alright. i love my mini, but i don't see why all these new cars are using nice bright LED taillights for their cars and minis not?

to clear things up, im not talking about the el-cheapo ricer tail lights that you see on hooked up hondas and such.

I'm just wondering if any aftermarket companies have made a copy of mini's OEM tail lights except with the use of LED's? anybody know?

 

Wouldnt LED bulbs work fine in the oem tailights?

 

ummm it would work fine but wouldnt look anything like LED tail lights. just take a look at BMW's old 3 series tail lights and their newer 3 series taillights with LED's, completely different and much cleaner look in my opinion.

im sure if i put LED turn signals for my tail lights they would look great but the brake lights and running lights would not look very good/different through the red lense of the oem tail light.

 

i liek the audi led taillight

 

There is a guy who I see on my morning commute everyday who has all white tail lights with an opel blue tint, like high end Range Rover lights. It looks really cool. Anyone know where to get those? maybe I'll take a pic tomorrow.

Update: I dont think you can see the blue hue from that angle. My 7 year old took this one this morning. I found this ebay special that matches (except the bulbs). Looks like he must be using blue bulbs in there to give it that Range Rover look. Wonder what color the lights are when they are on?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-03...Q5fAccessories

I found another ebay special LED tail light below. I guess that one has a built in resistor kit. It's expensive, looks a little hokie with those old style lens type LEDS but the plug and play aspect is attractive. It is a hassle getting LEDs to work without causing bulbout warnings. Can be done with resistors or careful selection of the right bulb, but the process seems to take forever! I have been working my turn signal and HID H13 headlight project since December and just today the parts have come in.

 

The 2011 refresh is going to incorporate LEDs into the tail light design. Although not completely. Here's the link to the article:
http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/03/...rs-a-new-look/

 

smoke05s:
I have seen these white LED tail lights for our minis online, specifically you can find them on ebay. they look a bit cheap in my opinion however and would like it to be a more stock look.

J_'09s: Thanks for the website/insight. I'm interested to see what they have cooking up over at mini for the 2011 refresh

 

Thats a r53 option. One of out Sunshine Mini owners have those and one of the bulbs went out and they are sauldered to a circuit board. No idividual sale of the bulb just the whole board for like 60 bux

 

It looks like the new tail lights have the same general shape. Maybe we'll be able to source some when they come out and plug and play. Those do look sick too, can't wait to see more reveals of the update, as well as the JCW updates.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-09...Q5fAccessories

Here is that plug and play LED tail light.

Thanks for the info on the clear light guys.

On the 2011 other than the red dot in the middle I cant tell the difference on the rear shot. Hope they keep clear signals as an option, not sure I like the front shot very much.

 

No go on 2nd gen with those ebay lights

 

The 2011 minis are at my local dealer. I got a chance to look over the car, briefly. I think i want to get the new tail lights! They look cool.

 

Here are LED Tail Lights that just came out for the 2nd Gen Mini from http://www.ciraya.com/ I dont think they show up on their webpage yet, so you will have to email them for more information....they quoted me $200 a set.

 

This is what I thought of my 2011 LED tail lights...

 

http://janspeed.blog.shinobi.jp/Date/201101/1.html