Cruddy Reverse Light Still A Problem?

johnhardy1 · #1 11-19-2009, 09:04 AM

Im one of the unfortunate ones who didnt order the rear fog light for my '09 Clubman. Man as much researching as I had done prior, I wish I had found out how low level the reverse light is with just the stock single reverse light before I ordered mine!!!

I've read most all the posts regarding this issue and the best idea I could find was to find a dealer in the UK who would sell me the UK version of the left side rear light assy and have it installed. Not sure who would do the installation though and of course the cost would probably be high as well.
No one mentioned it but I wonder if having the rear fog added (switch and all) is possible and how many arms and legs would that cost! Anyone ever checked into that??

At any rate Im sittin here dumber-than-dirt hopin' someone has come up with a decent answer to this (a very real) problem.

Someone did mention duct taping a flashlight on back. Hmmmmm....

**Rally@StanceDesign** · #2 11-19-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnhardy1

Not sure who would do the installation though and of course the cost would probably be high as well.

I'm sure you could do the uninstall/install. It's a few screws and a clip. It should take all of 10 minutes to do.

It just comes down to whether the driver side is pre-wired for the reverse light already. My guess is that there is already a wire there waiting. MINI tends to do that as it saves costs in the end.

**schatzy62** · #3 11-19-2009, 09:46 AM

On the second reverse light, there may or may not be a wire there on the drivers side, but even if there was not all it would take is to run one sire from the passenger side to the drivers side and hook it up to the new bulb. Not really a hard thing to do.

If you do not want to do it yourself then any local shop would be able to do it for you for not much money.

On adding the Fog light it means replacing the switch panel in the console and adding the toggle, and then taking it to the dealer for programing. Parts cost if I remeber correctly is about $100-$120. As for the programing charge some have said it cost them 1-2 hours labor. There is a thread here on this exact subject somewhere, gives all the part numbers and how to do it.

rkw · #4 11-19-2009, 10:18 AM

I doubt it is prewired for a UK reverse light but the fog light wire is probably prewired. The easiest approach would be to splice in a jumper in the wiring harness. It is very likely that the fog and reverse wires are in the same wiring harness that runs down the side of the car, and you may be able to get to it from a side access panel in the boot. If you can locate the correct wires, you just have to splice in a few inches of wire instead of running a new wire across the back of the car.

johnhardy1 · #5 11-19-2009, 11:37 AM

Well thanks everyone. However, in short I'd like to say this is my biggest let down from MINI. While it looks like it may be possible to add the fog. Done at dealer it'll most assuredly be pricey. I found some info here on adding it but not on an R55 and the info was a bit conflicting....seems the entire bank of switches may need to be replaced. Then, how do I find the parts I will need for the Clubman? With enough effort I could probably find and buy new switches, bulbs, etc...install it and then haggle w/the dealer to get them to program the switch but that looks to be a definite uber-hassle/PITA.

Im gonna try and find time today and call my dealer and see what they say. My apologies but truth be told, that single sorry-a ss xcuse for a reverse light is a P.o.S and a frikkin joke.

Its just not safe for me back my vehicle up at night. Im gonna let the dealer know that and that Im willing to pay for parts but they need to comp the install. Im sure theyll go for that. Right?
....I'll let ya know what they say.

**schatzy62** · #6 11-19-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnhardy1

Well thanks everyone. However, in short I'd like to say this is my biggest let down from MINI. While it looks like it may be possible to add the fog. Done at dealer it'll most assuredly be pricey.

Yes pricey for sure

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnhardy1

I found some info here on adding it but not on an R55

Exactly the same parts for the R56, R55 and R57.

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnhardy1

and the info was a bit conflicting....seems the entire bank of switches may need to be replaced.

No only the cover needs to be changed. Unfortunately it take a little bit of work in taking other parts off to get to what holds it in place. And then 1 Toggle the actual switch in already int he car just that the toggle end is not installed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnhardy1

Then, how do I find the parts I will need for the Clubman?

Again exactly the same for R56, R55, R57. Parts can be purchased thru the dealer or thru Pelican Parts. Part number are already provided in a thread somewhere on here. Maybe in the Electrical or interior sections.

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnhardy1

With enough effort I could probably find and buy new switches, bulbs, etc...install it and then haggle w/the dealer to get them to program the switch but that looks to be a definite uber-hassle/PITA.

Some dealers are definately easier to deal with than others but none of them should give you a hassle about programing it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnhardy1

Im gonna try and find time today and call my dealer and see what they say. My apologies but truth be told, that single sorry-a ss xcuse for a reverse light is a P.o.S and a frikkin joke.

Its just not safe for me back my vehicle up at night. Im gonna let the dealer know that and that Im willing to pay for parts but they need to comp the install.

except that having the fog on the rear in RED will not really help you in backing up. The light output is higher than the White Backup Light but is not meant to be used and will not give you that much more light to use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnhardy1

Im sure theyll go for that. Right?
....I'll let ya know what they say.

