fittin xenon lights to a mini one, previous lights were. halogen h7

[stefan one s]

i have just fitted the face lift xenon head lights which fit perfect no problems. all connections are fine and the lights work perfect when the engine is switched off. but when the engine is on the lights flicker like a strobe light. what could be the problem. please help!

[JpMcC]

It's not just a case of swaping the lights over, I done a bit of research into this last year, as I was considering doing the same modification to my MINI One, you need to get a Auto Headlamp leveling system fitted, if you have just fitted the lights without this the chances are your blinding every driver you pass, do a few searches in the Extreior section of the forum, I'm sure you'll find some more informtation

[Adrian_T]

May be a problem with the ballasts.
Good luck it seems you will need it!

[Arnbut]

You might need a groundloop isolator to filter out rf transients from the alternator.
Aftermarket ballasts on HID's aren't all the same. Are they a Chinese make?
When it comes to HID, you get what you pay for...

[envy]

They may work fine, but they are well illegal i suppose.

The Xenons need a Self Levelling System - Which needs to be installed, to allow the Xenon to move up and down depending on your gradient.

You will notice that your beam is straight and most probly be blinding drivers when you are driving the car.

When you put it in for MOT, it will (well should) fail an MOT as your lights are not self levelling.

Theres a pretty big thread about it here somewhere, but it was concluded that you could plug them in, but its not legal or mechanically correct.

[stefan one s]

i been interested in fittin xenon lights to my mini since the day i got it and thats over two years ago now. i been searching threw page after page in the forum's seeing what people's thorts were and if anybody had upgraded the lights from halogen to xenon.

but i could never get a good enough answer. with all this speculation over the washer jets and automatic light height adjustment.

fit them and get it programed at my local mini dealer and al see what happens.

i wish i had have done this a long time ago. lights work just like normal. they dont blind other road users. which i have tested with friends. so if your thinking of doing what i did, forget what other people tell you and dont read all the **** on here.

graet mod to the car one of te best yet apart from the superchip hehe!!!!

[Arnbut]

Oh, yes; plenty illegal...

A nice pair of PIAA h-7 bulbs look almost as nice and are a similar temperature/color.
Sylvania EDot's are close to PIAA and less expensive.

[ScottyBoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by stefan one s (original)

i been interested in fittin xenon lights to my mini since the day i got it and thats over two years ago now. i been searching threw page after page in the forum's seeing what people's thorts were and if anybody had upgraded the lights from halogen to xenon.

but i could never get a good enough answer. with all this speculation over the washer jets and automatic light height adjustment.

fit them and get it programed at my local mini dealer and al see what happens.

i wish i had have done this a long time ago. lights work just like normal. they dont blind other road users. which i have tested with friends. so if your thinking of doing what i did, forget what other people tell you and dont read all the **** on here.

graet mod to the car one of te best yet apart from the superchip hehe!!!!

The reason you have not been able to find a decent answer is that come MOT time you will fail...... Its against the law to have xenon lights without self leveling, thats if you dont have self leveling as you mentioned something about the dealer???

If this was not needed why would it be fitted in the first place????

I also doubt that you will have test drove the lights extensively, its only on certain parts of the road were the oncoming car i.e your car will blind Me from the height difference in the road, not all the time

Scott

[ScottyBoy]

Quote: Originally Posted by stefan one s (original)

i have just fitted the face lift xenon head lights which fit perfect no problems. all connections are fine and the lights work perfect when the engine is switched off. but when the engine is on the lights flicker like a strobe light. what could be the problem. please help!

I think you need the lights to work perfect when the engine is on...

As i said in your other thread and now backed up hear it is illegal and will or Should fail an MOT.

Scott

[Paul]

Of course, it's up to you, but it would appear your car is no longer road legal.

And I don't know if your test involved driving up and down uneven roads at night into oncoming traffic, or trailing someone over some undulating ground, but that's when these non-levelling HID kits can really be a nuisance, even a hazard to other road users.

Department for Transport - Aftermarket HID (Xenon) headlamps

----------------------


Fact sheet: Aftermarket HID headlamps

In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.


The following is the legal rationale:


The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.


However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).


For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.


Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:


1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.


2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).


3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:


1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.


2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.


3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.


Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.


In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.


If you require any further information regarding the regulations covered by this fact sheet, please contact the DfT at the address below:


Transport Technology and Standards 6
Department for Transport
Zone 2/04
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR
Telephone: 020 7944 2078
Fax: 020 7944 2196
Email: TTS.enquiries@dft.gsi.gov.uk

[OneDriver]

There's been a load of discussion on here about this already. It can be done and people have but there are implications. Search for a member called "The Doc" he did it... well almost!

The reason they are flickering is because your software isn't configured for Xenon lights. You will need to be friendly with your dealer and get them to hook their computer up and upload the information. It's a touch questionable though as many could decline to do this as it's not a standard item on your car. If your lights levelling switch is still working I'd point it right down to avoid doing damage to peoples retinas.

[Root Ginger]

Very comprehensive Paul.

So in short, if you find yourself being flashed by other road users, you'll know why.

However, it's unlikely anyone will ever fall foul of an MOT doing what stefan one s has done unless his washers aren't connected.

Quite simply, the automatic levelling is not checked on an MOT so it would never be know if it was fitted and/or working or not. Manual levelling is checked though

[stefan one s]

i have now fitted the lights with no problem and got them programed at bmw for £40. the manual leveling system works with the xenon lights which is a great bonus. i'm getting the washer jets connected free of charge at bmw so the lights are legal and i have a friend who owns a MOT testing station at his garage and he informed me that the car would pass no problem as long as i have the washer jets connected.

[Paul]

If they do not self level they are not legal, "friendly" MOT tester or otherwise.

I've already posted the legal advice from the DOT on another of your threads, but here it is again:


------------------------------------

Of course, it's up to you, but it would appear your car is no longer road legal.

And I don't know if your test involved driving up and down uneven roads at night into oncoming traffic, or trailing someone over some undulating ground, but that's when these non-levelling HID kits can really be a nuisance, even a hazard to other road users.

Department for Transport - Aftermarket HID (Xenon) headlamps

----------------------


Fact sheet: Aftermarket HID headlamps

In the Department's view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps. The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If one places a HID "burner" (bulb) in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.


The following is the legal rationale:


The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK.
Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.


However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply to European type approval Regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These are to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (Lighting Installation on the vehicle).


For the after market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because it is only applicable for new vehicles. However we feel that saying "HID is banned in the after market" would not be reasonable. Instead we should make analogies with new vehicles. It would be reasonable to require HID in the after market to meet the same safety standards as on new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.


Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:


1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.


2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).


3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:


1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.


2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.


3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.


Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.


In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.


If you require any further information regarding the regulations covered by this fact sheet, please contact the DfT at the address below:


Transport Technology and Standards 6
Department for Transport
Zone 2/04
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR
Telephone: 020 7944 2078
Fax: 020 7944 2196
Email: TTS.enquiries@dft.gsi.gov.uk

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

If they do not self level they are not legal, "friendly" MOT tester or otherwise.

You don't need a friendly MOT tester as the automatic self levelling is not part of the MOT test as I stated previously. They have no equipment to be able to test whether it does it or not.

However, just because it passes an MOT, doesn't make a car road legal. An example of this is the red reflector issue with the clear rear lights. The MOT merely states you have to have red reflectors fitted to the rear of the vehicle. There are no rules regarding type, or placement, at the MOT, only that you have some.

However if you were to be stopped on the road, they would be required to be E marked and in the correct location.

Passing an MOT and your car being road legal are not the same stefan one s.