I recently came across this company that has some new kits that are very reasonably priced compared to OEM. The look darn good. Check 'em out, and if anyone has some comments good or bad, post 'em here.

www.vipcustomparts.com

Click on Mini Parts then proceed to scroll down to the lights and brackets for the R56's. -Levi-

 

Someone else linked this site in another thread. They look promising. I just installed some PIAA 540's and seeing how that went (vs the OEM instructions) I think most anything would be easier than the OEMs. And probably cheaper too. The brackets look like they attach like the OEMs which is a nice simple solution. I ended up using OEM brackets and changed out the grill to a JCW. Make sure you know what grills they offer.

 

Wouldn't the quad option reduce air-flow and thus decrease performance?

 

Hmmm, no way I'm gonna completely block my radiator with a bunch of driving lights. I'd go with the brackets that mount the lights in front of the bumper if I were you. Not sure who makes 'em, but they look like this...

 

^ I'd love the lights from the white MINI, but we have front plates in MA

 

You can get the brackets to mount on the front of your bumper at outmotoring.com.

 

Damn, that pepper white mcs with yellow fogs is sick!!!

wait, that's my wife's car...

 

Looks Cool. But what would happen if your in a parking spot and some idiot gives your front a bump tap?

 

I've been told that the radiator is located low and takes the air from the lower grill in the spoiler; thus, the lights don't cause any cooling problems. I've not been able to confirm or refute this as my car is not here yet.

 

BEST LOOKING MINI EVER!!!

 

Yeah, I dig the look of both the quad light applications above, but I mainly posted this to showcase the stock looking setup with two lights. I thought their setup for the two lights at $209 was a great bargain, and wanted to know if anyone had a experiance with the install.

In regards to the air flow, the car does mainly take in air from the lower valence, but I'm sure a fair amount or air naturally goes through the main grill too.

WillieSM - good point about someone bumping into the lights if mounted on the bumper face. I never thought about that.

Another thing about the differing bracket locations is that most Driving Light applications benift from a higher angle as it throws the light a littler farther. I can see the Outmotoring brackets coming in handy with the fogs since they are closer to the road. To each their own.

 

what is the difference between the classic and the Hella 500?

 

Good question. I sent an email out earlier today and here's what he said about the hella vs. classic as I asked the same question:

"Classic lights are all steel and smaller
5.25, Hella 500 6.25"

I think the classics are the same size as the OEM driving lights. Personally, I LIKE the larger size of the hellas.

 

So is Classic the brand name or just a description?
Also if you go with the larger lights it might help to see how they might look on your car first. I have a front end photo of my car set up in Photoshop with various lights set up as layers that I can turn on and off. It really helped my decision on lights and to go with a black grill.

 

The ones in the pictures on the site are Hella.

 

The price is pretty good, anyone know about how much is the installation for any driving lights?? I dont think I can instal them myself

 

I just got mine installed from VIP custom.... the guy, Van, is seriously the coolest, nicest guy in the world. Very helpful on the phone before and after the sale. The bozos I had doing the installation didn't bother to read VIP's more than detailed instructions. My lighting went heywire, and the DRLs barely worked. Van offered to walk them through it. I didn't do that since I needed to drop J'MINI Cricket off. Everything's working fine now, except I cannot set the DRLs in the computer settings. Odd... and having nothing to do with VIP.

I ended up getting the classics in black, and saved money by not getting the pre-cut grille (which would have ended up in my garage unused).

In all, I spent $340 ($200 from VIP, $140 installation)... much better than the nearly $900 MoM was going to charge me!

Here is a picture of the final install.... looks pretty sweet if I say so myself!

 

What computer settings?
BTW, they look great. The black was a good choice. Even the classic looks larger than OEM.

