I spent about 4 hours this father's day installing the stock rally light kit on my 2006 MCS. For most of you, this is a rather simple mod but for me it was pretty scary. Until today, all of my other mods have been strictly cosmetic (boot stripes, badges, exhaust tips, etc.).

But in the end, what a great sense of satisfaction knowing that everything works exactly as expected and that I did it all myself.

Just wanted to share my experience in hopes of pushing those modder-wannabes off the fence. Get out there and do something; you'll not regret it.

 

Looks great!

Nothing like the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself AND it works.

 

Nice work! DIY FTW!

 

Looks great, MINI's look very good with Rally lights!!!

Thanks for the inspiration.

 

i gotta get some rally lights myself..man..im spending too much money on this car.
i love DIY's

 

How involved was the OEM install? I know that you need to wire the MINI brand ones a specific way, but I don't know if they use a wiring harness or what. Also, did you have to have the dealer reprogram the car to recognize that they were installed? I heard that was required.

If anyone ont there wants to use aftermarket lights instead of the OEM ones, I have a How-to linked in my sig - just see the thread indicated and look for the driving lights How-to. Aftermarket lights do not require activation or any other intervention by the dealership, but do install a bit differently. It's not difficut, however...

 

Those lights look terrific!

 

I didn't find the OEM install all that complex. I began with the DIY instructions from Motoringfile and then after a couple of posts here on NAM I was able to get the harness differences (very minor).

The vehicle DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED AFTER THE INSTALL.

Some differences from the official installation instructions are:

1) They've simplified the kit to included an inline fuse on the red J-wire rather than several components being used to construct the fuse holder.
2) The ground bolt is outside the small 'compartment' where the harness comes through the firewall. I just routed the ground leads and the light leads through the small gasket next to the driver's side hood damper.
3) The harness wire that leads to the BCM in the passenger foot well attached to the green/yellow wire in the middle of the backside of the BCM
plug. The 2002 instructions describe it as a like colored wire on pin 1 but this one is in the middle of the plug.

Everything is was pretty stock as described in the instructions. I did leave off the light stablizers (small pins that protrude through the grill to touch the light). Other NAMers have also left them off with no ill effects so I figured I'd do the same. I do get some fairly severe light vibration when closing the bonnet so I might rethink that.

The entire install took me about 4 hours but I was being particularly slow so that I didn't turn my car into the electronic equivalent of a brick.

Here is an image of the kit (minus the brackets which I unfortunately left out of the image) that I got from Morristown Mini:

 

Good job!
Nice to see that they updated the fuse situation. It is a bit ridiculous (and I would say below BMW standards) to install a four place auxillary fuse box for one stinkin' wire!
Let me reiterate - you do NOT need to have driving lights programmed. Unlike the fogs, these are not manipulated by the BC1.
Congrats on a job well done. So have you lit up the night yet??

 

Thanks for your help too! I haven't lit everything up yet but I'm hoping to take it out tonight and see what I can see

 

I just found this thread. Been searching for information because I'm trying to decide if I want to have the dealers install it on a 2007 I'm hoping to order shortly or do it ourselves. I'm wondering if anyone has tried to do this on the 2007 and if it's any different from these instructions here? Thanks for posting all of this. Great information!

Kathy

 

Hi Kathy, welcome to NAM!!!

The lights installed here are for a R53 & the installation is different that the one for a R56, what you'd be ordering.

I's suggest giving Aaron a call at Outmotoring. He has an R56 & is manufacturing a light kit for them.

http://www.outmotoring.com/

 

I've been wanting these since I got my car but didn't want to spend the money 2 years ago and haven't wanted to drive the long hours to the dealer since. If it's not too bad to do on your own I might consider it. Where's the best/cheapest place to get them and how much (if you don't mind me asking) were they?

 

Thanks, Pigwidgin, for resurrecting this. It has put a couple of my concerns to rest. I am finding the same deviations from the instructions.

Cad, a lot of people remove them from the car before they sell it since they can't get more $ for the car, and sell the lights separately. I got mine that way - the watch & wait method. If you buy new (has its advantages), I'd try either Morristown Mini or Outmotoring.

 

Thanks for the welcome and the outmotoring link, Crashton! I pretty much committed to ordering a car yesterday...holy crap I'm really gonna do it!! But I decided I'll wait on the lights and talk to Aaron as you suggested or as Davavd suggested, be patient and find a nice pair used. Since I'll be waiting awhile, I'll have plenty of time to surf and learn!

Kathy

 

There are so many better, less expensive options out there, and it's easy to do them yourself.

 

Kathy congrats on your MINI order. I hope the wait goes easily for you. IMO ordering to get just what you want is the way to go.

 

Thanks!! I'm pretty jazzed about it myself.

Kathy