Hey everyone. I was looking into buying these driving lights from Autopia on eBay. The price is unbeatable but seems almost to good to be true. This will be my first major mod and I am needing help with install and stuff like that so if you have any tips, thats greatly appreciated as well! Thanks in advance

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=160304815912

 

Remember you will need brackets as well. Here is a how-to from outmotoring.

 

Wow. That was a lot more complicated than i thought. Although i have an 04 and that is for an 07+. Do i really have to remove the radio and stuff? That scares me. Otherwise, do you think the lights are good ones? The bracket they come with are kinda wierd. He said that some people that bought them in the past added an L bracket.

 

That how-to was for first gen Minis. I have never installed the lights, my Mini came with the lights. I have no clue if the lights are good or not, I tend to stay away from ebay stuff, but thats just me.

 

No, you don't have to remove the radio and stuff. Here's a tip though; REMOVE THE MASTER CYLINDER COVER. You will regret not taking it off(I sure did). Many instructions will tell you that you can wiggle your way in there but there's hardly any space for a grown person's arm. Just remove the driver side windshield wiper(the whole thing-just undo the cap and remove the bolt. Then use a puller to remove the whole wiper arm), and then removing the master cylinder cover is easy. That gives you complete access to the master cylinder space(which you need to get to the grommet.

No idea on the quality of the lights. Why not just get Hella's or PIAA(they're like $76 at Walmart but you know they're functional)? I believe you can get brackets for about $75.

http://www.vipcustomparts.com/minicooperparts.htm

Yes, the total is thrice as much as the autopia ones but you know it works! :P And although many say that the driving lights/fog lights(not the OEM ones) are mainly for show, I use them pretty darn often(especially the fog lights on my quad light bar)

 

Yah i really like the quad bar on the lower grille. But in texas you need a front licence plate and the lights cover the tow hook and the plate holder so im forced to do the 2. The lights look legit and they have a buy back guarentee. I am worried about poking holes in gromets and removing stuff. Should i get this installed somewhere? I guess they would follow the same instructions but they have the tools. I mean i want to be that cool gear head but for a first mod, i dont know. Is it that hard?

 

Forget about the way that the OEM lights have you do it, it's overly complex. Just tap a wire that goes to the high beams and have that activate the relay. Than you only have to run one wire into the cabin for the switch. At least, that is what I did when I installed my Hella's.

 

Hmm. Thats a good idea. So they come on when you turn your lights on or when you have your brights? I kinda want them on whenever im driving at night with my regular lights.

 

Are you talking about driving or fog lights? It all depends on how you tap the wires. You can either have them come on when you brights are on OR on/off and will OR on/off when your low beams are on. VIP Custom has a quad light bar that is above the bumper(in front of the top grill) I'm in WI so I need the front license plate too so that's the only that works. Definitely just do it yourself. It's a plunge you need to take. ;p

 

I wish they could be hooked up to the low beams. I got mine installed by the dealer. I was not happy when I found out that they only worked on High :( I am gonna find someone out there to rewire them for me.

 

Iceman72- I'm assuming you are talking about driving lights(according to your signature). My question is, why do you need them to be on with your low beams?

Anyways, the reason your driving lights are coming on with your high beams is because they're tapped to your high beam wire. So basically even with your toggle switch on(for driving lamps), the circuit is not closed(hence why it doesn't come on). Only way to bypass this and allow you complete control of driving lights would be to remove that tap that's on the brights and re-route it to the battery directly. That way your toggle switch will have complete control regardless of high/low/no beam.

 

I would love a quad bar, but the ones i posted are amazingly cheap and at first glance, seem legit. They also come with a green halo. I like that. I want to tap the low beam wire so that they come on with that. I would do that instead of going to the battery right? Would that make the low beams dimmer?

I am really unhappy with the range of my lights. Last night was the worst fog ive ever seen and i was pretty scared of hitting something. The non-xenon lights go nowhere. So my parents are kinda wanting me to get these.

