BMW mini headlight adjustment question

[sone]

Posted this on the Mini section but I thought I'd try on here as well.

My other half's Mini failed it's test today (first mot) on a damaged headlight. She was quoted £353.00 to replace it.
How does this sound price wise?. Is it a job I could do myself without to much grief?. Any advice where to buy one from.
Update on this I've just looked at the headlight and I can't see a thing wrong with it. The report says headlight fell apart and cant be adjusted!. How do adjust these things so I can try it myself.

Cheers

Steve

[lance1a]

What year model is it (R56 or R50 based) as one is in the bonnet, the other on the front ITM. Either are easy to replace, though adjusting the fit of the R56 car can be tricky. If you let me know which one I will tell you how to do it.

[lance1a]

Ooops, just saw ...

If the adjustment screws are having no effect (the little white nylon ones) then the chances are that they have either been stripped or they have detached. In this case you will need to access the reflector from inside the headlight housing by removing the caps at the rear. If you can get to them, try to lift them while someone screws the adjusters and see if you can get them to take on the splines. Be carefull if they are Xenon lights as they will give you a nifty hairdo.
email me on
[e-mail]
if you need a step by step guide.

Edited by lance1a on Tuesday 23 November 19:16

[davepoth]

Always disconnect the power before fiddling with electrics, especially with high voltage stuff like xenons.

If it's an R56 I should think there'll be some units on ebay or in scrapyards by now.

[sone]

Car is 07 Cooper. I just find it hard to believe that the unit is damaged internally when there's no damage externally.
Thanks for responses so far.

[MondeoMan1981]

OP , are we talking original owner with FMSH ? Would it be worth approaching BMW to ask why their headlights have broken when they wouldnt have been touched before ?

[sone]

MondeoMan1981 said:

OP , are we talking original owner with FMSH ? Would it be worth approaching BMW to ask why their headlights have broken when they wouldnt have been touched before ?

Yip, she's had it from new, only 12k miles(hardly relevant I know) on it. In mint condition.

[MondeoMan1981]

sone said:

MondeoMan1981 said:

OP , are we talking original owner with FMSH ? Would it be worth approaching BMW to ask why their headlights have broken when they wouldnt have been touched before ?

Yip, she's had it from new, only 12k miles(hardly relevant I know) on it. In mint condition.

This will be its first MOT and just out of warranty ? I think a chat with BMW UK could be in order - there would be no reason for these adjuster screws not to work if the car is mint etc.

Unless the garage doing the MOT have broken them...........

[lance1a]

Quite often on R56's(during production) the headlights would come adrift from the adjusters mechanisms. If the actual headlight is set incorrectly in the body the computerised headlamp adjustment rig over compensates and screws the adjuster right off the spline.

[sone]

I've just wound the outer plastic screw and the light has lifted, the same with the inner screw.
Im wondering who to take it too to align it properly and if they do I will be going back to the dealership and getting my wifes MOT fee back on the grounds of them taking the piss.
Mind you I could be wrong.

[lance1a]

Is the headlight correctly positioned within the chrome bonnet ring when the bonnet is shut? If the light has an uneven gap, or -when viewed from the side- is too proud or high in profile in relation to the bonnet, then the adjustment screws will not have the range to correct the angle of the reflector. There are three adjustment screws on the frame of the headlight. If you look there are two on the front on a vertical plane and two on the top on a horizontal plane ( one is more a securing tab than an adjuster, that why I said three) They are 10mm bolts on large washers with a 21mm adjustment behind the washer. This is what is used to correctly position the headlight on the ITM and within the apperture for the headlight in the bonnet. You can adjust them but it's tricky.