While H4's and other exotic lighting is great to have a set of basic sealed beam H6024's can be found in local auto parts houses for roughly $20 and takes about 10mins to swap out. A fresh set of headlamps may make your Mini easier for other cars on the road to see you. Mini's have a lot in common with motorcycles in terms of overall visibility (or is that lack of visibility?). 

Maybe no inspections, but I expect your state has regulations on the proper aiming of headlights and the requirement to dim/dip (use low beams) when meeting on-coming vehicles. You run the risk of getting ticketed for improper aim or use of headlights. "This time of year" doesn't last long unless you are close to the equator. The days will get shorter.

Headlamps may be cheaper than fines.

Depending on the style of headlight you currently have, they may have a sloping cut-off - the middle and right of the beam are cut off horizontally to reduce glare and the left side cut-off angles upward it increase roadside illumination. But on the wrong side for North America. even on low beam, you'll be blinding on-coming drivers.

I've looked at LED headlights, and the technology is getting really good, but still super pricey. But I would stay away from anything claiming to retrofit or adapt to old tech. The LED "bulbs" just can't be expected to work as well with lenses and reflectors designed for incandescent or halogen bulbs.

Thanks for all of the info on the lights. I've been looking at what you've recommended and will likely upgrade at some point. This time of year, it gets dark late and I'm rarely out in the Mini at when it gets dark, but definitely good to know how the Japanese spec lights work.

I fortunately live in Columbus, Ohio where there are no inspections at all, you just simply register your vehicle and you're good to go. That said, I purchased the car from West Virginia where they do have inspections and it passed as recent as November.

Most places in CA will require an inspection if a car is brought in from another province.... unless it's to be plated as an antique

//www.winktimber.com/vintagerally/gear/lights/cibie_catalog_1985.pdf

While this is Cibie specific it provides and excellent overview of lighting options...

Its not exactly new but still relevant and very applicable to Minis....

Cheers, Ian

 I have the WIPAC Quadoptic H4 kit.  Very easy install and very nice.  The cutoff line is excellent with the halogen bulbs provided.  I put an H4 LED kit in and the light throw isn't as good.  It is very spotty due to the nature of the LED bulbs.

Yearly here in NB.............regardless of vehicle vintage.............Yup, a Royal PITA

Inspection? That's funny. You must live somewhere that actually has those.

The car wouldn't pass an inspection with the Jap headlights
Dangerous and illegal to not change them
 Mine actually had "left hand traffic " embossed in them

+1 what fMix said about LHD headlights. You want to have LHD headlights when you're driving on the right side of the road, no matter which side the steering wheel is on. I suspect a lot of people have original RHD headlights and never realize that they are pointing the wrong direction, and subsequently end up spending money and time adding extra lights just to be able to see at night. Our host sells a WIPAC Quadoptic H4 Halogen kit that is a really easy and effective upgrade. Just make sure you get the LHD ones, since they sell both kinds. That was one of the first things I did to my car ten years ago and I've never had any desire or need to add additional lighting. Make sure you spend some time aiming them properly as well. You can find numerous guides online to do the outdoor method on your garage door or wherever. It really makes a huge difference.

Thanks, appreciate it. I plan on reading the forums, reading my Haynes manual, looking over the car, and just plain learning about them. I did a LOT of homework on my 78 Beetle before purchasing it, but this Mini purchase was a bit impromptu. Other than the fact that I have always wanted on, I found and purchased this one in 24 hours. I have a lot to learn about maintenance, tuning, finding parts, etc. on this car. The Samba, for VW's, has an amazing forum with great users, and I'm certain I will find the same here!

Congratulations!


I don't know if you had this problem or not, but worth mentioning.  My AC works great and blows cold, but the belt squealed pretty bad.  A new belt and tightening adjustment fixed the issue.  Might be worth swapping the AC and radiator fan belts if they don't look new.  Replacing the very right spark plug required moving the alternator for me, so the AC belt was already loose anyway.

The only other thing I can think of that could be handy is to make sure you have proper headlights for US roads.  Since Japan drives on the left side of the road, their headlights are designed to shine brighter to the left and dimmer to the right to avoid blinding oncoming traffic.  In the US we are opposite, headlights shine dimmer on the left.  With RHD headlights in the car, you will be blinding everyone and probably making them pretty mad.  It would be worth it to check your headlights to see if they have already been swapped or not, and if not buy a set of LHD housings.

I am glad to hear that the car runs as it should. Also, a person's first mini meet is likely to be a transformative experience.

Oh, I'll be there! I live 10 minutes from where the event is taking place!

Or on this Forum: //www.minimania.com/msgThread/120586/1/1/MiniMeetEast_2017_Columbus_Ohio_info_thread

Come to Mini Meet East in late June and get to meet a whole bunch of Mini owners. It is being put on in by the Como guys in Columbus Ohio. Just google mini meet east 2017 it should come up.

Thanks, I'll have to take a look and evaluate the springs. AC seems to blow cold, but we'll see when it gets warmer outside. It definitely drags down the motor when running!

Drove it home 4.5 hours and ran great! Previous owner seemed to be a good owner from what I could tell. Car is solid, no rust, very clean.

Thanks for the info. I'm in Ohio, zero inspections. Car is home and registered in Ohio already!