Hello all!
My first post.
My wife designed & ordered HER clubman and did not add on the rear fog light option. We go to the dealer the following week to add that option to our order only to find out her car is already in production! In the paint booth, actually. We weren't expecting it to go into production until May sometime.

What is needed to add/activate the rear fog light option? Is it a matter of just plugging in the lamp carrier and maybe a new switch panel assembly? Does the wiring exist on all R55's regardless? Do you have to program the Lamp Control Module to "tell" the car that the feature now exists? (as on our E46).

Yeah, it's her car, but I'll get to drive it now and then. Probably more then than now. Anyway, I'm the wrench in the family, so I'll be checing in here as I need to do things with HER Clubman.

 

Apparently it's a complicated retrofit. Do a search on the forums, you'll find lots of posts about it. It's not just an "activation", and the dash has to be partially disassembled to install the switch.

 

Thanks!
I dug through and found Wolfshiem's great write-up. The wiring is there, but the lamp carriers have to be added. I already knew that the switch panel came as an assy. Hey, I'll have a spare on hand for parts.

Everything is straight forward and well within my abilities, the only exception is having to take the damn thing in to get it programmed!

 

I just want the switch, even if it's a glue-on - I can't stand empty switch plates - wish my MA had told me.

 

The empty switch doesn't bother me, but I can see it's an issue for many on these forums. I just can't see bothering to add it unless the option itself (rear fog light) is something I'd want. I do agree that I'd go for a "dummy" switch, if one comes out after-market that's easy to install. Maybe that and a small decal that reads "ejection" would be nice.

 

I want to add a rear fog light to my R52 Cabrio with a togglr inside that I can turn on and off when I need more light backing up and more people could see my MINI backing out of a parking space. I keep searching web sites to find a clear lens retrofit kit that I can install a 3000 watt bulb (just kidding on the wattage) but would want it brighter than a normal rev. light.

 

You can do it. But it is going to cost you parts + dealer hourly labor. See if it is truly worth it to you.

 

A dummy switch with a choice of labels would be cool. That gets my gears turning...Hmmm...add in some electronic sound effects...a big spring ~boing!~ sound? I will be getting the full switch panel so it sounds like I'll have some spares to work with.

A clear rear fog, or loading light in truckers terms, can be a really useful item. The only issue is to make sure you have it powered off of the reverse light circuit so it cannot be on when you are driving. A bright white light shining off the rear of your car while driving will get you pulled over REAL fast.

All these lights and such are simple circuits and easy to install. The tough part is melding them into the factory wiring so they operate as a stock option. The beauty of a wire, relay, switch, and lamp is that you don't have to "program" anything for it to work. It just takes extra effort to make it look factory.