The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (the IIHS) has completed its first ever rating of automotive headlights. While MINI was absent from this first...The post BMWs Receive Poor Headlight Ratings – What it Means for MINI appeared first on MotoringFile. (visit MotoringFile for the full article) More...
The Zenons in our 2004 Audi have always been better than those in either of my two MINIs, and soon Audi will be selling their laser headlights. The Zenons in my 2009 Clubman S are better than those in my 2003 JCW, but still not as good as the ones in our Audi......I think BMW could do a better job with headlights.....maybe spend more time on performance and less time on style?
I find the lights in our 2015 X1 to be very good (adaptive Xenons), definitely better than the Xenons in my 2002 Cooper S. I agree the LCI R53's with the projector Xenons are better than my 2002 Xenons, and probably on par with the X1 Xenons.
I have the Hid's I used a 4' x 10' sheet of cardboard and laid out the headlight alignment pattern for the MINI.... Interestingly the OEM pattern was low from the factory.... I raised it to meet the pattern and have absolutely no issues with nighttime driving... I don't get oncoming traffic flashing their lights as me either... I've always wondered if they were leaving the factory wrong...
My 2005 HIDs are fine after I adjusted them. Like others have said they come aimed way to low. Also laser headlights have not been approved by the US DOT for the US market yet and it maybe a while for that to happen. BMW already has developed them and is waiting for approval just like every other manufacturer.
My HIDs are better the halogens in my WRX. But I will check the alignment after reading this. Hey MM can I come down and use your cardboard?
Those WRX bugeye headlights Subaru used are some of the worst headlights I've ever sat behind. They sucked in the surrounding light rather than putting light out to so you could see.
I used to think the HIDs on my 09 Mini were awesome.....but I was coming from a 1990 Mustang GT lol. Then I got standard halogens on my FJ and I have been saying "screw HIDs" for the past 4 1/2 years. Maybe the Mini ones indeed just sucked lol....but for a tiny low car I was pleased.