Is it just me. or does the rear end of the Cooper S not match the front? They went to so much trouble to make a really interesting set of headlights, complete with the complex inner ring mechanisims and all, but then they put those weird triangular lenses on the brake lights. I guess they were trying to keep a "retro" feel but... (shrug).

I've seen a few carbon fiber or dark tail light kits, featuring round lenses that seem to echo the shape of what's going on inside the headlights on some sites... Is it really as simple as unplugging the old ones and plugging in the new? Also, does anyone have any pics of their car after the switch? I think I'd go with smoked or black surrounding the lights over carbon fiber (I have nothing else on my orange cabrio that has that finish). I've been Photoshopping them in to see what they look like, but the original images I'm starting with are kind of small.

Thanks!

PS- these are actually a carbon fiber set I found someplace but I'd prefer plain black or dark gray surrounds- has anyone see a nice set?

 

Those are cool, and what I would love to have, but they apparently only fit '04s and earlier - the taillight shape/design changed for '05. And anyone please correct me if I'm wrong on the years. If something like those are available for the newer design, I wanna know!!

 

The reverse light moved from center to the rear tails in 05. 05 + have the rear fog in the position previously used by the reverse light.

If you compare the 2 pictures, the right one has no reverse.

I do like the look though.

 

Yep, you're right... Need that reverse light. Crud- back to the drawing board, as it were...

 

I got mine off of ebay for $50. They are plug and play. but they will only fit the older cars. The company that made them was APC

 

They fit any year, just put the reverse light in the bumper.

 

Hmmm... so buy the older backup lights, cut the bumper, run the wires and seperate the backup lights? Um... I'm not sure I have the skills to start sawing holes in the fender, but it's an idea. Maybe I'll just wait a bit- it should only be a matter of time until someone updates them for the 2005-2006- they might already be out there and I just didn't know what to look for.

 

You already have a hole for the light back there, it pops in easily.

you run a jumper wire from the wirirng in the tail light down to the reverse light and your set.

http://www.rednwhitecooperonline.com/?page_id=5

A DIY from my weblog.---- ^

 

I'll have to take a look at that- thanks!

OH! I get it... the backup light is in the center of the rear bumper... that's what you meant... OK I think I'm following you now. That's a serious consideration now. Just have to see how much the backup light would be (goes off, grinning, to Google more parts...)

 

Under 20 dollars for the reverse light.

 

Can you link me, please? I'm searching but only getting the actual tail light assembly, even when searching for 2004 or 2003 replacement units. Where did you get yours?

Thanks again for the help!

 

i believe you have to look in body panels for the reverse light

look on the diagram for the back bumper.

 

Hey... I saw these over on a Japanese parts site (racers.jp) and they look like they have backup lights in them- its hard to tell and I can't access Babelfish from my current PC... Does anyone remember seeing something like this in a US aftermarket catalog?

Tail Lights w/ backups?

 

I've seen the all clear ones in the US but not the ones in the link you gave.

Heres a reverse light from My Mini Parts - 25 bucks

http://www.myminiparts.com/proddetai...d=MMBUL&cat=15

And its designed for 05 +

If you have the the rear fog light the reverse goes right there and if you don't have the rear fog light theres a little black cover there and thats where your reverse light will go.

 

Beauty- thanks! And yes, I looked at it this morning, and I have a cool black grill-like material covering that center hole (matches the twin side vents on the rear bumper)- the 06 Cabrio apparantly used a back bumper that looks like one from an Aero kit or something- it's more scuplted than I've seen on other, older Minis... I'll need to think about whether it would look better with that grille gone and a light in there, or wait until someone gets around to making a true all-in-one tail light solution. Either way, it's good to know that I have the option...

Thanks again!

 

I know these aren't the exact ones you had in mind but I figured I'd throw 'em your way so you can just take a look.

http://www.rspeed.net/mini/item.asp?...4&prod=M20-635

 

Hehe... those are sort of fun. I wonder if they're LED- looks like since the main reflectors are white.... Or are those backup lights and the brake lights are on the bottom?

 

No I wanna say that the white is the turn signal. I think its designed to be used with the single bumper mounted reverse light.