A friend mentioned to me that he read in AutoWeek that BMW was going to recall all MINI's that had the front fog light option and make the rear fog lights functional.
This would include installing the proper toggle switch panel and re-programming the ECU.

This was brought about by the petitions that were submitted by those of us who wanted them.

ANY TRUTH IN THIS!

 

but i like my rear fogs hooked to my brake lights

 

If you want to use the fogs as extra brake lights, just pull the plug from the back of the light and splice wires 1 and 4 together. Then you will have 4 brake lights instead of 2.

 

check out the May 19th edition of Autoweek. Basically, MINI USA says that in the near future the rear foglight will be included on new MINIs, not deleted for the US market as it currently is. Also, MINI USA says that there will be a retrofit (read recall?) available free to earlier MINIS in circulation. I am writing from memory, as my copy of Autoweek is sitting next to the toilet at home.

 

>>my copy of Autoweek is sitting next to the toilet at home. <<

Everybody's is...

DREW

 

Here:
Autoweek

No mention of recall.
No mention of cost.
No mention of time frame.

 

Not to mention no mention of source, or other type of 'offical' info.. It almost looks like it was written based on an e-mail or other internet post...

And I like my extra-bright breaks also...



Rocketboy_X
(Infamous inventor of the paperclip method, but alas, didn't make it first with pics..)

 

>>Not to mention no mention of source, or other type of 'offical' info.. It almost looks like it was written based on an e-mail or other internet post...
>>
>>And I like my extra-bright breaks also...
>>
>>
>>
>>Rocketboy_X
>>(Infamous inventor of the paperclip method, but alas, didn't make it first with pics..)

me too
small car + extra brake light = less chance of geting rear ended

 

Hmm...I was rear ended and injured. Can anyone say class action....

 

>>Hmm...I was rear ended and injured. Can anyone say class action....

you drive too fast to get rear ended

 

I want the rear fogs enabled if only to fill in the missing tooth in the switch panel! With a little clever wiring, you can still reroute the wiring harness to give 4 break lights even with the switch enabled. Now that I'm thinking, about it, you could probably get the wiring such that the true brake lights functioned normally, but the rear fogs worked double duty as fogs and breaks. Hmmm.... Probably only need to add a diode in the jumper to keep the fog switch from activating the true brake lights.

Anyway, I want the rear fogs enabled. And when I saw the article in Autoweek, I wondered if this would be a recall or if we would have to pay for a retrofit. Actually, I came back to MCO to look up this very topic! I've been driving instead of reading for the past few months.


Hello everyone! Especially the Club Febbers!

Wactuary

 

Better check your local DOT laws, from what i understand, the rear fog lamps are not enabled to work with your front fog lamps because it is illeagal in the US. Ever notice they aren't enabled on Audis or Bimmers either? I like using them as extra brake lights anyway :evil:

 

Rear fogs are not illegal in the US. Audi's(I forget if the TT is an exception to this statement) do have them enabled in the US, along with Jag, Land Rover, Mercedes, Olds Auora(sp?)

 

That's right, they're NOT illegal (and neither are auto-up windows...subject of another thread and another weird cost-saving measure on the part of BMW/MINI). I've had them on a Volvo and I have to admit that they seemed pretty useless (being on only one side, etc.)...but I do like how MINI owners were able to get BMW to bend on this one. Filling in the missing toggle will be cool too.

 

>>Better check your local DOT laws, from what i understand, the rear fog lamps are not enabled to work with your front fog lamps because it is illeagal in the US. Ever notice they aren't enabled on Audis or Bimmers either? I like using them as extra brake lights anyway :evil:

My understanding of foglights is that the front fogs are for fog or low visibility driving conditions. For examble, you can use them for additional light during night driving. Rear fogs are only meant to be used when visibiltiy is extremely low, in order to make your vehicle more visible to others. In other words, there are instances when you might want your front fogs on, but it would be illegal to have the rear fogs on since conditions do not dictate it. Of course, I could be wrong.

 

It really depends on which state you live in... in some states it's ok to have as many fog lamps as you can fit, in others it's only on the front, and some others, etc... I just think MINI was trying to avoid the whole issue, and just ended up making it worse for themselves... All i know is i was behind someone with rear fogs on on a clear night... Luckly they were not in front of me for too long, or I would have started using my high-beams, as the lights were really irritating.. not to mention, it made it that much harder to realize if he was hitting his breaks or not...

Rocketboy_X

 

The back fogs I saw on the back of a Porsche looked like he was driving with his car in Reverse. It was odd seeing him on the freeway with those white lights on. It took me a few seconds to realize it was his fog lights! well... then I had to speed up to get a good look.

