Hi,

I just ordered a rear fog light on my MCS. I have a brg/brg coming in with chromeline exterior.

I wonder both:

A.) how well it works.

B.) Does anyone think that its a red blob in the center of a classy looking BRG/BRG and breaks up the look?

Not the thread for anyone, a tad microscopic yes.

Just want opinions. I have a few days to remove it from my order (3).

Thanks everyone so far! I have added front fogs, LSD, DSC and cold weather package just from chatting on here for a couple of weeks! Without this palce I would not have as good of a mini. This would be the finishing cherry (looks like one too oddly)

 

I really like the rear fog, you can see it from more than a mile away, you can still see the fog light after you can no longer see the tail lights. It completes the rear end and you dont have a little black cover on the bumper and it completes the toggle bank. I have it now on my current MCS and ordered on my new MCS.

 

I live in Southern California and there isn't much fog here(we call it smog), but it's kind of useful as a HEY! follow me type of thing.

It's one of those nice to haves and it's not that much to add on. $100 I believe. It's pretty darn bright and if you have a darker color it looks fine. Not sure about a lighter color car though.

Good luck with your selection process... I think the hardest thing is waiting for it to ship over here.

 

I only got it to fill the toggles!

I've used it numerous times and I like the added visibility. You're small to begin with so being seen a little bit more can't help. I don't think you should worry about a red plastic cover ruining the look of the BRG. It'll be just fine.

 

so you're going to have a hole one way or the other. I did them on my 02, and those suckers are BRIGHT! I really hope the smaller one is less blinding. I live in CA and haven't really needed them or had to use them for anything at all.

And as a counter to filling in the toggle bank. The missing switch can be used as an "index" without looking. This goes away if the bank is full. Not really a big deal.

Matt

 

Hm.... good arguments so far!

Index?

 

and the missing one tells you where your hand is relative to the rest of the switches...

Matt

 

In the earlier models the fog light used to be the reverse light, right?

Does anyone else get the toggle switches confused for the front and rear too, or is it just me? :P

 

the top of the standard brake light was the rear fog, and what's now the rear fog was the back-up (no little back-up lights in the standard brake light fixture for us early cars....)

Matt

 

Your tail lights and 3rd brake light are already red, so the rear fog light doesn't really look out of place no matter what color your car is. Please use it only in the fog. It is so bright that it is annoying and causes glare in other conditions.

I do confuse which toggles are for front/rear fog. The icons aren't much help. Everybody seems to like the look of the toggle panel, but it does not work well ergonomically -- six toggles in a line that look and feel alike. Quick, flip the lock/unlock switch! If you have the full panel, you have to look and really pick out the correct switch.

 

Looks good if you ask me. I live here in Germany where we have some pretty thick fog sometimes and I can tell you that the extra bright light really helps visibility for other drivers. IMHO a must if you live in foggy area.

 

BTDT! I usually end up rolling down the passenger window. Come to think of it, maybe I'll put a clear plastic 'dot' on the front fog for that tactile indicator...

Gotta have the full panel.

This is OT to jefe's Q, but I haven't found the <'05 fogs to be that bright. I followed <edit> MyZamboni <edit> to Santa Barbara, and he has the rear fog/brakelight mod, so both come on with the brakes. I didn't find it annoying as I thought I would - I've been blinded by other Euro cars that drive around with their rear fogs ignorantly on.

 

Full panel is just about reason enough to get it. I am going for as classy and old school looking as possible, combo of both. I have to dwell on this red dot concept. I wish there were a green mini to see it on.

Anyone have any shots they could upload of their BRG with a stock rear fog lamp??

 

well for only $100 for factory installed, and filling in the toggle line up is good enough for me.

My MA told me that he uses his for additional lighting for backups, and flicks it on as an anti-tailgater device.

 

I like the look and just had it installed on my 05 Cabrio. The car I had built on MINIUSA had it, but I got my MINI from dealer stock without the rear fog. My advice: if you think you might want it, go ahead and order it. If you decide later you want it, it costs twice as much to have it installed.

 

I like the idea, but I haven't read one post where it states a good reason to have rear fog lights. Especially if they are white in color when they're on. Seems you could confuse someone into thinking you' re going the wrong way.

 

The only reason I really got it was to even out my toggles since I'm not getting all the options. Since it was only $100, it is worth it for both cosmetic and practical uses. If you get a base Cooper, it only comes with three toggles like this: ! o ! o o !

I thought it looked kind of weird and I wanted to make it look more symmetrical, so by adding the rear fog, it looks like this: ! o ! ! o !

Plus then I have those two spaces that seperate the windows (as those are the ones I'll most likely use the most) and to not get everything confused and accidently press the wrong toggle!

 

I have one in my 04 MCS...I use it when SUVs, F350's and Big rigs get too close...they hit their brakes fast too!

It is seen pretty well when we have fog. It came w/ my Used 04 or I would not have bothered though

 

You have to get the rear fog....

You can get all the toggles.... assuming you get the Sport package. You DID get the Sport package, right?!?!

You avoid the piece of black plastic that looks like you DIDN'T get something.

And, it's great for freaking out tailgaters!

 

Everything JDPepper just said,
i knew that when i ordered my MCS if i hadnt ordered the rear fog it would have bugged me having to look at that empty slot in the toggles, besides i think the rear fog looks really cool at night

 

Driving in truly thick fog can be a scary experience. The reason for the rear fog (safety) is clear to me even though the condition occurs rarely in my area. The rear fog in the '05/'06 models is red and located in the bumper. You may be confusing it with the white reverse light of earlier years.

Many people get it just for the toggle panel and to replace the black plug in the bumper with the better looking fog light. Some people mention using it to warn off tailgaters, but that only works at night because the rear fog only activates if the running lights are already on.

 

The rear fog lights are red not white, just for that reason...

I drive towards the coast in Northern CA almost every morning and most of those drives are in to THICK fog. Since some drivers like to fly down these roads even in thick fog, I'll use my rear fog when nobody is behind me... That way as people come flying up on me from behind they know I'm there... If they're already behind me I don't bother with the rear fog because they already know I'm there...

The main reason (beyond aesthetics) is to improve the visibility of your car in low visibility situations. These include not just fog, but also heavy rain and snow as well.

Prior to moving out here I used my rear fogs maybe 3 to 5 times a year, now I find that I use them 3 times a week...

 

Well worth it - as others have said - a great safety feature at only $100 and it fills the row of toggle switches.

 

no one who has a brg mini suggested it

Maybe I am being too picky about visuals. Can one?

Leaning more towards it.

I love how people give so much input!

I know it would look fine on:
Silver, Dark silver, yellow, orange, any red. hm

 

I was in a white out back in February while in Newfoundland. I could not see the MINI directly in front of me w/o rear fogs but could see the one 3-4 cars in front of him with rear fogs. I'm a believer.