Xenon Low Beam "Out" (failed) after 500 miles

[gjenkins]

My first week of ownership and 500 miles of fun has ended, and my right front low-beam is out. I have the sport package including Xenon Headlamps with power washers.

Now for the good part ... I live in Idaho, and the nearest dealer is 340 miles away in Salt Lake City. What to do, what to do?

[gjenkins]

Dark Silver Cooper S with Premium, Sport, and Cold weather Packages.

[BruceK]

I can sympathize with living far away from a dealer (430 miles for me), but the MINI's Xenons are supposed to last as long as the car itself - never needing replacing (if we are to believe what we are told). Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.

So, are you sure it's not a fuse or similar? Or perhaps a connection somewhere? I suppose it could be the bulb itelf or the ballast the fires the bulb....

(You may already know this, but please be very careful poking around the xenon lights themselves as they use extremely high voltage - high enough to kill a person)

Every MINI sold in the US comes with Roadside Assistance that includes towing to the nearest dealer if the car is inoperable. I don't know how MINIUSA would judge a xenon light being out, but it certainly does not make for safe travel in the dark, so perhaps the car would be seen as unsafe = inoperable?

[gjenkins]

Thanks BruceK!

I hoped that you would respond, as I have read that you are/were in the same location situation that I am. Thanks for the voltage warning. I am apparently lucky to not have killed myself last night, since I did stick my hand in there.

I spent last night poking around here, and due to the lack of Headlamp failure posts and the abundance of general electrical system failure posts, I managed to spook myself about this.

An initial inspection and comparison with the working headlamp showed nothing obvious with the connections. All of the other parts of the electrical system seem to be ok. I am going to look at the fuses this afternoon as well as test to see if the leveler and washer are still working on the non-working lamp.

[gjenkins]

I am also planning on giving 866/ASK-MINI a call tomorrow.

[noahe]

Sounds like a faulty lamp. The MINI uses two ballasts, and two bulbs. You can check the fuses, but if one lights, it seems odd that the other wouldn't too.

I suspect that a bulb has failed, or worse, a ballast. It's annoying that it went, but it's still under warranty. Once you get this sorted, you should know that a Xenon system typically lasts the life of a car, or longer. The bulbs last a long time, and the ballast, even longer.

Please refer this to a technician, as quite rightly stated, the system runs very high voltage. Incredibly high at start-up, then still really high to run. Since they're mostly sealed, you're okay looking at them, but I wouldn't want to start pulling a bulb out, unless the battery was actually disconnected, and you've waited for the coil to discharge over time.

[Mr.Chrome]

Maybe the 'trip' has popped out on the volt conveter / power pack for the xenon lamp!?!?

Just a thought!

Andy

[gjenkins]

Is that in the manual?

[diverse]

you could always call them at night, no lights make it undrivable! surely a car without lights is illegal where you live, it is here.

[gjenkins]

I think I would prefer to drive the distance ... if they will give me an appointment and fix it in a day or two. My girlfriend would like to go shopping in the 'big' city, and it would get the car over the break-in period ... woo hoo!

If they flat-bed it, it will certainly take weeks.

[gjenkins]

I called 866/ASK-MINI. They were very nice, took my info, and problem info ... including the distance thing. They warned me that since it was xenon, that I would probably have to take it to Salt Lake.

They called me back in 1 1/2 hours and had already called the local BMW dealership. They ok'd me to take it there under warranty and have them check it out for the typical xenon bulb or igniter problems. If it is anything more complex, I will probably have to take it to Salt Lake. {crossing finger}

If this works out, I will be pleasantly suprised and happy! I will keep this list updated.

[gjenkins]

Crap. The bulb is fine, which is as far as they could go. Roadtrip!