I saw another 03' mini with clear tail lights. Stopped to see where he got them. He said back in 03 when he got his car the dealer put them on because they messed something up on his order.. Anyways.. I really like that look. I want to have all my lights clear. I found some all clear tail lights on Ebay. But I want to know what bulbs people are using? Right now my tail lights have 3 bulbs. One is for the turn signal, one is a running light and break light and I "think" the 3rd is used for reverse. I have a bad break light and am having the hardest time finding the correct bulbs at the local parts places (auto zone, pep boys)..

So who out there has all clear tail lights? Where did you get yours? What bulbs are you using? LED's? Like them?

Anyone have a set for sale?

Thanks all!

 

Not sure about the bulbs but I believe the 2004.5 Mini's had the clear tails option. Someone else can verify but I placed the OEM clears on my former 2002 S. Know that there are the authentic BMW sets that still go for a decent penny and the ebay knock-offs. Not sure about the quality of the knock-offs though.

 

The knock offs didn't look too bad.. BMW/Mini parts in Escondido couldn't even tell me if they could still get them.. And the "clear" ones from the factory still seem to have some color in them.. I want the tail lights to be completely clear. Plan to use colored bulbs but I also wanted the bulbs to be clear.. Maybe LED's or something.. I dont know. I also want to the the clear 3rd break light to match.

 

Fitted genuine ones to my 04 MCS, the clear tail lights came with globes & i also fitted clear 3rd brake light in rear wing.
Bottom globe is tail light, middle globe is turn signal, top globe & bottom globe are brake lights.
Reverse light is in bumper.
Heres before & after pics. I think it depends on the colour of your car as to how good this mod looks.

 

Thats exactly what I want! So I am guessing that globes = bulbs.. Are the bulbs colored? Meaning, the turn signal is it white or yellow? Breaks are red still right? If so thats what I want because I cant see the colored bulbs in your car.

Anyone have a set of them for sale? Anyone use the ones from Ebay?

 

Federal law (and common sense) requires that brake lights flash Red and turn signals flash Red or Yellow.

The common sense part is that if you, for example, decided to use blue brake lights and green turn signal lights you thought that they were prettier, they would be meaningless to the guy in back of you, and he would crush you from behind the first time you used the brakes or the turn signal.

I'm also guessing that you will be unable to find red bulbs that are as bright as the stock lights, since all the red bulbs you will find are simply coated with some red stuff that blocks a lot of their light.

Maybe you could try these...
http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main...products_id=37

 

I totally understand.. I want to stay legal with the color of the lights. In his pic tho, I cannot see any color in the tail lights.. Thats what I want. What bulbs does Mini give you when you get those tail lights from them? Must either be a really bright red bulb or maybe I could use LED's?

 

LED replacements are not as bright as the stock bulbs, in spite of their lying advertising.

If you want to be visible so other cars don't hit you as often, get 40-50% brighter replacements without frying the lighting computer (and a lot of information about the subject) from http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

I replaced every external bulb in my `05 within a couple of weeks of buying it - makes a big difference...

 

I just want to have the look of all clears on the car.. Clear side markers, tail lights, 3rd break light....

 

Yes all lights are clear but light up correct colours & are very bright despite what you may have heard. Maybe thats part of the reason why the genuine ones are so much dearer than the ebay ones.
A lot of owners are switching over to the new style of aftermarket LED tail lights so keep an eye on the clessifieds on NAM & Mini2.

 

Very true.. So anyone reading this have or know anyone selling factory all clears?

 

I got mine off NAM classifieds for $200. Brand new in the Mini boxes.Just be patient.

 

Really? Ok.. Cool price. What did you use for bulbs? Still the clear ones?

I love the look becuause you cant see any color in them

 

Ok...Ive have my ebay clears for almost 2 years now. I love em. They look like almost the same quality as the OEM ones (since I had both). I used 2 Red LED's and 1 Amber LED in mine. bulbs were 1156/1157's but I cant remember which one is which. Used the 32 LED tower bulbs from autolumination. Cost for all 6 was $125 which is crazy high but the LED's transform the rear of the car into something different. I love the look and the are just as bright/if not brighter. So for 200 bucks you have a great set. And if one breaks...your not B!tchn that you broke one.

 

Here....I attached a few pics...

 

Hey look! No exhaust! guess it's a electric MINI or something

 

Hey, this is just the thread I was looking for... Found these on the back of a British Mini mag... http://www.minisport.com/newmini/aca...DAT015_2dUOOW2
They seem to sell OEM as well as knockoff. Steve11 yours look excellent! I can't wait to find some OEM ones to fit on to my BRG/W... all clear looks great on MINIs. By the way, while we are on the subject... does anyone else notice that MINI tail lights are pinker than the standard lights on every other car? Do the clear housings still have this? I've looked around and found that they are that colour because they use recycled lights as the base for the new molds and it has a slightly different colour... or maybe it is a euro standard as I have seen some Mk. IV Passats with the same deal...

 

 

eBay knock-offs for about $100, 3rd brake light included

 

i bought an oem set, not from the dealer though lol. i <3 them, look great not like fried eggs, and light up well. pics:

 

In order to make your rear white tail lights legal you need a red reflector in your bumper about 18" off the ground one on each side that shows with headlights from several hundred feet behind your car.

Quote (California):
VEHICLE CODE SECTION 24600-24616 (full text)

(e) Taillamps shall be red in color and shall be plainly visible
from all distances within 500 feet to the rear except that taillamps
on vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, shall be plainly
visible from all distances within 1,000 feet to the rear.

Normally these red reflectors are built into the standard red brake lights.

Since the white tail lights have no red built in reflectors you can buy the MINI rear bumper reflector kit which requires cutting the rear bumper and inserting the reflector holder (oval) and attaching the reflector.

An alternative would be to add any red reflector on the rear bumper visible from the rear, attach them to the lower rear grille areas. Be creative.

The stock OEM red third light if left in place does not count as a bumper rear flector.

The side white amber and yellow lights if white are not legal in all states, check your laws.

See post #6 and 7
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r+red+refector
Rear bumper reflectors look like this-

 

Thanks for the law posting. I didn't know that.. But I dont think I would ever cut into the bumper and do that. Around here tons of people have clear tail lights.

I went back to the guy and asked if he would want to trade or sell his clears. He was all over it so for 20 bucks I traded my regular tail lights for his clears. Also got his special bulbs that are made for the clears. I just had to replace a turn bulb because I broke it taking it out.

I also did the fog light/break light trick using that 1.50 part from Radio Shack. What a huge difference that made!

 

Ok.. I have two questions:

1. What do you do for a reverse light?
2. And why do posters cover up their license plate number?

 

not sure i quite understand your question, my reverse light was already white

and i didn't cover my plate...

 

I am assuming that he has the 2005-2006 (2005-2008 convertible) taillights which incorporate the reverse light and move the rear fog lamp to the bottom where the reverse light was on the 2002-2004 cars.

Nice Car! Your IB looks like PH in that photo.