Interior/Exterior Interior and exterior modifications for Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

Interior/Exterior Rally lights toggle switches mod. [lots of pics]

Old Jan 7, 2007 | 07:20 PM
  #1  
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Rally lights toggle switches mod. [lots of pics]

Project Goal:
Clover and I installed the IPF driving lights on the ALTA bar. (see previous post here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=88227 )We wanted
to take the install 1 step further. Instead of using the stupid plastic-double sided stick
tape mounted push-button we were gutsy and went for an after market toggle switch in
our 2 blank toggle slots.

Not sure why the pictures aren't working any more.

Here's a link to my website where I posted the tutorial:
http://www.glovesandclover.com/tutor...ts1/index.html
http://www.glovesandclover.com/tutor...ts2/index.html


Once back I got to work and opended up the knee bolster by pulling on each side
(I wedged a Phillips in there)


Next moved the pillars out of the way and unscrewed the toggle switch panel.
6 screws total.


I cut the stock switch off. And soldered in the new toggle switches.


Next we took the front toggle switch plate and drilled holes for the new switches.


On the back of the MINI toggle switch unit is an over-the-top plug design.


Once detached i had to make room for the new toggles in there. So it's time to saw it.


The whole time Clover spent sleeping in the back seats:


Back to work:


This was another unplanned obstacle


It's not pretty but it'll work!


Left switch arms the center lights.
Right switch arms the outside lights.
High-beams turn on all armed lights.


After we went and added some double-sided stick padding between the lamps and the
bumper. The problem was, it stuck out like a sore thumb so Clover finally woke up and
used some acrylic paint remedy that.


2 of Clover's pets showing off:
 

Last edited by Gloves; Apr 15, 2008 at 05:38 PM.
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Old Jan 7, 2007 | 07:24 PM
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hmph...I wasn't sleeping the WHOLE time!

I was making sure my boy didn't choke on his banana!
 
Attached Thumbnails Rally lights toggle switches mod. [lots of pics]-turk_nana_yawn_cr.jpg  
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Old Jan 7, 2007 | 07:30 PM
  #3  
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From: oh10
Very well done.....looks great And its an excellent write up

Are you happy with how they work?
 
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Old Jan 7, 2007 | 07:33 PM
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Nice job, Gloves!
At first I thought you did this with our own MINIClo - but I guess you have your own.
Now you need to get a Euro Parcel Shelf to replace the knee bolster.

Oh, and update your profile to tell us where you live!
 
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Old Jan 7, 2007 | 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by RallyMINI
Are you happy with how they work?
Couldn't be more pleased! He did a great job!!!
(and I'm the brave one for letting him drill and cut into my MINI!)

Eric, we're in Union City. I'll have Gloves update his profile
 
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Old Jan 7, 2007 | 08:30 PM
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Very nice write up . . . those pictures will make perfect sense to me as I look at the broken bits after I try to get things apart. I'm planning on driving lights and have been thinking I'll get a new bank of toggle switches from MINI . . . but maybe not. Oh, I'm also thinking of getting the MINI FINI hitch attachment . . . is there room for toggles to fire the rear guns?
 
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Old Jan 7, 2007 | 11:25 PM
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Originally Posted by RallyMINI
Are you happy with how they work?
Thanks! was inspired by your writeups. We LOVE how
they work! She gets to choose how fried she wants the
car infront of her.

1. Baked (just high beams)
2. Burn to a Crisp (high beams with +2 beams)
3. Nuked (I think you know)


Originally Posted by BlueBonnet
Oh, I'm also thinking of getting the MINI FINI hitch attachment . . . is there room for toggles to fire the rear guns?
Ah yes, the MINI FINI Gun turrets!
Clover and I are Fresh out of toggle switch bays. That
won't stop me from trying to install guns. We'll probably
need a 2 switch safety on that system.

1. An aircraft toggle with safety cover:
http://www.zex.com/Base/Images/Produ...over_82002.jpg
Mount that puppy next to the side mirror toggle.

2. Once 'armed' you'll want a pair of these red buttons
right there on your steering wheel. One on the left one
on the right.
http://www.zex.com/Base/Images/Produ...ton_NS6534.jpg

 

Last edited by Gloves; Jan 7, 2007 at 11:26 PM. Reason: making it funnier.
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Old Jan 8, 2007 | 09:51 AM
  #8  
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From: Just around the corner from the Dragon :~)
Ahh just go with one of these on the stick shift:



All kinds of buttons that you can hook up I've wanted to hook my highbeam dimmer to the trigger switch.
 
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Old Jan 8, 2007 | 01:13 PM
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From: N34.25661°, W84.48632°
O_o.. What a MOD! I just took the feeder wire from the BC1 to power a small relay to turn mine off/on, that way it ''looks'' factory, but has a 'Crisp' setting as well! (I don't have a 'Nuke' setting. My lights aren't as big..)

