I'm looking to do two different things here and want to see what others have done. I want to add both driving and true fog lamps. I'm thinking that I could add a set of driving lamps off of the stock front "fog" circuit and add fogs off of the rear for circuit. I'll end up with a front end full of lights, but I personally think the MINI looks good that way. Anyone done this? Pics? Lessons learned?

Thanks in advance.
-Bill

 

Well a couple of questions for you first off.

1. Do you have Front Fogs now in the OEM location?

2. Do you have Rear Fogs now in the OEM location?

If you answered yes to both these questions then what you will need is two (2) relays for the new lights. You will connect the OEM harness to the relay and then the relay will turn the new lights on and off. YO need to do it this way as the OEM wiring most likely will not support the CUrrent needed to run the new lights.

If the answer is No to the above questions then you have to do the same as above but then add the switches and have the programing changed by the dealer to accomodate the new switches.

 

My experiments led me to learn the following:

The factory fog lights can't be turned into driving lights
even with really powerful bulbs. The lens/reflector is such
that it dissipates the light way too much.

If anyone has found a way to do this let me know.

I installed hella 500s for daytime running lights. I got them in
a true fog-light configuration with the frosted type front glass.
I use a normal incandescent bulb not a super bright or a super
white, just normal. I have them pointed about the height of
my low beams. The light pattern lights up way on both sides
of the road at night which is very handy (I live in the country).
They also do a lot better than the factory fog lights too, as far
as driving in fog.

I don't think they would be appropriate for driving lights, but they
make a driving light in that round configuration, about 7 inches.

Lesson learned: there is a vendor on this site I forget the name, that
sells just the brackets, for after market lights. I had to get the MINI
install kit because I didn't know, and had to do a lot of dremmel work
to make them fit the grille.

Hope that helps some.

 

Here is what I did. I put the Hella Fogs on their own separate circuit. The Black magics on the Factory Driving Lamp circuit.

http://www.mini4fun.info/2011_MCSa/Photos_%26_MODS.html

S.

 

VIP makes some very nice brackets.

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

 

VIP is what I used and Van @ VIP is very willing to work with you if there are differences in your Mini, because apparently one size does not fit all. Mini made many different brackets for their driving lamps to conform to the radiators and if there was an automatic transmission involved. VIP has my vote for brackets/mounts.

S.