Take a look at the link up there and see what you think of those lights

thanks

 

A few points for you to ponder

1. The factory install for the driving lights ties them to the high beams for legal reasons. In some states (all?) these lights are only to be used with high beams. Some states with vehicle inspection programs will check the wiring of aux lights - or so say other posts here. I have wired driving lights many different ways for folks but if you roll your own you should realize you are potentially entering a grey zone legality wize. However, if you simply identify the 'trigger wire' connecting to the high beam trigger and connect it to any 'hot' you can fool the factory - or any other - relay. I'd run to a switched fused hot - the cig lighter is a great one and easy to find. (this refers to step 27,8,9 of the GEN1 factory install instructions referenced here as a how-to; those ARE GEN1 instructions;

SUBJECT

Mini Cooper S as of 3/02
all the nonsense about the radio wires is simply to provide the switch illumination as far as I've even been able to tell. Yes, the factory kit IS a PIA to wire per the factory spec...but a lot easier after you do it once! A simple Hella or PIAA kit is MUCH easier as long as you buy factory brackets or clones avail from many sources)

2. Driving lights won't help much in fog....fog lights need to be low....driving light backsplash may be worse than just your hl in fog.

3. You might try replacing the standard bulbs with something a little better. I thought the standard bulbs in the 02 were weak and replaced with SilverStars. I was happy enuf to buy them for my other vehicles. Quick, easy to do and you won't loose anything.

I've installed a half dozen sets of DL for folks over the years (my price is 'lunch') factory, Hella and PIAA, all on the factory-like brackets. If you have any questions about the nuts and bolts feel free to PM.

 

Yes, driving lights do nothing for fog. In fact fog lights don't do much either unless mounted low enough. Regardless the dispersion of light from fog lights are definitely more useful for fog situations, compared to driving lights. And definitely wire it straight to the battery instead of the low beams. You need to have the ability to switch ONLY your low beams(legality reasons). However, fog lights can be turned on with low beams without any legal issues.

 

I have not done this yet but I did stay at a holiday inn express last night

Consider getting fog light pattern for those lights and
wiring it up as they said. If inspection is an issue
my guess (???) you could put yellow bulbs in I think
they pass then.

Adjust your regular headlights up a bit, just a bit, like
1/2 - 3/4 of a turn (there is an adjustment screw).
This makes a HUGE difference.

If you insist on getting the driving light pattern you
should not adjust them to the maximum height. Those things
are bright enough to blind people into crashing right into you.

For not that much more you could get a decent set of Hella's.
No bling ring though.

 

Hmmm. All great advice. Ill probably buy these lights and see what they can do. Ill send them back if im not happy. The part that bothers me is the driling a hole in the gromet part. I dont thave many tools and I am a first time modder.

I will adjust my headlights like you said. Im sure that will help.

Fog is not a big issue around here, but the other night was just scary!

can anyone post me a link to some clone DL brackets for an 04? I am starting to think that the ones it comes with dont cut it. Thanks!!

 

"few tools"?

be advised that mounting the factory bracket or clone requires drilling into the bonnet.....a place you may want to be sure you have a good drill and bit....you can fake it on the holes needed for wiring but the factory brackets need a wee bit of a soft touch.

 

Erm, not always true. Some clones just attach to bolts that are already part of your vehicle. Not sure how the OEM is but I drilled nothing(other than wiring the wire into the grommet). Technically you don't need to "drill" into the grommet. Just cut a small hole(it's rubber).

I wouldn't go with a bracket that requires drilling into your bonnet/hood.

 

Can you send me the link to the brackets you bought so i dont have to drill?

 

The factory bracket for a GEN1 connects to the bonnet thru the grill. It attaches by drilling into the inner surface of the bonnet. Other brackets that attach elsewhere are not factory or clones....

***factory instructions link provided as how-to

see Page 3 parts list, parts C and D
{outmotoring's clone: http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop..._brackets.html }

see Page 5, step 2 thu 5:






If you use non-factory mounting so the lights do not attach to the bonnet, or if talking a GEN2 then things are different.

 

Do the quad driving lights cause any problems with air flow through the grill and cooling to the engine?

Jim