Squadron, where are you? There may be some local Mini guys who'll do it for/with you! (I know a bunch of PittStopMINI guys who'd help!).

For cost, you can get a 2-light setup for under $100, or 4 lights for under $120-150 with generic lights, or about $200 with (4) Hellas:

PepBoys: Hella 500 driving lamp replicas for $25ish a pair (or get Hella 500's for $65ish there or at WalMart). I can't seem to find the Hella FOGS there, though, only driving lamps. Check www.rallylights.com for Hellas online, great guys. Do NOT run driving lamps as fogs, they're only good with the high beams on.

For the mount, I don't know if ReddRockets (I think that was his name) is still selling his light bar on eBay for $50ish any more, but do check. You can also sometimes find him on NAM.

FWIW, the Hella's come with a rather good wiring harness (that's the stock Hella roundy switch on my center pillar, above and re-pictured below):


Hope that helps!

 

I love those rocker switches (they really rock har har har!).

I'm down in Charleston, SC. There might be some folks who'll help me out with this sort of stuff, I'll throw a post on the Charleston forum here as well.

I'm definitely looking at driving lights rather than fog lights, and I think that I would definitely go for the real deal Euro lights rather than knockoffs that might be cheap.

Maybe I can get this done in an afternoon for the cost of parts + case of beer + girlfriend (who loves the mini and is willing to contribute) cooking dinner!

 

If you were in Pittsburgh that'd be considered overpayment!

The "knockoffs" at PepBoys actually look really good, can't tell 'em from Hellas at anything more than 3 feet... but I haven't seen their beam pattern or wiring harness, and don't know if they come with covers.

The Hellas are quite a spot beam, not a lot of scatter, but with 4 you can "splay" them a bit to get a ton of light down the road. You can also get clear covers for 'em at $11 each (but that still didn't stop a big rock from cracking one of mine).

 

Hahaha, yes well I am a big fan of tipping well.

The brights on the '03 MCS with xeon are pretty good at lighting up an area, I'd just be getting those lights for those super dark roads when seeing down the road is very important.

Plus they look really cool.

So maybe I misjudged the more inexpensive lights, if they still look good and provide light.. I'll have to check it out the next time I'm in a Walmart or PepBoys, to see if they come with wiring harnesses as well.

 

I paid $50 for the brackets from Outmotoring, and $65 for Optilux lights from JC Whitney. It's a very nice setup, was cheap, and they have angel eyes in them. By the way, I thought I was the only one who actually put switches on the panel below the steering wheel.






As for my driving lights, they came with a small switch that fit right on the blank spot for the heated seats next to the emergency brake.

 

Fatherdeth: Michaels arts and crafts (and I think JoAnn Fabric) has 8.5x11" sheets of 1/8" thick black really flexible foam available with or without sticky backing. You can cut it to fit, fit it over the switch backs and curl it under the steering column so the tops of the switches aren't visible. Of course, you have to be looking at the car from a low oblique angle to see the wiring, but it's there... I do like the switches there though.

 

I originally didn't want to go this route. I couldn't get my hands on a euro shelf, so I said screw it and did it this way anyway. I like the fact that all i have to do is pop the cover down to get to the wiring if there is ever a problem. It never occured to me that seeing the wiring like that would be a byproduct. Thanks for the suggestion. I have a lot of stuff to do to her interior when I get back (no perverted thoughts please ). With the addition of another switch there, I will definitely add the foam. Thanks again !!

 

You may even be able to find a material that comes close to your interior accent color! I do like the interior...

 

Thanks !! I'll see what colors they have, that would be awesome to find something that matches.

Also, to anybody looking for some decent lighting, JC Whitney and Summit usually has some good cheap alternatives.

 

How did u mount the 2 middle Hellas??

 

He mounted them directly to the bumper

 

Oh ok. I love that setup! I have two PIAA 540 extremes on my upper grill, but was looking to put sum more on. Maybe sum fogs. Just cant decide where and how

 

I just bought a set of Hella Black Magic 500 & Outmotoring Gen 1 lower light brackets. I cant wait to get them on. I have a Jeep Cherokee with Hella 500, and love them. Will post pic as soon as i get them on.

 

This thread is back from the dead! Brought back some good memories... funny how time goes by fast, I've had Hellas on there ~4 years! Still no problems with wiring, shorts, anything. I really LIKE doing it right the first time!

I did have to remove the crossbar and repaint it once, all the road grit we get up here. I'm thinking of designing one from stainless, or aluminum, for a friend of mine...

 

For those looking for good driving lights, check these out:

https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/C-16...+4+INCH+LIGHTS

https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/C-39...INCH+RACELIGHT

https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/C-CA...NCH+RACELIGHTS

 

Or these:

https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/C-383/LED+HEADLIGHTS

https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/P-62...%2c+10+Led+Bar