I searched and didn't come up with anything, so please excuse a newbie if this has been asked before.
So the 04' Mini I bought has the factory clear brake lights and third light. I have been looking into replacing them with the red ones but I like the 05-06 with the clear reverse better. I know the lights are physically the same size, and I know that I would have to get the bulb carrier as well, but I just came across something that said that the harness plugs are different. Has anyone swapped their 02-04 red/orange lights with the 05-06 red/orange/clear ones that can verify this for me??

 

I found this in case there is confusion as to what I am looking for. The light on the left is the one I want to install while the one on the right is the one made for my year.
http://images.esellerpro.com/2133/I/...mpare%20RH.jpg

 

I'm pretty sure it's been discussed here somewhere, but it's definitely not plug and play, which makes sense, because the fogs and reverse lights are in different places.

 

I understand what you are saying, and it does make sense. Does the 02-04 harness plug into the 05-06 lights and then just rewire, or are they two completely different plugs so that the new one would need spliced to the old wiring? I am asking because I was set to go get these lights tomorrow from a guy parting his car out, and if I can splice the newer harness in then I can ask him if I can cut it out for use. Don't want to be without it if I need it.