...how so?

 

+1, spread the word

BTW some forum members are still waiting on MINI to allow the dealerships to either retroftit the fogs or reprogram their self-installed jobs, from responses read here and from personal experience they will do neither right now (for 2008 models - but strangely enough they allow it for 2007 ). Maybe that will change one day.

 

I emailed Minspeed to ask about NOT ordering the rear fog and just getting their kit. Here's the response:

"ORDER THE FOG LIGHT! If you don't there is a chance MINI, in their cost-cutting mode these days, will not run the wiring to hook up the lamp later."

 

I'll jump on the bandwagon here. GET THE REAR FOG LIGHTS!!

I regretted not getting them when I ordered mine. If you can find a dealer that will install them after you take delivery (which is not easy, many say they CAN'T do it), they will charge you upwards of $600 for the install.

I chose another alternative to the pricey dealer install. I ordered the fog lights and the brake light kit and installed it myself. I don't have a toggle switch but at least it fills out the rear bumper and I have an extra set of brake lights/running lights.

 

Get them! I totally regret not getting them! I wish that my MA had told me to get them. I'm still irritated about it. Eventually I'll pay the extra money and get them added.

 

So true...you never know what they'll do at the factory. Current 2008 models rolling off the production line as far as I understand are still prewired to allow the official rear fog retrofit, but who knows what they'll do in the future if you don't order it.

Bottom line - ORDER THE $#%! REAR FOGS!

 

Get them. When I ordered my car I didn't, and now I regret it. It's the ONLY thing I'd change on a new order. My thinking was that we don't get fog here, so why bother? It wasn't until someone happened to mention heavy rain that I had one of those "doh!" moments. THAT we do get! And gee, what's rain if you drop a few degrees? The Chicago I grew up in has lots of funny white stuff. Rear fogs could come in handy there...

 

Drive behind a car on a clear night with a fog light on, you'll find out. It's annoying. It's not much different than passing another car with it's high beams on. Fog lights are for low visibility not clear conditions.

 

I would say that if you're going to do a lot of backwards driving, then definitely, go for it!

 

what i dont understand is WHY hasnt mini just made it included with the car, and dont say its about the money, they could have easily just added the $100 into the price of the car when they upped the price from 07 to 08 and no one would have ever known/cared. i kinda wish i got them now too. its just another toggle to toy with and i would very much enjoy flashing them at tailgaters. why give the option of having rear ones or not when they give you the front ones? most cars only have fronts, if mini is going to have front and back ones give us both!!! not half the package.

 

I don't have them. I never need them. Even the front foglamps do nothing for me in the fog. I can see just as far w/o the fogs on. The foglights are cosmetic IMO.

 

I believe rear fogs are illegal in Oregon... or one of those states.

 

Fog lights are NOT (just) cosmetic unless you consider the ability of other cars on the road to see you in low visibility conditions cosmetic.

 

indeed, i forgot that they are illegal in some states, but still in the ones that they are not they should just include them. Go figure i was driving in some thick fog last night (not in my mini) on the highway and it made me wish i has ordered them just to make the car more visible as big rigs flew past and other cars and the visiblity wasnt very far. i admit the fog lights dont do much for your visiblity front or back but i do belive they help majorly it other people seeing you....plus during photoshoots they look cool.

 

No one has run into anyone I know in the fog and none of them has rear fogs. That's why I say that. IMHO, the standard red tail lights provide sufficient visibility for me. I have seen in the news about pile ups in Italy or somewhere so for some people it could be life and death option.

 

While I respect MDM's opinion (everyone has one!), bonnet stripes and mud flaps aren't going to potentially save you from getting rear-ended in rain/snow/or other low-visibility conditions (unless they're reflective, of course ). Just my $.02.

BTW..I'm ordering my MC this week...with center mounted rear fog.

 

I'm curious--my '07 has two cut-outs (I didn't order them). How did you get a center mount? Or did they change the option?

 

I have been saved a number of times by other motorers' rear fog lights personally, in rain, snow, and fog. Having my own rear fog on in the same conditions has seemed to help those behind me keep a safe braking distance from my rear bumper as well.

Rear tailights don't provide nearly the visibility that any rear fog that's worth a damn does, IMO.

I believe the rear fogs are a much better investment than purely cosmetic options like chrome, white turn signals, stripes, etc. personally.

 

I'm buying a Cooper, which has the rear fog mounted in the center of the bumper. The Cooper S has two fog lights in the cut-outs that you describe.

 

One wonders how many zillion-car crashes could be avoided with them. I think of a recent one in Florida due to smoke. That's fairly common in that area--there are even warning signs.

 

I back in my driveway every day and remember at night how that $100 dollar option could have helped . Now I am trying to add it after the fact .
GET THE LIGHTS .

 

How does that help in your situation and why do you back in everyday?

 

If you get the kit I recommended, it doesn't matter whether or not BMW installs the factory fog light wiring harness - you don't use the factory fog wiring to connect this kit. The aftermarket kit that installs the fog lights as extra brake/tail lights comes with its own wiring that connects inside the tail light assembly. I added this kit to my car - which has the factory fog light wiring harnesses under the bumper - and I had no use for those harnesses. The only reason to care about the factory fog light harnesses, is if you want to retrofit fog lights to your car so that they're controlled via a toggle switch on the dashboard at some later time (assuming BMW changes their stance on retrofits). Because I much prefer to have these auxillary light ons all the time - not just when I remember to throw a switch - and more importantly to function as extra brake lights, I'll never need to retrofit a toggle switch to control them, and I'll never need the factory wiring harness.

 

back area looks unfinished w/o them. Cheap, nice option.

 

When it is really foggy, you are meant to turn your fogs lights on and the main headlights down to side lights - this way your main lights are not reflecting in the fog at eye level - the fog lights shine lower. This is why high beams are even worse in the fog.

The rear fog lights are required by law in Europe and are high-intensity. They are very annoying when left on in clear conditions. In most cars, if not all, you have to turn them on physically every time you turn the car on to avoid leaving them on by accident.

People also forget that driving in fog is like driving in light rain - use your wipers occasionally to improve visibility.

Being from the UK, fog is one of my areas of expertise!

As for ordering them here in the US - I agree with what has been said - having a blank toggle switch and panel in the rear filled is worth $100