I have NO idea why they are like this.

The car has been this way since i got it in December, and it seems to be on the inside. The outside is smooth and clean and no amount of any type of product changes this.







I want them to be clear and clean and not so damn hazy :-(


Any suggestions?

 

Huh. First thing I'd do is to remove them (one 10mm nut on a LONG screw), and a few tabs and see if the inside is hazy, or just damp.

 

That would really bug me. Are you not near your dealer to take it back to?
Annette

 

i bought the car used with 70k miles on it already, not from a mini dealer

 

I replaced the tail lights on my '06 with white ones I bought off of ebay. I think I paid around $50 for the pair. Pretty simple install IIRC. (I am NOT one who has much of a clue about car repairs and mods but I did do this one myself). I'm guessing you could find a set on ebay (white or other, whatever) and switch them out on your own.
Annette

 

Mine are similarly hazy, but I haven't looked into cleaning options. I assume that they are sealed and that you can't (easily) get into the inside of the housing to clean them.

 

exactly :-(

i've looked at replacing them, but i WANT OEM lights, and they are so damn expensive.

i MAY consider some of the clear/white lights that are aftermarket, but i'm up in the air on how they would look on my car... normally i dont like them ,but on the electric blue, i think they might work okay. :-/

 

There are many new, aftermarket taillights on eBay that look OEM. $80-$90 / pair.

example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mini-...Q5fAccessories
(item #130455280995 if this link isn't allowed)

 

ya, seen all those, just kinda worried about quality on them.

 

If it is an issue of internal dampness, that would indicate a seal that is broken, allowing humidity to get in. If that is the case, do like you are prepping for the joey mod, bake and wait for things to clear, and real seal.

If it is exterior, there are a multitude of fine polishing compounds on the market for plastics. With a lot of patience, and some elbow grease, you cen get crystal clear lenses/housings.

 

it's not dampness at all.
it's more like the inside is lightly coated in something.

 

if that's the case, then treat it like a joey mod(unless the components are a 2 piece assembly). Separate, clean/polish, re-seal and motor on.

To be honest, your pics really don't look that bad. But, I know once that seedling of imperfection is planted, it has to be dealt with.

Best of luck!

 

The main reason the inside of the lens would get a light film is due to a bad seal and moisture getting in. I had that problem on my old '02 MCS, and another member of my local club has that same problem with his '03 MCS.

+1 to using E-Bay. Search for "mini cooper tail light." There are lots of options, and many are around $40.

 

For the price, try the clears and see how you like them. Like I said, mine were about $50 when I bought them (in '06) and were still working fine up until the car was totaled 3 weeks ago . Personally I think they would look nice on your EB, but I have a thing about red tail lights, and couldn't wait to get rid of mine on my PW. I also got rid of the red reflectors, and even covered the "S" with aftermarket white "S's" so I may not be unbiased .
As to the non-OEM standard tail lights, I'm thinking they should be pretty well made just like my cheapo clear ones from ebay. Look for a seller with a good rating.

Annette

 

Hi. Were you satisfied with the quality of your eBay tail lights?

 

Loved 'em! If I could find similar for my '11 I'd buy them today. But this time around I'm blacking everything out, so I won't be installing different tail lights.
Annette

 

Likely better than your current hazy tail lights. Looks like other people have had good experiences with them.

 

I don't think you can get to the inside to wipe the hazyness out. I found a used set a few years ago, and those have not hazed up like the originals
I think the plastic off gases and causes the film inside.

 

To throw my $.02 in:

I purchased a pair on eBay a while back, was really enticed by the price and thought that they looked pretty good; very similar to the OEM tail lights.

HOWEVER

about 6 months later, they developed a leak and became hazy with moisture whenever it rained or I washed the car. Went back to the OEM lights. While expensive, the quality was definitely better AND if they wound up developing a leak within a year like the eBay ones did, MINI would replace them because they have a 1-year warranty on the parts. My suggestion: Spend the money on the OEM parts before having to spend more because of having to replace inferior aftermarket parts.

-Chase

 

Pulled the hazy OEM tail light and there was water betweent he lense and clear cover. I purchased the aftermarket on eBay. Can't be any worse than the quality of the OEM. The OEM ones felt cheap... very cheap.

Thanks for everyone's $0.02!!!

BTW - 2005 Purple Haze/Black Top MCS.

 

I have a similar problem, and its definitely the seal...My driver side is hazy and passenger side is fine...I even have a bug or two in the hazy side. Im going to joey mod the light, take it apart clean it up and reinstall it...Should be fine, I'll let you know how it goes

 

ok...have same problem...same light...could ya be a bit more detailed as to "how" you took it apart...have 03 MCS

 

My tail lights are hazy as well. I pulled them apart today to black out the chrome and while I had the lens off I wet sanded and polished them (with a dual orbital) and they are still just as hazy. If you look really close at them it seems as if the haziness is in the plastic, almost like they were made that way. Drives me crazy but I guess I'll have to accept it.

Does anyone know if you can swap the facelift tail lights in? The ones with the reverse lights built in like these I would replace them with the Euro ones (with the clear turn signal but those are way too expensive.

 

They will be plug-and-play, except the reverse bulbs won't light up. Your car doesn't have a reverse wire in that connector, but you can wire it up to make them work (worthwhile, IMO).

 

Thanks for the reply. So the brake lights, running lights and turn signals will function the same as the old lights? Meaning the black part that the bulbs sit in will fit the new light housings?

If so I may just go this route and black the trim out on those.