This is exactly the reason I couldn't get the rear fog lights. As far as I know, Oregon is the only state that has this law, but there may be some others.

Moreover, once the hardware is installed, I will need to go to an out-of-state dealer for the programming. Understandably, the local dealer won't touch it.

 

So do you anticipate any issues once they're working, or does the law only pertain to having them installed?

 

How about posting the part numbers if you don't mind.

 

From my research, it's illegal to have them...however, this is a really difficult thing to enforce. Given that Oregon is possibly the only state that makes them illegal, how do they enforce all the out-of-state vehicles traveling through the State? Although certain rear fog lights are permissible in Oregon, the way they are situated on the R53 '05 and '06 and the R56 MCSs makes them illegal as the lights must be in line with the tail lights. As a result, the rear fog lights on my '04 MCS were legal. As far as I can tell, in order for them to be illegal, they must be turned on (plus you need a law enforcement officer who knows the nuances of that law). Of course, I'd be risking it when I get it working, but I'm willing to take the risk.

As I understand it, the real problem for the dealership is that they have been warned by the State's Attorney General. Obviously, the AG is trying to stop the dealer from installing them or selling them, but I think the AG would have a tough time singling out people (although it's not unheard of).

I posted the parts number in an earlier posting on this thread for the lights and toggle switch cover. I don't have a part number for the toggle yet, but as soon as I receive the toggle, I will post the part number.

 

Wolfsheim: is the "toggle switch cover" you speak of #4 in that picture? If so, is it even necessary, or are you just buying it so that you have the little fog light picture above the switch? Thanks.

 

It's probably not absolutely necessary as I'm sure one could simply cut out the blank. Then, like you said, there wouldn't be a light-up icon directly above the switch. However, after programming, anytime you turned the light on, another light would turn on in the speedometer area (similar to the front fog lights).

That being said, for me, if I'm going through the trouble of removing the switch cover, I'm going to replace it with the the full bank cover--it just feeds into my OCD!

 

Interesting - I'm guessing they find rear fogs away from the taillights to be seriously bothersome! I sometimes do wonder when I turn my rear fogs on while driving if drivers behind me think I'm braking. Also when I leave them on if they think I'm 'riding my brakes' or perhaps having some type of light malfunction... So I could partially see reason to the madness.

That said I just need my rear fogs. The look without them kills me, so I could totally see myself finding some sort of solution like yours as well. Damn OCD... Well at least it breeds creativity.

 

Here are the part numbers:

Toggle Switch - 64 11 34 52 459
Switch Cover - 64 11 34 42 594

 

Outstanding work! Have you ordered and/or received the parts yet?

With the exception of the toggle, I have all the parts and have already installed the lights (that was the easy part). Once I receive the toggle, I will tackle the install in the center console and then a trip to the dealer for activation.

 

It wasn't for me. I just wanted to have all the part numbers ready to go.

 

Any updates?

 

Not yet...I should receive the toggle switch sometime this week...hopefully, I'll find some time to install it and report back.

 

Happiness is a full bank of toggle switches! Too bad the toggle spy kit overlay was made for the R53!

 

I DID IT! Check out the guide I put together.

 

Have you had it programmed yet? By the way, that is a great set of instructions you put together. Look's like I'll have a new project as soon as I can get the parts ordered and delivered.

Thanks for putting that all together in such a succinct manner.

 

Thanks for all the part numbers. I ordered everything last week and installed the fog lights, switch and cover today. Took about 15 minutes. The longest part was finding the passenger side connector. For some reason the drivers side was just hanging there. I"ll get mine programmed at my next visit.

 

If the rear fog lights are installed but not programmed do they still work in conjunction with the third (middle) brake light?

 

No they don't come on at all until programmed, or until you get around the problem. You can always wire them to the brake lights and they even make a harness to do that.

These threads scared me away from the stealer. I'm just too cheap to pay $250.00 for a $100.00 option. But I still had to have rear fogs. So I swapped out LED bulbs for the incandescent and then spliced a wire up to the front fogs. That keeps everything legal because it has an indicator on the dash. I have upgraded the bulb since my gallery pic to one with 10 more elements so it is now the similar brightness as the brake lights.

Update: Now I run a 17 element LED and it is brighter than the brake lights, current draw is still negligible when compared to a 55watt front fog bulb so no bulbouts, shorts or problems. They come on with the front fogs so that indicator applies for all fogs meeting the law. the dealers no longer reprogramming this is the only way to go and the good news is the out of pocket is 56 for the housings + 6.00 for the LED's maybe $5 for the 20 gage wire if you had to buy it.

Here is the website for the housings. I think they have the harness to change it into a brake light too. Or you just get a couple of splices and make your own.
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop..._lamp_kit.html

Here is a really strong 7.5 watt T10 LED. I am thinking of getting this for the eyelids. My 17 element would likely be brighter than this because the current drain they show is about the same as a 13 element. I can't find the 17 on ebay any more though. It looks like a 13, has full size elements but has one more level.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-T10-7-5W-...16c679&vxp=mtr

If this one fit the housing it would be off the charts
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-3W-LED-...c42ee4&vxp=mtr

 

So...I went thru with the rear foglight retrofit only to find out that MINI NA is no longer sending out VOs to dealers to program the rear foglights. WTH?

 

I added the rear lights and just tapped into the brake light circuit located in the boot on the pass side behind that small squarish door/flap. When i tapped the circuit, the lights function as brake, turn signal and running lights.
I don't see the reason to add these lights with a switch. They are red and what are you going to use them for that you need a switch? Seem useless to put them to a switch especially since they are red. I love that mine act as multi-function lights.
I was actually surprised because once i determined the proper wires (pulled out the taillights and found the wire colors for brake, then located the existing rear fog wires in the bundle) i thought they were only going to be brake lights. When i tapped them, then i discovered the additional functions.
If they were going to be on a switch i would never use them. I'm all for making things look factory but i want function too.

 

I didn't catch your website?