OK, I'm trying to spruce up my '06 MCS and starting with addressing some lighting issues that have annoyed me.

First, I never liked the yellowish running lights/high beam next to the HID lows. I was looking online and found PIAA H7 bulbs that claim they'll match the HID look. They mentioned the "4000K" temperature. Of course they're like $65 online at the cheapest. While at Pep Boys earlier I saw some Sylvania Silver Star with the same 4000K rating. But at just $30, I figure I'd same myself some dough. So I plugged them in and don't notice any difference.

Question 1 - what (exact) bulbs have you guys found that look bright white like the HIDs without losing a lot of brightness? I tried those blue-coated bulbs in the past on other cars and the look white, but only put out half the light.

My next issue is the fog lamps. While bright enough, they go off when the highs go on. This is an issue for me because the high beams are angled to light up very far down the road, leaving a dark spot right in front of the car. Keeping the fogs on would solve that.

Looking at wiring diagrams, I found the fuse and the relay (R6 under the hood), but this isn't much help. I did "short" the power circuit after pulling out the relay and sure enough the fogs come on. All the time. Even without the key in. OK, duh. I guess the switch and everything are on the lower relay line (which makes sense, of course). I thought about pulling out the fuse box and seeing where the R6 connectors lead - but while the 2 screws holding it in come out easily, I'd need to disconnect a lot more to get behind it. And then I have a little hope I'll see anything that makes sense.

Question 2 - how can I link the fog lights with the parking lights and keep the switch? I could stick in another relay for the power leads under R6, but the fogs would always be on then, which isn't what I want either. Any suggestions?

 

Maybe the problem is you're using Second Generation bulbs in your First Generation MINI, since you posted in the 2nd Gen forum for your '06 MINI.



Sorry, that wasn't very helpful, was it ?

Okay, seriously... the best match I've found for the high beams to match your low beams are Sylvania Silverstar bulbs. Just go to the Sylvania website and follow the links, you'll find the bulb number. Then go to AutoZone and get them.

 

Heh, oops. Still learning to navigate the forums here - guess this should have gone in the 1st gen section. Are there mods here who'll move me around?

The Silverstar are the ones I grabbed from Pep Boys, but they don't look any different to me. I'll need to wait for night and maybe will swap one back in to see. But at first look, they still look like standard halogens.

 

If one of the mods pops into the thread, they'll move it for you.

When you research the Silverstars, they have a few different bulbs that will all work in the MINI. I forget the name of the one I bought but it's the brightest (and most expensive) option. And it definitely looks more white and throws out more light than the OEM bulb.

 

Okay... jumped on the website and the bulbs I bought are called Silverstar ULTRA.

 

Ahh - those were like $10 more. I think I'll rebox what I got and see if they'll exchange.

 

I'm not clear about your description. The low beams are on with the high beams. So do you also have this dark spot issue when only low beams are on?

 

He means the fog lights on the bottom. Fog lights are illegal to use with the bright lights because bright lights in fog make visibility worse.

 

I understand about the fog lights. What I don't understand is the "dark spot" issue. If you have the problem with high beams, then you should also have the dark spot problem when using just low beams. So I assume that you always turn on fogs in addition to low beams?

 

Well, with the lows, I can turn on the fog lights -- so no dark spot. It's really noticeable that when the highs flip on, and the fog lights flip off, there's a big dark spot right in front of the car.

Admittedly, I'm not using highbeams during foggy weather -- but driving back country roads I want all the light I can muster out the front of the car.

I know it's not officially legal, but have never had a problem with cars passing inspection, nor with police (rarely seem then when highs are engaged anyway).

 

For dark country roads, your best solution of all is probably auxiliary driving lights.

For modding the fogs, I suggest the following (I have some familiarity with this because my MINI originally came without fogs and I installed the OEM fog retrofit kit myself). The control line for relay R6 is directly connected to the BC1 computer. This is a green/brown wire in the harness according to the circuit diagram. The basic idea is to insert a two way switch into this line such that in one switch position, the original circuit is connected and you operate the fog with normal OEM behavior. The other switch position connects +12V to R6 (triggers relay to turn on the fogs), and overrides the computer control.

So... I would install an SPDT (single pole double throw) switch on the green/brown wire coming off R6. Cut the wire and install the switch inline. Connect the common terminal of the switch to the green/brown wire going to R6. Connect terminal A of the switch to the green/brown wire going to BC1. Connect terminal B of the switch to a 12V source. I suggest connecting to a switched line (on when the ignition is on). You can get a switched line by using an Add-a-Circuit to tap into one of these fuses in the drivers footwell: F6, F7, F9, F10, F11, F13, F35, F36, F39 or F40.

The effect is that with the switch in position A, the fog operates with standard behavior using the toggle panel. With the switch in position B, the fogs are on when the ignition is on, off when the ignition is off.

 

Thanks for the detailed info, rkw.

I've thought about driving lights and do like the big round look - I'm just a little weary of that kind of installation (not the wiring, but the mounting). However, my father-in-law may have some nice 7" round Cibies that would look good and light up the world. Time to research installation info for driving lights!

Good to know that R6 goes into the computer - that would have certainly gotten me nowhere fast. It sounds like a good bit of work to get them functioning the way I'd like, but I'll keep your suggestion in mind the next time I get time to pull things apart.