I picked up a short string of Halloween LED lights at a local decorating store to mess around with some ideas. I placed them in the door panel and may, if and when I do get time, I may try to permanently do something similiar. Then again, it may be something already available. It's not overly bright but would come in handy if stuff is stored in the door panel.

Obviously the LEDs need to be diffused in some way so the lighting will be more uniform.

Sorry for the bad photo. I'm not that great at night shots.

 

that looks cool, sorta like what the R56 has

 

Photo is good enough to get the concept across. If you go back and look at the original MINI concept drawings this is something that was originally intended, it's something I might consider tapping into the puddle light at the bottom of the door as it is something I can see growing annoying on extended drives out side of the cities (where I do most of my driving).

 

What are the Halloween LED lights?

 

I amagine something similar to christmas lights

 

The ones for the tree? Really?

 

I believe so, looks pretty cool if thats what he used

 

The string of LEDs are the type that you put in those small villages for lights. Similiar to the little Christmas villages. They are battery operated but the perfect thing to use to see if something may look good or not.

 

With this info now we can find them. Thank you.

 

Well it does look pretty good, I didnt know that they had battery operated light strings, but thats a pretty good mod

 

it looks great as long as they dont blink

 

Try sanding the lights - if the bulbs are more frosted than clear that might help diffuse the light more. How did you convert the AC lights to 12v. DC? Plus, how did you attach the lights to the inside of the panels? I was thinking about something like this, using screw-in zip tie holders...

 

It's just a temporary thing using orange lights similiar to these lights. I used painters tape to hold them into place to get an idea of how they look.

To fully do something like this would take some time to find a point where to connect for power. Attatching them shouldn't be as much of a problem.

 

So the ones you had were the battery operated ones? If they run off 12v., I'd just splice them into the foot well wiring - that way, they'd only light when the cabin lights come on. If you really wanted to run them independently of the cabin lights, you could run a wire from the positive battery contact under the bonnet and use a switch, OR you could tap into any convenient hot lead running to the instrumentation lighting - that way, they'd come on when the instrument lighting comes on.

Personally, I'd vote for splicing them to the foot well lights - LEDs can tolerate the dimming effect perfectly fine, and they would not be on in the night, where they might cast distracting reflections on the glass...