Hello everyone. I'm new to this forum and to the mini world. Just picked up my new 07 MCS this passed weekend. One thing I would like to do is to have the fog lights turn on every time the low beams are turned on. Is there any DIY guide out there to have it rewired to turn on automatically with the low beams? Any info appreciated. Thanks

 

It's a toggle switch in the center stack in front of the shifter - can't it just be left in the on position? They'll only come on when parking lights or headlights are turned on from the stalk switch.

 

They do not stay on. Once you turn off the car, the fog lights turn off...

 

You're right - just tried it on mine. Didn't realize the toggle switch is a momentary type.

Guess the only way to have them come on with the headlight switch is to bypass the foglight solenoid... not sure that's something I'd do.

 

Fog lights are for fog, not for show!

Please only use them when you really need them as they are a nuisance to other drivers.

 

I agree with you Ken, but other like them for "looks". Personally I'm only using my front and rear fogs when the weather calls for them as the HIDs handle regular lighting great I'm even adding yellow Nokya fogbulbs to my car once it come in.

 

My fogs get used everyday as my DRL since I don't care to get DRL programed into my car. I don't know how bright the fogs are on the R56 but I can assure you the fogs on the R53 are no more a nuisance than headlights in general.

 

I live in a semi-rural area where it gets nice and dark at night. I hate it when other drivers have their fog/running lights on. They really are very bright to other drivers. You may think it looks cool, but what it really does is shows others that you are an inconsiderate narcissistic brat.

 

And they're inevitably aimed high, the wrong light pattern, whatever, but glare a LOT in to the eyes of other drivers.

 

Tell us how you really feel.

 

It doesn't have a solenoid. The toggles just tell the BC1 what you would like to do. The BC1 then passes that info along to the fog lights, subject to other programmed criteria (i.e. they turn off when high beams are on, and reset if the car is turned off.)

 

I mainly like them for looks. Down here in SFLA there is not much fog and I will say that 85% of all cars down here that have FOGS are driven with them on, fog or no fog. Also many cars here have imitiation of Xenon lights and that is annoying esp. when on large trucks. Personally I do not see fogs bothering much drivers down here. Other things to be bothered by when driving in SFLA then fogs.

 

LOL They are only annoying to other drivers if they are aimed improperly. Now driving lights on all the time, for sure can be annoying!

 

Gotcha... I meant to say relay, not solenoid to begin with, so thanks for that response. So the BC functions in place of a relay to signal (power) the fog lights? I guess there could be a hack for the BC then to accomplish what was desired, but it's still something I wouldn't do.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

The fogs are not powered directly by the BC1. The fogs are connected to a relay in the fuse box in the engine compartment, and the BC1 controls the relay. What you want to do is not difficult; it is more a matter of how comfortable you are messing with the OEM wiring.

 

Before you screw with it check your lights. My fogs have two bulbs each in the fog housing. The top bulb DOES come on when my lights are on, either low or high beams. The bottom bulb is wired to the fog light switch. BTW, it took me nearly a month before I noticed this. My car is an R56 MCS. I also think having the fogs on at night looks cool but if you just let them be a little lit as MIN I intended it keeps you happy and the others around you less annoyed.

 

I asked my MA about this the other day. The top light of the fog light are the parking lights. So it makes sense that they would also be on when the headlights are on as well.