For those of you that had the dealer install driving lamps on your MINI after purchase, how much did it set you back? I got a coupon from MINI in the mail for 10% off dealer installed goodies so I'm wondering if I could use my tax return on the lamps I've been drooling over since I brought her.....thanks

 

See if it's cheaper to order off Morristown MINI's site and have the dealer install. The install manual says 1.25 hours.

Just a side note; I've looked at the driving lights on cars on the dealer's lot and the holes they cut into the grilles are typically pretty crudely done, at least at my local dealer. It would bug me to have my grille chopped up they way they do it. Check out your dealer's cars with driving lamps and see if this would bother you at all.

 

The Driving Lamps come with a NEW grill with the cutouts for the lamp brackets.

If a dealer had CUT a grill to install them, I would be reluctant to use that dealer for anything!

The lights are pretty easy to install, the wiring is pretty straight forward if you have the knowledge.

I would think about 150-200 for an install charge would be the going price at most dealers.

 

I have a first gen cooper s and went to the dealership last month to get a quote. They quoted me $998 for parts and labor , I said thanks but no thanks!!!

 

Thanks for the info guys...I was thinking about switching out my Cooper grill for the black S grill if I do get the lights but it may all cost more than I'd like to spend right now! We shall see!

 

The install guide says the grille with cutouts is not included so you'd have to get that too. Maybe my shoddy dealer butchers the stock grill to save money!

 

Can anyone please tell me the diameter of OEM driving lights? i want to buy a pair (not from the stealer), but want to make sure they look just rite and not too big.

 

BullDogGirl...like you I am itching to get the Driving Lamps, couldn't justify the additional cost when I picked up Molly, so I wait, Dealer quoted $1,000.00 for Parts & Labor...which I certainly am going to do when I can find the funds.

On the MCS Grill however, don't buy the MCS Grill, it won't fit, the JCW Grill is the one that will fit our MC's. I've priced it at outmotoring.com for $55.95, haven't gotten a quote from the Dealer on installation, but I'm thinking about 1/2hr. Labor.

I will be getting that and the Chrome Line Exterior Lower Grill Trim installed on April 19th.

Good Luck on your Mods, we'll be L@@KING for pics!!

 

At $1000 a pop, I hope they don't sell very many!

 

You will need the following 3 items...

Driving Light Kit - which includes the wiring
Installation Kit - which includes the brackets and NEW grill. if you have a JUSTA, specify the JCW grill for a JUSTA. it will have the cutouts.
Switch - this is a color coded piece inside your car with the switch attached. mine is rooster red, like my interior.

The FULL retail price for all three parts is 464.00
Morristown MINI is 394.83, which is 15% off

Go to your dealer and ask for 20-25% off, they WILL give it to you. Most all do if you bought the car from them. even if you didn't and you service your car with them, they will. If they don't, call Morristown and ask them for a little better price. They are usually VERY good about helping you out.

Now Installation...

I have the Insatllation Bulletin and it takes 1.25 hours.

So @ 1.25hrs @ a rate of 100.00 an hour = $125.00 USD

I would shoot for a price of 375.00 for the lights and 125 to install for a TOTAL of 500.00 INSTALLED!!

I have installed 2 sets of them, one in an '09 and one in a 2010. The second one took me NO more than an hour and a half.

Good luck, just don't let them take advantage of you, it sounds like they are for 900-1000.00, proof is in the numbers!!

You can PM me if you want and I will email you the Instruction Bulletin that shows you how to install and the time it takes.

 

The install sheet may say 1.25 hours, but don't expect any dealer to do it for that rate. I called two in my area and both wanted over $350 for the labor. All of the required parts cost me $400. So I just installed myself. The wiring was the easy part. The hard part was removing all the trim and routing the wiring harness through the firewall. It is cramped in there. I'm glad I did it but it took me about 6 hours to do. Now that I have done it, I can probably do it in three.

I highly recommend the lights though. They are awesome.

 

I had the driving lights installed at port and it set me back $500. When I tried them in my garage I was very disappointed with the output. It wasn't until I got my car on a dark curvy road that I fell in love with them.

 

On an '09 MCS, whereabouts on the firewall does the wiring go through? Any tips/tricks to the install? I'm thinkin' it'll be needed when the moose and deer come out to play when I'm up north working

 

Left side, under the dash extreme upper left. You have to remove the windsheild trim peice to get at it from the other side.

 

I've been looking at the same thing. I find the lights themselves cost about $300, the installation kit costs another $110, and the interior pieces including the switch and the little replacement dashboard piece costs about another $70, so plan for about $500 in parts. If you can do the work yourself, you will save another $500 approximately in labor costs. Installation looks to be straightforward, expecially if you are not as fat as me and can fit yourself uncer the dashboard for a few seconds.

 

at my dealer around $850 all-inclusive

 

have you considered other than factory?

these brackets from outmotoring allow you to use a generic set of lights which are very easy to wire....you just won't have a factory toggle . . .

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop..._brackets.html

you could do the whole job for $200 and a couple of hours of play time.

 

I paid $740 for installation at the VPC when I ordered my JCW (delivered 9/09).

 

Another option is VIP Custom Parts, http://www.vipcustomparts.com/minicooperparts.htm
They make some nice driving light kits.