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For some reason my 2011 Clubbie has a Tail Light, keep throwing a tail light out light. Had it in for other reasons SA say the bulb is getting things two hot and melting the connector. He messed with it and it is working. Said if it happens again, will have to replace housing at about $200 for the housing. Any way of putting an LED or cooler operating bulb in there? I think it is caused by having the lights on all the time running lights. I know I can get a replacement housing and install it myself but want to have to stock them. My SA and dealer a good been honest and fair to me so I believe him when he tells me whats happening.
Tom
Sorry if the typing is messed up had Cataract surgery yesterday and vision is a little blurry and prescription is not accurate, But boy is there a difference much brighter and clearer.
The tail light housing and the bulb socket mount are separate. You can actually remove the bulb mount from the housing. I would remove the tail light housing (It is just one screw on the bottom) and then snap the bulb mount out and inspect it for damage. They can get really dirty inside so make sure all of the contacts are clean. Make sure you have bulbs from MINI as I have had difficulty finding the exact bulb at the local parts stores. If the bulb is too hot it may be the wrong one or may just need to be replaced. The tail light circuit does not have a fuse. The Footwell Module monitors the electrical current through the tail light and brake light loop and if out of spec it will actually disable current to the tail/brake light. I recently went through this. This would tell me the issue is in fact the bulb mount in the housing. You can replace the housing in 10 minutes or less with just a screwdriver. If you remove the housing check the gasket to make sure it is sealing properly against the car body. They can get pinched and allow dirt inside the housing.
Dumb question but it looks like both R55 tail lights have 3 bulbs on each side. I know the passenger side is the brake light, turn signal, and the bottom is the reverse. The driver side has the brake light and the turn signal but what does the bottom bulb do?
The 3rd bulb on the drivers side does nothing, in Europe of Canada it has function. In the USA it balances the weight of the car for better handling. Really I have no clue why it's there the kid assembling the the lights was told to put a bulb in every hole.
Only if you have that option. The bulb is there no matter what. I don't have front or rear fogs and the bulb is there. Like I said the kid was told to put a bulb in each hole. LOL
Soooo, I hate having one reverse light (or being stopped and told one is out) and another MINI friend suggested ordering the opposite assembly from the UK that has the reverse light and installing it.
But I don't do much with electricity and I would assume that there won't be any wiring in the opposite side to support a reverse light.
Cool. Thx. Last time I looked for a solution was with my '11 Clubbie. Thought came up again for my '14 while posting in this thread (and obviously I didn't think to search beforehand. DOH!)
State inspection tells me every year and discount tire told me last week. I mean if they looked they would see it's red so how can it be a reverse light ?
People get very confused on the rear fog light and back up lights with MINI. On my R58 JCW i have one right hand side back up light and people keep looking at my MINI and saying , Hey....I think you have a back up light burned out. No... I have a rear fog on the other side....... ( other people ) Whats a rear fog light? ....
For some reason my 2011 Clubbie has a Tail Light, keep throwing a tail light out light. Had it in for other reasons SA say the bulb is getting things two hot and melting the connector. He messed with it and it is working. Said if it happens again, will have to replace housing at about $200 for the housing. Any way of putting an LED or cooler operating bulb in there? I think it is caused by having the lights on all the time running lights. I know I can get a replacement housing and install it myself but want to have to stock them. My SA and dealer a good been honest and fair to me so I believe him when he tells me whats happening.
Tom
Sorry if the typing is messed up had Cataract surgery yesterday and vision is a little blurry and prescription is not accurate, But boy is there a difference much brighter and clearer.
I replaced my tail/brake lights with LED's last weekend and they are much brighter now. You might try LED's as they don't get hot. See if that helps your issue.
