Hi, i am planning to buy a rally light, but i saw other members stating that the factory rally light sucks..., is that true?? if so.., what will be my better options? And my next question is: if to install the light.., do they have to drill a hole to the car? plus, where is a good place for me to go install the light?
PS: can you all give me some suggestions on how i can modify my MCS? i can't afford body kit..., so.., can u guys give me some ideas?

 

cooperjai: welcome to MCO

With the rally lights, do you want them for looks or better light output?
Not that it's an either/or but which is more important to you? Answering that question will help guide our answers a little better.

If you wind up wanting the MINI rally lights, check out Classic Auto Campus (click below). They sell their MINI parts at 20% above cost. That's a lot cheaper than the suggested retail price.

 

Another thing to consider is the functionality. with the MINI lights they are set up to turn on and off with your high beams, so you can easily use them while driving at night. The only drawback is that you cannot have them on if your high beams are off. I have them and like them. I say go for the factory, but either install them yourself or find a dealer that will do it inexpensively.

 

MINI brand rally lights "suck" only because they are a less than $50 set of generic lights with $350 plastic MINI logo covers. You can get MUCH higher quality gear if you are willing to choose the exact kind of light you want.

Get something like Hella of Piaa brand lights, and have your local auto electrician install them for you at a fraction of the cost of the expensive dealer option. If you are particularly clever, you might even get a set that is the same size as the MINI ones and then convince your dealer parts guy to sell you a set of the MINI plastic covers.

You will probably want to buy the MINI mounting brackets from your dealer or a very nice aftermarket parts place



_________________
~Yucca Patrol~

2003 MCS, BRG/W on the truck to my dealer!

"Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement."

 

cooperjai,

WELCOME to MCO! It's always good to see new members. I have the factory rally light kit, and did the install. I also have a set of PIAA lights in stock. Here are my thoughts:

1) The install is incredibly complicated for the factory lights, considering all you need is a switch, a hot, and a ground. It is about a four hour install and includes pulling the dash, the driver side kneepad, and the entire passenger side kickboard.

2) The factory rally light are expensive, but they do look really cool with the MINI covers on them. They work very well at night, but sidbreen is right; they only work with the high beams. That ends up not being such a bad thing, as you don't have to think not to blind other drivers.

3) The PIAA lights are not cheap at $375, but they are BRIGHTER than the factory lights, you can turn them on when you want to, and they are larger than the factory set - so they look even more retro - straight out of the 1964 Monte! I have yet to install them, but I would assume the job would be cut in half. BTW, that price includes the factory mounting brackets.

4) There are no visible holes in the car - they are behind the grille, in the rubber grommet that leads to the cockpit from the engine compartment, and a small hole in the plastic firewall that is in the engine compartment. If you removed the lights, unless someone really knew what to look for, they couldn't tell the lights had ever been there.

Hope that helps!

Randy
MINI-Motorsport
randy@webbmotorsports.com

 

I'm going with the MINI rally lights. I don't have the know-how to do it myself, nor do I want to fool with finding someone to do it for me. You really need to consider functionality and cost vs. hassle. For me, I doubt I would be able to discern much of a difference between one brand and another. Plus, I don't mind paying more just so all I had to do was say "add 'em to the order".

 

I would have to agree with Randy on this one. After having wired up a set of fog lights and a set of driving lights on my Jetta, it's a lot easier to wire the lights up to function on their own, instead of setting up the trigger off the high beams.

Look at it this way. Most MINI dealers want $400 for the lights and then about $250 for the install. For that same price, if all you cared about was light quality/output and not looks, you could get an excellent Hella Micro Xenon DE's with the ballasts and all the cabling, and then follow Hella's instructions for hooking them up. The Cooper S is a little different, because of having the battery in the back and the power distribution up front, but the installation instructions for the MINI lights are available online.

 

I think it would be nice to get them hooked up to the parking lights through a relay like orbhot suggested here.

 

Depends on the hassle you want to go through or if you are particular about being true to MINI. The Brit's that I have talked to will look down on you if you install PIAA, but than again they are very opinionated. If you are concerned about spending the money but you really like the look, shop around for the best deal that suits you and that you can afford. I'm a great conductor of electricity so I went ahead and had the dealership install the factory lights. They look great. I have also seen the PIAA lights installed and I liked them too. If I had to do it over again I would love to find the lights they used in 60’s on the Cooper S. I would probably install them but I do like what I have now.

Good luck and welcome to the site!

 

hi, everyone, first thanks for giving me those suggestions, now.., lets say i go with the factory light.., then should i order them from the Classic auto campus, then install them in a dealer...(since, classic auto campus is cheaper, are those brand new factory rally light??) second, what is the plastic cover and the MINI mounting brackets?? what r those? Finally, if so.., any dealer suggestion in the LA area?

PS., can u guys give me some suggestion on how can i modify my car besides body kits? thanks