13 replies to this topic

[ashleyread1]

Hi All, 

 

On my Mrk 4 Mayfair i have HIDs but i find that they are useless and struggle to light up the road 4 meters ahead of me. 

 

can anyone suggest a simple and effect solution?

 

want to keep the classic look so no LEDs

 

Thanks Ashley  

[tiger99]

HIDs are only legal if Type Approved with the car and include a washer system. I assume you have aftermarket items which are not for a Mini and are not actually very good. I would be intrigued to know where they came from.

 

Standard type headlights, i.e. with normal halogen bulbs, can be very good. Hella or at the cheaper end, Wipac do some that are suitable and don't have legal issues.

[Cooperman]

Cibie or Hella are excellent. If necessary and if the wiring is up-graded there are more powerful bulbs available which, although not technically legal, are not likely to be an issue as the current Xenon type lights as fitted to modern cars are really much brighter and no policeman is going to get the headlights of a Mini removed to check the bulb wattage. I use a 100/80 w in the headlights of my Cooper 'S' with Hella headlight units. They are superb.

[CityEPete]

I've got Osram night breaker bulbs in everything now, job done.

[gazza82]

HIDs are only legal if Type Approved with the car and include a washer system. I assume you have aftermarket items which are not for a Mini and are not actually very good. I would be intrigued to know where they came from.

 

Standard type headlights, i.e. with normal halogen bulbs, can be very good. Hella or at the cheaper end, Wipac do some that are suitable and don't have legal issues.

 

I think they have changed that slightly a washer system is only needed it original fitment, as it the auto-levelling. But I agree, converting 7" Mini lamps to HIDs is bound to fail as I doubt if the reflector bowl is the right shape.

[ashleyread1]

where would be the best place to purchase the hella units or Cibia and what is the higgest watt bulb i can use before i have to supply more power to the units. sorry but dont know a lot about wiring cars or headlamps 

[Swift_General]

Can't answer the question about where to buy the lights, however I wouldn't be going any higher than 60/55W for the headlights with the standard loom. Even then personally I would be powering them with a dedicated feed switched via separate relays to reduce chance to total failure. This makes the light switch and column dip switch more reliable as you are only putting a very small current through them to switch the relays. Either wire yourself or you can buy a mini loom made up.

Edited by Swift_General, 28 February 2017 - 03:46 PM.

[Cooperman]

If you are wanting to go to higher wattage bulbs you need up-rated wiring and 4 relays, one for each main beam and one for each dip beam.

I once had a pair of 130/90 watt headlight bulbs in Autopal light units. They were very good, but I had to seriously improve the switching and power supply wiring and fit the 4 relays.

For normal driving the Cibie headlights (which I rate as the very best) with 60/55 w bulbs is all you really need. If more range is needed a pair of quality (not the stupid 'electric candle' spotlights some people fit) 7" driving lights, like the Cibie Oscar, is the best way to go with them wired in to come on with main beam.

[tiger99]

130/90 watts! Just the thing when a moron in an on-coming SUV doesn't know that his vehicle has a dip switch!

 

Four relays is indeed very necessary, and allows for 4 fuses too. Worth doing in any Mini.

 

Give it a few years and LED headlights may be the best way forward, but not just yet for various reasons. I think the law needs updating, and there remain some issues with life and future availability of spares. Standards like what we have for H4 and H7 bulbs etc need to develop, getting away from unique manufacturers parts.

[Cooperman]

130/90 watts! Just the thing when a moron in an on-coming SUV doesn't know that his vehicle has a dip switch!

 

Four relays is indeed very necessary, and allows for 4 fuses too. Worth doing in any Mini.

 

Give it a few years and LED headlights may be the best way forward, but not just yet for various reasons. I think the law needs updating, and there remain some issues with life and future availability of spares. Standards like what we have for H4 and H7 bulbs etc need to develop, getting away from unique manufacturers parts.

I fitted the 130/90 bulbs when I did a rally in which no additional lights were allowed. Normally 2 additional lights are allowed so headlights with 100/80 bulbs and a pair of Cibie Super-Oscar driving lights with 100 w single filament bulbs is just fine.

[tiger99]

Talking of which, one of the Minis for sale in this month's Practical Classics has one of the special bonnets with two spots fitted, somewhat like a Frogeye Sprite. I always wanted one of those bonnets but sadly am not in a position to buy any car just yet. Need to relocate first. Otherwise I may have been interested.

[Steve220]

HIDs are only legal if Type Approved with the car and include a washer system. I assume you have aftermarket items which are not for a Mini and are not actually very good. I would be intrigued to know where they came from.
 
Standard type headlights, i.e. with normal halogen bulbs, can be very good. Hella or at the cheaper end, Wipac do some that are suitable and don't have legal issues.

 
I think they have changed that slightly a washer system is only needed it original fitment, as it the auto-levelling. But I agree, converting 7" Mini lamps to HIDs is bound to fail as I doubt if the reflector bowl is the right shape.

Correct. Only illegal if they levelling and washers don't work. I've got LEDs in all front lights on my mini (before I pulled it apart). Lit the road up like daylight

[Midas Mk1]

 

 

HIDs are only legal if Type Approved with the car and include a washer system. I assume you have aftermarket items which are not for a Mini and are not actually very good. I would be intrigued to know where they came from.
 
Standard type headlights, i.e. with normal halogen bulbs, can be very good. Hella or at the cheaper end, Wipac do some that are suitable and don't have legal issues.

 
I think they have changed that slightly a washer system is only needed it original fitment, as it the auto-levelling. But I agree, converting 7" Mini lamps to HIDs is bound to fail as I doubt if the reflector bowl is the right shape.

Correct. Only illegal if they levelling and washers don't work. I've got LEDs in all front lights on my mini (before I pulled it apart). Lit the road up like daylight

 

 

H4 LED's too? Interested how you got on with them!

 

Seeing as my winter daily is giving me pain im gonna have to use the Daily Mini full time, and find the Osram Nightbreakers / Phillips type pretty poor. Had the phillips +150% ones, worked ok, but then lasted 3 months in the daily. 

[Steve220]

I had them for about a week before taking the car off the road, drove it back to my folks during the night and was amazed. Got them cheaply from a Chinese eBay seller