Probably not.

Now again what you could do is find the proper part number for the British right rear light and order one from a dealer in the UK but last time i checked (9-10 months ago) the delivery charge was more than the part cost.

If I can find the info thread on the fog light I will post it hear later. Also if I can find the part number of the rear light and a dealer that i had called I will try to get that posted here as well.

**schatzy62** · #7 11-19-2009, 12:07 PM

Here is the link to the thread that has a PDF of how to install the parts for a R56. The install for the switch in the dash/console is exactly the same.

One note for you is that the part numbers for the actual fog light assemblies are for the R56 and you do NOT need them. You only need the switch parts. The R55 (clubman) comes with the assembly already installed in the rear tail light. Also most cars already have th bulb installed even if the fog light was not ordered from the factory.

Part can be ordered from here http://www.pelicanparts.com/euro/cgi...r&Input_Make=Y

**schatzy62** · #8 11-19-2009, 12:27 PM

Part Number for British left rear light assembly with amber turn signal. Has clear lens for backup light.
63212755115

Part Number for British left rear light assembly with clear turn signal. Has clear lens for backup light.
63212755117

You may or may not be able to order this thru Pelican Parts as listed above, you may have to call them as i do not see these part numbers listed on their site.

If Pelican Parts can not get these for you then you can call Woodman MINI in the UK. Ask for Chris in the parts department. He is a very nice person to deal with.

Derek Woodman MINI
Whitehills Business Park
Lytham St Annes Way
Blackpool, Lancashire
FY4 5PQ

011-44-253-765500 (there may need to be a 0 in front of the 253 as in 011-44-0253, not totally sure)

You could also contact Chris via PM for www.mini2.com his screen name there is "chris at woodman bmw"

dkamp · #9 11-19-2009, 02:04 PM

Excuse the ignorance but isn't the goal for two lights to come on when the car is in reverse?

Please explain why the switch and all has to be replaced.
I thought it might be as easy as getting power to the Drivers side when the Passenger side was ON. Why can a jumper be spliced between the two lights or in the Harness where the two wires meet. Of course this is not concidering the lense color yet. Is there a Wireing diagram for the R55 published?
If I'm missing parts to this, please let me know before I get froggy and make a mess of mine.

rkw · #10 11-19-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkamp

Excuse the ignorance but isn't the goal for two lights to come on when the car is in reverse?

Please explain why the switch and all has to be replaced.

There are two topics running simultaneously in this thread. One is adding a 2nd backup light and the other is retrofitting a rear fog.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkamp

Is there a Wireing diagram for the R55 published?

Look at this thread: http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...ve-a-copy.html

jointheclubman · #11 11-19-2009, 05:29 PM

Is it possible to get more light output out of the reverse light to make it more visible by replacing the bulb or something? That could be a much easier solution than having to mess with the wiring and such...

**schatzy62** · #12 11-20-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jointheclubman

Is it possible to get more light output out of the reverse light to make it more visible by replacing the bulb or something? That could be a much easier solution than having to mess with the wiring and such...

You may be able to bump the wattage of the bulb up some but but i would not increase it by more than 25-50%. I.E. if it is 5 watts do not go above 7 watts etc.

johnhardy1 · #13 11-20-2009, 10:23 AM

OK first of thanks. And a great deal of thanks to Schatzy in particular.
Let me see if Im understanding this correctly. Just adding the rear fog is probably not going to help me much because the red plastic over the light isnt going to give me much usable light.

So, getting the drivers side rear light assy will make that light slot clear just like the passenger sides rear light on my car, correct? Thus, I wouldnt even need to add the toggle switch right? Wont it light when I shift into reverse just like my current reverse light? Therein lies the muddy water in my brain: how is that to be wired if the cabling there is already wired for the fog lamp?
Schatzy, Im not always the sharpest tool in the shed so I might have missed something.

So besides the wiring issue its seems I need part 63212755115 "left rear light assembly with amber turn signal" to match the right side correct?

Thanks a lot for your time and patience.

PS. In an earlier post you said "Here is the link to the thread that has a PDF of how to install the parts for a R56." but I cant find the link.
Could you post it again?

hardingsan · #14 11-20-2009, 11:24 AM

been thinking about this myself. schatzy, you said you got a price on the british light assembly?

**schatzy62** · #15 11-20-2009, 02:30 PM

johnhardy1,

Correct about the rear fog light. Won't do much good as it is red. It would be kind of light having a brake light on - some light but not a lot.

If you purchase the left side rear light for a British car then the lens will be clear where the fog light would be. This is because the if there is only one fog light on the rear of the car it is required to be on the side of the car away from the curb I.E. the drivers side. And because the drivers side is the opposite of ours the fog light on the British car will be on teh right leaving the Back up light to be on the left.