Mike.
 
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Old Jan 8, 2007 | 08:17 PM
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Foxtrot_Xray,
You could take the easy and nice looking way...
but, but... um....
do you have a 5' Long Iguanna?

- - - - -

Here's the thing I've noticed.
These lights are a lot like CRACK COCAINE!
It seems that once Clover noticed the rush she got
from the flick of her left wrist and she soon found
herself using any excuse for a quick fix.

It started with:
“They just cut me off!!!”
“They are driving with their high-beams on!”
“They forgot to turn on their lights!”

It wasn't long before I started hearing these excuses:

“Get off the cell phone!”
“Are those spinners?”
“EEEW, what an atrocious color for that car!”

And my favorite:
“Oops, my hand slipped”

Does anyone know the number for D.L.A. (Driving Lights Anonymous)?
 
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Old Jan 8, 2007 | 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Gloves
These lights are a lot like CRACK COCAINE!
It seems that once Clover noticed the rush she got
from the flick of her left wrist and she soon found
herself using any excuse for a quick fix.Does anyone know the number for D.L.A. (Driving Lights Anonymous)?




 
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Old Jan 8, 2007 | 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Gloves
Does anyone know the number for D.L.A. (Driving Lights Anonymous)?
Sounds like it's time for HMS (Hidden Master Switch).
With great power, comes great responsibility.
 
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Old Jan 8, 2007 | 10:06 PM
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FYI, Gloves is the KING of exaggeration
 
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Old Jan 8, 2007 | 10:10 PM
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I thought I saw a lightning strike in Santa Cruz tonight. Did someone cut you off in Union City, Clover?
 
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Old Jan 8, 2007 | 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Eric_Rowland
I thought I saw a lightning strike in Santa Cruz tonight. Did someone cut you off in Union City, Clover?
Must have just been lightning. You will know its me when you
think you just saw a supernova.
 
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Old Jan 9, 2007 | 10:20 AM
  #16  
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Actually, UKDragon, I bet those lights are great for sunning your boy on a cold Northern California day!!!
 
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Old Jan 9, 2007 | 01:45 PM
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From: N34.25661°, W84.48632°
Originally Posted by Gloves
Foxtrot_Xray,
You could take the easy and nice looking way...
but, but... um....
do you have a 5' Long Iguanna?
Well.. heh.. I don't CALL it an Iguanna.


Originally Posted by Gloves
Here's the thing I've noticed.
These lights are a lot like CRACK COCAINE!
...Aren't ALL mods that way?
 
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Old Jan 9, 2007 | 03:09 PM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by Foxtrot_Xray
Well.. heh.. I don't CALL it an Iguanna.
And just WHAT are you referring my 5 foot boy to?
 
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Old Jan 9, 2007 | 03:44 PM
  #19  
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Clover, it's his Toupee.

Foxtrot has a 5' Toupee.
 
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Old Apr 15, 2008 | 01:00 PM
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I have a similar interest, or at least I think I do...your pics have disappeared from the post. Any chance of reposting (or emailing me) the pics?

Thanks!
 
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Old Apr 15, 2008 | 01:03 PM
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+1
 
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Old Apr 15, 2008 | 05:36 PM
  #22  
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Not sure why the pictures aren't working any more.

Here's a link to my website where I posted the tutorial:
http://www.glovesandclover.com/tutor...ts1/index.html
http://www.glovesandclover.com/tutor...ts2/index.html
 
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Old Apr 16, 2008 | 11:02 PM
  #23  
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Cool...unfortunately the text on the pictures are too small to read...but the pictures are quite helpful. Thanks!

(unfortunately, I only have one open slot on my toggle bank, which is good...will keep me from doing what you did, cuz I know I'll screw it up.)
 
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Old Apr 17, 2008 | 04:38 PM
  #24  
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Unfortunately the images didn't fit the format of the site. so if you right-click
and choose view image, you can see the full size. I should probably make
that change. Thanks for the feedback.

BTW, with 1 toggle-switch you can wire all 4 to the 1 switch. We hardly ever
want to use just 2 beams. JediDragon is an all-or-nothing MINI driver!
 
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Old Apr 17, 2008 | 05:41 PM
  #25  
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Much better. I thought about wiring both sets into one switch...since it powers the relay only and not the lights one switch should be able to handle the juice of both.

Question...are the stock toggle switches hollow or solid? Just thinking, if they were hollow maybe one could find a way to mount in over a smaller toggle switch so they would all look stock...after all they are much thicker than the ones you chose (and I've seen plastic ones that could possible be shaved down...)
 
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