The rear foglights on the 2011 MCS are prewired at the rear. I purchased my car off the the lot without the rearlight option. HAs anyone ever wired up the rear foglights and changed the toggles where the rear light switch is?

 

Quite a few people have added the rear fogs, but a lot of them add them as extra brake lights (simple wiring mod). There is a thread around somewhere that explains everything that needs to be done to change the toggle bank and it's quite a lot of work. Then the dealer will need to reflash the computer to add the rear fog option otherwise the switch won't work.

 

Thanks. I was hoping to not hear I needed a dealer reflash. Forget it.

 

I tried on my '09 and it is plugged into the harness and I put the switch in but the dealership could not get it programmed with their version of software. The 2011 might be different since the car now has the lights in the bumper and don't need to be added but the programming is still the issue, assuming you get a switch in there.

 

You can program it yourself with NCS Expert. Do a search on the this site for it. What's your location?

 

Are you sure the wiring is there? It wasn't on my 2010. After 8-09 production, Mini deleted a few things that use to be there. Rear fog light wiring, alarm prewiring... Just to save a few $.


So have you actually seen the harness, or are you hoping?

Never mind, the 11 is a bit different.

 

you can get the look for a few dollars and about 5 minutes time however. The lights themselves are not expensive and all it takes is popping out the plug and snapping the light into place. I really dislike the look of the plugs but have no need for the functionality.



5 minutes later

 

I am in SW FL but the NCS expert sounds more handy than the dealer. I might look into it just for the sun roof and locking functions that you can change.

 

You can always do a DIY wiring job and turn the fog lights into extra taillights. Just be sure to use a lower wattage bulb so you don't annoy the traffic behind you.

 

not wanting to start a new thread on the same subject. So i figured I'd bring this one back up.

My 11 MCS has the lenses already and the bulbs on both the red side AND the white (back up) side. BUT, the bulbs on the red side do not have any wiring leading to them, just a rubber like cap over.

Anybody done this on an actual '11 with the revised bumper covers?

Thanks.

BTW, I'm not looking to add the rear fogs (although that would be cool), I'm probably just going to tie them into the rear brake lights for more "visibility." I just need the wireing harness or connector that leads to the bulbs.

 

I'm guessing the bulb holder is the same as my 2010 was. Remove the rubber cap. You should see 2 male "prongs designed to fit a specific connector. You can eliminate the connector and just fit 2 wires to these prongs using small female spade connectors. When I did mine I also filled the cavity with epoxy to insure the connectors never came off. Then run your 2 wires under the bumper and into the taillight cavity. Attach one wire to the brake light and other to ground.

 

GREAT IDEA! I hadn't thought of that, no one will ever see them anyways. I may try that when the 2011 hitch comes out that way i can do it all at the same time.

 

Is there any issue with wiring the rear fogs into the fog lights without a toggle. Maybe I'm confused but can't you just have them turn on when you hit the fog light toggle?

 

I assume you already have front fogs controlled by the toggle switch in the console. I suppose it would be possible to run the rear fogs off the same toggle but first you'd have to get the wire up to the front of the car and then connect it to the same wire providing power to the front fogs.

 

Yep, I have the font fogs that came standard with the car. I also have a friend who is somewhat of an electrical/automotive guru who has offered to give me a hand. But yes, that is what we were thinking.

 

Technically, it doesn't seem like it would be much of a challenge. The hassle will be running the wire (or 2 if you want to get your ground upfront) from the rear bumper up to the front (under the hood) and splicing into the existing wiring for the front fogs. Your rear fogs will then be on anytime the fronts are on. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.

 

Will do, planning to do the install over pizza and beer this week. Thanks for the info.

 

do not run your ground all the way back up - always keep your ground as close as possible to the source (rear fog light here).

 

Yep, that's the way I would do it. I was just giving the OP the option to do it however he wants.