joey mod?

[rubberj00]

Thinking of doing this, i have 07 standard halogen lights (wish i went for xenon's but whatever) going to get HID kit so my lights will be better... Thinking of doing this MOD and was wondering if any of you lot on mini2 have given it a go? Is it Legal in the UK, i know ALOT of the US guys have done it as have been looking through all there threads and they LOVE decrome'ing everything!, literally everything!Also if after the oven process and when you have the light open would there be any way to install like an angel light around the indicator or something? that would be sweet!

Seriously though why have no aftermarket lights been bought out yet? Angel lights etc. So many thinks you can do to the R53 but not R56! It's not fair! I want to play!!

But any answers about the joey mod would be great!

Needless to say if it is illegal or would negatively effect the re-sale value off my MINI, would not bother looking any further into it!

[wisey113]

Ive done it on mine. I've fully dechromed my car and did the joey mod with black headlights with a red headlamp reflector. Definitely worth doing, it's really not that hard, just a bit frightening sticking your headlights in the oven! I'll see if I can get some pictures to show you what it looks like.

[wisey113]

Got a few pictures up, photography is not my forte so bear with me!! Hope this helps.

[rubberj00]

That looks soooo good buddy! Thinking about the red dot you have aswell now as that looks sweeet! Your from UK then? And no problems with MOT or police? Only seen people in US with it done before!
If no problems I have a few q's I'd like to ask if it isn't illegal?? I'm not scared of putting in oven it's the resealing that scares me!!

[wisey113]

Never had any problems with it. It's definitely legal and its becoming such a trend that the 50th anniversary JCW comes with factory Joey Modded Xenons. If you have any questions about the mod itself feel free to give me a shout, the resealing wasn't that bad either, I let the paint dry for a while then stuck it back in the oven and re sealed it and the paint endured fine, it didn't flake or anything. Let me know how it goes if you try!

[rubberj00]

Quote: Originally Posted by wisey113 (original)

Never had any problems with it. It's definitely legal and its becoming such a trend that the 50th anniversary JCW comes with factory Joey Modded Xenons. If you have any questions about the mod itself feel free to give me a shout, the resealing wasn't that bad either, I let the paint dry for a while then stuck it back in the oven and re sealed it and the paint endured fine, it didn't flake or anything. Let me know how it goes if you try!

Yeah that's because it looks THE dogs!
Did you just use the sealer that was already on then? When i told my bro he laughed and said enjoy buying a new headlight! He was surprised that everyone just reheated and stuck together?

So the basic gist of it is:

1 un-attach the headlight, which is easy , of course leaving the bulbs out first, which will be easy..

2. Bake in oven for 6 mins on 200-250deg

3. get a flat head screw driver and try and separate the headlight, which i'm going to guess is quite easy if you have got the heating part right?

4. once you have them separated do you have to remove any of the reflectors or do you leave them all in?

5. cover over with WHAT? probably some kind of painter tape over the main reflector and then the indicator reflector.. i might have some problems as i removed my orange lenses and never replaced with clear ones so its just a bulb but im sure i'll find a way of doing this.

6. my idea is too plastidip it, so probably 3 spray coats with 30-40 mins drying inbetween? I know a lot of people paint but i've heard also that after 4-5 months the paint starts blistering etc so thought i'd go the plastidip route!

7. After 3 coats and let dry for hour or so after last coat pop back in oven for 5 mins at 200deg's and stick back together....

this is what im so nervous at! If it doesn't seal back together i will be ****ed so hard!! And also at 200degs in the oven would this mess up the plastidip i just did at all??

Anything i have missed, well put the headlight back in will be helpful but yeah?

Also do you know how on the R56 i remove the chrome headlight rings?? as i have no clue and also remove the back ones and the grill surrounds if you know that also?? cheers bud..

[wisey113]

I hope you mean 200 Farenheit!! You don't actually want to bake your headlight. The oven should be at around 92c i think. I used the same sealant it came with, it works fine, the light doenst mist over or fog up at all. In terms of covering you basically cover all the bits that are shiny and look like they would be necessary to reflect light, I used painters masking tape and then sprayed around 3 layers of Plastikote, and its endured for the last 10 months or so.

As for the chrome headlight rings, just pop open the bonnet and on the under side of the bonnet you will see the rings are held on by catches, just push the catches towards the centre and it will come off if you get me?

Also couldn't help noticing you have a few other threads about a few other mods. Nearly everything is do-able. My car is a cooper although it looks like a cooper S, nearly everything is interchangable so have a blast!

[adam_Randell]

i wouldnt use plastidip mate. plastidip has a heat resistance on 96C. if you want a matte look go for a matte finish hammerite or high temp paint.

i did the headlights on my mates facelift R53 xenons, and the paint has started babbling a little due to the heat. we used 2 coats of primer, 3 coats of black II paint and 2 coats of laquer. defo use hammerite.

[Richard Crofts]

might be woth talking to mikey the mini ... he does halogen replacements with black inserts for the r53 (basically a joey mod light with a warrantee!)...his supplier may do them for the r56 too ...or be working on them???