So purchasing the 63212755115 is the way to go. As i said before i am not sure if pelican parts can get it for you or not.

hardingsan, Last time i checked on the price it was about $175.00 US dollars int he currency change from british pounds to us dollars. The part that made me not do it was teh cost of getting it here, that was going to be $198.00

The link to the PDF is in post 1 of this thread.
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...-retrofit.html

This PDF only really covers the switch install as the rear light cover is only one screw to get it off.

**schatzy62** · #16 11-20-2009, 02:35 PM

Missed answering the wiring part. The left side of the car is wired for the fog light not the back up light so the wire there would not work for the new backup light. You would need to run a wire from the current backup light socket to the socket on the other side where the current fog light is.

**schatzy62** · #17 11-20-2009, 02:56 PM

Another place to try for the British Rear Light assembly is ECS Motorsports

http://ecsmotorsports.com/

Not sure if they can get it or not but it would be worth the call.

rkw · #18 11-20-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schatzy62

Missed answering the wiring part. The left side of the car is wired for the fog light not the back up light so the wire there would not work for the new backup light. You would need to run a wire from the current backup light socket to the socket on the other side where the current fog light is.

But you can reuse the same wire by wiring a jumper to it. There are several electrical mods that use this trick. You only have to jumper from one wire to another in the same harness instead of wiring something across from the other side of the car. For safety, you can include a diode in the jumper to ensure that no current can feed back to the car electronics.

**schatzy62** · #19 11-21-2009, 09:07 AM

The wiring for the rear lights run in two different cables that run on either side of the car. For the left rear light assembly the cable harness runs from the Footwell Module Socket X14260 and this harness runs down the left side of the car. For the right rear light assembly the cable runs from the Footwell Module Socket X14261 and runs down the right side of the car.

Runnigna wire from the right side of the rar of the car to the left side is the easiest and BEST way to do this. It done not require a Diode and if the fog light wire is removed and taped up at the rear light assembly then there is NO possibility of damaging the Footwell Module.

If you really want to do it your way there are 51 wires in each of the two connecotrs at the foot well module that are wound very tightly together. It will be very difficult to affect change there without cutting the harness covering and dsconnecting many wires to get to the back up and fog light wires. There really is not room in that area of teh car to put in taps and add a diode.

Although I will not say it can not be done, it will be 1000 time more difficult to do it the way you are suggesting. As well as being more difficult it is also infinately more dangerous becuase of the number of wires to deal with in a very confined space. Break one of the other wires in that harness and ohter light and items in the car may not work. Dealing with a connector at the rear light housing reduces the number of wires to be disturbed down to 6 for each side (12 total) from 51 for each side ( 102 total) at the footwell module. Also doing at the rear light assembly give you much more room to have a splce or tap connector.

TheMadDane · #20 11-21-2009, 02:00 PM

I see all these incredibly lengthy posts on wiring and installing etc, etc.

Could you not just replace the bulb with a brighter one or an LED like I've done in all my older/other cars?

**schatzy62** · #21 11-22-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMadDane

I see all these incredibly lengthy posts on wiring and installing etc, etc.

Could you not just replace the bulb with a brighter one or an LED like I've done in all my older/other cars?

read post #12

TheMadDane · #22 11-22-2009, 12:52 PM

I did read post #12, I'm talking about the new LEDs which can be substantially brighter for the SAME wattage?

**schatzy62** · #23 11-22-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMadDane

I did read post #12, I'm talking about the new LEDs which can be substantially brighter for the SAME wattage?

But in many cases they actually produce more heat (higher temperature) and thus have the same problem as a higher wattage bulb - melting of plastic parts because the good ones that do not through the bulb out warning lights have resistors built in that heat up very hot.

EDIT: And many of the LED lights are side firing LEDs and thus really do not produce that much more overall light in the direction you need it to go. Also many ofhte LED lights look brighter but realy are not due to the color of the light the LED produces, but the actual candle power of light produced is not that much more.

ZugginAround · #24 11-28-2009, 04:49 PM

Wondering if anyone did the british version for the US driver's side (British passenger side) rear light to get double fog lights? Part cost? Running wiring would be pretty simple.

My motivation isn't low light, it's lack of symmetry (I'm psycho) and hearing over and over again that one of my reverse lights is out.

**Rally@StanceDesign** · #25 11-28-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZugginAround

Wondering if anyone did the british version for the US driver's side (British passenger side) rear light to get double fog lights? Part cost? Running wiring would be pretty simple.

I've been planning on going this route at some point. Not a big fan of the asymmetry or small clear square in the right light.

You would have to figure out a new location for the reverse light in this situation. Could throw it up in the clear 3rd brake light or something.