Im gonna buy some driving lamps for the MINI. Now the few sites I've been to have different kinds... I just want whatever the stock ones are, if they're good. I already have slots for them in the areo grille i have... Any suggestions? Are they hard to install and wire or should i get someone to do it for me? I don't want them as my high beams, i just want an aux switch for them...

If any of that made sense....

Ben

Install pics:

 

Ben
Hard install from what I hear, but the lights are more reasonable. I gave mine away otherwise I would give you those. Ask Bruce or Charles they would know best
A

 

my MA told me they were a hard install when I was thinking of ordering them. I was told the price for them was $860 installed. $500 for the lights and $360 for the labor.

 

My lights have a custom bracket that mounts on the bumper support behind the bumper cover. I tried to install them twice but after 2 wasted Saturdays, they are purely cosmetic. The guy who made the brackets was on e-bay.

 

I didn't go with the factory setup because 1) I could do it for 1/2 cost using aftermarket parts and 2) I didn't like the way the factory setup operates.

I installed a set of Hella 500 lamps on my car using the factory brackets (don't remember which vendor I got the brackets from; outmotoring?). I thought it was fairly easy. Mine are wires so that they only will operate if high beams are on and the arming switch is on (so if I come up on someone I can switch to low beams and they cut off). It wouldn't be difficult to wire it to operate with parking lights or low beams. If the gathering happens this Sunday I'll show them to you and how I did it. My only complaint is the right light seems to shake at speed, though it hasn't bothered me enough to take them off or to actually do anything to try to fix it yet.

Edit: I just noticed how much one person was quoted for total cost of the MINI setup installed. Wow, that was much higher than I expected; mine cost me just over $100 for all parts and I did all labor myself.

 

I also have Hella 500's. Check the brass thread and make sure the nut is all the way tight. Also, if yours are factory grill mounted, the plastic grill is going to shake a good bit. That is why I like mounting them directly to the frame horns of the car, much more stable.

 

I too have hella's. Charles and Bruce installed them... funny side note though.. I just had alot of work done to UnionJackee that was warranty work.. the dealership called and told me that they needed to charge me labor to remove my lights and to put them back on.. I know how long it took Bruce and Charles... so I was immediately put into a state of fear.. I told them to go ahead, and expect a huge labor bill.. when I got the call the car was done.. it was only 125... because it took them an hour to take them off.. and an hr to put them back on.. so if your taking it to a mini dealership.. and they tell you 3-4 hundred labor.. I would negotiate that!

 

Initial installation would take a lot longer than just removing and putting them back on. There is a lot more involved. Mine are factory, but Bruce and Chris installed them.

 

Are there instructions anywhere on how to install them because i like the driving lamps but I won't pay what the dealer wants fort them.

 

OEM Install Instructions:
Gen 1: http://www.outmotoring.com/images/ho...Lights_902.pdf
Gen 2: http://www.outmotoring.com/images/ho...aux_lights.PDF

 

Alright, thanx for the input guys.

 

Thanks for the instructions, man this forum is the best place to get the information you need! Will you post pics of the installation?

 

Yeh, I ended up buying the PIAA 540 kit. So when I gets here I'll get them put on and post pics of before, during, and after. I'm also changing out the bulbs in the fog lamps to yellow, so I'll put that up too.

 

Ok, got them on and working. I'll put up pics tomorrow!