Xenon Headlight Replacement

[Subiklim]

One of my xenon headlights went out, and they replaced it under warranty. However when they replaced it the replaced everything, the housing, ballast, etc. When the warranty runs out will I have to pay to replace everything, not just the bulb? TIA

[RUKnight]

No just the bulbs should be replaceable, but they are expensive, like over $150.00 per bulb. You may have had a short in your headlight so they did it as a pre-caution
Mike

[BruceK]

This reminds me that I had one of my car's xenons go out temporarily.

It happened when I was adjusting my MINI's headlights the old fashioned, manual way (park about 30 feet from a wall on level ground, notice where the headlight patterns fall on the wall, turn off the headlights, open the hood and make an adjustment up or down, left or right, shut the hood, turn on the lights and repeat as necessary). To do this I was turning the headlights on after each adjustment to see the result and then off to make further adjustments. (There was no way that I would be messing with them when they are powered up because of the tremendously high voltages involved. Just too dangerous).

Anyway, with all the cycling of the xenon lights on and off over a short period of time, one of my xenons just failed to light. It flickered a little much like a fluorescent bulb at home sometimes fails to light up. I was upset and was planning a trip to the dealer to sort it out.

But I decided to give the headlights a rest of 5 minutes and then tried them again. Presto! They both lit up as normal. It's been 8 months since that event, and both of the xenons on my MINI have never failed to light since that single time.

[motorer]

Quote:

Originally posted by BruceK
This reminds me that I had one of my car's xenons go out temporarily.

It happened when I was adjusting my MINI's headlights the old fashioned, manual way (park about 30 feet from a wall
<snip>

Anyway, with all the cycling of the xenon lights on and off over a short period of time, one of my xenons just failed to light. It flickered a little much like a fluorescent bulb at home sometimes fails to light up. I was upset and was planning a trip to the dealer to sort it out.

Read the manual. If I remember correctly it warns against turning the xenons on for short intervals.

Also...manually adjusting your xenons? I thought they self-corrected and stayed pointed at the ground...

[Dan Harmon]

Hi Mike I have a question about the xenon Head lights. I have the regular head lights in my car now. If wanted to could I Just change the over to the xenon Bulbs? Could I just get the the Night time bulbs and not teh day light bulbs?? thanks DAN

[ChrisD]

The Xenon headlamps run at about 15000 volts on startup, so no you cannot just swap them over.

Plus you will need the controller and ballast and the automatic headlamp level adjuster

[BruceK]

Quote:

Originally posted by motorer
Read the manual. If I remember correctly it warns against turning the xenons on for short intervals.

Also...manually adjusting your xenons? I thought they self-corrected and stayed pointed at the ground...

Yes, I knew they shouldn't be turned on and off quickly, but it was taking me at least a minute between cycles. I thought that was enough, but apparently not.

All MINI headlights can be manually adjusted. There are two back screws on the back of each headlamp housing. One controls up and down, the other right and left. It's true the xenons are self-leveling depending upon the load of passengers/cargo in the car. However, it is through the adjustments that you can tell the xenons what "level" means, then they will work to maintain that level. In the case of my car, for some reason the headlights came from the factory aimed way too low. I carefully adjusted up them to provide more light on the road ahead of me - I was very careful to ensure I did not raise the pattern so high as to glare at oncoming drivers.

[Minty]

it is unusual for a Xenon bulb to go. It would more than likely be the Control unit.

[luVlee]

is there a DIY on replacing the HID bulbs? I want to change my HID bulbs to a more blue ones. What's the bulb I need? Im thinking maybe 6000k.

[Tremoral]

I have had on a number of occasions one or the other not coming on. After 4 or 5 times turning them on and off it works. I bought a new bulb at the $150.00 and tried that but the problem still is there. I looked for a relay with negative results. Would this be the ballast or controller? How much for either of these?

Evan...