Is there any guide on how to Install rear fog lights? and make them functional as rear fog lights..

 

Pop out the blanks,pull the connectors out that are taped up above the foam behind the bumper. Snap everything in. As far as the toggle switch goes they can be purchased at pelicanparts. Your encoding will have to done at the dealer IF they are willing to do it.

 

So wires and bulb connections are already there? or is that what you meant by encoding? My potential dealer said its roughly $1000 that makes me just want to order a new car then...

 

Yes your connectors are there you just need the bulb housings which can be purchased from outmotoring. 1k for programming is highway robbery.

 

Whyt do they need to be programmed? Do they share a circuit? I guess maybe they also turn on a light in the dash... So all the wires are there you just need the switches and bulbs...? The Factory service manual would be nice to have... Do they offer that on CD anywhere?

 

I guess just like the doctor i should get a second opinion

 

ebay

 

From what I was told by my head parts guy and SA - you can only have rear fog lights programmed when the car is built. There is no program for the dealers to run to get the car to recognize the rear fogs.

Don't shoot the messenger.

 

 

So you have to spend $1000 to get alittle light indicator to go on? I guess if we all had the time we could figure outa hack... Jumper wiore or whatever

 

No you can't even spend $5000 if you wanted to. There is no way to do it. Of course you can wire it to the toggle but it will not "light up" on the central speedometer.

 

i was thinking of same thing but i wan ot make them brake lights..

 

i just put them in as "extra brake lights" very happy
if your interested in this and need questions answered or whatever let me know

http://www.minspeed.net/R56BLK.htm

 

[sarcasm]
The $1000 is roughly broken down as follows:
$100 lenses & bulbs
$100 to connect said lenses
$660 to crack open the dash to install the toggle switch (about 4hrs)
$140 to hookup and reflash your ECU.
[/sarcasm]

The numbers are made up, of course, but the point is the bulk of the charge is for shop time it takes to disassemble the dash and install the toggle switch. If you're handy with a torx driver, you can do the toggle install yourself and the wiring harnesses are already present in the rear bumper.

Also, they cannot do just a fog light subroutine, the entire ECU has to be reprogrammed. Reflash can take anywhere from 1hr to all day. Mostly they just hook it up, turn it on, walk away until it's done. There have been reports, though, of the ECU reflash not successfully activiating the foglights. So...

 

There is a whole thread on this

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-retrofit.html

The dealers can DEF program to make everything work. Shouldn't be more than 1 hour of labore. 30 minutes really.

 

Screw the dealer. Just buy this kit from Minspeed.

http://www.minspeed.net/R56BLK.htm

I installed it on my R56 in about an hour and no trip to the dealer is needed. I really don't care about the switch on the interior, but they certainly work well. Whenever your headlights are on, they will be on. They are OEM mini rear fogs so they aren't some garbage someone tried to make in their garage. Adding them to your R56 completes the look

 

Retrofit/OBC programming does not work for 2008 and later MY. It does work for 07, which explains why some here were successful. This is what I was told by a MINI USA rep when I first looked into this issue (3/2008).

I was told back then that it is impossible to retrofit rear fogs on an 08 due to OBC programming issues, and that hasn't changed as far as I know.

If someone with an 08+ can verify they got their rear fogs retrofitted and programmed to work properly I am all ears.

 

Wow that stinks. I planned on doing the retrofit, but since i have an 09 i guess there is no point. I might still add the lights as break lights and put in a dummy switch just to fill out the panel.

 

I recommend if you want to confirm 100% give 866-ASK-MINI a ring. I would do it myself but the three consecutive weeks I complained about it to my MA and the back and forth with MINI USA completely burnt me out on the issue. Since then I have installed the Minspeed kit linked here and I am satisfied with it, so not that huge of a deal nowadays. However, if they ever do figure out the "programming issue" I'd consider taking a crack at Wolfshiem's install.

 

The only "programming issue" is there is no current PROGMAN retrofit update to reflash the 08-09 ECU. When that will be available is anyone's guess.

 

So the lights will come on but not light up on the dash? thats it? they still work?

 

No the lights will not function at all without encoding.

 

BTW i am assuming the hardest thing to do is hooking up the toggle...
Are there at least empty leads?

 

In 60 seconds you crushed my weekend going to buy a MIni LOL..

 

I guess i can just install the light and then decide later to hook them up via brake lights or fog if it becomes available.