R56 Rear Fog Lights - Option Question
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,026
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From: Olympia, WA
I also installed the extra brake light kit, albeit with some help and it looks great!
However, we ended up breaking/bending two of the tabs on the tail light housing while prying off the first chrome trim piece/ring. Were a bit too rough I guess and found that it was much easier to gently pry on the inside the trim piece - between the light and the trim piece and not the trim piece and the body of the car.
We also found that the harness was too short for us after we had spliced about as close up to the connector as you see in the pic in the instructions. Not sure why we had that issue but we had to re-splice much lower down the wires and that solved the problem.
Anyway, I'm very pleased with the final result...the car looks great and no more annoying black spots where the rear fogs should have been! Though, I still wonder about the legality of the extra tail and brake lights (more so the extra tail lights) it does give the car a unique look that will hopefully keep tailgaters slightly off my rear.
However, we ended up breaking/bending two of the tabs on the tail light housing while prying off the first chrome trim piece/ring. Were a bit too rough I guess and found that it was much easier to gently pry on the inside the trim piece - between the light and the trim piece and not the trim piece and the body of the car.
We also found that the harness was too short for us after we had spliced about as close up to the connector as you see in the pic in the instructions. Not sure why we had that issue but we had to re-splice much lower down the wires and that solved the problem.
Anyway, I'm very pleased with the final result...the car looks great and no more annoying black spots where the rear fogs should have been! Though, I still wonder about the legality of the extra tail and brake lights (more so the extra tail lights) it does give the car a unique look that will hopefully keep tailgaters slightly off my rear.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 871
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From: St. Louis, MO
And I second DrewN's comments; GREAT MOD! The lights really completed the rear bumper of the car.
Here are some before/after shots. Sorry if you can't see the actual illumination of the lights, it was too bright in the garage to pick it up.
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 111
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I'm so sorry this is such a late response - I haven't been on here for a while. I'm having it installed tomorrow by Patrick MINI for $200. :D I'll let you know how it goes.
Wait, you mean you got a dealer to install it? Were you quoted a price by them?[/quote]
Wait, you mean you got a dealer to install it? Were you quoted a price by them?[/quote]
BTW it's interesting that Patrick was willing to install it and all, considering it is an aftermarket modification which MINI USA likely won't cover under warranty, if given the choice.
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 111
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They installed it today - works and looks great! (I hadn't thought about the warranty issue - hope I don't have any problems.) Regarding installing it myself, that would never have happened. I'm not mechanically inclined. :D
Cool, at least if you run into any problems you can bring it back to the dealer. But just to reiterate tjtull's point, the install was definitely on the easy side and I'm glad I took the time to do it myself.
BTW it's interesting that Patrick was willing to install it and all, considering it is an aftermarket modification which MINI USA likely won't cover under warranty, if given the choice.
BTW it's interesting that Patrick was willing to install it and all, considering it is an aftermarket modification which MINI USA likely won't cover under warranty, if given the choice.
Last edited by abcjh4; May 16, 2008 at 05:11 AM.
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,488
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From: Coralville, Iowa
4th Gear
Joined: May 2008
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From: Twin Cities, MN
Curious... was that for parts and labor? If so that is a really good price!
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 111
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You're talking about the rear FOG retrofit. I asked them about that first and they told me the same thing - that it would cost a LOT of money, so I went with the brake light kit from MinSpeed. It's way way cheaper, does not involve any installation in dash or toggles, etc.
I'll post more info. in just a minute.
I'll post more info. in just a minute.
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 111
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I provided the materials to Patrick MINI. I bought the "Full Light Kit" from MinSpeed, which includes the GoMiniGo "Add-A-Brake Light Kit" and OEM light covers. The basic brake light kit costs $35, and it's an additional $40 for the "Full Light Kit", for a total of $75.00 - http://www.minspeed.net/R56BLK.htm.
Patrick MINI only charged me $200 to do the installation. It was the first time they have installed the kit and they had no problems with it at all. (Matt and Blake rock!) I gave them the following instructions (thank you to FBIRCH for providing the instructions in an earlier post). Although the instructions say "Fog Lights" it is actually for the brake light installation.
Patrick MINI only charged me $200 to do the installation. It was the first time they have installed the kit and they had no problems with it at all. (Matt and Blake rock!) I gave them the following instructions (thank you to FBIRCH for providing the instructions in an earlier post). Although the instructions say "Fog Lights" it is actually for the brake light installation.
