Thanks to Octane Guy for this mod. I found it on his website so thought I would give it a try. Man, what a great safety improvement! Here is his website: http://www.littlemini.us/technical/brakemod/index.asp

I took a few photos of my install.


This is what the package looks like. Radio Shack - $1.50 including tax for both.

Here are the diodes. Note the silver band, which goes on the #1 socket. The thing on the left is shrink tubing.




After marking the silver-band side with a marker, I cut the shrink tubing and slid one over each diode



Being very careful not to get the diode hot, I put a little heat on the tubing with a heat gun . Tape works just as well as the shrink tubing - I just happened to have some handy.



You can’t see the clip with the panels out so you have to go by touch. It feels like there is a thing to squeeze on each side to remove the connector. There isn’t. It is actually on the bottom.



Carefully bend the legs down then push it into the connector - the side you should have marked (the side with the silver band) in the #1 terminal and the other leg into the #4 terminal.



I used a zip-tie on a couple of the wires to hold the diode into place. The photo is out of focus but you get the point.



Plug the terminals back in and you have twice the brake light capacity!

 

For those who want an easier / quicker way and have DEEP POCKETS .

I picked up a kit for 12 bucks (myminiparts.com) - diode with extension wires covered in heat shrink and at both ends crimping connectors. I simply found the necessary wires, slid on the crimping connectors and squeezed w/ pliers. The first one took 5 minutes and the second one less than a minute.

Came with color how to instructions.

Regardless how you choose to do it. THIS is a great mod.

bahamabart

 

Does this work with the 05 MCS (new rear light configuration?)

 

No, you don't need it on the '05s either.

 

Been wanting to do this for awhile and finally got around to it! I am very very very pleased with the results! And it didn't take very long at all, besides going inside to get my lil sister to push the brake to see if it worked. lol But I like the look of both of 'em lighting up and it makes you much more visible!

My two cents: It helps after you bend the diode to insert it that you bend the legs again a little. Helps hold it in better.

 

Just did mine today but it was a "back up" light instead of brake light..same concept. Looks nice and no more black plastic peice in the bumper!

 

The easy way to do the job is use a scotch clip (splicing clip) from radio shack and clip the black and yellow wires together on each side. You can just reach in the access panel and do it.
It is easy to pick out members of the Saint Louis MINI Club, most of us have our lights improved this way. Great Safety Feature, and so easy to do.
Motoring down life's ever changing road, feeling safer.