I know many around here are do-it-yourselfers but after reading the installation instructions for my new driving lights that Santa brought me I decided to pass the job on to a pro . They did a great job so I thought I would share the info. They are a PIAA recommended installer. Mine was their 1st ever Mini install but they said now that they have done one Mini they wouldn't mind doing more. I told him I got my PIAA light kit online for around $265 & he said they can order them & they will match that price. I am sure they can get other brands too. Installation is $125.

They are located on the Pelham/Hoover borderline.
If anybody needs their services:
ask for Mike Dugan at Sport Trucks
106B David green Road
Birmingham, AL 35244
phone: 733-1250


(pic to be replaced by a better lit one in the AM)

 

They look great.

Don't sweat that you didn't feel up to potentially butchering your car, like the rest of us crazy DIY'ers. Just be happy with the end result, some great looking, and properly installed driving lamps.

So, how do you like the PIAA's?

 

Are those 520s? 540s? Do you really think they make a difference?

 

Mine are the 540 kit for Minis. I like them a lot so far. Of course so far has only been about 3 hours since I've only had them on for ohhhhh about 3 hours. About 40 minutes ago it finally got good & dark so I took a spin around the block. So far I like em alot . They seem to improve the field of light a good deal. They are not like FLOOD lights or anything though.

I want to research my local laws so I will know my stuff if I get pulled over by da fuzz. The installer said a municipality near me constantly hassles his installs saying that they are only allowed 4 forward lights not 6.

 

http://www.legislature.state.al.us/C...5/32-5-241.htm

(4) AUXILIARY DRIVING LAMPS. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed one auxiliary driving lamp mounted on the front at a height not less than 16 inches nor more than 42 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands and every auxiliary driving lamp shall meet the requirements and limitations set forth in this chapter.

that has to be about the strictest law I've seen. Who is only going to put ONE driving lamp on????

 

UHG welcome to Alabama & our antiquated laws & constitution. Well the code says I can have one auxillary driving lamp & one auxillary passing lamp (whatever the hec that is) so how bout if I say the lefty is for driving & the righty is for passing


Sheesh our code also says:
(3) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two back-up lamps either separately or in combination with other lamps, but any such back-up lamp shall not be lighted when the motor vehicle is in forward motion.

So I guess all the Alabamians retrofitting the bumper mounted back up light are breaking the law too

 

Only $125 for the install. that would have TOTALLY been worth it!
I spent 3 days and we still aren't done with everythign on ours.

(we are doing an aftermarket mod with toggle switches in the switch
bay we'll be figuring it out this weekend. - weather permitting.)

BTW, how do your fogs work? Will only go on with the high-beams?

 

My PIAAs are being used as driving lights. The installer wired them to only come on & go off with my high beams. My fog lights are the ones on the bumper operated by the center stack toggle switch that came from the factory

Good luck on finishing your install. When I read thru the install instructions & realized I didn't know where or what 1/2 the stuff they mentioned was ....I figured that $125 would be well spent for installation

 

bamatt,

You can view our the hardach here:
http://superchargerresearch.com/copp...s.php?album=53

Lights installed & working... We are modding the switches to be
toggle switches on the switch bar. UKDragon didn't opt for the
fogs on the inital purchase. Thank god, she would then be breaking
the 8 light maximum if she isn't already.
2 - headlights
2 - hight-beams
4 - Aux.
2 - Parking lamps (not sure if they count or not)

Check out these laws Californa has!
I hilighted what i think applys to MINI driving lights.
http://superchargerresearch.com/copp...light-Laws.gif

Source: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vcpdf/divisions/12.pdf

Basically:
1. It looks like we have to keep them covered with an opaque cover.
2. Looks like we aren't allowed to have our lights as low as they are on
the MINI.


SERIOUSLY THO:
How freakin' awesome is it to have those lights on at night?

 

Hmmm Gloves I am not sure since I am not a lawyer & they seem to be the only people who can read & understand these confounding laws & codes but...

Your state code says that "each pair of a dual headlight system shall be considered as one lamp" so I wonder if my Alabama code means a pair of driving lights when they say we can only have one auxillary lamp. I sure hope so

 

bamatt,

Don't worry about it but just be courteous and dim your high beams for oncoming traffic.

I've never ever been questioned for it. I know the installer claims that some law enforcement officers bother his customers, but I'm sure those customers are young boys in jacked up monster trucks showing off with massive amounts of lights on the roof of their pick up cabs and not sweet southern belles in cute cabrios with two little lights in the grille.

Just my opinion, but I might remove the plastic grid protectors. They are too busy looking on your MINI and don't provide any real protection to lights that are not used off-road. If you want protection for them, get some clear plastic lens protectors.

Oh, and they look great!

 

Thanks I am gonna think on the plastic grid protectors. They are growing on me. With a NAMmers help I painted the PIAA letters red to match the Mini. I am gonna take a better lighted pic & post it in the morn so let me know what you think after you see it.

Now I just gotta see about getting the Ohh anonymous one to add some driving lights to my sig

p.s..it was pretty funny to see the Mini parked among the big trucks at the shop & yes I saw a few of those jacked up truck owners sneakin a peek at the old Mini

 

You should have drove under them and took a picture. OMG
that would be the best picture EVER!

Well 2nd to that of my car on an aircraft carrier catapult.
Like that'll ever happen.




S W E E T !!!

 

I like them, now I want some. Afterrall, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, isn't it?

 

Go for it they would look great on Junior. I gotta recommend the guy that did my install cause he treated me right . If you plan to leave the cover grids on the lights & want your PIAA letters to be red (instead of white) to match your Mini I know how to do it thanks to fellow NAMers

I am gonna post a brighter pic tomorrow so you can see them better. After my wash-n-wax today it was almost dark so I didn't get to it.