[ALD0]

As Winter is approaching over here and the dark nights have drawn in, I fancied a Change of bulbs to my Factory Xenons.
So have upgraded to 6000k. The factorys are approx 4100k and boy do these make a difference!

The white is alot more crisp and there is more of a hint of blue in the light cast off. I must stress that I went for 6000k not 8000k as more people get pulled apparantly for the 8000k as they are too blue.

To change the bulb is fairly easy. Almost as easy as changing the Halogens

Before:



After:



From the front:



Cheers

Si

[bubblegoose]

very Si!!!
well impressed

nobody can say that they never saw you coming

[nanoooo]

do they brigten up the road alot better because to be honest i dont think the xeons are that impressive but they do look great. i aint got the 2005 model xeons but the ones before that.
the ones you have are much better but the bulb you have changed to looks even better.

any info on where u got them how much they cost and the brightness off the road at nite would be great

thanks

[ALD0]

Quote: Originally Posted by nanoooo

do they brigten up the road alot better because to be honest i dont think the xeons are that impressive but they do look great. i aint got the 2005 model xeons but the ones before that.
the ones you have are much better but the bulb you have changed to looks even better.

any info on where u got them how much they cost and the brightness off the road at nite would be great

thanks

I had the pre face lift xenons on my 2 prev MINI's and these new facelifted xenons-Alone the new xenons are alot brighter than that of the old-They have a more sharper cut off and the beam is more concentrated.
Fitting these bulbs from what I can see has made the beam sharper and more whiter. They are also abit more bluey similar to when you first switch on your Xenon lamp but dont impare on visibilty in any way.
I got them from hids4u.co.uk (english supplier) seemed the best-though there are many overseas buyers who will also ship-Pricing is around £90 a go.

[scuderiamini]

You simply change the bulbs? Which bulbs did you get and how much, and any installation hints?

Quote: Originally Posted by interceptor

As Winter is approaching over here and the dark nights have drawn in, I fancied a Change of bulbs to my Factory Xenons.
So have upgraded to 6000k. The factorys are approx 4100k and boy do these make a difference!

The white is alot more crisp and there is more of a hint of blue in the light cast off. I must stress that I went for 6000k not 8000k as more people get pulled apparantly for the 8000k as they are too blue.

To change the bulb is fairly easy. Almost as easy as changing the Halogens

Before:



After:



From the front:



Cheers

Si

[phaedrus]

Remember that higher colour temperature is not directly related with the intensity -- in fact, the relation is somewhat inverse.

The color temperature of a light source refers to the the color of the light output. It is a reference purely for color (measured in K or Kelvin) and not the intensity of the light itself (which is measured in Lumens). For example, the colour temperature of sunny daylight around noon is approximately 5500K, while the colour temperature of OEM xenon lamps is usually between 4500 and 5000K.

In reality, the higher the colour temperature, the lesser the brightness. For example, 5200K lamps are approx 10% brighter (measured in Lumens, not K) than 7000K. However, even a 9000K kit, which is another 10% dimmer, already emits a ridiculous amount of light so to you'd be hard pressed to notice a difference.

But those 6000K bulbs certainly do look the business!

[induct]

You say that the OEM Mini bulbs are about 4100k, which isn't really that blue/white. I'm sure that the bulbs that BMW (M3, M5 etc) used on their cars are bluer, does anyone know that colour temp they are?

[minigolf]

interceptor, I think you need to visit THIS SITE if you plan to visually polute MINI2 like that again!

Nice work on the lights though.

[ALD0]

Quote: Originally Posted by minigolf

interceptor, I think you need to visit THIS SITE if you plan to visually polute MINI2 like that again!

Nice work on the lights though.

PMSL!!!!

[ALD0]

Quote: Originally Posted by scuderiamini

You simply change the bulbs? Which bulbs did you get and how much, and any installation hints?

Yeah-Providing you have the Facelifted Xenons.

You need D2s Bulbs

Take the Back cover off

Pull the wire from the Starter-This Disconnects all the electric to the lamp

Twist off the Starter and pull,

Twist the Bulb holder Anti Clockwise and gently pull down as Bulb will also come out aswell.

Replace Bulb and re fit Bulb holder and Starter


Plug wire back into starter and Then Check all is working.

Replace Back Black cover.

**Do this at your own Risk**

Bulbs are about £90 Sterling and do vary in price lots from various suppliers.

