Do I Have Xenons? - MINI Cooper Forum

afiy2k · #1 (**permalink**) Jul 8th, 2008, 08:28 PM

Hi guys, i did post this in my intro post, but i'm sure it would be better in here.

I know its a stupid question but i'm a little confused. I know exatcly what Xenon/HID is, you simply can't miss it. But can you put normal bulbs into a Xenon Headlight array?

Reason i ask is, when i bought my car i was told it didn't have Xenon's, which i could clearly see, which also didn't stop me from buying the car.

As i was driving home i got a call from the previous owner to check if i had got home ok and to tell me that the car DID have Xenons...you can imagine my confusion. I came to the conclusion that they may have replaced the xenon bulbs with standard ones after they may have blown, and may not have known the difference between the two bulb types. Is this possible?

Is there a way i can check with the bonnet up? Would i see a Xenon Ignitor Module or something that a normal Headlight wouldn't have?

thanks in advance.

rellik666 · #2 (**permalink**) Jul 8th, 2008, 09:35 PM

I don't think you can put normal bulbs in a xenon light....there is a module under the headlamp on xenons and you would also have the headlight washers as it is law to have washers with xenons.

Paul · #3 (**permalink**) Jul 8th, 2008, 09:38 PM

You can't put normal bulbs in the Xenon light fittings. Maybe they had "xenon" type high performance (or even just blue tinted) bulbs put in and that is what they mean.

Chiu · #4 (**permalink**) Jul 8th, 2008, 10:10 PM

Maybe someone's replaced the original xenon headlamp modules with regular halogen ones? I believe they're quite easy to swap around, quite a few people have upgraded their regular ones by replacing them with second-hand xenon headlamp units although they lack things like the auto-leveling and plumbing for the washer jets. Probably not, but just a thought

KrisMcGrath · #5 (**permalink**) Jul 8th, 2008, 10:15 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rellik666 (original)

I don't think you can put normal bulbs in a xenon light....there is a module under the headlamp on xenons and you would also have the headlight washers as it is law to have washers with xenons.

Im pretty sure i have Xenons but dont have washer jets :s
Im also pretty sure they self level as i dont have a manual level. Ive only had my Cooper S for 24 hours

Paul · #6 (**permalink**) Jul 8th, 2008, 10:19 PM

If you have xenons, and no washers, it's not legal.

afiy2k · #7 (**permalink**) Jul 8th, 2008, 10:37 PM

i don't think i have auto level and washers. All i've got is a manual roller switch inside the car. Nevermind then, thanks for the feedback.
I've been reading around that it can cost a lot to have xenons retrofitted. If i buy a pair from ebay or scraps, any idea how much it would cost to get them professionally and legally fitted?

Scrogg · #8 (**permalink**) Jul 8th, 2008, 10:56 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by afiy2k (original)

All i've got is a manual roller switch inside the car

In which case you definitely don't have Xenons, as cars fitted with them don't have this switch.

afiy2k · #9 (**permalink**) Jul 19th, 2008, 05:11 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Scrogg (original)

In which case you definitely don't have Xenons, as cars fitted with them don't have this switch.

Ok so i'm bumping this thread because my new H7 bulbs arrived this morning so i decided to install them. Moved my car to the front of my house and put it up onto the curb so it was tilted, opened the bonnet, easily installed the bulbs, went to test them and noticed as they switched on they seemed to move up then down almost autolevelling themselves. At that time i didn't think much of it.

So got the car fully Valeted as the engine was still filthy, as i was drying the engine i noticed i had a 2 washer jet inlets, one on the left is for the windscreen, the one on the right had a headlamp logo. So then i looked at my Headlight array and saw that i did indeed have headlight washers.

So again i ask, do i have Xenons?

is there more places/things i can check to confirm this? Is it possible for someone to take a picture of thier array from under the bonnet to show me what thiers looks like. The connector for the H7 bulbs has black and orange leads.

Scrogg · #10 (**permalink**) Jul 19th, 2008, 05:29 PM

Rather than keep asking people to guess, do you not think it would be a good idea to give them some more information?

What model MINI is it?
How old is it?
Can you not take pictures?

hollinshead · #11 (**permalink**) Jul 19th, 2008, 05:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by afiy2k (original)

Ok so i'm bumping this thread because my new H7 bulbs arrived this morning so i decided to install them. Moved my car to the front of my house and put it up onto the curb so it was tilted, opened the bonnet, easily installed the bulbs, went to test them and noticed as they switched on they seemed to move up then down almost autolevelling themselves. At that time i didn't think much of it.

So got the car fully Valeted as the engine was still filthy, as i was drying the engine i noticed i had a 2 washer jet inlets, one on the left is for the windscreen, the one on the right had a headlamp logo. So then i looked at my Headlight array and saw that i did indeed have headlight washers.

So again i ask, do i have Xenons?

is there more places/things i can check to confirm this? Is it possible for someone to take a picture of thier array from under the bonnet to show me what thiers looks like. The connector for the H7 bulbs has black and orange leads.

Do you have a headlamp height adjustment dial on the dashboard below the steering wheel to the right?

Do you have a danger high voltage sticker on the headlamps if you look under the bonet?

TimG · #12 (**permalink**) Jul 20th, 2008, 04:18 PM

Does it say Xenon on one of the the plastic parts of the light cluster when looking from the front of the car.... coz mine does... This will probably be a good giveaway!

Chiu · #13 (**permalink**) Jul 20th, 2008, 05:19 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by afiy2k (original)

went to test them and noticed as they switched on they seemed to move up then down almost autolevelling themselves. At that time i didn't think much of it.

I don't have xenons but my standard H7 headlights do the same thing. When I switch the lights on, I notice they rise up slightly and then level downwards slightly. Hence, I'm afraid this doesn't indicate that you have xenons headlamps.

Also, the fact that you've got a manual roller switch below the steering column indicates and you don't have xenon headlamps. People with xenons headlamps properly installed just have a piece of blanking plastic where your roller switch is.

Not sure how much it costs to have xenons properly retrofitted. I searched these forums before and I think someone mentioned that it would cost around the £800-1000 mark to get it done by a dealer.

I'm quite keen to have them retrofitted on mine too but at that cost I'd rather spend the money on other mods first.

afiy2k · #14 (**permalink**) Jul 20th, 2008, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the help guys, i probably won't get them retro fitted, going to do very basic mobs then hopefully move onto another MCS next year