just wondering..... I was looking at pics of my new 2005 MCS that is to be delivered in a couple of weeks..... and saw that the light that used to be in the middle of the bottom part of the bumper is now blacked out... is the back up light now incorporated in the tail lights?

 

I dont know for sure, but it looks like it from the clear parts in the tail lamps.

 

Yesterday I inquired with my dealer about getting factory rear fog lights added to my order. He said that because the fog light has moved to the position that the back up light previously occupied, and because they had become illegal in a couple of states, the rear fog lights were no longer offered from the factory, on US bound cars anyway. He also mentioned the the tail light assemblies had been reworked. So, yeah, I guess the back up lights are incorporated into the tail lights now. Not sure if I like it though.

 

Click over to sleepy nokkie's thread. He has pics up of his new '05 that clearly shows the backup light move.

Godspeed.

 

Yes, the backup lights are now in the tail lights. In the rest of the world of MINI, the rear fog light is where the backup lights used to be. Rear fogs are illegal in California and one other state, so US bound MINIs get a black plastic cover. Dealers will be offering a rear fog kit, dealer installed, but they are not available yet and a price has not been released.

 

To aid you on all the new 2005 changes i would recommend you check out Gabe's site over at Motoringfile! He does some great work and you should definately bookmark it and check it regularly! Here is a link to the 2005 changes... there are quite a few!
http://motoringfile.com/2004/02/01/t..._mini_revealed

 

REPLY;
Placing the rear fog light in the center where the reverse lamp was previously, may not meet the code. It depends on how this 15" position is viewed by the stopping CHP officer. I don't think the local cops would know the difference...

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/rear fog tail lamps

 

The problem with dealer installed fog lamps is that they will not have access to the center toggle pod. So if I am correct, rather than a center toggle, (like the rest of the world), you'd end up with another cheezy underdash switch, much like we've been forced to tolerate with the driving lights option. Quite a disappointment, to spend money, yet still have blank switches showing on your dash. BMW should have stuck with the original light design, and let those who wanted to change it here do so- these new lights are awful looking and cheapen the look of the car tremendously...