[F55maybe]

Just trying to spec a F55 Cooper SD and getting a little carried away with all the options! So, was wondering if I should stretch further for the LED headlights option?

I was told by a dealer that the standard fit on the Cooper S & SD are xenons but I'm not sure and I can't find any details on the mini website etc. help please!

 

[jeremybingham]

Yes he's right xenons as in ordinary bulbs. The ledights are vast ly superior look stunning. My favourite feature of the car and like you I
initiallyI decided not to bother. The forum persuaded me and I think they are a MUST MUST MUST HAVE! my fave feature of the whole car.

You won't regret it.

 

[F55maybe]

Thanks for the reply. Not being difficult, but aren't ordinary bulbs halogens???

 

[jeremybingham]

Yes couldn't think of the word. . Bad day! They call halogen xenon for some reason! If you look at sometuning magazine's you can get xenon filled halogen which is what they are as std.

 

[lawrothegreat]

The standard headlights aren't HID xenons. The LEDs are fantastic though and a really worthwhile option if you do lots of night time driving...

 

[Hat]

Std bulbs are definitely only halogen. Leds are well worth the extra if you can stretch to it

 

[lawrothegreat]

The standard headlights aren't HID xenons. The LED headlights are fantastic though and are well worth considering if you do a lot of night driving.....

 

[lawrothegreat]

Not sure how that happened...

 

[jeremybingham]

Yes you're right. All. Def go for leds!

 

[MintMark]

I think the confusion happens because previous minis came with xenon on some models... my dealer was confused as well. They have to re-learn all the options for the new mini...

Our options are halogen, LED, LED with cornering.

LED was an easy choice for me because my previous car had quite poor lights... such an upgrade! Also, the LED headlights give you the LED "eyebrow" daytime running lights, which you don't get with the standard halogen option.

 

[jeremybingham]

I think some dealers are calling the halogen lights xenon,incorrectly!

 

[MAC99]

Highly recommend the LED headlights.
If you choose the LED headlights, you also get LED rear lights (which differ from the standard ones)!
The daytime running lights are the Eyebrows. I also specced the LED fog lights but didn't bother with the cornering light option.

I think it has been said before that people regret not choosing the LED lights.

All I can say is that I think they are fab -I also have the driver assistance pack which (amongst other things) has the auto high beam function which seems to work pretty well.

It is of course a matter of cost, but I was like a kid in a sweet shop at the dealers.......!

 

[Mister M]

Yes he's right xenons as in ordinary bulbs. The ledights are vast ly superior look stunning. My favourite feature of the car and like you I
initiallyI decided not to bother. The forum persuaded me and I think they are a MUST MUST MUST HAVE! my fave feature of the whole car.

You won't regret it.

EXACTLY the same as above for me too - two months in and I still smile when I hit that button on the remote and my car lights up like a Christmas tree with lights whiter than the Hoffs teeth ;0)

Oh, pretty good for driving too ;0)

 

[Mister M]

Also, if your buying the car on finance the cost of the option is less than the £600ish option cost due to the increased buyback value, mine only added a fraction of that cost to my deposit, with no change to monthly payments. check with your dealer, as I've heard that upgrading to certain alloys on certain models actually reduces the monthly payments and it's similar with the LEDS

 

[Sunster]

Yep - definitely worth having. I have the LED with cornering option - if memory serves right they're and extra £80 above the LED option and I really like the function. As far as I'm aware the LED cornering lights are housed with black surrounds whereas the LED (without cornering) are in Grey - though someone needs to confirm this.

Like most people here, didn't think it was that big a deal, but would definitely go for them on my next car.

 

[caveman dave]

There are only 3 options
1 Halogens which are like having a candles to see with, they are no problem if you dont have to drive on country roads at night
2 LEDS, brilliant, I have them
3 Adaptive LED's with cornering function, I have no experience of them but can only imgine that they are better than standard LED's

 

[siriuszero]

Yep - definitely worth having. I have the LED with cornering option - if memory serves right they're and extra £80 above the LED option and I really like the function. As far as I'm aware the LED cornering lights are housed with black surrounds whereas the LED (without cornering) are in Grey - though someone needs to confirm this.

Correct! The LED headlights with cornering function have an anthracite housing instead of the grey on the normal LED headlights. It's one of the ways you can tell if the headlights are cornering or not. The other way you can tell is there is a small window inside the housing where the secondary cornering lights shine out (see attached photo)

There are only 3 options
1 Halogens which are like having a candles to see with, they are no problem if you dont have to drive on country roads at night
2 LEDS, brilliant, I have them
3 Adaptive LED's with cornering function, I have no experience of them but can only imgine that they are better than standard LED's

The LEDs with cornering aren't adaptive, but they do have a second beam that illuminates sideways from inside the housing when going below 25 mph and turning.

 

[caveman dave]

Correct! The LED headlights with cornering function have an anthracite housing instead of the grey on the normal LED headlights. It's one of the ways you can tell if the headlights are cornering or not. The other way you can tell is there is a small window inside the housing where the secondary cornering lights shine out (see attached photo)



The LEDs with cornering aren't adaptive, but they do have a second beam that illuminates sideways from inside the housing when going below 25 mph and turning.

They are not called adaptive as per the xenon's, but I was told that they are adaptive.
This is from the MINI website:

'The cornering lights on the optional LED headlights ensure maximum safety at night, adjusting the direction of the beams in line with the angle of steering and the driving speed,and moving them in both the vertical and horizontal planes to follow the road ahead and provide optimum illumination.'

The movement in the vertical and horizontal planes is not mentioned on the LED lights without cornering function.

 

[siriuszero]

That's very interesting...

I know they move vertically to self level themselves, but I have not heard of them moving horizontally - at least on US-spec MINIs. The US MINI website does say adaptive headlights, but does not mention horizontal movement (although they seem to be using an old picture of the R56's adaptive xenons, which did move side to side...)

I've spent some time with the F56s, including those with cornering and I've never seen the beams move side to side...

Regional differences?

 

[caveman dave]

That's very interesting...

I know they move vertically to self level themselves, but I have not heard of them moving horizontally - at least on US-spec MINIs. The US MINI website does say adaptive headlights, but does not mention horizontal movement (although they seem to be using an old picture of the R56's adaptive xenons, which did move side to side...)

I've spent some time with the F56s, including those with cornering and I've never seen the beams move side to side...

Regional differences?

Both versions of the LED's have self leveling, but with the 'Adaptive' apparently they move the focus of the beam to suit driving speed.