[Mike Schumacher]

i didnt order tha pack when i ordered the car, but i'm only missing 2 things. the headlights and the leather in the seats.

i didnt have the pack fitted to the r53 either and struggled to sell the car without it.

do you think i could have seats and the lights fitted somewhere down the line and pass it off as having the pack included?

[tiger333888]

sure you can but it will work out alot more expensive - both the seats and xenons. worth investigating though. The xenons are magnificient BTW. Worth even looking into swapping your headlight bulbs for something like philips blue vision halogens - makes a huge difference to the beam hue and brightness as well as the coverage. The standard OEM bulbs are below par in my view.

I fitted them to my wifes Honda Jazz and the difference was chalk and cheese - no kidding...she thinks she has xenons now.....hush hushhhh

[Mike Schumacher]

Quote: Originally Posted by tiger333888 (original)

sure you can but it will work out alot more expensive - both the seats and xenons. worth investigating though. The xenons are magnificient BTW. Worth even looking into swapping your headlight bulbs for something like philips blue vision halogens - makes a huge difference to the beam hue and brightness as well as the coverage. The standard OEM bulbs are below par in my view.

I fitted them to my wifes Honda Jazz and the difference was chalk and cheese - no kidding...she thinks she has xenons now.....hush hushhhh

he he he

i could do the same. just replace the bulbs an hopefully pass them off as chili pack xenons.

he he he. i love this site

[tiger333888]

check out the difference the bulb change made - philips blue vision bulbs..best advert for the product i tell you!!

ignore the blurry image of the first, but notice the intensity, hue, and spread of the beam!! my wife reckons they are gas discharge units now

[Mike Schumacher]

my god, the difference is unbelievble.

i'm definatelty gonna invest in a couple of them i think.

how much are they and can i get them from halfords etc tiger?

[popey]

Can I just ask..... why the hell did'nt you just spec the chilli pack?????????????

[tiger333888]

Quote: Originally Posted by Momo59 (original)

my god, the difference is unbelievble.

i'm definatelty gonna invest in a couple of them i think.

how much are they and can i get them from halfords etc tiger?

If cooper uses H4, then it will cost £20. If they use H7, it will be £27

Philips Blue Vision, and you get free blue side lights - which go in the fog light housing. Even these offer a whiter light than the OEM units.

Halfords does not stock them, they sell their own brand.

For your convenience, this is where I purchased them:

Power Bulbs - autobulbs, autolamps, xenon headlights, car bulbs, headlight bulbs, osram silverstar, silver star, philips vision plus, philips blue vision, bluevision - use the bulb finder online tool to find out what your cooper uses (easier still, check the manual!)
0845 123 2855 order line
quote discount code ENRMC923 for 10% discount. Delivery is free
They advertise in AutoExpress

good luck. take a before and after picture to really appreciate the difference and then post them here for all to see!!!

[Mike Schumacher]

Quote: Originally Posted by popey (original)

Can I just ask..... why the hell did'nt you just spec the chilli pack?????????????

it blew my insurance out the window mate. i was on an extremely tight budget. over the next couple of years i can just add the extras as and when i can afford them. sounds stupid i know

[Mike Schumacher]

Quote: Originally Posted by tiger333888 (original)

If cooper uses H4, then it will cost £20. If they use H7, it will be £27

Philips Blue Vision, and you get free blue side lights - which go in the fog light housing. Even these offer a whiter light than the OEM units.

Halfords does not stock them, they sell their own brand.

For your convenience, this is where I purchased them:

Power Bulbs - autobulbs, autolamps, xenon headlights, car bulbs, headlight bulbs, osram silverstar, silver star, philips vision plus, philips blue vision, bluevision - use the bulb finder online tool to find out what your cooper uses (easier still, check the manual!)
0845 123 2855 order line
quote discount code ENRMC923 for 10% discount. Delivery is free
They advertise in AutoExpress

good luck. take a before and after picture to really appreciate the difference and then post them here for all to see!!!

thanks for all that inffo Tiger!!! really appreciate it!!!it'll probably be next month when i try to get them but i'll definately keep you guys posted :O)

[KenL]

I have Orsam Silver Stars in mine, seem good. I am not a big fan of those phoney blue ones!!!

[Mike Schumacher]

are these lights easy to fit yourself. i'm bloody crap when it comes to all this stuff.

[R99]

I changed the bulbs in my headlights last weekend, and I have to agree the difference is amazing, I used the halfords 'super brilliance' range which offer up to 50% brighter light, using xenon gas rather than the standard halogen.
They are (well they were last week) on offer at buy one get one free so about £50 will cover both dipped and main beam for both sides (you'll need 4 bulbs in total). Not xenons, but not bad for the money!

The 1st gen mini uses H7 (I think 55w?) bulbs, but not sure about the 2nd gen one.

James.

[Mike Schumacher]

thanks very much for the info James!

[R99]

No problem at all.

[steeve]

If youre going to fit bulbs, then fit the PIAA bulbs, they really are better than anything out there. A little more expensive but you only get what you pay for. Which brings me on to the bi-xenons. Just amazing well worth the extra. On a different planet to ordinary bulbs (any bulbs) its like having a couple of search lights attached to the front.

But why dont you go back to your dealer, change the order and add the Chilli pack, it will help with resale values when you finally come to sell. Seats are good to.

[tiger333888]

very easily - undo a clip, twist out. the manual should contain the easy step by step guide.

[Mike Schumacher]

Quote: Originally Posted by steeve (original)

If youre going to fit bulbs, then fit the PIAA bulbs, they really are better than anything out there. A little more expensive but you only get what you pay for. Which brings me on to the bi-xenons. Just amazing well worth the extra. On a different planet to ordinary bulbs (any bulbs) its like having a couple of search lights attached to the front.

But why dont you go back to your dealer, change the order and add the Chilli pack, it will help with resale values when you finally come to sell. Seats are good to.

hi steeve,

i picked the car up on the 1st so there's no going back now. D'oh!

[tiger333888]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

I have Orsam Silver Stars in mine, seem good. I am not a big fan of those phoney blue ones!!!

hi Kent, the Philips blue vision bulbs are not the chavvy cheap blue units. The Philips items actually have a light blue coating but when turned on, give a brighter white light with just a hint of blue as my photo demonstrates, and they throw out more light for the driver. Importantly they are totally legal.

The cheap phoney chavvy blue ones actually give a complete blue light, and less light for the driver. In fact, they struggle to omit the same level of light as OEM units and are there purely for cosmetic reasons. They will result in a failed MOT. So for all those would-be-buyers of PBV bulbs, go buy with confidence. These are quality units which will enhance you car headlights. You know the saying, 'a picture speaks a 1000 words' - go check out the pic above!!

[KenL]

Further to R99's post. The R56 uses H4 bulbs and a single bulb at each side does the dipped and main beam - so, only 1 pair required.

They are pretty easy to fit unless you have really large paws!!!

[memphisto]

Haven't tried them but how about the new Philips X-Treme Power H4 - 80% more light bulbs.

Power Bulbs - autobulbs, autolamps, xenon headlights, car bulbs, headlight bulbs, osram silverstar, silver star, philips vision plus, philips blue vision, bluevision

Car Magazine were critical of the R56 Mini headlights saying "Terrible headlamps though; the kind of driver-oriented stuff you expect BMW to ace. They're the first thing to limit your speed on the Fens at night".

However the Osram Silver Star H7 - 50% brighter bulbs certainly made all the difference on my 2002 Mini, although Auto Express don't rate the H4 version and recommended the Halfords Super Brilliance.