Exactly, so slot 4 is actually a dead wire, that should be live, but our government has something against rear foglights. Pbbbth on them. For fun I also tried hooking #1 up to #5 to have the rear fogs come on at the same time as the running lights, but that would get me pulled over quite fast... very bright. My way of testing was to turn on the ignition then wedge a tennis racquet in between the brake pedal and the driver's seat. Love how it looks! Back up to a plate glass window sometime, is neat. So for now, slot #6 is the "mystery slot" doodoodoodoodoodoodoodoo!

 

What are the chances that one of you who have done this mod can post a couple of pictures so we can see if it is something we really like and want to do?

Thx in advance!

 

I could send you one, once i find the darn cable that goes from my camera to my computer.. grrr...

Rocketboy_X

 

I need to take & post a photo of the faces I see behind me when in stopped traffic. They all look really sunburned now! Or as if they're in an old disco if I pump the brakes!

Easy mod, looks great.

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Indi Blue Cooper w/ Black top & mirrors, sport seats and Prem. Pkg. Christened "Ringo".

 

I'd also like to see a picture/"how to" write up of this. Interested in doing this when my mini arrives early next year. Did you have to disconnect the battery first? Great for those tailgating idiots. Just tap the brake pedal once and they will back up in awe (possibly with retinal detachment)

Motor On..

 

Okay you people wanting a step-by-step demo...

This is the Mickey-Mouse way of doing it, with a paperclip and tape. I already had this done, so I had to take it apart to do the photos... doesn't work quite as well now, the paperclip doesn't connect quite as well, and I lost the electrical tape, so now its duct tape. Tomorrow I'm going to do an honest-to-God splice of the wires to make it more professional (and more safe).
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1. This is how your Cooper/S looks now. Plain ol' lights. (I know, I was too lazy to press the brake pedal in this pic... just the running lights, but you get the idea.)

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2. Open up the rear decklid and peek inside the boot. On either side you should see a little compartment. Press on the two tabs on the top of the compartment, and remove the panel. You should see wires... like this...

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3. Reach your hand inside back towards the taillight and feel around for a rectangular wiring harness. A bit hard to find at first, but once you find it, press the tab underneath and pull it out. It looks like the picture below. I have the two wire ports that you need labelled, #1 and #4.

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4. Now, find a paperclip, or a peice of wire, or something long, thin, and made of metal, bend it into a sort of "U" shape.

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5. Now, jam each end into the harness as pictured. One in slot 1, the other in slot 4. Be sure to get it in there as tight as possible so it does not shake out while driving. This is the exact reason why I am going to actually splice the wires later on.

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6. Now, find some electrical tape and wrap it around your new little Mickey Mouse'd hunkajunk version of electronic magistry. Be sure to stick some to the smooth part of the harness as well, in hopes of keeping the wire in place (obviously, don't put tape over the clip for the harness, as you won't be able to plug it back in. Duh.)

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7. Now, put your key in the ignition and turn it to the first click (brake lights won't work with the ignition off. You also get to listen to the radio while you work when you do this, yay Paul Simon!) Find something to weigh down the pedal, be it a brick, a branch, or as I did, a tennis racquet jammed between the seat and the pedal! Dream of Anna Kournikova while doing this. Just not too much. Especially if you're married. Ehe.

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8. Now, close everything up, make sure its sealed, clean up, and marvel at your new double brake lights! It really does look nice, MINI should just have them set up this way standard.

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Now my next question... what about that third little facet in the headlights...?

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President, <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MiniOK...ot;>MiniOKI of NE Ohio</a> <P> '02 IB/W MC. Coming soon: '03 IB/IB MCS <p> <img src="http://jeepaddict.home.mindspring.com/s.jpg">

 

Mahvelous, absolutely mahvelous!

Thanks for the pics! I'll be taking care of that little issue right away!!!

 

Thanks Sprog!!!!!

 

Thanks... i've been too busy to post em up myself... but you can remove the whole assembly (that's what I did) with one tab... it makes testing that much easier...

Rocketboy_X

 

Okay, I re-wired my lights in a more professional manner with wire connectors and another wire. Here's what you'll need to make an attractive, safer, more professional connection than the paperclip-and-tape method I have shown above. When you pull the harness out, unwrap the small bit of fuzzy tape that holds the wires together about 1.5 inch down from the harness. Remember to BE CAREFUL when you're doing this, you don't want to cut too much wire. To start, snip the #1 and #4 wires about 2" down, then strip the ends of each.

1. Wire cutters. Scissors will do.

2. Wire strippers. If you don't have these, use either the wire cutters or scissors and CAREFULLY cut the RUBBER ONLY of the wires, and pull it away, exposing the bare metal underneath.

