Or are there LEDs in the halo around the xenons that act as DRLs?

If it is the case that the xenon's are the DRLs, I think it would be pretty sweet to convert my fog lights into LED DRLs with this OEM kit I just came across. Drool... http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Site...554/ES2660864/

 

Xenons act as the DRL & can be enabled or disabled via the signal stalk menu.

 

Yep, Xenon are DRL. When you turn the DRL xenon function off and those foglight/ DRL ( DRL ring ) becomes the DRL. See the functions.

MINI Daytime Running Lights LED 63122338554

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/63122338554/ES2660864/




Thanks

 

Did you go to LT in el monte?

 

Just bought the 25W Xenon Retrofit for my 2011 R56 MCS. Sure enough, it's strobing when turned on. I spoke to a Mini dealer in Long Island, NY but they don't seem to know anything about the retrofits. Any suggestions on a Long Island, NY dealer or shop who can code? Been using my fogs for headlights..

 

Lex166,

Might want to show them this thread, I believe a couple post back talk to the actual program and the code that will need selected. Also they should be able to pull up the reprogram from there internal docs? If they are still in the dark. I would call another closer MINI dealership.

Thanks

 

I installed these in our late '13 R56 in the spring. We bought the car off the lot to replace our R53 after you could place R56 orders. It was a halogen headlight car, but it was the right color/price/time/most all other options, so we bought it.

Tried to make do with the halogens, tried brighter bulbs. Put on the Hella 500's from the R53, which helped the high beams, but the low beams just did not put down the light that we were use to from the Xenons in the other three MINIs we have owned.

Worked with my local dealer (Ottos) to get the cost in line with ordering online (Not to knock ECS - those guys rock!). It was their first 25w upgrade, and I think they were a little excited to see how well it performed.

To save a few bucks on install, I drove over with tools, got the lights from the parts desk and proceeded to change them in the parking lot in 20 minutes. 8 bolts, boom, you are done. They coded it and I was on my way.

So, now we have about 6 months or so of use and I can say I would buy them again in a heartbeat if I were in the same situation. No, it's not cheap, but I find it to be a solid value for the (mostly) plug-and-play performance. I am well past the point of getting projectors from an Acura or something and rigging everything to make them fit...

My wife is the primary driver on the R56 (and the factory Xenon R53 before that) and she is very pleased with the upgrade. When I take the car at night, it is very clear the difference how much of the road is illuminated. I always felt like I was out driving the halogens.

I do think that they are pointed a little bit down, but I understand that is due to not having the leveling system. I plan to do a little adjustment to the height based on the feedback above.

 

My Xenon retrofit is now coded in.. It took no more than 20mins. I know it's a bit pricey but as fishbulb put it, I have no time putting together bits and pieces from eBay. I also drive a Bimmer 7 series with Xenons and the light output from the 25W retrofit is comparable.. I am highly recommending this. Huge difference from my crappy halogens.. Bimmer Motors Group from L.I.C., NY did the coding for me.. also highly recommended.

 

Post up some pics of the new Xenon 25watt retrofit kit installed oon your MINI.

 

I'd be a lot more tempted if it was in the $500-600 range. But almost a grand is just to painful for me not to have got the xenon when ordering the car. Feeling bad about oneself is never a good business model . . .

AND . . . I wish they came in silver or black. I don't care for that off-grey color so much.

 

The xenon headlights are worth it if you have them and drive in the dark daily. Currently around ~ $844 for the pair from us. The black version is Euro only. The titanium gray was for the US models.

 

Ahhh if only for the CM R60

 

They do make them for the R60/R61 now. I've had mine for a week.

 

Yea, they are linked here for the R60 / R61

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r-r60-r62.html

 

Well I'm satisfied with mine. I was hoping it would be possible to change bulbs to 35w but it's not. 25w is an odd critter, has ballast built into base of bulb where 35w has the ballast mounted to outside of housing.
I was hoping to put in a 5 or 6k bulb but none available so I'd have to retrofit it and the whole point of going this route was to not spend time modifying .

So knowing this I may just modify my wife's r56 with LED instead and use factory housing as is.

Still happy with purchase , look nice and work far better than halogen .