Through the process of installing a hidden receiver hitch, I lost the use of my centrally-located reverse light. So I acquired the plug/hole cover, but without any reverse lights, which isn't safe, it will likely not pass inspection. My options were: 1) buy the newer model ('05-'06) taillights and add/re-route the wiring to make the imbedded reverse lights work; or 2) add some other version of lighting that was never meant for a Mini Cooper. I headed to Ebay.

Pages and pages of LED lighting choices, most of which were gaudy - the type truckers add to their rigs. I also had to decide where and how to install them and still make them look somewhat OEM. Once I settled on where to put them, I chose some LEDs in housings that people would use as DRLs (daytime running lights) like Audi, etc. have. Took them apart; weatherproofed them; added better wires; cut proper holes into the black bumper inserts, and adhered the fixtures in. Finished the wiring today.

They aim lower than I thought they would, but that's because of the slant of the black inserts. But I don't think that will matter, because I really don't think they'll be bright enough to make all of this worth my while. But as for appearance, they don't look out of place. Mini purists might disagree, though. Still, NBD if I have to eventually go with the tail light conversion update.

 

Just putting in new lights from the newer car will not fix the issue....unless you rewire the harness.....the lights will be present, but not work...

Check for pics....I think folks could make a cooper bumper work with the hitch if I recall right...think grayraven had done it...or maybe it was an aero bumper...there was fix, I know he has the hitch....

That doesn't look half bad...

 

Thanks. The OEM reverse lamp housing really goes too deep in the hole to make it fit. Maybe someone re-made their light, but that receiver tube is right inside the bumper cover. There's about an inch of room, which doesn't matter for the little black cover. Maybe someone else used a different hitch with a shorter receiver tube? I think mine's Curt.

In the grand scheme of things, that one light really wasn't enough to do the job properly in the first place - not that my LED solution will fare much better. Nightfall will tell.

 

I actually use my reverse lights routinely, so I think I would go with a kit like this instead:

http://www.piaa.com/store/p/786-1500...-Lamp-Kit.aspx

 

Night Vision

And here they are at night. I'm a bit surprised - I didn't think they'd show this bright. Of course I still can't see much from the driver's seat, but then the OEM light wasn't the best either. They'd probably be more effective if they weren't aiming down so much. At the very least, other drivers will know that I'm in reverse, which is the safest thing. I'll see how long they last. For around $3.75 (delivered, new), can't go wrong.

 

Looks good

There's a factory MINI wiring adapter to upgrade to FL tail lights with the reverse lights built in. I have the adapter harness somewhere and my original FL tailights which were changed to Euro FL tailights. Since I already had a FL car, I didn't need to use the upgrade harness from the retrofit package. If you decide to go with FL tailights in the future, let me know.

 

Thanks for the info, but what are FL tail lights?

 

The 05-06's are often called face lift (FL) models, so face lift tail lights have the integrated back up lights, along with 1st gen Cabrio's. Same with the headlights. If you already have xenon's, you can upgrade to FL xenon's (projector) by swapping the headlights.

 

ive seen someone mount something like this within the black mesh, not this exact item, but similar: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-5W-Car-...tWd6Ao&vxp=mtr


what you have will work, could even recess into the mesh for a more flush look. the face lift tail lights don't really help with lighting up the area, and there might be a requirement that reverse lights need to be at a certain height, not sure about that tho

 

Those are bright, are you going to the 2005+ taillight retrofit ?

 

Face Lift - makes sense. I do already have the xenons up front, but they're fine. I can pick up a used set of FL tails for around $100 if I need to ultimately go that route.

These LEDs that I've added are recessed into the mesh, just not as flush as I'd have liked. I looked at many different options - including how I would mount whatever option - and these seemed to fit the bill. Also, they're the same height of the OEM single lamp, so I don't think the authorities would have a problem with that aspect.

 

If you end up going with FL lights in the future let me know. I'll probably sell mine, and they'll come with the retrofit harness which you'll need. They're in great condition and were removed last year from my '05 at 41K miles.

 

I'll send you a PM. We'll talk...

 

Update on the reverse lights:

I finally gave up and realized that the LEDs I bought just weren't going to cut it. I bought RB-MINI's FL tails and harness adapter. After looking at the OEM schematic, the install of the harness was a breeze, and of course the light housings themselves were plug-n-play. (I didn't need to run the wire down to the reflector in the bumper because I'm just using the black plug/cover there.)

Anyway, the lights are a huge update improvement over the earlier tails with the yellow dots in the centers; they just look more modern, and the OEM reverse lights are fairly bright enough. But now my LEDs (which still function in reverse) are comically blue-tinted compared to the OEM lights. I'll yank 'em out eventually, but then I have to figure a replacement for those black plastic panels that I cut holes in. I've liked the DIYs with black (real) wire mesh, I think I'll go that route. But maybe I'll wait until the weather here in LA gets back down in the double-digits.

 

Glad they worked out for you.

Here's a cool mod I've wanted to do to the rear grilles... all it takes is a Dremel and some patience. The details are here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r-grilles.html

 

I saw that mod as well, thought it was a lot of sanding work for the outcome. At least they're custom-fit for the openings... Besides, I now have rectangular holes cut in mine, so I'd have to replace them regardless. I'm sure there's some expanded metal at H. Depot I could paint and install. There's also the issue of the silver heat shield material showing through, so I would probably be trimming that back. With that in mind, I don't <i>hate</i> the look of them just being open.