Last edited by abcjh4; May 23, 2008 at 05:30 AM.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
I provided the kit from MinSpeed (which included the GoMiniGo brake light wire up materials and the OEM brake light covers). It costs $35 just for the brake light materials and an additional $40 for the "Full Light Kit" for a total of $75.00 - http://www.minspeed.net/R56BLK.htm.
Patrick MINI only charged me $200 to do the installation. It was the first time they have installed the kit and they had no problems with it at all. I gave them these instructions (thank you to FBIRCH for providing these instructions in an earlier post).
It cost
Patrick MINI only charged me $200 to do the installation. It was the first time they have installed the kit and they had no problems with it at all. I gave them these instructions (thank you to FBIRCH for providing these instructions in an earlier post).
It cost
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 111
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They even told me at Patrick MINI that the install was not difficult, and I would have done it if I were a bit more confident. For someone like me, believe me, the $200 is worth it. I was having my color line swapped out anyway, so it wasn't even an extra trip.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 871
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From: St. Louis, MO
When I got a look at the instructions, I knew it was something I (even with my limited skill) could manage.
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 111
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Dude, I should have just driven to St. Louis and had you do it. hehehe
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 0
From: Coralville, Iowa
Two Dealerships Said It Couldn't Be Done. CLASSIC Did It!
I have wanted rear fog lamps for my 2007 MCS ever since I saw another MINI that had them. His lamps were bright enough to be distracting even in no-fog, noon daylight. When I ordered my MCS I had thought these lamps were just a gimmick, and "saved" myself $100 by omitting them.
It was a bad decision, and I have been determined to make it right. Drivers around here maintain their God-given speed, regardless of poor visibility.
So, this spring I talked with two of my nearest dealerships, "only" about 200 miles away, about retrofitting the rear fog lamps. Both of them said it was a no-go. The whole electronics panel on the dash would have to be replaced. Then wires would have to be run to the rear bumper. And retrofit software wasn't available. They knew. They had checked all their resources. One even said he contacted MINI USA's main office in New Jersey, and they told him it was impossible.
Well, today Classic MINI of Mentor, Ohio did it for me. Great people. I'm in a motel room on my way home now, with rear fogs installed and programmed. A mere 1200 mile round trip. But it's done.
Why the closer dealerships don't have the right info baffles me.
In any case, if you need the retrofit, and your local dealer thinks you're nuts, talk to Jayson at Classic MINI, or Zach, the Service Advisor who helped me today.
If you haven't ordered your MINI yet, include the rear fog lamps @ $100. Cheap. Very cheap.
It was a bad decision, and I have been determined to make it right. Drivers around here maintain their God-given speed, regardless of poor visibility.
So, this spring I talked with two of my nearest dealerships, "only" about 200 miles away, about retrofitting the rear fog lamps. Both of them said it was a no-go. The whole electronics panel on the dash would have to be replaced. Then wires would have to be run to the rear bumper. And retrofit software wasn't available. They knew. They had checked all their resources. One even said he contacted MINI USA's main office in New Jersey, and they told him it was impossible.
Well, today Classic MINI of Mentor, Ohio did it for me. Great people. I'm in a motel room on my way home now, with rear fogs installed and programmed. A mere 1200 mile round trip. But it's done.
Why the closer dealerships don't have the right info baffles me.
In any case, if you need the retrofit, and your local dealer thinks you're nuts, talk to Jayson at Classic MINI, or Zach, the Service Advisor who helped me today.
If you haven't ordered your MINI yet, include the rear fog lamps @ $100. Cheap. Very cheap.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Well, today Classic MINI of Mentor, Ohio did it for me. Great people. I'm in a motel room on my way home now, with rear fogs installed and programmed. A mere 1200 mile round trip. But it's done.
Why the closer dealerships don't have the right info baffles me.
In any case, if you need the retrofit, and your local dealer thinks you're nuts, talk to Jayson at Classic MINI, or Zach, the Service Advisor who helped me today.
If you haven't ordered your MINI yet, include the rear fog lamps @ $100. Cheap. Very cheap.
May I ask what they charged?
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 0
From: Coralville, Iowa
Operating Lever $6.14
Switch Cover $62.72
Fog Light Left $21.56
Fog Light Right $21.56
Shop Supplies $22.00
Labor $262.50
TOTAL $394.58
Switch Cover $62.72
Fog Light Left $21.56
Fog Light Right $21.56
Shop Supplies $22.00
Labor $262.50
TOTAL $394.58
