I was trying to install 2 Hella 500 fog lights on my 03 cooper s with no success whatsoever. The last thing I did was wire the relay into the positive in the front of the car and the switch into a 15 fuse.

The switch lit up (it wasn't the original since that one broke) but the lights have never turned on. I figured it was a ground, but haven't found a working one (they were initially hooked into the strut on the driver side...or shock or whatever).

Anyway, after giving up for the night I unhooked the lights from the positive and all the grounds, but left the switch in the fuse. This afternoon I noticed that my speedometer no longer functions at all...the traction control is in the off position (ie the light is on by default, which would actually be pretty cool in any other situation)...my tire pressure light is on...and on the tack I have an ABS warning and a check engine light.

So I am wondering WTF happened and how do I fix it. The car seems to drive fine. I had removed the switch wire from the fuse box (under the hood) and the fuse seems to be fine. Any idea what could cause this and how to fix it?

Also, help wiring the lights would be great assuming my car is ever 100% again. I've only had it for 4 months and the driver side window has seized, the exhaust mounts have all snapped (waiting on an OBX atm) and now this.....

 

I would check the rest of your fuses (underhood and driver's-side kick panel) to see if any of them are blown. That's the first thing I think of when the dash lights up like a Christmas tree and gauges stop working.

We can talk you through wiring up the switch and lights once you have the car back to normal.