I was wondering how I can go about propping open the trunk and leaving it open and somehow turning off the automatic interior lights as to not drain the battery while i have the tailgate open. In my previous vehicles there was a **** for this to the left of the steering wheel. I played with the mini headlight setting **** in the similar location to no avail.

 

On the R53 MINI, you just hit the dome light button after you've opened all the doors you want open, and it will kill all the interior lights... Is the F56 any different?

 

as chamberlin1 points out below - the switches to turn off interior lights are up by the dome lights. to turn all three (leftNright map lights PLUS centre dome) toggle to cycle thru is the second from the left. marked with a light icon. (#6)

 

It's not the dome lights that give me trouble. I can turn those off like you said, it's mainly the light in the back right of the trunk that stays on and doesn't turn off when I modulate the dome light switches nor when I lock the car with the trunk open. I mainly want to keep the trunk open and have that light in the back turn off.

 

I guess things are (not surprisingly) wired a bit different than the old R53! It's too bad they don't have a little toggle switch so you can over-ride the light.... My old Honda CRX used to have that. I guess you're stuck wiring in your own toggle switch next to the trunk light, or just pulling the bulb for those extended tail gate sessions!

 

Just trip the tailgate latch with a key / screwdriver / bungee cord hook / whatever you have available. The light will turn off because as far as the car knows, the tailgate is closed. Don’t forget to pop it open again when you need to actually close it.

 

Pry that light out, look at the two wires, cut one of them and install a switch, it's the hard way, but it's a sure way.

 

I leave my tailgate open often. The lights automatically go out after a short period.