Looking for some advice on grill mounted rally lights. What is the preferred type? Should I buy them from my MINI dealer or an online store? Are they something I can install myself? Thanks for the help!

 

Things depend, if you want more options, aftermarket is best. Looking for that OE look, spending the $$$ with MINI is for you. MINI OE would be more plug and play with the factory switch in the left knee pad. VIP Customs offers some nice looking lamp brackets for 2 or 4 lamps. Either way, you should be able to perform the install yourself.

 

in my opinion the factory kit is overly complicated to install AND too expensive ... I have installed after market lights for 1/4 the cost of factory kit.

the factory brackets are a good way to go and are available from several sources without buying the full kit. I prefer to install with stainless hardware vs pop rivets......

I've hung a half dozen sets of these .... building a bracket is possible, but I'd buy the OEM bracket

you can hang any light I've seen from them and run a simple switch into the dash anyplace you want .... even into the toggle bank if you want 'extra' work . . ..

 

Thanks! That gives me a good bit to start with. I figured enough that MINI OE would be more expensive.

 

The MINI kit is recognized by KBB and NADA, so while complicated it does add value to your MINI as well as some great extra lighting. Unless ordered, it costs about 1K dollars for parts and installation.

The MINI lights/brackets are made by WIPAC in the UK. That company makes several styles of lights for MINI's and you can tell the difference between them by their individual attaching bases. The nice kit like MINI's has a crown style pivot base and the cheaper version has just an open metal boxed base with a bolt thru it. Somewhat unattractive. And they also make them in stainless steel instead of chrome too

 

There is also a thread on here that is something like:

Show me your rally lights.

That thread has a lot of examples of what people have done. You might search that thread out for ideas for what you might like to do.

 

Call this dealer, South Motors in Miami FL. Ask for Paul in the parts dept and tell him that Ivan told you to call him and that you were told about him on this forum. I bought my light kit for my 2008 from him and he was more than fair on pricing and shipping. See what he quotes for factory lighting and see if it is within reason. No one could come close to the pricing he gave me.

http://www.minimotoringgear.com/#/?CenterId=96603

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ly-lights.html
Amazing thread! Thanks, ACEkraut11!

Haha, thanks for the tip! Yeah, my local MINI dealer's head service tech seems to give me above average deals as well. I'll have to poke her brain when I go back to pick up Brisby next week. (clutch work)

 

check out OUTMOTORING.COM...go under lighting they have a decent arry of lighting options, cravenspeed also has a good selection i belive they have several mounting options avaiable

 

Ah right! I forgot about outmotoring.com - Thanks!