I've been told that my 2011 Mini cabrio has a rear "fog light" that previous model years did not have.

Now, looking at this light on the back of my car, it doesn't look like anything that I've ever considered to be a fog light.

It looks to me like a third brake light with some reverse lights on the sides.

I obviously can't see it when I'm in the car so does anyone here know what exactly this light is and when it's supposed to turn on?

I've attached a picture of it.

 

It has always been an option on the R56 model.

I believe those are your reverse lights. Third brake light has to be above the other two by law, yours is right on the belt-line.

Increases other diver's visibility of you in fog. Switch should be on the center console, second toggle switch from the right on the lower bank.

 

That's the thing, when I look at the owner's manual, it shows where the control for the fog lights should be. On my center console that slot is empty and there's no switch there. I don't have fog lights.

 

My guess is that is how they do it on the refresh r56s since the lights are all in the same assembly.

You have the physical light, but you can't turn it on because you don't have the switch.

On the pre-refresh r56 the reverse lights where part of the taillight assembly.

 

It is an option, if you don't have a switch, you don't have the option.

I have a Volvo that came with rear fogs as standard equipment, they are useless, you are not missing anything.

Dave

 

Useless harldy, we love switching ours on for tailgaters, they usually back off then.....

And run them all the time, in the FOG.

 

The main reason most people get them in the US is to fill out the toggle bank. I had it on my '06 and actually ended up using the hole for my tow hitch. I have it on my '11 and will probably never use it except to back off tailgaters . Gotta have a full toggle bank though.

Annette

 

Yeah but on mine since I don't have the switch, they're pretty much useless.


Which leads to my next question, there is a wiring plug connected to the assembly which I'm assuming are for my reverse lights since the fog light is inoperational -- can I disconnect that plug without a problem or will I get some kind of "bulb out" message or indicator?

Also, if I disconnect it and pull the entire light assembly out, is there some sort of cover I can use to put in its place?

 

Bingo. That's what I'm trying to get at. If the lights are useless, can I just pull them out so I can use that hole to access a hitch that I'm trying to put on the car so I can use a bike rack?

I'm currently working with a hitch company to get a working hitch for the 2011 cabrios designed and the position of this light assembly is a bit of a problem. If it's useless, I don't mind pulling it out if it won't cause any warning lights to come on.

I'd also like to get a cover that's shaped like the hole. And would like to find a way to seal the connectors in the plug that I'll leave dangling so that water doesn't get into it and start rusting out the wiring.

 

The light assembly is a single unit that combines rear fog and backup light. You can't pull out the rear fog separately. I suppose if you were really determined, you could drill/cut out the middle section, but it's probably where the wiring harness connects.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...97&hg=63&fg=20

If you ever drive in scary dense fog, you'd understand immediately the purpose of the rear fog. It could save your life. If you never encounter such conditions, it wouldn't be much use. Even warning off tailgators has limited use because the rear fog only activates if your headlights or running lights are on (i.e. at night).

 

Had em on my old Minis when I lived in England, and I'm here to tell you...they're a godsend in dense fog! It's basically the same lighting as keeping your foot on the brake all the time...it's that type of lighting intensity. Nothing will scare the crap out of you more than driving through dense English fog, and come up on a car without it's rear fog(s) on. I remember some fog conditions so thick, you can't see the car in front of you til it's about 10-20 feet away!

 

That is an awesome website! I had no idea it existed!

Anyway, I'm in Miami so we don't have fog very often, not to mention that I don't have the switch to turn the light on anyway so I guess for me it's nothing more than a fancy reverse light. I guess I will take it off and use it for the hitch unless I get error lights when I unplug it.


Does anyone know if there is any kind of cover that will fit in that hole once I remove the light so I can keep the hitch hidden?

 

You need to make sure you'll still have working reverse lights. On the R53, the fog light was a separate unit and not involved with any other lights at all so it was no problem to remove it if you didn't use it. I don't have a cabrio, and your pic doesn't show the tail lights, so have no idea if there are additional reverse lights.
Here's a pic of my '06 with the tow hitch through the fog light hole. As you can see the hole was much smaller and was just for the one light.





Annette

 

Our headlights switch is always on for safety. (Headlights turn off automatically when you park). So we are always ready for those pesky tail-gaters......

............

 

So earlier today I gave my car a closer look and noticed that I also have fog lights installed in the front. But....no switch to turn them on!

Since the lights are there, can I assume that the wiring is also there? If so, how hard would it be to add a switch so I can actually use them? Is it just a matter of snapping a switch into the empty slot in the center console and connecting the wires behind it?

 

That's so wierd that they install lights and no switches on the 2011's. Our 2010 would of had just grills in place of the rear fogs.

 

Yeah, I don't get it. Next time I take my car in I'll ask about it unless someone here has some more info. If it was an add-on option, you'd think they wouldn't even put the lights in the car but they're definitely there. Just don't have a switch for them.

 

You have park assist lights up front. Fogs are an option on the base cooper.

2011's added the fog light looking covers to the back, but if you don't have the switches next to your window and lock controls, you don't have fogs.

 

hrmm...they look like fog lights but I'm sure you're right. Are they supposed to be on when my headlights are on? I'll check next time I go out to my car.

 

The main reason most people get them in the US is to fill out the toggle bank.

this amazing statement is very very true!

on the other hand on my 07 I hated the plugs in the rear end where the fogs would go .... even tho fog where I live is a 2 hour a year occurrance.

I put un connected fogs in the rear end for $50 and never considered hooking them up!

 

One of the vendors here on NAM has/had a kit available that would make those lights into additional tail/stop lights.

I think it may be GoMiniGo. I could be wrong.

Keith

 

Yes, they are supposed to be on when your headlights are on. That's fairly standard... I forget whether it is actually required by law, or just suggested by industry standards, but the purpose is so that if one of your headlights is out you don't look like a motorcycle to oncoming traffic at night.

Since they are the parking lights, they also come on (without the headlights) when you turn the headlight switch to the parking light position. It has a symbol that looks a bit like this: =oo= They will stay on even if you turn off the car and take the fob out of the ignition. The purpose is to increase the visibility of your car if you are parked along the side of the road at night. It's not very popular here in the US to do that but I think in (at least some parts of) Europe it's required.

I do see a lot of US drivers using their parking lights instead of their low beams in rain or fog. It's one of my pet peeves - and it's also illegal in most states, as far as I know.

 

Rear fog lights are used to make you more visible in inclement weather. Fog, heavy rain & snow. Many dolts run with them on all the time.

 

+1

 

I really do think that they are useful. This weekend I was driving in some pretty heavy rain and it would have been nice to have it.

Im still looking for a way to enable it on the 2011's.