I have been "creating" my own Mini on MiniUSA.com. After driving one, I am fairly certain of the features that I want on my new Cooper. How important is it to upgrade to the Xenon lights? Some say that if I don't do it when ordering, changing the lights aftermarket is a bear, and costly.

I wouldn't do the aftermarket. Either get them now or just go without.

I don't have them, and while they are nice, I'm managing to survive.

I did see a car at MOTD that had aftermarket projectors and the owner said that they were 'plug and play' and they did look pretty good, but they still weren't HIDs.

I wouldn't do the aftermarket. Either get them now or just go without.
+1. For what it's worth, none of the three Coopers I've owned have had them, and night visibility is fine to me.

+1. For what it's worth, none of the three Coopers I've owned have had them, and night visibility is fine to me.
I'll take the opposite viewpoint - respectfully, of course - and say that I much prefer Xenon lighting to halogen lighting. I drive to work in the dark on mountain roads, so being able to put more light on the road is very valuable to me. BMW's halogen headlight designs are quite good, but after driving for a few years with Xenon-equipped MINIs and BMWs, I would not go back.

I suggest that you "test drive" the Xenon headlights for yourself. See if your MA (motoring advisor) would be willing to lend you a car overnight.

+1. For what it's worth, none of the three Coopers I've owned have had them, and night visibility is fine to me.
I don't have them on mine either, and I have survived, but I recall being constantly marveled at how great they were after I put them on the M3. If you have the $, go ahead and get them, if you would rather put the $ somewhere else, I think you'll live without them.

Agree with you folks above. Probably should've qualified my comments a little better; I do very little night driving, and my definition of passable is probably different than someone who does a lot.

Having said that, I have Xenons in the M3, and there is a considerable difference.

Hey I just ordered my 08 MCS with Xenons. They look cool and definetly provide greater illumination. My 335i is the first car I've had them on and are super. Just go with it to avoid the future "should of gotten them syndrome" that I tend to suffer.

I've always been a supporter of better night vision and since I first owned a Rabbit (that's a Golf to you youngsters!) I've always upgraded to the best possible lighting available, in the Rabbit's case it was a set of Hella H-4's.
The better lighting you'll get provides an additional margin of safety. You'll be able to see more of the road out front of you.
What a previous poster said was correct, stay away from aftermarket stuff and stick with OEM. Nothing better.
Good luck!

I've been toying with getting an MC too.

The second-most important option to me is Xenons. Not only are they supremely functional, they're a downright STEAL at $500 and make the front end look better...the projectors look sophisticated in there.

I've never seen the Mini's Xenon's but i've gone back and forth from the both and i feel like i have a hard time seeing without them after getting use to have xenon. It really comes down to personal preference if you find seeing farther and better visibility and are willing to pay the cost for them $500 for them to come with the xenon's is a great price but if you have never had them before and thing that the lighting from halogen is good and don't want to pay $500 for xenon then skip them. Its what you feel comfortable with. My 2 cents.

Xenons are nice - it's good to see as much as you can, specially if you're going fast! My GP didn't come with them, so I put in 4 PIA hid bulbs, which work just as well, if not better, and were cheaper as well!

Xenons are nice - it's good to see as much as you can, specially if you're going fast! My GP didn't come with them, so I put in 4 PIA hid bulbs, which work just as well, if not better, and were cheaper as well!


can you elaborate on that? If there is a reasonably priced lighting upgrade that I can do, I'd love to know about it!