HELP!!!

I have a 2008 Mini Cooper S with the JCW engine mod. It was a California car that I've taken with me to Finland. In Europe rear fog lights are required by law so I started down that path.

I got the center console switch and toggle along with the lenses from Out Motoring. I did the install on the console, but couldn't find the wires (have since found more information showing where they should be). I figured that the car has to go to the dealer for programming, why not let them find the wire harness. So I took it in.

The guys at the dealer have said the cannot see how to enable the rear fog light toggle and that I have 2 options. The first is to run an entirely new circuit with a non-OEM switch. The second is to change to EU software and this will require changing out every sub system that has a chip (think radio, MCU...

I contacted Nick Alexander in LA (where I bought it) and they are looking for a kit number to track down the SW.

So can anyone tell me how to teach my dealers how to program my car???

If you can, can you also tell me if it is possible to change the radio to tune in all tenths of a channel (i.e. 101.2, standard US models will only tune in odd tenths like 101.1).

Thanks,

 

Okay the radio I think you can change the region by holding down the "m" within 8 seconds of turning the radio on. You will see the service menu appear. Use the far right softkeys to cycle through to find the region setting.

For the fog lights the footwell module will support it. The 08 should have the wiring there in the bumper for the light. If not, you should be able to get the signal out of the footwell module using the BMW wiring diagrams WDS.

The dealer can enable the rear fog lights via the "retrofit path" in SSS or the newer ISTA/P the rear fog light is option code $S5AAA.

Also the rear fogs can be enabled in NCS Expert.


Also, I am not sure if the dealer software can do this, but I know that the Vehicle Order (VO) can be updated to change the region of the car which will default the modules in the car to applicable settings for that country (for example these change by region: fog lights with high beams, rear fog lights, radio settings, sidemarkers, comfort closing (windows) using the FOB, and more)

 

As an 08 vehicle all wiring should be there for the upgrade and just a software change need to be made as stroby stated.

If the car was a 10-11 then you may be missing wiring but 08's as far as i know have complete wiring for any OEM upgrades.

 

Thanks for your responses. Strobeyprobey's info exactly what I was looking for.

Now to make you all feel better...

I went to the BMW/Mini stealer today to collect my car. The service writer said that they spent over 4 hours with the service head and a tech. They determined that my car does not have rear fog lights (searching the options by the VIN). He told me that they checked the toggle I installed and that was read by the computer when the switch was thrown, but there was no signal to the lights (yea... that's what I need the dealer to do). Then he went on to tell me that there are NO wires for rear fogs in the back of the car. He said that one hour was spent looking for the wires on a lift. Anyway he was not letting the car go without 3 hours labor (at 96€ = 289€/$395 out the door).

So after much bitching I paid, went out to my car, pulled the passenger side floor mat, crawled under the car (in the freshly fallen snow) and pulled out the wire harness. It was right where this forum said it would be. I pulled the service writer out and showed him the wire and told him it took me about an hour on peer forums to find out where the wire will be. I then told him that I will look into legal action if I find the flash can be done.

So I took the car to an independent shop who has the ability to read/write and I'll update you tomorrow.

 

Oh yeah the computer **CAN** changed to "retrofit" the rear fog lights.

Glad you found the wiring! I know exactly what you are referring to when you describe them looking at the toggle signal. It is in DIS where they were looking at the toggle signal getting into the footwell module, you can activate and look at every signal and device in the car independently for diagnosis. DIS however has NO support for performing retrofit programming. They need to use SSS/Progman or ISTA/P

If you want, you can pay $280 and buy a Mongoose J2534 cable and connect to ISTA/P yourself and do the retrofit programming yourself.

 

i hope this helps you.... since you have the housings... all u need is to give it a wire to put up... this is the setup i'll give my mini this chrismas season!

The Outmotoring fog light lens kit.. and this gominigo wiring kit


http://www.gominigo.com/BLK-MINI.html

 

 

My MC was imported from US to EU and I have a rear fog light (working). I don't know what the importer did, but everything looks stock (insluding the wires). So it should be possible... :D

 

They need to change the vehicle order. That is the software numbers that tell what options are on the car. They just need to find the bulletin on it plug it in and do the software and install then program them to work and bam!! you will have yourself some rear fogs.