3. Wire connectors. Buy these at a local hardware store... you'll need 4 of them, get small ones, so when you screw the 3 wires into them later you can make sure it is snug.

4. Two 3" lengths of wire. Strip both ends of each of these.

5. Electric tape or plastic ties (those little zipper things).

Now, twist the two sectioins of wires together, #1 and #4 at the bottom, and #1 and #4 at the top. Then twist in the wires you cut to connect the top wires to the bottom wires. Next, screw the wire connectors onto the ends of the wires. Make sure they're snug. Tie the wires back together with the tie or tape. Repeat all this for the other side. Plug the harness back in, close up the hatches, and test your new brake lights! :smile:

Here's a picture of what the finished assembly looks like:


_________________
President, <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MiniOK...ot;>MiniOKI of NE Ohio</a> <P> '02 IB/W MC. Coming soon: '03 IB/IB MCS <p> <img src="http://jeepaddict.home.mindspring.com/s.jpg">

 

Sprog rules!!!

 

I did mine tonight as well! They look GREAT!!

VERY VERY SIMPLE!!!! I guess I would consider myself pretty handy, but VERY SIMPLE nonetheless!

I didn't go with the paper clip either. I ended up somewhere between the paperclip and the wirenuts - I used trailer harness wire (18 gauge?) - about 3" - and electrical tape in a similar fashion to the paperclip idea, but I disassembled the connector to make the tape connection deep inside the plastic connector and well protected. Sorry no pics.

To take the connector apart there is one small white cover that pops off pretty easily (be careful, though, small, fragile parts!) the wires (#1 and #4 as mentioned above) then pull out of the connector by depressing the little metal tab stops and pulling - they need pressed twice since the plastic catches the tab stops in two places.

Once you pull the wires, you can connect one end of the connector wire with the tape to each - has to be a nice clean job or it won't fit back in the small channel of the connector.

Believe me, it is much simpler than it sounds. The other methods with pics might be easier to follow for someone not familiar with wiring. The wire nuts are probably the safest option - I just didn't want to cut anything - and I can always take this off without anyone being the wiser!

I did run into one little quirk - my passenger side wire #1 was pinned up as #6. ?? It took a little looking to figure this out, but then I just moved the wire since I already had the connector apart.

THANKS ALL for the initial research! This is a GREAT MOD. Hard to believe it's so simple.

 

Mini2go,
What is the bulb type? I have clear lenses and have to find a red bulb...
Thanks.

 

I noticed it is a 21W single filament bulb. I didn't notice any markings on it to tell you much more detail - it is identical to the turn signal bulb.

The bulb assembly is also EXTREMELY EASY to pull out to look at the bulbs. just detach the wiring connector first, then, pull. There is a plastic piece that sticks straigth through the middle that is a little bit of a catch the you should press down. I pulled mine out from top to bottom.

Hope this helps.

 

Will do. Thanks. I'll look at the bulb in the assembly I removed when
I installed the clear lens. Duh....

 

great job sprog...
well done

 

 

Thanks Sprog!

I did mine last night. I couldn't believe that there was actually a bulb already in place! I did something similar to Mini2Go, but soldered a jumper to each contact where it is crimped onto the wire. That way the connection is secure and protected. I figured that it was easy to unsolder if need be and not effect anything.

It looks great and was REALLY EASY!!! Those mist lights are bright! Thanks!

 

Thanks all,

I have just completed the hook up and it looks great. This is going to be a good way tell fellow MCO members.

Thanks again for the photos.

Vincent

 

I did mine last night and they look really good. So much more light!!.

 

How nifty. Done in under 5 minutes. Simple!!!

R

 

_________________
LTL YELO, 17'' x 8'' Alessios with Yokohamas --Wiiide!

 

...........?

 

Just did mine, it took less than 1/2 hour. I did NO cutting or use of wire nuts or tape.

If you take the little white plastic clip off the connector, you can then take the no. 1 wire out by using a little pressure on the silver metal connector end, (use a fine knife point). There is a small metal collar which you can pry open with your thumb nail. Next get a 2'' piece of plastic coated wire, strip 1/4'' off each end exposing the wire, slip one end of stripped wire under the small metal collar and crimp closed with pliers. Push the no.1 wire back in the connector and take out the no. 4 wire and go through the same procedure, connecting the other end of your stripped 2'' wire. Push the no. 4 wire back into the connector, replace the white plastic clip and reconnect the modified connector. Do the same thing to the other light assembly. You'll have a very clean job with all your wires left as original. It's totally reversible with no damage to original parts. Use fine wire for your 2'' jumper. Ron.

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So I was at a stoplight a few minutes ago, I looked in my rearview mirror and the girl behind me was shielding her eyes from my taillights!