[gvl]

I have noticed the next thingie:

We had our S programmed to have its Xenons "Alway on". It means that when the ignition key is turned, the Xenons automatically turn on.

The problem is, that after lightning up, they adjust up just a little bit. But when i manually turn my lights on, like if they were not on yet, the raising continues and adjust them more up. Only after doiing so, they are corrected leveled.
Once this has occured it makes no difference switching the lights off again. (they will continue to work of course Hey, I did want the daylight running lamps )

BTW: after they key is turned, the Xenons light up. Then while starting the engine, they turn off for a short moment and when the engine is running and the keyposition is in normal rest again, they will light up again.
I know this is quiet normal on normal headlights, but isn't this a bad thing because of the way Xenons ignite. (as mentioned in the manual, they have a long life unless switched on/off to many times....

MiNiGuY:
Maybe in that daylight-mode they only should start as soon as the engine runs...and maybe the washer jets should also work always in this mode cause the lights are always on...

Ger

[ChrisCooper]

This whole question is odd. As DRL (Daytime Running Lights) are supposed to be a reduced percentage of your high beams which are NOT Xenon.

[GordonD]

In Canada where DRL are mandatory they do not use the Xenon's for this but rather the halogens on reduced power. The DRL's come on when the ignition is switched on and the handbreak is off. When you put the headlights on the halogens go out and the Xenons fire up. When you put the headlights on high beam the xenons stay the same and the halogens come on at full power.

[gvl]

Quote:

Originally posted by ChrisCooper
This whole question is odd. As DRL (Daytime Running Lights) are supposed to be a reduced percentage of your high beams which are NOT Xenon.

This whole answer is odd cause in the Netherlands my Cooper S turns it Xenons on directly when the ignitionkey is turned.
This reduced thing however could explain the down-angle of the Xenons....
We call it "always on" and it's mandatory i believe in norway/Sweden/Finland also, that's why most amongst others Saab's Volvo have that as a standard
Ger

[gvl]

Quote:

Originally posted by GordonD
In Canada where DRL are mandatory they do not use the Xenon's for this but rather the halogens on reduced power. The DRL's come on when the ignition is switched on and the handbreak is off. When you put the headlights on the halogens go out and the Xenons fire up. When you put the headlights on high beam the xenons stay the same and the halogens come on at full power.

Strange GordonD, in my Dutch setup, the Xenons are used Maybe it got something to do with Dutch laws against driving with high-beams.
Ger

[GordonD]

when the DRLs are on it is a less bright version of the high beam and certainly doesn't impact oncoming traffic. remember these are usually only on during the day so glare is not an issue.

hving said that lawmakers move in mysterious ways and if they felt that the halogens were the high beams then they might insist on using the Xeneons. if this was the case I would not want that option as I think the Xenons won't be happy going on and off all the time and i bet they are expensive to replace.

[RedBackFur]

Now you guys have me all scared.
I am taking my Cooper in for its first scheduled service (10KMiles). Our dealer will only give ONE free Programming; any after that will eb charged! I want the Daytime running lights set, but NOT if they have my Xenons on all the time. I don't want them switched on and off like that, as I don't want the bulbs to burn out!

Do any of the Americans Mini Owners have the DRLs set? (With Xenons) I am hoping for the half brightness halogen beams used for that. Otherwise, forget it!

[Pamlico]

I'm in the US and have the DRLs programed to ON. They most certainly are the high beam (i.e halogens) running at reduced power. The Xenons are on only when you manually turn them on via the switch on the stalk.

[NEMINI]

Ditto what Pamlico said

[uua]

Do european lights use halogens for high beam? we do in North Ameriac because of the frigged up (poor) lighting standards. Valeo pioneered a method of refocussing xenons so they could be used for both high and dipped beam -but that is not yet acceptable in North America. Perhaps that is what is happening on euro minis.

-uu

[gvl]

Quote:

Originally posted by uua
Do european lights use halogens for high beam? we do in North Ameriac because of the frigged up (poor) lighting standards. Valeo pioneered a method of refocussing xenons so they could be used for both high and dipped beam -but that is not yet acceptable in North America. Perhaps that is what is happening on euro minis.

-uu

Let me be more precise

"High beams" or Grootlicht as we Dutchies call it (I mean the light that will blind upcoming traffic in the dark) are normally not allowed to use in our country unless there is no upcoming traffic.
So these may not be used in the Netherlands for "Allways-on". Allways-on is the word our dealer used we could choose as an programming option on our MCS and we did.
These high beams on our MCS are halogens, NOT Xenons.

The "Dipped beam" or dimlicht as we call it (I mean those lights located in the upper part of the headlight-unit we use in the Netherlands while driving at night with other traffic on the road) are Xenons on our MCS.
Normally when we signal other traffic, the halogens blink short, not the Xenons.

In my case the Xenons are programmed "allways on", but they are not right adjusted untill i manually turn my lights to "on". Only at that time the Xenons raise to the height they should be.

MINI Netherlands is sorting things out now (they say....but haven't heard of them since 10 days now... I'm gonna call them now )

Ger