Xenon Headlight broke?

[Kryptonic]

Hi all,

I noticed in the last couple of days one of my xenon (passenger side) headlights has stopped working (full beam still works...) I thought that the bulb had gone, so I just rang my local dealership to get a price for a new bulb.... they quoted me £106.96 (+ vat) for one!!!!!!!!!! he said hes never heard of one "going" and i should bring it in to get looked at.... is there anything I can check myself before taking it in? can i get them cheap elsewhere (UK) ?? is it worth swapping the bulbs over to check? how easy is it to gain access to the enclosure?

many thanks!
Will

[ALD0]

Yes,

Swap bulbs across first to check
If still fails
Swap the ballasts
If the bulb is at fault, a set off bulbs off other websites vary £30 upwards.
I bought a pair off 6000k off Ebay for £30 for a pair, Normally it is a case of you pay for what you get but this pair seem to be fine and have been in 3 different cars of mine.

Si

[Kryptonic]

Quote: Originally Posted by ALD0 (original)

Yes,

Swap bulbs across first to check
If still fails
Swap the ballasts
If the bulb is at fault, a set off bulbs off other websites vary £30 upwards.
I bought a pair off 6000k off Ebay for £30 for a pair, Normally it is a case of you pay for what you get but this pair seem to be fine and have been in 3 different cars of mine.

Si

Hi Si,

Thanks alot mate - is it easy to remove / swap the ballasts? is there any instructions on the internet to show the process? many thanks!!

[ALD0]

Don't recall any instructions, the first time I did it-just follow common sense, always make sure your lights/ignition is off.

From memory though:

Remove the back cover housing
You will see a Red/Black igniter, twist that gently and pull down, carefully pull out the wires connected to it at the side
Unscrew the bulb housing and gently pull down, do not touch the glass part of the bulb
The Bulb type is D2S, Facelifted MINI's 05 onwards.
It's pretty straightforward when you see start dis-assembling, just don't go in heavy handed

[Kryptonic]

Quote: Originally Posted by ALD0 (original)

Don't recall any instructions, the first time I did it-just follow common sense, always make sure your lights/ignition is off.

From memory though:

Remove the back cover housing
You will see a Red/Black igniter, twist that gently and pull down, carefully pull out the wires connected to it at the side
Unscrew the bulb housing and gently pull down, do not touch the glass part of the bulb
The Bulb type is D2S, Facelifted MINI's 05 onwards.
It's pretty straightforward when you see start dis-assembling, just don't go in heavy handed

thanks mate! ill give it a pop this weekend, my mini is an R52 (2002) are the bulbs still D2S if i need new uns? cant beleive mini charging so much!!!

[jayminis]

dont buy them from mini, i had a xenon bulb go before, just swapped the other one over to see if it had blown. it wa just the bulb so went on HIDS4U Ltd - UK's Number 1 HID Conversion Kit Specialists, they are £68 for both bulbs, its best to change both at the same time, i bought these ones below:

D2R Bulb*::*Replacement HID Bulbs*::*HIDS4U Ltd - UK's Number 1 HID Conversion Kit Specialists

they are brighter than the original, these are 6000k where as the standard ones are only around 3400k, they look so much nicer at night time. and you can see better and are still legal, had mine for over a year now and been great.

[Kryptonic]

Quote: Originally Posted by jayminis (original)

dont buy them from mini, i had a xenon bulb go before, just swapped the other one over to see if it had blown. it wa just the bulb so went on HIDS4U Ltd - UK's Number 1 HID Conversion Kit Specialists, they are £68 for both bulbs, its best to change both at the same time, i bought these ones below:

D2R Bulb*::*Replacement HID Bulbs*::*HIDS4U Ltd - UK's Number 1 HID Conversion Kit Specialists

they are brighter than the original, these are 6000k where as the standard ones are only around 3400k, they look so much nicer at night time. and you can see better and are still legal, had mine for over a year now and been great.

thanks alot mate! ill get them ordered this week! Is it defo D2R i need for the 02 plate?

[ALD0]

No I would check with MINI which bulb type it is for 2002. Some website will be able to tell you, btw once you know the bulb type, search around for some cheaper set than £68!

[Kryptonic]

Quote: Originally Posted by ALD0 (original)

No I would check with MINI which bulb type it is for 2002. Some website will be able to tell you, btw once you know the bulb type, search around for some cheaper set than £68!

hi mate, just rung them back and they said its one of two and without seeing the bulb they couldnt tell... grrr

i guess when i get the bulb out it will say on it?

[ALD0]

It does yeah, I would of thought their system would have it on .

[Kryptonic]

hahah yeh mate, but if they told me that info they wouldnt be able to get £100 outa me!!!

I found these on ebay:

Replacement Xenon HID Bulb Rover Mini Cooper S 02- D2R on eBay, also Bulbs Lenses, Lights Lighting Accessories, Car Tuning Styling, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 14-Jan-09 11:04:44 GMT)

do they look like the sorta thing im after?

[ALD0]

Yeah that would be the one, the D2R and D2s look the same but the base of the bulb is a little different.

[ScottyBoy]

Has anyone confirmed which buld it is for each car?

I.e Pre facelift and facelift.

Ive just bought a set of bulbs on ebay and bought D2S bulbs and not sure if i need D2R's my car is a pre facelift.

Scotty

[Kryptonic]

mines a 52 plate and was D2R.... i thnk i saw a thread somewhere that pre facelift are all D2R. I got a set off ebay for £15 - i can give you the sellers shop if you want

[ScottyBoy]

Just took the bulb out and mine is a D2R...

Typical that i aint ordered that one