I am starting a new thread to distribute a guide I put together.

After much waiting, worrying, and struggle, I was able to retrofit my MCS with rear fog lights and a new toggle! I now embrace full toggle glory.

I put together this handy guide for all interested owners.

One word of caution, this is not for the faint of heart...use at your own risk.

EDIT 1: As Paul points out below, rather than remove the top center vent completely, it may be easier to remove the two tabs in the vent (towards the driver and passenger sides) to access two of the screws holding the speedometer cover. This is something I didn't know about until after I removed the vent and wasn't sure it would provide the necessary access, but if it does, it's certainly easier than removing the entire vent.

EDIT 2: ColinMc has pointed out that you may need a T30 in place of the T25 torx bit. This may be due to differences in builds, or perhaps I mistakenly used the wrong bit. Either way, it may be worthwhile to have access to both sized bits before undertaking the project.

EDIT 3: I revised the guide to incorporate the above edits.

 

Wow! Although I already had rear fogs, there are a lot of useful pearls in your guide. This is the best DIY guide I have seen so far. How about installing some OEM driving lights?

 

Awsome Thanks x 1000...

Lets see how much the dealer here wants for reprogramming...

 

Great guide! I'm also rear-fog-less... and will probably attempt this mod later this spring!

One very minor suggestion - the removal if the center vent on page 2 isn't necessary. The two screws can be accessed by removing only the front right/left corner caps. The caps are visible in your picture.

 

Edit made to the original post...thanks!

 

Great DIY how to! This should be stickied! If I do this, which I will, already ordering the parts today. Can I wait to have it reprogrammed? So they won't actually work yet, but flipping that toggle won't do anything i'm guessing?

 

Yes, you can wait to have the dealer reprogram for the rear fog light. I haven't had it done yet either. The icon on the toggle panel lights up with the rest of the icons when the headlights (or parking lights) are turned on. Until you get it programmed, however, you can flip that toggle all you want and nothing will happen--at least it doesn't for me.

Good luck on the install.

 

Lol, i'd almost consider just putting the new panel on and the toggle in for now, the blank spot is what bothers me the most...not the fact that i don't have rear fogs heh.

EDIT: Ordered the new panel cover and toggle from Jayson at Classic Mini, great guy! I'll get the lights themselves and do the programming crap a ways down the road, for now I just want that dang blank hole filled! It's bothering me to no end and I don't even have the car yet!

 

Help
A very novice mechanic , electrician and part time plumber wants to splice into an ignition sensitive wire to connect a radar detector. The standard cigarette lighter plug-in from Escort takes up too much space. I have a direct wire kit from Escort and need some help. R56 MCS, Standard If this is not the correct forum for this please send me a private message as to where I should post this request.

 

I just ordered all the parts from Classic MINI in Ohio. I have one question regarding the caps mentioned in Paul's post. I've looked at my vent and don't see the caps very clearly. Are they pretty simple to take off so that I can access the screws?

Thanks

 

As shown in the guide I posted, I removed the entire vent. When the vent finally popped out, one of the caps fell off, so I am confident the caps are easy to remove. The caps are the first "fins" (on either side) closest to the passenger and driver (furthest away from the windshield). They are about 1" to 1.5" across. You can see the backside of the caps in the first picture on page 3 of the guide.

If you have trouble removing the caps, you can always remove the entire vent...but try the caps first.

 

Great how to!

 

Thanks Wolfshiem - I wasn't sure if the caps included the fins of the vent, too. I guess my parts will arrive later this week and I tackle this project next weekend.

My 2005 MCS was one of the early builds and didn't have the wiring harness in the rear for the fog and I bought this 2007 off the lot w/ the rear fogs being the only option I wanted that it lacked. I checked and the wire are exactly where you said they'd be. You really did a great job with the DIY guide.

 

I should have everything at the end of this week as well, any news on how much reprogramming will cost? I ended up ordering the lights as well, Classic Mini rocks! Sorry to clutter up this thread...wasn't sure if anyone had the reprogramming done yet just so we can get a ballpark figure for what it might cost.

 

I have not scheduled a time to have the lights programmed yet...it'll be a bit of a drive for me. Also, now that I have the hardware in place, my OCD has calmed down enough that I can relax a little and take my time.

When the dealer programmed by '04 MCS for rear fog lights, they charged me $50. So I imagine it will be at least that, probably more.

The best thing to do would be to call your SA and ask...they're usually pretty helpful.

 

you might also find out if they've done any software upgrades since you got your car, find out the issues the upgrades were for and schedule you car to be brought up to date on the software (including the rear fogs) and maybe have it done under warranty.

They reprogrammed my car for free when I added my alarm and my Sirius under the guise that they were doing some warranty work.

 

I just got done with my install - everything went off without a hitch. Much thanks go to Wolfshiem for the excellent instructions. I really would not have even attempted the install w/out the detailed instructions. This was the only option I didn't have on my MCS that I really wanted.

Thanks again for taking the time to help us all out.

 

Can I see a picture of the rear fog lights? I don't understand the purpose of having them on a car. I know people with jeeps and trucks that have fog lights in the rear that they use while off-road. Sorry if I seem like an idiot

 

See Post 20 here.

 

I'll get some pics of my install up tomorrow. I like having the lights in the back (even though I can't use them yet) and the full toggle bank in the car. I've always hated having the blank toggle in my last 3 MINI's. I'm just extremely obsessive compulsive.

 

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..you apparently haven't experienced driving in a fog that resembles clam chowder....awful reassuring to know that the guy behind you may see you in time to prevent a rear end thump

 

Here's some pics of the full bank of toggles and the rear of the car w/ the new fogs.

 

Nice work! Looks great...let us know when you get it programmed.

 

Are there any threads on installing an after market Alarm on our MINI's? I have an alarm (Viper) that I pulled out of my last vehicle before I traded it in for the MINI and would love to put it into the MINI but wasn't sure if that was possible. (I would really love to have the alarm light blinking under the little plastic trim piece on top of the Tach on the steering column).

 

Got the parts a while ago, finally installed the new toggle and cover panel today. Took about an hour total for removing panels and everything and reinstalling everything as well. The only thing I noticed was that I used a T30 Torx bit for the one big screw that holds the center stack in not T25 as your otherwise superbly detailed walkthrough states. I also didn't install the rear lights themselves, because number 1 I couldn't find the wiring harness under there lol, and number 2 with the factory Aerokit the fake vents look kinda cool so I can't decide if I want to put the foglights in or not. Either way, no more blank toggle hole!!! Thanks for the excellent walkthrough!