I noticed that my dealer forgot to add the $100 rear fog light option to my Mini. I originally ordered my Mini (I feel the need to capitalize that word everytime I type it! :smile on the 19th, then called in and added the rear fog (and 2 other options I believe) the next day, the 20th, and MA said it would be no prob.

I also made changes on the 25th that went through (my Mini started production on the 27th I believe).

Anyway, I don't want the hole that's left behind there, and I'm not sure if I could get another rear fog purchased & installed, with dash switch, for $100. Do you think it's likely my Mini dealer would/should accomodate me for this change? I pay them $100 and they give me the rear fog, the way it would have been installed from the factory? With dash switch control, etc.

 

In some states (OR for example) the rear fog is illegal. If that isn't the case where you are at, seems to me the dealer should correct their mistake and get you your $100 rear fog.

 

All four letters capitalized is the proper way. MINI refers to the new MINI brand. Mini is usually used in reference to the classic Mini.

 

Just reorder your MINI.
My Dealer did the same thing, they just reordered the car the way I wanted it.
So that being said there is an identical MC, without a rear fog lamp, to mine.
Hopefully a reorder won'y sent you back on the time frame to get you new MINI.
Cheers

 

I think the rear fog is a dealer-installed option anyway so it should not be a problem. Just call them.

 

Actually, the fog light is a factory option.

I wouldn't re-order the car and have a longer wait...give your dealer a call and refresh their memory, I'd be surprised if they didn't take care of it for you.

Oh and the breakdown on the parts for me after the fact was: lamp $20.75 & switch panel $75.00. Because your car is already wired, you could either do it yourself or have the dealer do it.

 

I have a MCS and was promised that the rear fog light would be retrofitted when available. The dealer installed the rear light and switch pack free of charge as promised but when they realized that my car also needed the wire harness they want $450.00 for installation!!

Not Cool at all!!

 

It was the dealerships mistake. Make sure they know that and they should make things right.

 

How have you verified it's not on your order?

 

Yeah. just coz it doesn't show on the Owners Lounge doesn't mean it's not on the car. You should call 1-866-ASK-MINI to confirm if it actually on the order.

 

I have the print-out from the dealer, and I called 866-ASK-MINI yesterday and they still show no rear fog light. And that was included in the first changes I made to my MINI pre-production. Off to work, bbl.

 

I would think the dealer would do the right thing. I ordered mine on 9-24 & on 9-26 called at 9 in the morning to delete the Chrono pack. I was called back & told they couldn't do that. Car had moved to production. I wasn't real pleased, but the dealer did the right thing. They are giving me the Chrono pack for free. This is just an example of the fact that dealers do the right thing sometimes.

Chuck

 

Do you have an early 05 build (july-sept 04) MCS? (we call 'em 04&1/2'S ) if so, this is news, and quite the rip. My SA still claims it can't be done to the first 3 build months, despite having the light, the new toggle bank, and the necc. connectors Classic sold me for about $80 (NAM discount.) He says it's an issue of programming the software. I've heard about this retrofit for almost 9 months now, but this is the first time I've heard of a $450 wiring harness to correct the problem. Jeez. :impatient (I'd buy a JCW air box instead) Jimbo

PS I sold everything else but kept the light because it looks better than the black plastic, and it's a good conversation starter. I wish there was some kind of reflector or something more useful, however.

 

Sequence, I did this retrofit on my early 05 (Sept. 04 build), so yes it is available. It isn't a $450 wiring harness...it is $450 in labour that he is talking about. The wiring harness is about $17 (the lamp was $20ish & switch panel $70ish), but the quote on labour is 3 hours. My total quote was somewhere around $400 originally (it was going to be my car's 1 year b'day present ).

Now I only paid 1hr of labour and they discounted my parts because my car had another issue at the time so I don't know how long it would really take. You could put the ask out and see if anyone else has done it...I know that my dealer had others waiting to have it done as soon as it was done to my MCS. Mine was the guinea pig.

Oh and let me know if you need the part number for the wiring harness.

 

I think I've seen an after market brake light option for the '05 rear fog light position. That would seem to give it a legal function...

john

 

The main question is, has it started production?
If not there should not be a problem getting it added, I changed my mind on transmission choice a day before production started no problems.
If it has started, like I said earlier Have it reordered. Is it a MCS or MC if it's a Cooper I'm sure there would be no delay in getting the car. If it's a MCS they should do what they can to not have any delays.
Who was the Dealer on this?
If your dealer has a large allocation (sp?) I would think no delays.
Cheers
You'll be motoring soon

 

I agree with nolimit. Talk to your dealer about it and if it has started production, ask them how quickly production on a reorder would be, and ask if they could they switch one of their dealer cars being built - not ordered for someone, but being built for the dealer as a demo or car to sit on the lot - to be your car and change the specs so that it is correct. I have heard of that happening on several occasions and if thay can do that it may only delay your car by a couple of days. You are paying alot of money for your new MINI and you custom ordered it so it should be exactly what you want :smile:

 

Yeah, it started production on Sept 27th, and is due for completion on Oct. 7th (in 2 days). I've been super indecisive (I have a whole thread about it), in my ordering process.

