After seeing many similar threads and not being able to find a definitive answer, I decided to start a thread for this. Maybe someone who is confident and competent in wiring can figure out a way to do it. What I'm looking to do is pretty straight forward:

I ordered my Mini without the rear fog lights, so there is an empty space in the toggle bar that I can put a toggle back in. I have the part number for the new OEM plastic toggle (Part # 64 11 34 52 459), but I want to know if when I install the toggle I can somehow tap into the wiring and use that toggle to operate the Driving lights that I'm going to install. I've heard it's quite a mission to put the new toggle in, so I'm trying to determine if this idea is even worth it. Thanks a bunch.

 

Although I'm not going to say it's impossible, I think it would take superhuman abilities. If you take a look at the last page of the "how-to" I posted here, you can see what it looks like behind the toggle cover. In particular, the switch isn't a switch in the traditional sense; rather, the toggle simply connects to a switch already in place. The switch is part of the breadboard and cannot be rewired. It seems to me that it would be easier to reprogram the car's software, and even that would be nearly impossible without MINI's help.

It's too bad, since I'm sure many people would like to use that toggle space for driving lights rather than the rear fogs.

If, for some reason, you do find a way to do it, please let use know.

 

Thanks, I did see your post about the toggle, which is actually what gave me a little hope. I know it would be possible as there is a guy who made circuits to work in conjunction with the toggles for the R53 : http://www.gbmini.net/wp/auto-up_windows/
From what I've gathered It seems that if someone had the knowledge of circuitry and computers (in conjuction with the dealers help), they could do like the above guy did and wire up something to work in conjunction with the BC-1 (or so they call it). Because as it stands right now if you could tap into the rear fogs toggle to operate the driving lights it would seem that they would come on at the flick of the switch, stay on, and then go off only when you flicked the swtich again. Althought not ideal and probably not safe, you would have to reach down everytime to the toggle to dim the lights. BUT if someone was able to take the concept behind the OEM dash switch, and the ability to tap into a hot lead, you could then use the toggle switch to act like the dash driving light switch, and then control the lights like you normaly would through the dimmer lever.

I guess it all does sound a little crazy in essence, but if someone (not me) can do it, by all means I want to hear about it too.

 

I've taken apart an R53 switch panel, and from Wolfsheim's photos the R56 looks like the same design. Ian (creator of the windows-up) has written about the R53 switch panel. As Wolfsheim said, the toggles are not switches in the normal sense. The toggles do not directly control anything. They merely send a signal to the computer that a switch has been pressed. It is the computer that actually operates whatever function is associated with the switch (window, fog lamp, etc). Ian says that the switches are momentary (not latching) and signals are very low level -- not even enough to trigger a relay. The bottom line is that you'll need good engineering skills to make it work with an OEM switch. Some people have simply drilled out and installed a hardwired aftermarket switch into an unused toggle location.

 

Not crazy, just difficult.

Ian had the R56 but didn't feel motivated enough to rip it apart.

Your idea of using a relay activated switch is a good one. No relay (aka have to find the toggle to dim the lights) - bad idea for other drivers.

 

Install the toggle and have the computer programed to operate the rear fog lamps. But instead of sending power to the fog lamps use the wire that goes to the fog lamp to turn on the relay to control the driving lamps.

I have installed the toggle and the rear fog lamps, Thanks to Wolfshiem for the writeup and Mini Fireman for the part numbers. However never had them programed. Can the dealer program them to send power to the fog lamp circuit? I have not heard of anybody having the lights programed.

 

pmmiller - that sounds like an ideal solution. complicated yet simple! I guess all you would have to do is fish out the wire for the rear fogs, find the color/ type, and trace it back to somewhere close to under the dash where you can tap into it. Then you could attach a relay to that wire and then attach that to the dimmer/ headlight lever. It sounds easier said then done, so if anyone knows the wiring harness well, indulge us.

I don't know about the programing by the dealer? I suppose they should be able to though?

 

ttt for future updates!

-B