 

Unfortunately, I can't seem to set a bunch of things from my onboard computer now. When I use the left stalk's button on the info/setting, I can no longer specifiy how long the parking lights go on... the icon nver comes up trough the scroll menu. I'm upset about it, but don;t really know what to do about it. OF course, I'd feel idiotic going to MINI with the issue.... they'd charge me a ton of cash and penalize me for going it on my own, I'm sure.

IT's better than the first go 'round where my running lamps would only go on if the lights were in the "on" position. Also, the fog lights would only work if in the lights were "on" too.

The driving lights work totally independently now, and are BRIGHT!!!! They actually make my standard (non-xenon) lights look as if they're dull in comparison. They are very wide in their "throw" and make late nights a lot better to see / be seen.
I'm less bummed about the DRLs, and more wanting to change the settings for the turn signals. Again, this option has somehow been disabled due to the installation. I;m pretty sure it has nothing to do with the VIP lights... right?

Any advice from you good folks would surely be appreciated. I might call up Van from VIP and ask his advice, too.

My only advice to anyone getting the lights installed would be to really take a lot of time and think about where you want the light switch placed. I was so concerned with mine being hidden that it's actually a pain to turn off with oncoming traffic. Maybe that's why the OEM ones work with your brights, but I would rather have complete control.

 

that's a bold statement, Dubian...
But, THANK YOU!!!!

 

The price does indeed seem incredible. I was all for getting the factory driving lights until I was quoted $900 installed. I'm leaning hard to pulling the trigger on an order for these bad-boys.

 

Nice! This is the kind of info I was interested in.

mslkmini - The lights look great! As for functionality, it sounds as though you have yours setup to work independently from everything else? Also, where did you mount the switch that was a pain to get to? After reading this I began to doubt my original idea placing the switch in a empty toggle switch slot, and thought bout putting it where the OEM one would go (perhaps even buying the oem switch?). Any personal recomendations on this?

One other question, If I were to do the installation myself would it make the computer go all haywire, or was that just a result of the slovenly installers you brought it to. You didn't bring it to VIP custom parts did you, cause if you did wouldn't they have down a stand up job? That would be in Arizona, and from the looks of your pictures, it only snows in Flagstaff, right?

I guess it would be in my best interest as well as everyone else to just call Van directly and ask questions.

-Levi-

 

Looks great! I may do the same thing. I would probably access the firewall via the passenger side grommet behind the battery as I did for a prior install. Very easy to access. I guess I would use an Add-A-Circuit to the fusebox. I don't want to use a relay. I prefer independent use. As for the switch, not sure where I would install it. Where's your switch?

 

Yes, I'm in NY (Although it stopped snowing here yeares ago... that picture was taken in the Berkshires, MA). The installers are idiots... and surely screwed something up. It's enough of a reason for me to move to AZ... just to be near a great, knowledgeable aftermarket MINI mod.

As for installing the lamps yourself... it really depends on your skills and confidence in them. I'd go to someone you could trust who you know will actually read directions.

The light switch was installed waaaaayy down low, by my left knee. I would have loved it to be in the missing slot where I cheaped-out and didn't get the rear fogs. It was too difficult to source this part... but if anyone knows where to get one, I would pay someone to extend the wire to there in a heartbeat.

Wherever you put a switch, just make sure it's easy to turn off while driving as it is to turn on. Those pups are BRIGHT... I'd hate to forget to turn them off for oncoming traffic. Right now, it's a bit like having to tie my shoe while driving. (Bad idea jeans.)

 

3rd party DRL installs have no effect on the computer so don't worry about that. You'd be better off finding a good place for a switch as opposed to using a toggle. Unless you're a glutton for punishment! (search through some threads about taking the front console off)

As lacning74 said, it's easy to get through the firewall on the passenger side. With 3rd party lights that's best anyway because you're probably going to use the battery for juice. The add-a-circuit is also the way to go. lacning74 has done a lot of this wiring stuff so look for his threads and responses. (I'm pluggin' ya lacning74!)

The one this to consider is whether you want the DRLs to be used just with the high beams or independently. I chose the latter.