The rear parcel shelf mount would add a lot of reflected light into the cabin interior. If you could put 2 clear fogs or driving lamps into the rear black mesh grill that would accomplish what you are trying to do. Try something like these:
http://www.myhellalights.com/index.p...5-series/ff75/

S.

 

I wanted it to be a little stealthy that's why I wanted it on the shelf but if it's gonna glare then I gotta find another place. I don't want em in the bumper though.

 

Those Hellas might be what I need though, thanks.

 

If the rear shelf mount has tubes fit tight to the rear window and to the lamps that keep the light from escaping into the car it would work. If you put the lamps as close as possible to the rear window then the tubes could be short and offer a wider light dispersion pattern.

 

Well heres the outcome. I dont have any night shots but will soon. I plan on putting light tint 3m stone guards on the headlights to match the driving lights.

 

Looks very nice! The finished product should look similar to my Pepperwhite with blackout headlamps.

http://www.mini4fun.info/Quad_Lamps/Hella_500s.html


S.

 

Many thanks to the OP for posting these instructions. I can't believe MINI has OEM accessories that can be installed without requiring a dealer vi$it for recoding! Looks a little daunting but not impossible. Think I'll do the front/rear speaker swap as long as I'm opening up that driver side kick panel as well.

 

Is there a way to allow the driver lights to be on with the...... lets say the parking lights? I want to aim them down and out with Laminex yellow to light the sides of the road to see critters, no chance of blinding drivers there.Might even run lower watt bulbs. Please,please no lectures.

 

On most aftermarket driving lights the on/off relay gets its trigger voltage from the headlight high beam. If you want the driving lights on with only the parking lights, then you just use the power to the parking lights to trigger your on/off relay. I'm not sure how the oem driving lights are wired but I assume there's a relay in the circuit somewhere. Find that relay and hook it up to the parking lights. If the parking lights are on and you turn on your oem driving light switch, the driving lights should come on.

 

The OEM wiring is different than the normal setup

 

The oem wiring diagram includes something called a "control module" which looks suspiciously like a an ordinary lighting relay. I don't think Mini has reinvented the wheel here so I suspect that module has a terminal that's receiving a signal from the high beams that closes the relay and allows the switch on the dash to turn on the driving lights. If you want the lights to work with just the parking lights you need to find the module (I believe it's in the driver's footwell) and provide power to the appropriate terminal so the relay will activate when the parking lights or on. Good luck.

 

Is there someplace online for the oem driving lights wiring diagram ? Does the Bentley show the driving lights diagram? (need to get one)

 

Post #1 of this thread contains a link to the instructions for installing oem driving lights including a wiring diagram.

 

thanks! looks like A1 is the relay trigger.
but what I think is the relay is drawn different than what I've seen

 

I gotta a better idea,,, if I could run a resistor in the system to reduce the brightness of the driving lights to about one third( maybe using a resistor from one of those types of circuits that drop day time running lights brightness)

Heres what I want to achieve
Regular use of the driving lights with the OEM switch when the highbeams are on

When the driving lights switch is "on" and dropping down to low beams the driving lights go much dimmer, but only if I have the fogs switched "on"

 

This is a great DYI guide. Thanks!

Does anybody know if the switch and modified knee protection is required for USA/Canadian cars? I was reading the MINI Retrofit guide for the Gen2 driving lights (PDF) and it seems to suggest that it is not required for USA/Canadian cars?

On Page 5 it says:
"2. Preparatory Work
Knee protection, driver's side (US cars only, no longer required)"

On Page 7 it says:
"Legend
R Pushbutton (not for US Cars)"

If you look at OutMotoring, the kit WITH the switch and Carbon Black knee protection is $579... whereas without the switch it is only $411. I have emailed OutMotoring.

So I am wondering can you just cut the opening for the switch, or does the system automatically work with high-beams if the switch is not present?

 

$170 for the knee bolster and the switch seems a little pricey. You can operate without a switch and your driving lights will be on anytime the high beams are on. I have aftermarket lights and I chose to install a Hella switch in the existing knee bolster.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...switch-003.jpg

 

Thanks - the response from OutMotoring was just that I could maybe setup a relay or something for everything to work without the switch. hmmmm. Not a huge rush just yet as I mostly do city driving right now... but I am hoping someone with the OE driving lights will chime in that they don't have the switch installed.

 

Just a BTW but there is a grommet near the battery on the 2nd gen that looks just like it, is waaaay easier to access than the left side and doesnt require risking breaking the windshield by pulling a wiper arm. Just figured Id mention, I brought my control signal for the intercooler fans into the cabin this way.

 

Thank you Jackyiscxd for the excellent write-up! I could not have installed my own lights without your help!

 

does anyone know if the brackets have been revised or still requires some modification to work on 2011/12's ?

 

I have 2010 R56 MCS
Installed the driving lights per the Mini Installation Instructions
They don't work! The green light on the pushbutton works...
Confirm: Is X14260 in the footwell module to the left of the brake pedal the one on the bottom?
I saw the post above for 2010 & 2011 to connect A1 to the Yellow/Red (pin 41) The Yellow/Red is much larger than the other wires? Is this the correct wire??

MikeZ

I had some wires reversed at the lights. My mistake.......... Other than that the installation went smoothly.
MikeZ

 

I'm glad I found this thread. I received my driving light kit today and we are going to attempt to install these lights on my '13 MCS this weekend. Hopefully everything goes smoothly.

 

Did you buy this the way it is or did you make it yourself? If so, can you share the breakdown of where you got your parts.... Thanks!

 

Made this piece myself. Used the stock piece but if you wanted to you can Look for the part number on realoem.com and buy the switches on eBay. Drill the holes and put the switches in.