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one of my front fog lights has burned out. these are the factory fogs, incorporated into the bumper. i use them a lot, so i'm not surprised one has burned out. the MINI in question is a 2003 Cooper.
my manual has the replacement bulb part number, but says to "see the dealer" if they burn out. is the replacement of these bulbs something i shouldn't attempt myself?
i've looked around online to see if i could find out how to do it - it's not obvious from my initial poking around under the hood - but all i keep finding is stories of people with the front-mounted fogs, or people looking for xenon replacement bulbs... nothing helpful. do i need to take off the bumper?
is there a set of instructions somewhere, or a good manual you can recommend for these kinds of things?
If this is the same procedure as on my '04 Cooper S, then you have to remove the wheel and remove the plastic wheel well liner to change the bulb. That's probably why they tell you to go to the dealer - the average driver isn't capable of that level of work. Why they made it so tough is beyond me!
If you do this yourself, it's not too hard. Jack the car up, support it well on a stand, and remove the front wheel on the side that's burned out. Look in the wheel well and you'll see a bunch of plastic fasteners that look like phillips head screws. They are actually plastic expanding rivets, and to remove them you need to unscrew the center portion a few turns and then pull the whole thing. Be careful, as they are soft plastic and easily damaged. With them all out (and possibly one actual screw underneath in the front), just pull back the front of the liner and you'll see the fog lamp.
Good point! Having the bumper off also affords a good opportunity to apply a clear stone protection film to the fog lamps if you want to (they are close to the ground and easily broken by rocks kicked up on the road).
Suggestion: If you go the take the bumper off route, replace both bulbs. You don't want to be changing the other bulb next week!
__________________ '05 JustaCooper, CPR&W, W Bonnet Stripes, CVT, Premium, Sport, Cold, Chrome Line Ext., W Daytona(R-83)Wheels, lots of other stuff.
'09 JustaClubman, PW&B, B Bonnet Stripes, Auto., Premium, Cold, Chrome Line Ext., Fogs F&R, Piano Black, Spt. Seats, Blaster(R-103)Wheels, White Signals (week 38)
If this is the same procedure as on my '04 Cooper S, then you have to remove the wheel and remove the plastic wheel well liner to change the bulb. That's probably why they tell you to go to the dealer - the average driver isn't capable of that level of work. Why they made it so tough is beyond me!
If you do this yourself, it's not too hard. Jack the car up, support it well on a stand, and remove the front wheel on the side that's burned out. Look in the wheel well and you'll see a bunch of plastic fasteners that look like phillips head screws. They are actually plastic expanding rivets, and to remove them you need to unscrew the center portion a few turns and then pull the whole thing. Be careful, as they are soft plastic and easily damaged. With them all out (and possibly one actual screw underneath in the front), just pull back the front of the liner and you'll see the fog lamp.
Why can't we fabricate a door panel in the wheel well liner would that make it easier for future access.......Make three cuts, score a line for bottom fold panel down, then attach a phillips head spinner latch to keep it locked back up. Jeep Liberty Style.
Why can't we fabricate a door panel in the wheel well liner would that make it easier for future access.......Make three cuts, score a line for bottom fold panel down, then attach a phillips head spinner latch to keep it locked back up. Jeep Liberty Style.
Dammit, now that's a good idea! I scraped the crap out of my hands putting in my Nokya yellow fog bulbs a couple months ago.
seriously - who comes up with these impossible to get to things - especially for things like light bulbs which should be easy at home DIY activities. i've changed the side markers to red bulbs, and my front signals with a hyperblue/white. My lower fogs and my headlamps are superwhites (although I hated removing the headlamps) - but the middle driving lights (that occupy the same same lens as my front blinkers - in my signature they are the small lights in between the headlamps and the lower fogs) still have this dingy white because i'm not gonna go thru the PITA to remove the wheel or the bumper!!!!
bmw/mini should look at porsche - headlights, taillights, side markers all had these easy pop out methods - with in 10 minutes i had hyperwhites all the way around with the old boxster!!!! it was so nice - and when i traded it in - 10 minute back to stock! even my 330 ci had taillights that had a light board that popped out thru the trunk and viola' you change the bulbs!
__________________ RED DAWN
05 MCS-ACSchnitzer, slowly becoming less stock
"your appearance now is what we call residual self image. it is the mental projection of your digital self."
but the middle driving lights (that occupy the same same lens as my front blinkers - in my signature they are the small lights in between the headlamps and the lower fogs) still have this dingy white because i'm not gonna go thru the PITA to remove the wheel or the bumper!!!!
The driving/parking lights are easy -- same as changing the blinker bulbs. When you did the blinker bulbs, you should have noticed the other bulb holders right next to them. The space is a little tight to get leverage to twist them, but you can make room by first undoing the blinker bulb holders.
The driving/parking lights are easy -- same as changing the blinker bulbs. When you did the blinker bulbs, you should have noticed the other bulb holders right next to them. The space is a little tight to get leverage to twist them, but you can make room by first undoing the blinker bulb holders.
i need to take another look b/c i agree it should be easy - it's been a while since i changed the blinkers and the lower fogs so i don't recall the process off the top of my head. the issue of space seems to ring a bell though. and now, i'm scratching my head trying to remember how i changed the lower fogs without actually removing the wheels - hmmmmmm i'm way too young to have alzheimers!!!
__________________ RED DAWN
05 MCS-ACSchnitzer, slowly becoming less stock
"your appearance now is what we call residual self image. it is the mental projection of your digital self."
