Originally Posted by Stu

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

Originally Posted by fbirch

All good points, but I'd like to point out that when the rear fogs are installed as extra brake/tail lights using the kit from Minspeed, they're not any brighter than the regular tail lights and therefore no more annoying to other drivers than the tail lights themselves. When the brakes are applied, they're about as bright as the regular brake lights. My last Mini was rear-ended while braking by a distracted driver who claimed she didn't notice my "little" car until the last minute. I really believe that extra brake lights are more beneficial in most scenarios except possibly for owners who live in areas where fog is a real concern.

Originally Posted by fbirch

All good points, but I'd like to point out that when the rear fogs are installed as extra brake/tail lights using the kit from Minspeed, they're not any brighter than the regular tail lights and therefore no more annoying to other drivers than the tail lights themselves.

Originally Posted by r56mini

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

Originally Posted by daffodildeb

Check with your MA--depending on where your car is in the production process, it might be possible to change it!

Originally Posted by gmhl10

I ordered my car without the rear brake lights...
And after reading this thread... now I'm regretting it.

Originally Posted by fbirch

If you had ordred these lights to be added during the build process, they would NOT have been installed as brake lights. They would have been installed as fog lights only, which means you could really only use them when it's foggy or rainy, and only then if you remember to throw a switch. If you install the after market kit from Minspeed, here's what you'll get:

1. the ugly blank-out plates in rear bumper valence get filled with the same good-looking light assemblies as MINI installs at the factory when they build the car with factory fog lights.
2. Every time you switch on your head lights, these after market rear valence lights will automatically come on and act as extra tail lights. They give the rear of the car a very disctinctive look at night, that is unlike most other cars, and improves the visibility to ther drivers. Unlike the factory fog lights, they are not excessively bright and annoying to other drivers, so it's perfectly okay to run them all the time - even when it's not foggy.
3. While not as bright as the factiry fogs would have been, they still provide extra light down lower than the regular tail lights, and thus still give you some of the benefit of the factory lights when it really is foggy. Even better, you don't have to remember to switch them on - they come on automatically as long as the headlights are on.
4. When you apply the brakes, they get brighter and provide extra warning to drivers behind you that you're slowing.

IMO, this is a better total set of attributes than the factory fog lights themselves provide. And you can add this kit whenevr you feel like it with no special programming needed from BMW. Plus it's a little bit cheaper than the factory fog lights. So instead of regretting your decision, take advantage of the benefits of Minspeed's aftermarket light kit!

Originally Posted by gmhl10

Nope... car is already en route to the VDC.

Originally Posted by dhoosee

One of the top three reasons that I ordered the Cooper vs the MCS was for the center-of-the-bumper rear fog! I love the look. Just my personal opinion though...your opinions may vary!

Originally Posted by daffodildeb

Wow--unusual reason to get a Cooper instead of S!

Originally Posted by tugboatboy

If you get them then where are you going to put the ejection seat deployment toggle ??