If MINI puts them on the '04 I'll get them. I don't want a missing toggle switch!

I know I'll have some idiot to tell me at a stoplight that my car's in reverse but what the hell, he'd be the idiot not me!!

 

I'd like the extra toggle, but I don't want to give up the brake light mod. I wouldn't mind having both, if that would be possible, but I wouldn't give up the extra bright brakes for rear fogs. The number of times I'd use rear fogs is way insignificant while the safety factor of the brighter brakes is very welcome.

 

Rear fogs are legal in the US. However, they cannot be white or clear. They must be red. I find it hard to believe that Mini did not connect them just to avoid the legal ramifications.

They offer clear tail lights in their dealer accessory catalog and these are illegal in all states. The claim that they will add the two red reflectors to the rear of the car to meet the state guidelines but the brake lights must be red to be legal. There are currently no red tail light bulbs that are DOT approved. If they are not DOT approved, they are illegal.

Bob

 

the brake light mod is so much more usefull IMHO!
it looks sweet too!

 

>>I'd like the extra toggle, but I don't want to give up the brake light mod. I wouldn't mind having both.>>

Agreed, this whole discussion started way back because of the toggle...not the rear fogs. I love the brake light mod and definitely want to keep it! I'll bet the smart people out there can create a mod to get us both! Hint, hint!!!

 

>>Agreed, this whole discussion started way back because of the toggle...not the rear fogs. I love the brake light mod and definitely want to keep it! I'll bet the smart people out there can create a mod to get us both! Hint, hint!!!
>>


Well, It is actually very easy to have the rear fogs AND the brake light mod at the same time. I will iron out the details when (if?) I get my rear fogs enabled. It would work like this (I am not addressing the tailights being on or off here):

Rear fog lamps on/foot off brake - Upper half only 'bright'

Rear fog lamps on/foot ON brake - Upper and lower halves 'bright'


Now the kicker...

Rear fog lamps OFF/foot on brake - Upper and lower halves 'bright'


The benefit of the full rear lamp 'area' being lit anytime the brake is pressed stays the same as the original 'brakelight mod' but without interfering with the correct operation of the rear fogs.

All this takes is a couple dollars spent at you local Radio Shack for a pair of 3 amp rectifiers. In fact, the original 'mod' in it's simplest sense (paperclip wire across the two connector cavities) can be carried out in this manner simply by substituting the rectifier for the wire, with the cathode end of the diode connecting to the upper lamp. What this does is prevent the rear fog lights from also powering the brake light when on, as would happen if there was a jumper wire in place. The diode acts as a one-way valve allowing current flow from the brake lamp to the fog lamp, but not the other direction.

Now... if we can only get a timeframe for getting the rear foglights enabled...

 

>>I find it hard to believe that Mini did not connect them just to avoid the legal ramifications.

IMO, they didn't connect them because the majority of US drivers are idiots who believe that more is better. The rear fog is only to be used in inclement weather with less than 50 meters visibility. I know, as I turned it on when in my Euro Audi in the Netherlands ("oh look, a cool switch!&quot and was constantly flashed by those behind me until I was properly educated.
As we don't properly educate our drivers (and if we did, most would probably ignore it anyway) we end up with people driving around on crystal clear nights with a blinding light at the rear of their car. I just experienced this Friday driving behind a Mercedes wagon. :???:
I haven't been behind a MINI with the 'brake light mod' yet, but I anticipate sitting behind one at traffic lights could be a bit irritating. Have someone hit the brakes for you and see if you think YOU would be irritated/blinded sitting behind you. IMO brake lights are bright enough to be noticed (we have the CHMSL, too). If someone doesn't notice three brake lights in front of him, I can't believe he'd notice five...

 

>>I haven't been behind a MINI with the 'brake light mod' yet, but I anticipate sitting behind one at traffic lights could be a bit irritating. Have someone hit the brakes for you and see if you think YOU would be irritated/blinded sitting behind you. IMO brake lights are bright enough to be noticed (we have the CHMSL, too). If someone doesn't notice three brake lights in front of him, I can't believe he'd notice five...


If you look at a MINI with it's break lights on, you'll see how it looks like there's something missing, and it almost looks like you turned your running lights on, and not your break lights, because the way the assembly leaves the top of the unit unlight... I'm not saying that i've heard of an accident being caused because of this, but i'd rather make sure that the person behind me knew for sure that i was breaking...

(and one of my co-workers has been behind me after the mod, and she didn't think that they were blinding in any way... and this is at night... )

Rocketboy_X

 

i've been behind a MINI with the brake light mod, not a bit irritating at all
besides: i also have smoked tail lights and the mod makes me feel more comfortable