Interior/Exterior All clear tail lights? Info and pics?
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 593
Likes: 3
From: Rootstown, OH
Boy, I love that all white look on your MINIs! I ordered tails and 3rd brake lights in clear the other day and can't wait for them to arrive. In addition to the look, I need a way to get the OEMs on the work bench for an overhaul. One tail and the 3rd both leak and hold water. Even when dry they look bad with drip spots inside. Thought I would switch back to OEM in the winter and back to white in the summer. Geezz, first wheel sets and now light sets. I need to move to warmer weather.
Here in Ohio our laws include the basic language one poster presented. I am planning the small round red reflector on the outer end of the recessed grilles to try to be close to compliant. Image if you're out on a dark highway with a dead battery, the red reflectors help identify you're there.
The clears I ordered were from Moss (3rd brake) and AutoPartWarehouse.com (tails) - quality yet to be seen. In my '02 I hope to have a running lamp in the uppermost spot in the tails. Currently it doesn't do anything.
Here in Ohio our laws include the basic language one poster presented. I am planning the small round red reflector on the outer end of the recessed grilles to try to be close to compliant. Image if you're out on a dark highway with a dead battery, the red reflectors help identify you're there.
The clears I ordered were from Moss (3rd brake) and AutoPartWarehouse.com (tails) - quality yet to be seen. In my '02 I hope to have a running lamp in the uppermost spot in the tails. Currently it doesn't do anything.
Well I got a set. Dont know if I mentioned it in this post.
I found a mini near my house. The owner works at a shop. He is a Total non "mini" guy. Bought it because it was there. Not because he loves it. It had the clear tail lights. I ended up talking to him, trading him my stock tail lights and 20 bucks for a set of Mini clears. They look awesome. Then the other day my sisters friend walked by my car with a case of beer in his hand. The beer hit the pass side tail light and put a nice crack in it.. Dammit.. Anyways.. I love the lights. I am still waiting to get my 3rd clear.. And my backup light has a red cover on it for some reasion from the prevoious owner. That will be clear also.
I found a mini near my house. The owner works at a shop. He is a Total non "mini" guy. Bought it because it was there. Not because he loves it. It had the clear tail lights. I ended up talking to him, trading him my stock tail lights and 20 bucks for a set of Mini clears. They look awesome. Then the other day my sisters friend walked by my car with a case of beer in his hand. The beer hit the pass side tail light and put a nice crack in it.. Dammit.. Anyways.. I love the lights. I am still waiting to get my 3rd clear.. And my backup light has a red cover on it for some reasion from the prevoious owner. That will be clear also.
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 593
Likes: 3
From: Rootstown, OH
I installed the new clears today and they look HAWT! I had to go to Summit Racing to find the red lamps, seems no typical auto parts store carries them.
I do have a question if someone knows the answer. I have a June '02 build MCS. The top tail light lamp is a single pole appearing to be a parking or running light, like the lower stop lamp is. But neither has ever lit up and still don't after changing out the lamps and fiddling with them. They appear to be wired but there's no juice. The same is true of the L and R sides. Does anyone know of any reason these two would be unpowered or if there is a setting in the computer for these?
Update: Okay, I did some research and learned it may be a rear fog in my model year. I found a nice non-MINI DIY mod at http://www.motoringfile.com/howto/brakelight_mod.pdf that shows how to convert it to an extra brake light. Guess you could modify it to be a running light too.
This is becoming my personal blog.
Anyway, skip the idea about an extra running light. I decided the top lamp was too bright, more like a brake light, so I did the mod listed above with one change. Rather than jump the No. 1 and 4 pins in the lamp assembly, I cut the No. 1 wire just long enough to feed it to the No. 4 pin and press it in there, then taped off the remaining feed end of the No. 1 and wrapped it into the harness. That way there's no chance the No. 1 feed is hot for some reason.
With the clear tail light lenses, the extra brake light at the top helps give it more area and brightness. I'm a happy camper.
Here's a pic. Excuse the dust and dirt and lack of camera skills.
I do have a question if someone knows the answer. I have a June '02 build MCS. The top tail light lamp is a single pole appearing to be a parking or running light, like the lower stop lamp is. But neither has ever lit up and still don't after changing out the lamps and fiddling with them. They appear to be wired but there's no juice. The same is true of the L and R sides. Does anyone know of any reason these two would be unpowered or if there is a setting in the computer for these?
Update: Okay, I did some research and learned it may be a rear fog in my model year. I found a nice non-MINI DIY mod at http://www.motoringfile.com/howto/brakelight_mod.pdf that shows how to convert it to an extra brake light. Guess you could modify it to be a running light too.
This is becoming my personal blog.
Anyway, skip the idea about an extra running light. I decided the top lamp was too bright, more like a brake light, so I did the mod listed above with one change. Rather than jump the No. 1 and 4 pins in the lamp assembly, I cut the No. 1 wire just long enough to feed it to the No. 4 pin and press it in there, then taped off the remaining feed end of the No. 1 and wrapped it into the harness. That way there's no chance the No. 1 feed is hot for some reason.With the clear tail light lenses, the extra brake light at the top helps give it more area and brightness. I'm a happy camper.
Here's a pic. Excuse the dust and dirt and lack of camera skills.
Last edited by ToBFree; Jun 13, 2008 at 10:59 PM. Reason: Photo added
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 19
From: Bedford, TX.
They make LED ones
http://www.newministuff.com/new/shop...uctshow&id=481
Here are some pictures i posted in another thread
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...89&postcount=3
http://www.newministuff.com/new/shop...uctshow&id=481
Here are some pictures i posted in another thread
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...89&postcount=3
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 1
From: Brisbane, Australia
Here are some pictures i posted in another thread
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...89&postcount=3
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
and uhh... somebody said they dont make the lights for 08 yet... am i safe to assume they wont make them for my 09 then?
and, any links/pics of people who replaced the reflectors in the tire fender? i cant stand that theyre orange and red....
this is my new fav thread, a lot of people hate clear tails : )
i got mine from ebay and they work/ fit perfect.
got the bulbs from http://autolumination.com/ the stealth taillight bulbs. just the red and orange with chrome covering. 2 bulbs in each tail.
i got mine from ebay and they work/ fit perfect.
got the bulbs from http://autolumination.com/ the stealth taillight bulbs. just the red and orange with chrome covering. 2 bulbs in each tail.
this is my new fav thread, a lot of people hate clear tails : )
i got mine from ebay and they work/ fit perfect.
got the bulbs from http://autolumination.com/ the stealth taillight bulbs. just the red and orange with chrome covering. 2 bulbs in each tail.
i got mine from ebay and they work/ fit perfect.
got the bulbs from http://autolumination.com/ the stealth taillight bulbs. just the red and orange with chrome covering. 2 bulbs in each tail.
