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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 2:09 pm 
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So I find these days I am outdriving my headlights, and it is time to fix it. I've done some reading on the boards about the various options and considerations, but am curious if I have the same setup with Rover that the older Minis have.

If I upgrade to Quadoptics or Hella H4 do I also need to install relays?
My headlights are potentially 15 years old. Would I see improvements with this $27 job from MiniKingdom?
Is there something that I am not considering that you'd like to make me aware of? ;)

Thanks everyone.

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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 2:30 pm 
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What do you have now? Do you have the parking bulbs in the headlights? I would have thought a late Rover would of had H4 ones already?

My car has a Cibie H4 conversion, which doesn't look quite right as they aren't curved enough on the front of the lense. I'd definitely recommend something with H4 bulbs as you can buy them from pretty much any petrol station if one blows. The sealed beams are harder to find these days. I think you'd only need relays if you are pumping more watts through, again I thought a Rover would have this fitted already?

Something like this looks ok..
http://minisport.com.au/mini-7-halogen- ... minis-pair

Karcraft have the quadoptic ones listed for under $70 for the pair too.

Minispares seems to suggest that post 97 UK cars have self leveling ones, so that'd need the specific lamps? Then again the export ones might be different?
http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... 05240.aspx
http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... 05220.aspx

Edit:
33rd Page (43.4) - Japan model 1997 onwards has relays fitted
http://www.cantyminiclub.com/tech/elect ... xn990e.pdf
335th page - 1996 Workshop Manual has H4 bulbs
http://www.minipeople.lt/failai/db/3/wo ... manual.pdf
81st Page (78) - 1999 Owners handbook has H4 bulbs
http://www.minipeople.lt/failai/db/3/ow ... ok+rhd.pdf

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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 3:16 pm 
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I have the mini spares H4 kit and narva plus 100 globes. Also, although you don't have to run relays, it's very noticable the difference one makes.


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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 5:25 pm 
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First thing to do is set up lights on relays. That will make a huge difference to start with then look for brighter light set ups.
Cheers Pete

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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 6:14 pm 
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Relays first and then add better lights if needed.

If you try to do it the other way around you are in danger of burning out switches and wiring.


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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 6:31 pm 
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I used to love night driving in NZ, no roos, and the best set up bar none was quality glass headlights reflectors, genuine Lucas or similar with 100 Watt halogen lamps running though relays, fancy Artic white / silver / blue etc are nice but nothing beats 100 Watts of power, nothing legal that is, simple cheap and you will never out drive them
with the mini you want small side lights inside the main lamp reflector which are harder to find but you can always swap out front indicators for duel filament lamps and have indicator and side light combined. really a last resort though


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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 7:26 pm 
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The first thing I suggest you do is wire up a pair of headlight relays to take the load off the switches. Regardless to what people say. You will see a light intensity improvement straight away even without changing headlights. Then if you are still not satisfied fit a pair of halogen headlamps but at least the car will then be equipped to take the extra load without overloading the system causing more voltage drops which Minis suffer from.

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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:04 pm 
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Convertible Mini wrote:
The first thing I suggest you do is wire up a pair of headlight relays to take the load off the switches. Regardless to what people say. You will see a light intensity improvement straight away even without changing headlights. Then if you are still not satisfied fit a pair of halogen headlamps but at least the car will then be equipped to take the extra load without overloading the system causing more voltage drops which Minis suffer from.


You can trust Convertible Mini. He knows what he is talking about. He does it for a living.


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 11:30 am 
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While I fully agree that relays are a worthwhile improvement, just fitting halogen replacements with lower wattage globes gives you more light without further stressing the existing wiring. A standard lucas 7" sealed beam is 75 watts on high beam, 50W on low beam, while basic H4 replacement globes are 60/55W, so you get more light for lower wattage (Hella claims 90% more light for their +90 series).

If you want much more light than that you do need relays and more wattage. My Moke usually runs 100/55W (with relays of course), its way better than my modern car. With 2 X 100W driving lights as well its amazing on the open road. Trouble is, my fanbelt slips when I turn them all on ;).

Tim

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PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 1:17 pm 
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I've had Quadoptics in my car for 20 years. Still the same bulbs. Love em...
They are curved glass not flat so don't look strange like Hella H4s do.

They are only 55/45w I think, will run without relays, however relays take electrical load off the switches and provide more volts to the lamps.

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PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 1:26 pm 
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Awesome responses everyone! But now I might be more confused than I started....

My car is a '98 Japanese Import Rover. It has some hints of self-leveling headlights, (such as the switch on the dash) but there is no motor and they certainly do not self level.

So according to Timmy (thanks Timmy!) a '98 Japanese car should have relays already fitted. And it's possible that since there are remnants of self-leveling, the headlamp unit may be different than your average Mini. So I'm going to have to confirm this. Where would I find the relays and how would I identify that they are for the headlamps? My initial thoughts are that they are on the firewall, and I should put my ear next to them while someone turns the headlights on and off.

Next question is if I already have H4's with relays, wouldn't the smart thing be to just buy replacement bulbs? Or are they sealed and un-repairable?

I think I need to simply dig in. Find out what is there, investigate what can be modified, and then figure out what the correct purchase is.

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PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 1:57 pm 
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If you already have H4 bulbs it is a 5 minute job to replace both sides with different bulbs. Should just need to:
Remove chrome headlight ring (need a screw driver)
Twist the headlight unit to pop it out
Unplug the wires
Unclip the clip and remove bulb.
Assembly is the opposite, just don't touch the glass of the bulb with your fingers.

I'd also check the aim isn't too low. If the self leveling is gone it might not be aimed properly.

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PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 2:48 pm 
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When fitting relays, should they be fitted as close to the headlights as practicable?


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PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 3:52 pm 
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BKozan wrote:
Awesome responses everyone! But now I might be more confused than I started....

My car is a '98 Japanese Import Rover. It has some hints of self-leveling headlights, (such as the switch on the dash) but there is no motor and they certainly do not self level.

So according to Timmy (thanks Timmy!) a '98 Japanese car should have relays already fitted. And it's possible that since there are remnants of self-leveling, the headlamp unit may be different than your average Mini. So I'm going to have to confirm this. Where would I find the relays and how would I identify that they are for the headlamps? My initial thoughts are that they are on the firewall, and I should put my ear next to them while someone turns the headlights on and off.

Next question is if I already have H4's with relays, wouldn't the smart thing be to just buy replacement bulbs? Or are they sealed and un-repairable?

I think I need to simply dig in. Find out what is there, investigate what can be modified, and then figure out what the correct purchase is.

your Mini had so called Wipac (you can read this on the glass if still original) H4 headlamps, due to the leveling, fitted from the factory, starting around 1994. but someone might have fitted differend ones at some time.
and no, there is no relay fitted for the regular high and low beam. only additional lamps, like fog lamps will have a relay, mostly due to regulations that they must not work with hi beam on, or similar.
the self-leveling tend to break down as the motors are inside the wings, fitted to the lower back of the bowls. if still original

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PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2015 3:57 pm 
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MG Rocket wrote:
When fitting relays, should they be fitted as close to the headlights as practicable?


If you have the right size wiring to the lights (and also the black to the chassis) then it doesn't matter, but if you were going to use the original wiring then it will help. You can feel the heat from the original wires when they're on, that's power being dissipated caused by their small cross section.

Its important to follow through. Use nice 2mm auto wire to the relay from the fuse panel, and then to the headlights. Continue with the upgraded lighting to each headlight and as said, also include the earth return. The reward is crystal white lighting.

The switching wires for the relays are not important. The draw through the interior switches are less than 30mA once the relays are fitted.

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