Has anyone been able to get the dealer to install the foglight on an early build '05 yet? Do they have the retrofit harness available? If so, what was the total cost? I just had Bob Smith Mini in Calabasas quote me $242.00 just for parts, but I still have a nagging feeling that they did not catch the "early built, 09/04" part. With at least an hour of labor that thing will come to $342.00. If that is the case I would have to think twice about doing that. I'd rather do a 4th brake light mod and spend the money on the suspension, full toggle switch bank be damned.

If any one has any info, it would be greatly appreciated since the car is going it for service next weekend before a weeklong road trip.

 

My dealer stated that to install the rear foglight, switch and wiring on an early 05 it would cost about $1k. They have install a new wiring harness and connect it to the computer so the light and switch could be enabled. I have the rear foglight on my 05, so I do not need this. Since I have been developing the rear foglight adapter for the 05;the service manager called me and explained this to me and asked if I could help two people that wanted the light in the rear bumper and did not care about the rear foglight functionality.

I picked up the OEM plug and connections and have built the connector with about 4ft of wire. This will alllow the wire to be run to the taillight assembly in either side of the car and with quick splices the connector can be used for either a brake light or a reverse light. This connector plugs right into either light you use, rear foglight or backup light. You will just have to run the wire from the bumper light to the tail light and if you can not find a spot to run the wire, you may have to drill an small hole. The OEM plug has the connectors soldered to it and then outside if the wire hole is sealed with silicone to prevent water damage, just like the one from the factory.

If interested email me for further information minirolls@msn.com

 

i did it in 10 min but the only thing is if your headlights are on then so is the fog light. i really didnt care, but i could have spent the time and installed the switch, but i would have just left it on all the time anyway,. but if you want to know how i did it send me a pm

 

Got an answer from Bob Smith on labor: $172. That was followed by: "But we will have to look at your wiring first". So I have zero confidence in them knowing exactly what needs to be done. With the price tag now sitting at $420+ I would have to say: "Bwahahahaha, no thanks. Money better spend somewhere else". I am leaning towards a simple 4th brake light mod at this time. I don't really need a full toggle switch.

But PM sent. Would like to see what you got.

 

Having it on all the time with the headlights on is a bad thing. I know in some states you will get pulled over for it as it is very bright. I am sure you are you electrical connectors, that you push into the light assembly. By using the OEM light connector from MINI, my wire assembly is sealed from the elements and the wires are configued to the same plugs also. Ground and power are in the proper location.

 

not all 05 mc and mcs have the rear harness for the fog light. i looked all over for mine and it was not there. this was the closest alternative that i could come up with. it was a fast simple mod. but it got the job done. also its not as bright as you think but it does look nice though. it saves time from doing the other mod which is the third brake light mod. where you have to jump the wires. but it does do what its supposed to. i honestly have not gone to the dealer for any of my mods becuase they overcharge for the labor. any mods that i have done to the car does not void warranty and i can take them out at any time.

 

I understand what you said about the harness not being there, what I am saying is that I build an harness from OEM parts for those that do not have it and want a simple solution for adding a light into the rear bumper. My harness requires no electrical lnowledge to install and will take all of 5 minutes to install. I just wanted to help owners that want a light in the rear bumper with very little effort and low cost. People should not have to pay over $200.00 to get light in the rear bumper.

This harness is also completely removable and will not effect the warranty.

Also, I do know how bright it is, I have the rear foglights enabled on my 05 MCSc and they are also enabled as rear brakelights. It is as bright as the brakelights when it is on. This why in some states it would be illegal to run with on at all times.

 

in the shop now for 10k mile maintence and I'm getting the rear fog light installed. Car was built Oct of 04. I just missed the wire harness by 2 weeks. Looks like the total cost is going to be about 190 bucks thats including labor, so not to bad.

Howard

 

Keep us updated. That certainly wasn't the cost when we first started talking about it. Maybe things have changed.

 

Just got a call saying they can't install the rear fog light cause no rear wiring harness, I thought that issue had been resolved. They said they started installing it then had to stop. They even called over to England to find out whats the deal but didn't get very useful info.

Howard

 

Sounds about right. I feel your pain. You should look into a fourth break light mod. About $50 and half hour DIY and it gets rid of that ugly black blank in the bumpter. You still won't have a full toggle switch.

Available at myminiparts.com.

 

I have an early build too so I decided to get a reverse light. Doesn't fill up the toggle bank but it fills up that black slot in the rear.

 

I did the same thing.... works very well, but you just dont have the switch :-(

 

hold off, they said they hope to have a way to install it in 3 months. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

So what month of 04 did the wiring harness begin to be put into 05 cars? Mine is a 12/04 build, do I have the harness?

mb

 

You should be missing yours. 09/04-12/04 I believe are the months without a harness.

 

Cars built prior to 10/16/2004 do not having the wiring. Pop out your black cover from inside the back bumper and you find the harness with a plug on it hiding it inside the bumper.

 

I will defer to Mini-Rolls on this, as he is correct. Plus he made my 4th break light!

 

Stinks I missed it by like 9 days, my car was built 10/9/04.



Y

 

I just spotted this thread... my 05 MCS was built in July 2004, and I was able to get the rear fog installed- however you won't like what was required.

My dealer had promised it to me, so I think I paid maybe $150 or $200, but the real bill was $768.00! They had to run new wiring from the toggle bank to the controller in the passenger footwell, and from there to the rear bumper, and from the bumper back to a ground.

It's 100% as factory-fresh, but that labor is a killer :(

 

Ouch, well will see what happens when they call me with the new part. Hopefully since they already quoted me 190 bucks it won't change.

 

Hi Howard...I'm confused, so could they not just order the wiring harness from the part number I gave you when my dealer did the rear fog installation to my car in September? Seems a bit strange that you have to wait another 3 months now that the instructions and parts have been released.

The other thing you could do is call my dealer, order the parts & instructions and present them to your dealer. I'm sure they'd love that.

 

I got a call and and they said they started working on it and 2 hrs later they realized they didn't have the "correct" rear wiring harness for my car. Seems a bit odd, then I sent them # for the wiring harness and I got this reponse back.

THE PART NUMBER IS CORRECT- THE MAIN BODY HARNESS IS NOT SET UP TO
RECEIVE THIS ADAPTOR HARNESS- MINI HOT LINE HAS SENT YOUR VIN TO THE
FACTORY TO MAKE A PROPER HARNESS ADAPTOR THAT WILL FIT YOUR CAR"


I don't doubt they didn't try their best to get it installed as the dealership has always been 100% honest with me and fixed every issue I have had so far. On the work sheets I got back with my car is mentioned something about sending a Puma case to mini.

So will see.

 

I have a 2005 MCS with a 9/2004 build date. The dealer promised to install the rear fog for "free" when available. Several months after I bought the car the dealer called to let me know the rear fog light and switch pack were available. As promised they installed the light and switch pack for free but were suprised to find that that the car was missing the wiring harness. Several months later the dealer called to let me know that the the wiring harness was available and to make an appt. for installation. When I arrived for my appt. I was told that the harness installation charge was $450.00!!! I refused to pay anything. After several months of unreturned phone calls to the dealer I thought we reached a fair but unusual compromise - they would install the wiring harness free of charge and I woulld make a $500.00 contribution to a charity. I gave them a choice of five different charities. I am still waiting for their return call.

Dealer rating - NICK ALEXANDER IMPORTS LOS ANGELES - F-/D+

 

That is so weird...maybe your car is somehow different than mine as you have a build date about a month later than mine. Very strange. Good luck and keep us all posted. I love the part about the "factory making a proper part to fit your car"...sounds custom to me.