Last edited by mach schnell; 01-11-2009 at 08:46 PM.
i need to take another look b/c i agree it should be easy - it's been a while since i changed the blinkers and the lower fogs so i don't recall the process off the top of my head. the issue of space seems to ring a bell though. and now, i'm scratching my head trying to remember how i changed the lower fogs without actually removing the wheels - hmmmmmm i'm way too young to have alzheimers!!!
The only way would be to turn the wheels to their extreme inboard position for the side working on.
Remove about 2 phillips head screws for lower front fender panel, and reach in while wearing a long sleeve shirt.....It's still fairly tight to get to.
The other bulbs are accessed when bonnet is open, But if you have large hands, your better off recruiting the help of a friend. It is not easy getting your whole hand in there to rotate the back of the bulb housings.
Took my front fender off yesterday to installl light brakets. Though BMW quality was EXCELLENT whereas everything lined up niceley for putting back together, it was still a PIA.
I have a similar problem with water getting into the OEM fog lamp housing. On my '02, you can only access the lamp socket and replace the bulb from the backside, meaning either remove the wheel and well or try the in-place flexing and little room to work method.
What I did find was there is a small plastic cap in a hole on top of the housing. This was missing on the driver's side assembly and likely let water in. I removed the whole assembly and capped the hole with a hardening sealant. Edit: This cap is actually a vent to let the heat out but also to keep the water out. Do not touch them as the holding tabs are really small and they'll break and the cap is gone. Later models may actually have a small tube down the side rather than the vent caps.
Watch out for bulb changes. The dealer gave me part no. 63-21-7-160-781 based on year/make/model but my original bulbs were found to be 63-21-7-160-784, maybe no longer available. I'm waiting for an order from bimmerspecialists.com to see if I get what was pictured. Again, I have a June build 2002 MCS. If no longer available, I'll be trying to order the new socket/connector or just go for the whole fog lamp assembly.
Edit: I also tried some Duplicolor chrome paint in an attempt to reestablish a decent reflector which had rotten away due to the water. Although they look fine, it is just not the same. I guess I'll buy a new set one day soon.
Last edited by ToBFree; 03-31-2009 at 07:20 PM.
Reason: Update
Thanks for the tips on accessing the fog light bulbs, guys.
I did the remove-the-wheel-access-from-the-rear-method.
Problem though: I purchased an oem replacement bulb (part no. 63-21-7-160-781; both dealer and www.oemparts.com say this is the proper part) and it does not appear to be the correct replacement.
The photo below shows the replacement on the left and my bulb assembly on the right. First, the two are not identical. Second the bulb and plastic housng from my car appear to be a single part. The bulb wouldn't come off the plastic housing. I finally took some pliers to the baseof the bulb and twisted causing the bulb and metal base to break off (no threads). There were no plug prongs underneath like the replacement bulb. Thoughts?
Any suggestions for replacing the bulb/housing? Thanks! (I have a sept. '03 build 2004 MCS.)
__________________ '04 MCS "Blue Meanie" / WMW 15% pulley / one-ball exhaust / DDM intake / H-Sport 19 mm anti-sway bar / JCW plugs / Kingsborne wires / magnetic drain plugs / Speedy wheels / Hawk pads + ATI rotors / Craven ST defenders / Whalen shift knob / Scan Gauge II / Gominigo 3rd brake light / Powerflex LCA bushings / WMW street tune / TSW jack points / Ian Cull v. 7 auto-up switch
You'll need to specify if you have the Xenons or not. I know the Xenon low beams and the high beams definitely are not the same bulb. You can go to www.realoem.com, look up your model and year then browse into the parts.
I just changed my second front fog light with a $15.00 replacement from Autozone. It takes about 15 minutes to replace one. About 14 minutes is involved in getting to the bulb, lol.
Jack up the front side that's affected, remove the wheel, unscrew and/or pull out the forwardmost four or five wheel liner plastic screw/washer thingies then just fold back the plastic wheel well liner enough so you can get your free hand on the bulb housing. Rotate it 90 degrees and it will release from the housing. Remove and replace with the new bulb (don't touch the glass with your fingers!)... test the fogs. Should work fine. Reinstall all removed parts. You just saved $125.00 at the dealer for labor alone.
__________________ MINIs On Top 09 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO0zC99H6bQ 2005 MCS LSD, DSC, CBC, SPORT, Harman Kardon system XM Radio lifetime subscriber 17" S-Heavies with 205/45 Yokohama Envigors in summer; 15" ASA Blizzak REVO 1s in winter, M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement plates, Moss Motors PS Fan shroud
Slightly OT, but can someone tell me what is the bulb size for the lights in the bumper above the fog lamps? I would like to switch those to a white color.
Luminics is a pretty good place to purchase lights. I have some 8000k foglights that were very reasonable.
I know that there are two lights in this socket 1) turn signal and 2) some little 5watt light - not sure why we would need a 5watt light (as if that will help with visibility)
If you find a way to bump that 5 watt bulb up let me know. I want to put it to use (8000k would be GREAT)!
The 5 watt is the marker lamp, much like all of the side markers. If you bump that one up you should confirm the rest of us can tell when it's blinking.
'05 JustaCooper, CPR&W, W Bonnet Stripes, CVT, Premium, Sport, Cold, Chrome Line Ext., W Daytona(R-83)Wheels, lots of other stuff.
Jeep Liberty Style.
RED DAWN
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