I don't know, I have my windows tinted as well, and I can see perfectly fine with the one reverse light! Looks odd, but I figure it was to make room for hte rear fog in other markets so I'm not complaining.

 

Let me ask this question. Can the front end of the rear fog light wiring harness can be connected to the same wires for the back-up light? If so, has anyone looked at making an aftermarket lens that would allow this light to pass through a clear lens? This should provide 2 back-up lights and an extra switch for the ejection seat (or any other desireable option)

 

This coudl easily be done by purchasing the left rear light fixture for a UK (England) car and then jsut running a wire from the passenger side to the drivers side of the US car and then you have two back up lights.

The part number would be 63.21.2.755.117 (white blinkers) or 63.21.2.755.115 (amber blinkers)

your local dealer can not order these but if you were to go on Mini2.com and check in with "chris at woodman bmw" then he could get you and ship you the part.

 

If you've ever driven at night on the Autobahn in the German countryside you'd have a better appreciation of that rear fog light...it saved my butt more than once (Europeans do not slow down in the fog). The one back-up light is perfectly adequate.

 

Rear Fog lights are required in most European countries. See the wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automot...Rear_fog_lamps

Interesting notes:
- "If a single rear fog is fitted, most jurisdictions require it to be located at or to the driver's side of the vehicle's centerline"
- "To provide some safeguard against rear fog lamps' masking of brake lamps, ECE R48 requires a separation of at least 10 cm between the closest illuminated edges of any brake lamp and any rear fog lamp."

 

OK, just to recap.

The reverse light in the back, there is only one. Perfectly adequate.

The rear fog light is there for safety and is an option in the US. In many parts of the world it is required and is a nice touch to have if you've ever driven in dense fog.

There is provision for side park lights, also for other world consumption. Also very useful. If you have ever been down some sidestreets in Europe the only way you can tell a car is parked there is because of those little side lights. It's kinda like driving down a sidewalk with walls on both sides and no streetlights!

charlie

PS, I'm just happy that my wife lets me drive her Clubbie every now and then

 

I back down my driveway a lot more often than I drive on the Autobahn in heavy fog. Two rear backup lights make a lot more sense to me, and only one light on one side of the car is barely adequate, and a poor design. I understand why MINI sets it up the way they do, to save money and make the car easier to adapt to different markets, but it's certainly not the best solution from a safety standpoint.

 

The Scion xB also has one back-up light... Though it's much bigger than the Mini's...

 

Schatzy62,
Got it; thanks. I am still in the UK and will take delivery of my US spec Clubman here for a short while before coming back to the US. Will get the appropriate parts here and make the fix when I am back there.

 

At 46 I guess I'm pretty old here. I can remember when cars didn't automatically have back up lights. Maybe that's why they called them the DARK ages. The only advantage I can see to having one backup light is you'll know when it's out much faster than if you have two.

 

Naw, you're just a youngster

charlie (only 55)

 

The very first car I ever saw with only one back-up light was the 1929 Model "A" Ford my Dad owned and cherished as his "hobby" car. When he explained that it was all they had back then, and the rationale behind it, I remember thinking how odd it was, and I was glad we had evolved to today's symetrical use of two. Hmmm...seems like everything old is new again!

 

My 2004 MINI only has one reverse light. For those who need brighter lights, you can probably mount some bright lights to your bumper or roof, just like you see on plow trucks.

 

^ LOL

I don't think I ever used the backup lights as a guide for my own vision/view of the rear. I can't think of any car that I owned that had reverse lights bright enough for the task. But then again, here in NYC, its bright as day even at night

 

I use the reflection of the backup light off the trees to tell me when I'm getting the the end of our driveway. The one light is plenty good for that. We don't have much light out here in the country where we live, unless there's a full moon. Then you just watch for little yellow eyes

charlie