New Mini - 57 plate: Main Beam

[beddingm]

We picked up a (nearly) new 57 plate Mini Cooper on 26th Jan and, after taking it out one evening, were immediately aware that the quality of illumination when the headlights were set to main beam was nothing like the quality we got from our previous, 04 plate Cooper. When the main beam is activated the normal beam seems to switch off, leaving an unlit area directly in front of the car. Additionally, the light produced on main beam is not uniform – it is scattered resulting in an effect similar to light reflected from a wet surface. The only way to get a safe level of light is to use the ‘Flash’ option rather than the main beam position on the lighting stalk, in which case the road ahead is uniformly lit and visible. The car has ‘normal’ headlights rather than the Xenon option and the leveler on the steering column is correctly set.
We’ve just returned from the dealership (very helpful) after having had the car checked over and were informed that it’s working to specification. We’ve invested in a pair of driving lights to compensate and get the car to a state where it feels safe to drive it at night.

Anyone else feel the same about their headlights?

[David King]

Yeap my R56 Cooper courtesy car is exactly the same, ive got an R50 Cooper Park Lane, and the lights are 100 times better on Full beam.

If you just hold the flasher back both Full and Main beam stay on and everything is how i would of expected it to be.

[airbusA346]

My mum and brother both have the same problem with their R56's.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

The exact reason I ordered Xenons

[Stiggy]

Reading up on here I found quite a few people were disappointed with the headlights, so I ordered Xenons. They look so cool too!

[Red D]

I had the same problem with mine, so I swopped the standard bulbs for Philips Xtreme Power bulbs...........they are much better, the light is whiter and projects further.

Also try upgrading the side light bulbs.

[cliveywolves]

Quote: Originally Posted by Red D (original)

I had the same problem with mine, so I swopped the standard bulbs for Philips Xtreme Power bulbs...........they are much better, the light is whiter and projects further.

Also try upgrading the side light bulbs.

hi , did you replace both bulbs the dipped and main or just one ? if so which one ?
are the xtreme the 80% brighter bulbs ???

cheers

[DerekH]

One bulb for high and low and i went for Phillips Extreme and much better

[bob corbishley]

Just been out in mine around the lanes with plenty of main beam use. Mine seam fine? I can see that the dip beams turn off when you're on main beam, and that the area immediately in front of the car gets dimmer, but at the speeds I was driving (50-65mph) I wasn't concentrating on the area 2m in front of the car?? If I put the front fogs on then the area in front was mostly filled in but again it was irrelevant, I was looking at the road 10-100m in front of the car which was lit up well. This is on a Jan 08 build car.

If you want to talk about visibility issues the windscreen wipers are freakin useless and the washer bottle runs out far too fast!!

[woofboxer]

The first time we drove ours on an unlit road the dipped beam was pathetic, to the extent that it felt dangerous. There is adjustment under the bonnet but I didn't see why I should do it and risk messing it up so I took it back to Park Lane. They adjusted the lights and they are fine now. The nearside headlight was set way too low - apprently a lot of them come out of the factory like it.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Yes, it's a great shame, but someone in the BMW design department decided that they could get away with swapping to single optic headlamps Consequently, you are going to loose the illumination near the front of the car when going on to main beam This seems completely mad, as single optic halogen lamps now seem restricted to only the very cheapest new cars and vans.

Using the "headlamp flash" feature will allow you to use both dipped and main filaments simultaneously, but may burn the headlamp bulbs out very quickly.

The only answers seem to be either adding Bi-Xenons at the start or adding additional lamps. Why should we have to do this?

Tigger.

[LizzyG]

I used to have a Fiesta ST, and that had headlights just the same ie the dipped beam went off when the main beam was switched on. I think a lot of new cars must have that type of headlight, if xenons are not fitted. I've got used to the lights on my Mini now (probably cos they are the same as my old car) but if I ordered a new mini I'd make sure it had xenons I think!

[mini me 28]

Hi there, i am newbie to this site having recently bought mini for wife. i see you refer to "additional driving lamps" fitted to aid lighting levels. I also did this to an earlier Ford and ensured that both "spotlights" were aimed in line with the dipped beam, thus acting as "driving lamps". I was stopped by local police and informed that this term "driving lamps" was outdated and illegal. Lamps are now spotlights (additional high beams) if fitted above bumper and foglights if fitted below the bumper (illegal to use if not foggy or raining). Obviously this does not help illuminate the road if driving in traffic, however I have had cars where in driving conditions using dipped beam, both main beams have been also illuminated although in series ie 12 volts across both lamps resulting in 6 volts across each lamp effectively giving half illumination to main beams thus not blinding oncoming traffic but increasing light level on road. I wonder if this is an idea your forum members may comment upon. Thanks

[maxnozzie]

I have a 2008 R56 Mini One, the full beam is pathetic - spotlights order today