Anyone order the driving lights separately and install them themselves on a 2nd gen? I'm looking on Morristown MINI's website and it looks like I can get them for $319 (incl. install kit) instead of $500 in the configurator (plus dealer install costs I believe). Wondering if it's worth the effort to install them myself or if it's enough of a pain to pay the extra $$$.

 

Just curious, does the install kit mention a color line option when ordering? The switch it normally located in the color line, left of the steering wheel.

You have to cut the front grill to install. Everything else doesn't look very hard. I had mine done at the port though so I can't really say. In looking at how they installed them, I could have handled it myself.

Are you getting the lights for the look or for more light? I have Xenons. I can't tell any light difference with the OEM driving lights turned on, except you see a different color light beam in the middle of the Xenon.

 

I'm getting them mostly for the look, which is one of the reasons why I don't want to pay a fortune for them. I'm getting Xenons as well.

 

Wow I just checked on my dealers site here in Ohio that uses the same exact pages, photos and descriptions as Morristown and the lights are full retail- $399.50. Do you have any idea how much your dealer would charge for install?

 

It's actually not too bad an install, I did everything except hook up the wiring to the lights on my MCS, then undid it all because I decided to go with a chrome grill instead. I'd recommend swinging by your parts department and getting them to print you out the current instructions or printing out these (which should be basicly correct) and reviewing them to see if you think you could handle the install yourself.

Remember, there's 3 parts to the dealer installed lights, so make sure you are pricing all 3 together. There's the switch, which comes with the modified color line piece, then the mounting brackets, which come with a modified grill that has the holes already cut in it, then lastly is the lights and wiring kit. Make sure you are pricing the correct switch as well, the standard interior trim one is $40 less expensive than the one for the optional color lines, so if you have one of the upgraded interiors you need the more expensive switch kit.

Oh, and I'll sell the switch kit and mounting kit for a Cooper S with standard color line to you, with about 600 miles of use, for exactly half of the best price you find anywhere plus $15 for shipping, if that interests you at all. I'm not going to use them, and I'd like to get something back out of them without having to e-vil-bay them. That would include the mounting brackets, Cooper S grill, switch, and color line piece, along with a slew of bolts and nuts and such. All you would then need to purchase would be the light and wiring kit, which should be right @$200.

 

You are right. There's an extra kit I forgot about. The switch is $52 (plus $45 extra for non-standard color line). So I'm looking at $371 with standard color line and $416 with non-standard. Thanks for the heads up. And I'll keep you in mind if I decide to go with the standard color line.

 

Have all the parts as well, but had to surrender them to my wife for her to wrap and put under the Xmas tree! Argh!

 

Installing the OEM lights is not a difficult DIY feat. There is lots of help here on NAM, and it will help you get to know your car.

 

Does installing the kit yourself void warranties?

 

No, as long as you follow the OEM instructions.

 

Can you get the light brackets without the new grill and just cut holes in the stock grill?

Rob

 

Not through BMW, and no-one is making them aftermarket yet that I'm aware of.

 

Thanks oldopelguy. By the way, what's an opel? Just kidding, I'm old enough to have driven one.

Rob

 

I see that the driving lights are also available in black. Not on the configurator but from the dealer (on MINI dealer sites). Has anyone installed the black ones?

 

actually there is an aftermarket bracket. outmotoring came out w/ one awhile back. im waiting to see a nam install before i take the plunge though and my front end is being repaired :( D@MN deer! but anyways this is the brackets
the brackets come in sets of two.

and this is the link to their install.

of the actual lights here

 

I really like the look of the stock mount location.

Out Motoring's bracket is much lower than stock:


But thanks for the link, I appreciate the help.

Rob

 

Diggin' up an older thread here...

For anyone who is still looking for a nice set of brackets, I found in my searching that www.vipcustomparts.com has some nice one's that have the same specs as the OEM one's.

 

Thanks Levi,

That's exactly what I was looking for! They look like the factory brackets for the 07+ Mini.


Rob

 

Can I ask a slightly off topic question? What exactly is the "color line"? I've seen this mentioned several times and even in another thread on removing the secret compartment box (that screws were under the color line). So just curious if I have this or what exactly it is?

Thanks,

 

It's the color of bottom part of the dash that runs the width of your car. It also includes the color of your door arm rest. If you didn't order anything special, yours is gray.
Here's the yellow version.

 

Alright, I just ordered a set of the OEM lights, and was wondering how hard it really is going to be to connect all the wiring? I know alot of people on here have said it is tedious, but how tedious are we talking? I looked through the factory installation instructions and they look pretty vague. Does anyone have any installation photos of their process that they might be willing to share? Any tips/ help on the wiring and disassembly of the interior plastic would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

P.M if you wouldn't mind with the photos. Thanks.

 

So why did you go OEM and not the VIPs?

 

Well, I decided to go with OEM because of the visual impact over the other aftermarket stuff available. Having the lights fit within the grill surrounds and having them tucked VERY close to the grill makes a huge difference in the visual cue of the car. The other reason is I have the 7 year/ 100,000 mile warranty and don't want to create any flack with it. I wouldn't want something to go haywire and screw me of my warranty. I guess I'm just being cautious. What do you think?

 

Well it looked like the VIPs fit almost like the OEMS so the look would have probably been pretty close. 3rd party lights should have nothing to do with the warranty unless you fry your electrical system.
If you do the OEM wiring post back and let us know how it went.

Did you order the black or chrome OEMs?

Here are my PIAAs with the JCW grill;

 

JW34,

Are those VIPs shown in the small picture? If so they look great.

Rob