Any more Q's give me a Shout

[ALD0]

Quote: Originally Posted by phaedrus

Remember that higher colour temperature is not directly related with the intensity -- in fact, the relation is somewhat inverse.

The color temperature of a light source refers to the the color of the light output. It is a reference purely for color (measured in K or Kelvin) and not the intensity of the light itself (which is measured in Lumens). For example, the colour temperature of sunny daylight around noon is approximately 5500K, while the colour temperature of OEM xenon lamps is usually between 4500 and 5000K.

In reality, the higher the colour temperature, the lesser the brightness. For example, 5200K lamps are approx 10% brighter (measured in Lumens, not K) than 7000K. However, even a 9000K kit, which is another 10% dimmer, already emits a ridiculous amount of light so to you'd be hard pressed to notice a difference.

But those 6000K bulbs certainly do look the business!

Correct!
8000k would of been too blue and impair light Quality. These are just right
Here is a Diagram to show the colours

[xtremepsionic]

great thread, I gotta do this some day, the factory xenon bulbs are too yellow for my taste.

[ALD0]

Quote: Originally Posted by xtremepsionic

great thread, I gotta do this some day, the factory xenon bulbs are too yellow for my taste.

No probs-Also change your sidelights to White LED's

[Blue_aerox]

Looks great!
I installed xenon myself in a halogen unit.
Also 6000k, and boy is it bright

[Mr Grean]

Just a question...are you talking about dropping a HID bulb into a light fitting designed for a halogen bulb setup? People confuse HID with Xenon and they are NOT the same thing. In reading your post it is unclear to me what you are doing here.
Installing a HID bulb into a Xenon setup is dangerous and illegal. The entire light setup..lens and reflector, must be designed by the factory for the HID light outpt. Your factory HID MINI has the HID bulb on low beam. The housing, lens, reflector was never designed to have HID as a high beam. Interceptor's posting carries a clip from Daniel Stern Lighting's website in which he explains in great details all the background info on whay NOT to "convert".

[Blue_aerox]

If you mean me:
No, I installed real xenons in a standard mini halogen unit. I had one of those DIY sets on ''ebay'' installed by professionals and I just love it. The results

[ALD0]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blue_aerox

If you mean me:
No, I installed real xenons in a standard mini halogen unit. I had one of those DIY sets on ''ebay'' installed by professionals and I just love it. The results

Looks good-I don't think you will have too much Prob withthe with the professional kits as the holders etc are proper.
But like Mr Grean says might be worth checking out the Bulb surround.

[Minnington]

Quote: Originally Posted by phaedrus

The color temperature of a light source refers to the the color of the light output. It is a reference purely for color (measured in K or Kelvin) and not the intensity of the light itself (which is measured in Lumens). For example, the colour temperature of sunny daylight around noon is approximately 5500K, while the colour temperature of OEM xenon lamps is usually between 4500 and 5000K.

Now what a lot of people don't realise is that different colour temperatures are used in differing conditions, So your super blue bulbs will not be as good in rain and fog as yellow ones, and can also make you harder to see. That's why fog lights used to be yellow !!

I believe that there is also some kind of legality issue with lamps being too blue, so you may find your MOT man being a tad awkward

[ALD0]

Quote: Originally Posted by Minnington

Now what a lot of people don't realise is that different colour temperatures are used in differing conditions, So your super blue bulbs will not be as good in rain and fog as yellow ones, and can also make you harder to see. That's why fog lights used to be yellow !!

I believe that there is also some kind of legality issue with lamps being too blue, so you may find your MOT man being a tad awkward

Yeah correct-6000k is jus right for me.
The bulbs are in another car now and it flew through the M.O.T, LOL but he did notice they were more bluey but said not as bad as some that go through!

[wils]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blue_aerox

If you mean me:
No, I installed real xenons in a standard mini halogen unit. I had one of those DIY sets on ''ebay'' installed by professionals and I just love it. The results

did the professional just fit the diy kit and not change stuff like the housing and reflectors?
how did they get around the fact that HID bulbs are longer than halogen bulbs and so hit against the end of the bulb holder?
which kit did u buy? did it fit right in?
do ur lights shine everywhere or do they still have proper cut off? even when shined against a wall for example?
sorry i know lots of questions but i've always thought those kits weren't any good in normal halogen housings
thanks for any answers to my barrage of questions

wils