I installed my MINI driving lamps last night, following the directions exactly (except the fuse box and ground bolt in the hood). I went to try them and they don't work. The switch doesn't even arm.

Completely dead...

I'm not sure I put the two black ground wires on the right bolt in the hood. It's a bolt on the driver side that has a wire from the hood connected to it. Not sure if that is a ground bolt or not.

BC1 connection and radio connections are all fine, and the lights are wired correctly so I have no idea where else to look!

Help please!

 

has the dealer activated them?????

 

Dealer doesn't need to activate them do they? The directions say that they don't have to. Only the european driving lamps need activation.

 

Unless they are directly wired, you probably need the dealer to tell the BC1 that you have the driving lights.

 

The dealer doesn't need to activate them. I would check all connections again, especially the ground and the quick connectors. The factory driving lights only work with the high beams on if you wire them to oem specs.

 

Maybe try a different bolt to use as a ground.

 

mrdirosa, did you try them with your high beams? I know it sounds simplistic, but give it a try! Good luck! :smile:


Clover

 

Use one of the strut mount bolt/nut as your ground.

 

Tried using one of the strut tower bolts as the ground and still nothing. Yup, I know they only work with the high beams...

Made an appointment with the dealer for next friday, but if I can figure this out myself it would be better than paying them X hundred dollars to do it.

Thanks!

 

Any clue on why the switch won't even arm? even if the lights do not power up, shouldn't the switch light up when pressed? Where does the power to the switch come from?

 

Is this the factory one? if so, don't u have to have it programmed?

If aftermarket, you should be able to tap the lead to one of the
switched fuses and be able to turn it on even without the highbeams.
It sounds like you don't have power going to the switch to power the
relay.

 

The switch lights up when the interior lights are on. I didn't take mine the the dealer to have it programed. Their has to be something hooked up wrong. Are you sure you connected the wire that goes over to the passager footwell to the right color wire. I would retrace all the wire one more time. check all the colors and connections again. It would be a shame to get this far and have to take it to the dealer.

 

Yes, all wires are correctly connected to the right wires (I even checked the pin numbers on the source wires).

I wonder if I have a bad switch?

 

If all your wires are hook up right, I would think a bad switch is a good theory.
Sorry I couldn't be more help.

 

Took it to the dealer today and they fixed it after an hour and a half - evidently one of the quick connectors did not "connect" all the way on the back of the radio.

$51 later they work!

to Ralph Schomp MINI in Denver

 

That's Good, I'm glad you got them working.