I noticed one of my fog lights was out while I was driving. Once I got home I looked and SOB, both of my fog light lenses are cracked and one bulb is out. Looks like they have been taking a beating or something. Cracks all over the lenses.

I checked the rest of the car and it is fine. No other marks anywhere on the bumper or hood.

Seems weird

Has anyone have their fog lenses get all cracked up?

Must have happened when the roads were getting paved a few weeks back. I think the City should buy me new fogs..

 

I dont think there is any real issue with the lights themselves other than their exposed location. I used to have a Civic with fogs & both of them cracked. It was a big issue on the Civic forums too.

 

That's why I keep the caps on when I'm not using them.

 

Clear protectant might help in the future:
http://www.lamin-x.com/Mini-Cooper-S...-p/mn107-1.htm

 

you have caps for them ?

 

Yes, they came with the lights.

 

Caps are for driving lights, I painted mine red. I broke a couple of those lenses also on my old Clubie. If I broke a fog light it would almost be a reason to upgrade to the new new official mini LED DRL/Foglights.

 

The cracks are on the two lower round fog/driving lights. The larger Hella lights on the VIP light bar are fine. Covers will be gong back on this weekend.

Cheers

 

I'm using the clear lamina-x I mentioned previously with good luck so far.

 

Look on the bright side - now that folks are fitting the LED DRLs from MNini, there will be loads of used conventional foglights up for sale so you should get cheap replacements. All Mini foglights fit all 2nd Gen models - Countrymen included.

Maybe you could repeat what I did with mine - sent them for 'free' to the guy who offered a suitable contribution to charity for them.

 

Speaking of those LED DRL/Fog lights, if my Countryman doesn't have the fogs and i wanted to add these, are there coding changes that would have to be made or are they straight plug and play? I'm assuming i would also have to buy a switch for the dash..

 

MINI DRL LEDs are plug 'n play. Nothing extra to buy and no dealer codes.
ECS Tuning has them now. They also have PDF instructions to use with TotalMINI DIY here

 

Did you buy the proctectant they recommend? Apparently it's supposed to be applied every 3 months to protect the Lamin-X which protects your lights.

 

Mini usually gets a new windshield every year, but our fog lights have held up fine!

 

That only applies to cars that already have foglights fitted.

Adding the LED DRLs to a Mini (of any 2nd Gen sort) without fogs hasn't been reported though it has been discussed. The new DRLs work by plugging the existing wiring at the foglights into sockets on the new DRL wiring harness, so that wiring won't exist on an non-foglight car.

It seems likely that the options are:
1) Fit new DRLs and don't get the foglight function, only the DRL function.
2) Fit the new DRLs, add new switch and wiring from the dash to the light units and get the foglight function as well.

However (2) is likely to need some coding if you want to use the Mini switch.

 

I replaced my with the new LED and will sell you the original OEM ones. PM if you're interested.

 

That's what i figured would happen. I couldn't see BMW making it easy....

 

I use the Lamin-x Protectant. I think it might keep the stuff from yellowing from the heat of the lights.

 

I have the same issue as Kerrys914. My bumper and hood are almost completely free of chips but the fogs have several small cracks on them. Thing is they dont look like they are caused from impact. Several of them you cant even feel. Its like they are cracked from the inside out. And they are all horizontal. Its almost like the plastic is weak.

 

The guys on the Honda forums all complain about the same issue (cracked & broken fog lights) and i had that problem with my Civic and with my Mazda Tribute so i dont suspect its a design issue.

 

That is exactly how road debris cracks begin and look

 

I'll see what Mini says when I bring in my All4 for service this week. The bumper is clean and free of rock chips. Just seems very weird to me.


I'll just need to pick up some used fogs and swap them out.. :(

 

+1 on the Lamin-X for the lower fog lights. Or you I guess could put them over the DRL/ Fogs also, I think clear would work best for those. They are currently on sale.


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/MN107-1/