Does anyone know if this is something one can add after the fact? I had an early 05 MCS build w/ no wiring harness in the rear, which made installing rear fog's next to impossible.

I'm just wondering if one can order the two lights, the toggle bar w/ the added switch and install everything themselves using existing wiring (i.e. does the wiring exist in the rear?)

I imagine you'd still have to bring it in for the dealer to program, but don't know about this either.

Thanks

 

I've not looked, but from what I've heard the wiring is in place for the lights. At some point in the future, I'll probably go for this mod myself.

 

Not sure if you already own an R56 or not, but if not, just order them from the factory. It's $100. No way you're gonna be able to do it cheaper than that on your own.

If you already have your R56, well then I don't know what to tell ya.

 

I would have spec'd the lights on an order, but I lucked out and my dealer had an MCS w/ everything I wanted except for the rear fogs, so I jumped at it and avoided the wait I endured for my 2003 and 2005 MCS.

Eventually, I'd like to add this myself. Last year the light cost around $10 and the toggle was $75. If I install myself, I'd save the labor. They might have to reprogram the car at the dealership for 1/2 or 1 hour of labor to recognize the rear fogs, so I'd pay more or less $100 more than having ordered it from the factory.

 

Each light is about $39.00. The challenge is in the toggle. It seems that the toggle assembly is mated to the AC controls / unit. Brecht in San Diego doesn't have a retro kit available, and doesn't really have an idea what would be involved in swapping out the toggle assembly, as it is just one of the bigger part of the AC control. It looks expen$ive, to say the least.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm waiting for additional info from my parts department and I'll post it if I ever get it.

 

Here's the toggle switch / AC control assembly that would need to be replaced?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...45&hg=64&fg=20

 

I'm considering adding this option myself. Unfortunately, in Oregon, I was not able to have the rear fog lights factory ordered, I tried but it was removed from my order due to Oregon statutes.

My reason for wanting a rear fog light was to use it as an additional backup light. So I am curiuos to see if this would be worth the hassle myself. I may try to pick up the light and have it wired into the backup light circuit. That would probably eliminate the need to have the ECU reprogrammed.

 

Do i need to purchase another toggle? or can i just add my own switch?

 

The entire HVAC and switch cluster is one whole unit, they want you to replace the whole works. Funny thing is, if you take it all apart, the two board-mounted momentary microswitches are soldered on the board already, so all you really need is the little chrome toggle itself. I have been unable to find just that part by itself, so far. So if anyone replaces their switch assembly, keep me in mind for your leftovers...

 

I'm in the same boat as SimpsonGI

I'm already looking into retrofitting the rear fog lights when my MINI finally arrives. It's pretty sad that I have to plan retrofitting a $100 option before the car is even built, but I pressed the dealer and they wouldn't budge.

I have an e-mail into Classic for a breakdown of the parts and costs. From what I can tell, to do a complete retrofit, you need:

Switch Cover: 64113442608 (Assumes seat heaters, front & rear fog lights)
Right Rear Fog Light Assembly (the assemblies come with the sockets and bulbs): 63242751708
Left Rear Fog Light Assembly: 63242751707

After the parts are physically installed, I am sure the dealer must program it.

 

wow... boy am i glad i opted for the 100 dollar option as this looks like something thats going to cost a grip. As for the programming... i would assume its not necessary because the fog lights arent computer controlled but i could be wrong...

 

I believe that the of all lighting that is related to the OEM toggle assembly goes through the footwell module A4011, which is the computer that controls the lighting functions. I would assume that it would have to be coded (programmed) for the rear fogs.

 

If it's anything like the R53, then the computer definitely needs to be programmed. In the R53 (and I'm guessing the R56), the switches only tell the computer to turn the light on, rather than making the connection directly.

When I retrofitted my '04 MCS, I needed to have the dealer program the computer after I installed the new toggle panel.

 

I spoke with the fine people at Classic today and I think that retro-fitting the rear fogs may not be as prohibitive as initially thought. It may be that one only need to purchase a new switch cover and the light assemblies. With the NAM discount, that amounts to about $100. Of course you would need to have the dealer program them in, but that shouldn't be any more than $50.

The only question left unanswered is whether the cars are pre-wired for the lights. The gentleman I spoke with at Classic talked to a tech who was unsure as to whether the '07's come pre-wired. However, chances are good that they are pre-wired since the previous generation was.

As a result, does anyone know? If someone were to take a peek at their MINI without rear fogs and report back, I would be eternally grateful!

 

well that just sounds dumb... why over complicate something as simple as a light switch... i guess thats just german engineering Hopefully the dealer is nice and doesnt charge you much for the programming... ive heard horror stories about ipod cable and alarm installs where the dealer still charges an arm and a leg just to program.

 

Had my done at the dealer after the fact that factory/dealer forgot to add them. Took 3 days. The fogs snap onto the holes easily and the harness for it is taped up and hidden neatly under the bumber cover. All S comes with it pre-wired. Adding the new toggle switch bar..yes the entire strip of toggles need to be replaced. The SA took about 1 hour to add the lights, take the dash apart and add the toggle strip. The hard part is the programming. It took days for the Service Center to go back and forth with MINIUSA engineers to get it working right. Once they finally programmed it correctly, the AC stopped working. A recalibration of the Auto AC took about another 3 hours to fix. Thank god I didnt have to pay extra for all this, since I already paid for it during the custom build/order.

Is it worth installing it after the fact...I don't think so. Expect to be without the MINI for a week.

 

Has anybody else had this done? I haven't been able to find the pre-wired harness connection for them.

 

I'm still in the dark about this issue as my MINI is crossing the Atlantic at the moment. From my research, some have said all R56's are pre-wired for the rear fog lights, while others say only a handful have the pre-wiring. One fellow NAMer told me that he looked at several new R56s at the dealership, and only about 15% had the pre-wiring.

I, of course, hope that my new MINI is pre-wired. I would like to invite any R56 owner without rear fog lights to take a peak and report back--oh, and let us know your build week as things have a tendency to change as the weeks go by.

 

I just did an 2007 'S' this weekend, there were no wires to rear foglamps. I removed both tail lamps and the wiring harness ends at that location. I then install a harness with OEM connectors for each rear foglamp from each tail lamp to the rear foglamps.

Before





After


The total time to install including the install of a third brake light pulsar was 1 hour.

GOMINIGO will be developing a kit that will include everything needed to install the rear foglights on the 2007 MCS. I am pricing out the lights.

 

Thanks for the info!--that's a good lookin' MINI!

Is the kit you're developing for a rear fog light retrofit or is it a kit that ties rear fog lights to the tail lights--i.e. the rear fog lights light up with the brake lights rather than a standalone feature?

 

It is a tail light/brake light add on. The lights actually work with the tail lights on; then become bright with the brake lights, just like the tail lights. They will not work as rear foglights alone.

 

Good to know...thanks!

 

Mini-rolls

Do you have plan to have kit available for 07 MCS?

Thanks!

 

Yes, we plan on have four kits, for the 2007. Two for the MCS and two for the MC. One kit will have the harnesses and the lights and one will have diode connectors for cars with the rear foglight equipped from the factory