Just got my first MINI in December, and the project I am wanting to take on is picking some rally lamps for 'Spike'. I like the rounded look of the OEMs, though they seem much more expensive due to the inclusion of the grill, so similar style, preferably black, and around 5.5" inches, is what I am looking for.

Part of my confusion is my newness to any car DIY, as this will only be my third project.
My brother, a Spec Miata driver, is willing to help with fabrication, wiring, and cutting, but it's up to me to find the parts, and I want to make sure to get stuff that works.

I want to mount two lights at the widest mounting point on the grill, to the outside of my grill badge.
The main issue I am having is my car has the Aero body kit with the painted slat grill, which I want to keep, and all the pre-cut grills are either Cooper chrome, or the MCS black, so I wanted to make sure the OEM style brackets are still compatible, and if they will have a cutting diagram if required for the slatted grill, or where I can find one.

The dealership didn't think they could keep my painted grill if they installed OEM lights, as they wouldn't cut my current one; but they didn't seem very informed about it, as they said they had yet to install any driving lights themselves.




I was looking at OutMotoring's Hella 500 Black Magics, but wasn't sure what bracket I should buy with them, and also VIP Custom Part's 2007-2011 driving light kit.http://www.vipcustomparts.com/driving%20lights.htm


Any advice?

 

from the way I read the OEM install instructions, and my experience with GEN1 installs I don't believe you'd need modify your grill at all to clear the factory brackets.
http://www.minimania.com/pdfile/R56_Rally_Lights.pdf

But you also have no freedom in the left to right placement of the lights with the factory brackets.

If you were to use the brackets from Outmotoring you have some flexability in left to right placement and altho there is some cutting required it is in the lower grill and potentially not as significant for you.

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

were it me, I'd go with the OutM' brackets and a set of lights of choice. IMHO the factory kit is overly complicated and over priced.

 

After looking closely at my grill, I think you're right that the factory brackets should fit; the grill is completely open where most diagrams show the cutting to be, you can see the orange bumper mount through the slats.


http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/G2.../InvDetail.cfm

It looks like those should work, then? Though it says it won't fit the 2011...

Yeah, I really don't want to spend that much for the OEM lamps.