1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Headlight Problem

I have a bi-xenon issue, too, and so far, have not been able to figure it out. Here is my headlight thread...

http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/mini-stuff/27840-hmmmm-where-did-my-high-beams-go.html

Your problem sounds more like a power issue, to me. It sounds like that headlight is losing power intermittently.

My problem isn't constant, either. Sometimes the high-beams work, and sometimes they don't.

I'm sure the MINI dealer can fix it, for a nominal fee. $$$$$$$$$$

CD

 

Is it possible to switch parts one at time from the passenger side to drivers side and vice versa to determine which part is bad ??

 

Yeah, I have a similar thing that tosses a wrench into the works. If I turn my car off with the lights on, and leave them switched on, of course, that turns the lights off to save the battery. And, if I do that, when I start the car, the lights come on, and most of the time, the high beams work.

That really doesn't help me. It just adds more complexity to the problem.

I love my Xenon lights for driving at night, but it is certainly more complicated than the old-school headlights from way back when.

CD

 

To narrow it down, swap parts between the left and right side, and check if the problem moves to the other side.

Start with the bulb itself, then the igniter (#7 in diagram), then the control unit (#1).

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=RE33-USA-12-2002-R53-Mini-Cooper_S&diagId=63_0723

 

Igniters are about 95% of the fixes. I've had to replace them on my other 2 cars but not my coop. Make sure the rubber seal that protects the plug isn't cracked water can get into the igniter and cause a short. Some have a seal around the housing also. Good luck


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You need an HID Igniter. I have had this problem before and it's a simple fix.

Here is what you need https://www.amazon.com/2005-Cooper-Xenon-Headlight-Igniter/dp/B012DYS2NW/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1475456736&sr=8-11&keywords=Mini+Cooper+hid+igniter

 

Yes! Can someone post a link to the how-to for opening up your old style HID lights and replacing the igniter above? Not the later lights; the early 2001-2002 ones that were supposed to be non-serviceable. I have a set of these lights for my R50 that I want to sell. It would be nice to put it back to HID status first. For cheap.