I asked my dealer if they could install the rear fogs on mine before I pick it up. The answer was a resounding no. They don't do rear fog light installations at all...for any price.

 

Installing the lights in the rear bumper is real is easy and takes only a couple minutes once you find the connector hidden inside the bumper (they snap in).

Installing the switch into the air conditioning controls is a real PITA, but also doable as a DIY. Dealers will only do it if they change the entire A/C control unit (costs $550.00+labor) for a $6.00 switch toggle and $35.00 cover ....

Any reason why you can not do it yourself ?

 

I may be able to do it myself, I'll have to take a look at it when I get the car. From what I understand though, the OBC needs to be reprogrammed...and it looks like MINI isn't willing to do that. I could have non-functioning rear fogs I guess, if I'm really bummed out about how it looks.

 

Yes, computer has to be enabled for it. Are you in a state that does not allow rear fogs ? Are there are mini dealers that you can go to ? The only reason a dealer will not enable an option under any condition is if violates local laws. Some folks have crossed state lines and got there options enabled that way

 

Not sure about the law. I'm buying the car in Kansas, I live in Illinois, and I work in Missouri...surely, it must be legal in ONE of those states

 

Oh heck, you have plenty of options available to you. Do not worry, you will get them enabled. I think the rear fogs are only an issue in a couple states.

 

The issue in CT is not the law, its the factory authorization for programming so dealers will be covered. Dealers who work procedures on cars that are not authorized by the factory for the specific fix or procedure are not covered by Mini/BMW or Mini USA. As such most are not willing to take the risk of a damaging the car for fear of having to pay for it. Seems simple to me, hot wire to toggle to lights and your done given it's already prewired. Not so says Mini USA. The amp draw and voltage has to be "programmed" so we don't get overloads or fires. This according to Mini. Yeah Sure just another way to make a buck Here is a quote:

[SIZE=2] "Ok, the debate is no longer if it is pre-wired. The point is that there is no approved installation of these rear fog lights at this time, but the accessories technicians state that the future install will be very similar to the .pdf file you sent me. What you don't seem to understand is that they have to ensure the programming is up to par, and the install is up to factory standards before authorizing it as a dealer installed item. So, it has been confirmed that there is no authorized dealer installed rear fog light setup for an R56 available at this time, per MINI USA Aftersales department. What I can tell you is that this bit of e-mail tag has seemed to of kicked them into gear to get this done sooner! Thanks"
[/SIZE]

 

How hard is the switch to install if I don't want it actually hooked up?

 

Had my rear foglights retrofitted at Prestige Mini in Mahwah, NJ. No issues with factory authorization. Parts + 110 labor.

 

The retrofit is available for the 07s but not for the 08s. Got the same "no" from my dealer and (for what it's worth) from my inquiry at MiniUSA.

 

My bad. Do you know what changes they made to the 08's that it's not possible to do the retrofit? No more pre-wiring? By they way, nice Mini specially the color. The bonnet stripes are not a bad touch either..

 

I ordered the rear lenses and bulbs ($67.50 delivered from Pelican Parts), popped out the black hole covers and snapped in the red lenses. That part of the operation took 2 1/2 minutes. It looks much better.

 

Did the same thing. parts from Pelican, put the housings in, looks great, still waiting for my dealer to program. Some dealers are certainly more flexible as they understand there is little risk of creating problems. Others, like mine are gun shy as they made other mods, that they probably should not have and now, after a customer claim, they will not do any mods without "Factory Authorization". Chickens

 

The e-mail I got from MINI was canned <At this time, I am not aware of a rear fog light retrofit kit available for the 2008 MINI Cooper S. Unfortunately, as most models have different specifications, we do not have information regarding parts or technical support for installation. >

I am really digging yours!

 

I don't know if this option has been mentioned yet, but Minspeed has a kit that will turn the rear fogs into additional brake lights, they even offer a kit for those who did not get the fogs originally. I'm considering this for my car, not a bad deal at 75 bucks. Although it's very low on my mod to do list.

http://www.minspeed.net/R56BLK.htm

 

Ooooo, nice. Question now is if its legal to have that many brakelights in all states? Also, does it still function as a foglight when you need it to or it stays as a permanent brake light?

 

I think the answer is no. What you are doing is tying into your normal brake lights with the harness supplied. There are not enough wires going to each light to both. To have fog and brake, you would need at least 3 wires and a dual filament bulb.

 

I like the Minispeed solution. I didn't get the rear on my justacooper and they told me they were working on a retrofit to make it a brake light.

 

hmm, the minispeed solution looks like a reasonable option. Has anyone here done it?

So the full kit (only $40 extra) provides everything you need to install if you don't have rear fogs in the first place? But it obviously doesn't include the toggle switch like the kit from Pelican because with the brake kit wiring, there is no longer the "option" to have them as your brake lights, correct?

Hmm, not I'm not sure which option I would like more....also wondering about the legality of having 2 extra brake lights.

And the rear fogs with the minispeed brake kit would act in the same way as the upper 3rd brake light, right? Off except when applying brakes?

 

Yeah I think you got it. No switch from Minispeed because you're just adding the brake light capability, not fog. And it (they) acts like a third brake light like the upper.

 

[quote=amazingrando;2111373]I don't know if this option has been mentioned yet, but Minspeed has a kit that will turn the rear fogs into additional brake lights, they even offer a kit for those who did not get the fogs originally. I'm considering this for my car, not a bad deal at 75 bucks. Although it's very low on my mod to do list.

http://www.minspeed.net/R56BLK.htm[/quote

Surfblue says: I have red brake lights in those "holes". That's the way my 07 (picked it up at the dealer 4/6/07) came set up. Yeah, I have an open slot in the top and bottom toggle rows, but somehow I sleep at night.
Keep your foot in it, they'll never get close enough to SEE your taillights.

 

Every time someone posts that their dealer did the reprogram I copy it and send it to my SA. I know he is not happy with me but maybe it will get done. I'm going to start copying MINI USA on all of them as well.
So, everyone that has had their dealer do the reprogram should post and I will deluge them all
Isn't that what retirement is for HA

 

This looks like a great option, actually better utility than the fog lights themselves. I'm getting ready to install a receiver hitch for carrying a bike rack, and it would make sense to add this while I've got everything apart.

One question though: Since it appears these Minispeed lights wire in parallel with the brake lights, do they also function as additional tail lights when you aren't braking?

 

I ordered the fill-in lights from Minspeed that function as extra brake lights. I called Minspeed and these lights do not function as tail lights - they only illuminate under braking. Even so, I think that extra brake lights are at least as useful as rear fog lights, and maybe moreso. When I had an R53, I got rear-ended by a girl on her cellphone who said she didn't even notice my "little" car until the last minute. I'll add these brake lights to the rear valence while installing a receiver hitch from Minidomore.

 

does anyone think it's possible to wire the Minispeed kit or the MINI fog lights as functional extra tail lights and also extra brake lights?