where to by xenon bulbs and which to buy

the cats pajamas

as above.
I am looking to buy the brightest legal bulbs for my mini.
I have a light flickering issue and sometimes look a bit pink so i am gona change the bulbs before i go looking at the ballast.
What brand, wattage and where should i be buying them?
what should i expect to pay ?
FYI I have a prefacelift mini cooper s r53 and it came from the factory with xenon bulbs

Black_Knight

Dont they now fail the NCT unless you go to all sorts of lengths?

Something like self leveling, headlight washers and needs to be a xenon specific headlamp (not just a new bulb).

bazz26

Is the car fitted with existing Xenon headlights or are you looking to upgrade to aftermarket Xenons? For aftermarket ones you may also need to fit automatic leveling and a washer cleaning kit for them to pass the NCT afaik.

If your just looking for a brighter halogen bulb then something like Philips X-treme Vision or Osram Nightbreakers.

mickdw

If you have only an issue with one light, swap the bulbs over. If problem moves, the bulb is the issue.
If problem doesn't move, you could swap ballast and then see if the problem moves.
When you know what is causing the flicker, you can then go about buying replacements.
As for bulbs, is go with 4500k light colour. That's generally the oe spec. Not too blue.

the cats pajamas

sorry for the confusion.
My car left the factory with Xenon headlights and they are self leveling and have water washers and the rest.

I just know that xenon bulbs are expensive and didn't want to spend unnecessarily on lo quality bulbs.
I think they could do with a new pair anyway, but ill swap with mine around to make sure it's the bulb.
I think the bulbs in my headlights might be cheap as they don't light the road particularly well.

What brand ?
Does it matter where I buy?
What should I be looking at paying?
is 4500k the brightest allowed by law? (is there any legal restriction on brightness?)

MuppetCheck

Is that car covered by the free BMW bulb replacement thing that's going on at the moment?

the cats pajamas

I am completely unaware of such a thing do they cover an 04 mini ?

the website doesn't seem to recognize my reg or any mini model.
Im after asking a bmw mechanic friend.
putting a pin in that for the minute.

What brand ?
Does it matter where I buy?
What should I be looking at paying?
is 4500k the brightest allowed by law? (is there any legal restriction on brightness?)

*************
BMW mechanic just got back to me , bulb offer ended in november

Special Circumstances

4500k is a colour, not a brightness. It's probably best to stay near that colour, it is allegedly the colour that suits the human eye best. Lower numbers tend toward yellow, higher numbers tend toward blue.

The ballasts decide the power afaik, usually they come in 35w or 55w.

bazz26

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Is that car covered by the free BMW bulb replacement thing that's going on at the moment?

That finished at the end of November afaik.

FarmersSon

Unable to post a link, but try powerbulbs.co.uk

Good selection of bulbs.