I just feel kinda silly re-ordering a whole car for a $100 rear fog light. But actually, I did want to delete the Auto A/C I paid $300 for, and instead pay $300 for the Cold Weather Package. So perhaps those 3 changes warrant a re-order. I guess I could talk to my MA and see about that.

I guess I just feel like I've already over-stepped my bounderies with how many times I've changed this config. Maybe I shouldn't worry about that, who knows. I guess considering I'm gonna be spending 24k+ with them, I should make it exactly how I want it.

 

I would talk to the dealer and ask them to add it.

I had a problem when I ordered my 03 MCS also. Went to the dealer with my printout from MINIUSA and handed it to them and put down my deposit on 1-25-03. Picked up my MCS on 4-19-03 (quick for back then) and found it did not have the auto windshield wipers . They said, "Sorry, must have missed that." I believe they had what I wanted, less the auto wipers, on order for stock and said just give him that one. I'm glad I got it as quick as I did and I can live without the auto wipers, afterall, I'm in San Diego. .

Earl

 

Well, I went in today to ask about the fog light. I explained, or tried to, that the day after my initial order date (09/19), I talked to one of the MA's there on the phone and wanted to change 3 things, one of those was the addition of the rear fog light. And I explained to them that it was never added. Understanding that my current vehicle on order was beyond the point of changes, I told them I felt it would be fair if I were to pay $100 (the same as "from the factory") for the addition of the rear fog light.

But they (was dealing with my MA & a Manager at that point I believe) laid the guilt trip on me for changing the thing so many times, and basically implied that I was "lucky", that they mistakenly (or so they tried to present as such) didn't add the $1500 accessory fee they charge for all their MINI's. Which means they tack on $1500 in dealer accessories to all their new MINI's, or at least that's how it came across to me (because the markup is low they explained). They said, since the MA who originally set up the order didn't charge me that, they weren't willing to negotiate on the rear fog light. So I'd have to pay like $246 bucks I believe, parts+labor for it to be installed. Not a huge deal, but I still didn't like the idea.

So then this Mgr. says that we could just re-order the car. Then my MA seemed to try her best, at first, to explain that they had already ordered 2 cars for me, and seemed to be pushing him not to do it. But once he had offered, that's what I told him I was willing to do. Since I really wanted to delete the Auto A/C option, and add the Cold Weather Pack anyway, in addition to the rear fog light.

So to make a long story short (oops, guess I'm too late for that ), the lady (preganant, perhaps she's going through hormonal changes), started out really testy, but in the end was pleasant. I've got my MINI ordered exactly like I want it. But I will have to wait till week 44 instead of week 40, so that's a bummer.

Except for the hint of shadiness with my being "lucky" to have avoided the $1500 accessory add-on, and they charge a $299 documentation fee too, they came around in the end, and it seems I will get my MINI the way I want it now.

I'm realizing now that I probably ordered too soon anyway. The way I am, I like to research things to the extremes, specially when spending this kinda money on something (most expensive purchase prior to this was $12k I believe), so I probably should have delayed my order, and read around more. Glad it seems to be working out in the end though.

 

Are all the new 2006 MCS prewired for rear fog light? I just picked my new 2006 up on Dec 30 and I'l getting the rear fog light installed by dealer, couldn't schedule before the pickup date, I luckly found the car I was looking to order in inventory at the dealer.

 

I think it all depends on the build date of your car. If it's a recent build there should be no problem retofitting the rear fog. Your dealer parts man should be able to tell by using your VIN number if it's just a plug & play on your car.

Enjoy your new MINI.

Chuck

 

The rear fog lamp is pretty useless as a fog lamp anyway.

Instead, spend $20 and get the OEM light, wired up as a third backup light or a fourth brake light ($38) - your choice:

MyMiniParts Backup light

Your 2006 is pre-wired, and installation takes about 10 minutes.

 

Not where I come from - California's central valley, home of tule fog and deadly 100+ multi-car pileups!

On Interstate 5, you'll have a whole line of cars and big rigs, all staying close enough to see the taillights of the vehicle in front of them. Closer than their stopping distance. In really bad fog, they might even be closer than their reaction time! It's terrifying. One little problem - a flat tire, a car trying to pull onto the road from the shoulder, someone just hitting their brakes hard, can cause a chain reaction accident literally miles long! The brighter your rear lights are, the farther back that big rig behind you can stay and still keep you in sight.

If you live (or regularly visit) areas of heavy fog, the rear fog lamp is an important piece of safety equipment. It is MUCH brighter than the regular taillights. It's even brighter than the brake lights!

Here's a pic of my '05 car at dusk with the taillights:


...and with taillights and fog light:

 

Yep, I'm with you on this 100%. It has been awesome to have the rear fog light and know we are much more visible, not only in fog but it makes a big difference in the heavy rain with all the water being kicked up and obscuring the cars. It is really very bright, I'm glad to have it

(I'm sure it would be good to use in snowy weather too, I just haven't tried that personally )