I have heard the top light in the rear light assembly can be wired to make it an extra brake light. The owner's manual indicates that it is a rear fog lamp that is "not active". It appears it still has a bulb installed? My MC is a 2003.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thank you,

 

Try doing a search for "brake light mod". I just had mine done at MOTD on Friday. (Thanks, Twister! )

 

Yes. Look it up. It takes about 1/2 hour to do it and it works great.
Very simple mod.

 

Mr Bridger, yes. It's a simple mod. Remove the access panel in the boot. Reach in and unclip the light assembly. It's a circuit board with 3 lights on the outside side. Using a piece of wire, a diode or even a paperclip, short wires 1 and 4. Re-install the board, making sure to have the wiring harness BEHIND the board (towards the front of the car). replace the access panel. Repeat for the other side.

 

If you use a diode this will allow you to activate the rear fogs lights (by the dealer) without affecting the brake lights. Use a 3 amp 50 piv rectifiier diode which can be purchased at any Radio Shack.

 

if you do not intend on getting the rearfog light option, then to do just the brake mod you do not need to bother with a diode, just use a piece of insulated wire as a jumper....I peeled back a length of romex cable used for wiring houses, and took out a length of one of the smaller insulated wires that make up the cable....this seemd to be the right guage and it fit in snugly as a jumper...easy to do....the search will give detailed directions....definitely a good safety measure:smile:

 

Here is Octane Guy’s step-by-step instructions (scroll down)

http://www.littlemini.us/technical/brakemod/index.asp

And here is a Reader’s Digest large print and photo version that I did: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rake+light+mod

 

Thanks very much for the brake mod info. Well done.

 

I did this mod tonight using the diode method. Took all of 25 seconds, and instant results.

Step 1: open diode packet
Step 2: Bend diode into "U" shape
Step 3: Stick the silver end in connector number 1, and the other end in number 4 on your break light connectors (the plug that snaps in to the back of your lights).

Step 4: Admire your work

It's that quick and easy!

 

Yep that easy. Makes a big difference in fending off the SUV tailgaters.

 

I have had it done on my 03 MCS and it is great.
A lot more visible from a distance. Plus it's FREE

Earl

 

If you spit out your sunroof and land a big loogie on their windshield, that gets them to back of sometimes also.....

 

Recently sonracer had a problem with his module going bad and dealer was going to charge $655.00 to replace due to bralke light mod. They claim that if the main (lower) bulb goes bad, the module can be damaged by the upper light. Doesn't make sense to me but, he almost had to pay big $$$ for fix. Luckly, dealer zone rep OK warranty repalcement of module. See recent post under Mini Talk.

 

Sounds like a crock to me. If I had a problem with my light assembly, I'd take the 5 seconds it would take to remove the brake light mod before taking it in to the dealership, if only because I don't want to have to find another piece of wire to redo it on the replacement module.

 

A similar discussion is going on in another thread, under beneath the bonnet.

I used LED bulbs, which draw about 5% the power of a 21 watt bulb. (.12A x 14V = 1.68 Watt).

I took some photos of the lights, and of the MOD and posted them.

Mod to bulb carrier, disconects fog lights and makes them brake lights. This mod can't fall out or back feed the BC1. (some one else came up with it, I just followed the directions.)

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/tail.../01_jumper.jpg

comparison of the brightness of "naked" bulbs

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/tail...osed_bulbs.jpg

Index to photos of various tail light brightness and viewing angle comparisons. Note the MINI center LED brake light for comparison.

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/tail_lights/

John

 

How did you all find out that the bulb is an 1156? My manual doesn't specify and I just took out the bulb and it doesn't say the # either.

Any idea how many people have done this mod and how many peple have had problems because of it?

 

THOUSANDS of people have done the brake light mod, using various jumpers, diodes, etc.

A few people have posted that the BC1 failed, but there is no proof it is related. If you go to the dealer because the BC1 failed and they find you have messed with the wiring, then they have a case for denying warranty.

As for the bulb, The light bulbs are "standard" sizes. If you check out the bulbs at your auto store, you will find 1156, and 2056 are the bulbs that match physically. The electrical match is the 1156. The 1157 (2057) are the dual element (and dual contact) bulbs. The "barbs" are in different places so that the 1157 is plugged in the right way. (One element is dim, for tail lights, and one is bright for brake lights.)

John

 

theres mine, took 10mins, 2 diods from radio shack and some electrical tape

 

I assume those are the regular incadescent light bulbs that came in the car?

They look too good to be LED.

John

 

those are factory bulbs, the pic is lower quality bc its a phone camera but u can see what the difference would be

 

half hour!! try about 5 minutes max...even for a first timer it should only take 10....

this has become my "car show special" whenever someone who doesn't have it...(and I ussually meet them at the weekly show they have here in AZ)...I just keep the stuff in my glove box now...

 

Does the brake light mod work on the '05 MCS? I tried it as all the instructions directed - using a diode oriented correctly between connections 1 and 4 - and the extra lights didn't work but I did hear an annoying buzzing sound. When I took the diode out - everything was back to normal.

The '05's have the rear fog light where the rear back up light is in the '04's and earlier.

 

The Brake Light Mod for the 2005 is different. You can not jumper pins 1 and 4 they are different now, there is no way to jumper at the taillight. I created a kit to work on the 05's and sell it myself and through MYMINIPARTS in Florida.

 

On my '05 MCS I just pulled out a test light and found that jumping wires 3 and 4 worked just fine - it was not anything special just different wires.

On a different note I am having problems with my BCM (the module that controls the exterior lighting) but mine was caused by my right side turn indicator, I picked up the tinted or smoked housing and it was cracked. After some heavy rains it flooded out and when I removed it the wires and connector was soaked, and just so happens that the module is located right below that turn indicator so I am sure water made its way inside and now I have a "shifting " light that stays on 24/7. Started out to be the right rear brake light and now has moved to right front turn indicator - not looking forward to getting it fixed, at least going through the hassle of seeing if warranty gets shot down and then the hassle of $$$$.

 

Worked fine for what??

Not the brake light mod. It is impossible to jumper the pins in the taillight to make the light in the bumper work.