 

Strobey, I am looking to retrofit the fog light on a 2011 MCS. I read somewhere that the wiring and bulbs are already there and just need to do the typical "buy the toggle switch, control panel with the fog light pic" from the dealer then have them program it.

Is this correct? I read some other threads saying its impossible to retrofit a rear fog on the 2011s

 

I haven't seen enough about the 2011 models to tell you either way. And they change the build process at random times, too. You will want to dig around your rear fog light location and confirm the wiring is there youself. Just no other way around it.

 

I tried this too and my SM said they needed software the could change a vehicle's order number to enable the fogs. I will take some of the text above and pass it along and see what he says.

 

Ok, I will do that this weekend. Meanwhile, I contacted Mike at Irvine Mini, gave him the last 7 of my VIN and he is going to do a little research for me to see wether the retrofit is possible on the 2011s. I'll keep you guys posted on the outcome.

 

Hi All,

Any update on this? Just bought a 2011 MCS and really would like to get the rear fogs working. I talked to my dealer and they still say that it can not be done. So has any one been able to get them working?

Thanks,
Jerry

 

Anybody figure this out yet? I have the rear fog light switch on order and it should be in shortly. So, I'm looking to see if anybody has got them working yet.

Thanks


2011 MCS

 

If your coming to MOTD we will be doing this programming there

 

So, this can be done on a 2011 MCS?

I wish I could go to the MOTD, but it is a little bit too far for me....

Does anybody know of anybody doing this up in New England?

Thanks,

Jerry
2011 MCS

 

Inskip MINI in Rhode Island just called --- IT IS DONE! I now have Rear Fogs on my MINI!
They started working on it yesterday about Noon... and ended up keeping the car overnight (giving me a 2011 Clubman to drive, which I actually liked and would consider one in the future). They were on a MISSION to get it done - Me, I was giving up on it. They called this morning about 9:00 confirming "KEVIN FIGURED IT OUT" -

 

I posted some additional information in this post:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-2011-mcs.html

 

Jerry, Have you figured out a New England MINI dealer that will do this? I have an 09 MCS that has the rear fogs and switch installed. I talked to both Bedford and Herb Chambers which are both not allowed to program the rear fogs to work.

 

I am actually heading down to Mini of Peabody today and will be talking to them about it. That was one of the stipulations when I bought my car, that they would activate the rear fogs. I'll let you know when I get back.

Jerry

 

Obviously in post Number 18 above (second one above your question) states that INSKIP has done it. They are in New England as Rhode Island is part of New England.

And who did you talk to at Herb Chambers as I know for a fact they have done it a number of times as well.

Any dealer can do it it is just if they are willing to do it.

 

No need to get snippy.

A very good friend of mine works at Chambers. Scott Poirier who just so happens to be the service manager who has been there a number of years. He told me that MINI is not giving out VOs for the rear fog lights if they are not a factory option. He told me that the last vehicle that they requested a VO for took 6 weeks to receive. Mini told them that this was the last one they will get.

As for Inskip, I phoned their service department about this and was told that both the service manager and shop foreman will have to look into it.

Both Peabody and Bedford service departments also told me the samething.

 

I recently imported mine into Belgium and got the same run around. First it was "impossible", then it was 2000-3000 euro to add a rear fog light! Installing the light and switch was the easy part. Once I got NCSExpert working (hard part), I was able to activate the rear foglight in my 2009 R56 by activating "NEBEL_SCHLUSSLEUCHTE" in the IHKS module.

Good luck!

 

Well, I did not have the outcome I was hoping for.... They were not able to program it. I spoke with the Service Manager and Shop Foreman (Very nice guy!) and told him that other dealers have been able to do it, so I was hoping that they would be able to do it as well as it was something I had spoken to them about when I bought my car 11 months ago. He said he will put a "Case" into Mini USA and he will get back to me as soon as he finds out if they will give him what he needs...... Lets hope for the best, but my expectations are low...

Jerry