R56 Rear fog discovery on 2011 MCS
#1
Rear fog discovery on 2011 MCS
Well I was poking around the underside of my Mini today while cleaning her up and decided to have a look at the rear fog/backup lights. It turns out that on the 2011 the backup and rear fog are built into the same housing. The rear fog does have a bulb installed and the housing only has one electrical plug also.
This leads me to believe that adding the rear fog to a 2011 might be just a matter of installing the switch and possibly just enabling the option in the ECU or whatever module controls such things.
I did not have a chance to remove the rear of the housing a look at it in detail. Anyone have a 2011 with the rear fog that can see if its the same setup?
This leads me to believe that adding the rear fog to a 2011 might be just a matter of installing the switch and possibly just enabling the option in the ECU or whatever module controls such things.
I did not have a chance to remove the rear of the housing a look at it in detail. Anyone have a 2011 with the rear fog that can see if its the same setup?
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#7
I won't. I added the light and the switch to my '09 and the dealer still hasn't figured out how to program it yet.
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#9
Is there a reason that a fog light couldn't be added on a separate, independent circuit? Just run power directly from the battery (through a fuse) to a 12V relay - power from relay to lights - control wire from relay to switch in cockpit. It seems to me that the hardest part would be installing the switch in the dash, and finding a way to get the wire from the switch to the relay (through the car body somewhere). Other than that - what has to be programmed? The radio and Lucas spotlights on my 1969 MG are wired in this way - totally independent of the rest of the car's wiring (a GOOD thing in a 40+ year old British car!!).
Why wouldn't this work on the MINI? No need to involve the computer in something as simple as a fog light, to my way of thinking.
Anyone have an opinion?
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#10
#11
2011 Rear Fog Switch and Switch Cover Part Numbers
Cover Part # 64-11-3-456-232 $88.89
Switch Part # 64-11-3-452-459 $8.87
I have an appointment on Tuesday to see if they can program them to work. We will see... stay tuned!
#12
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
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The dealer needs to to into ISTA/P and retrofit option $5AA for the rear fog light. (BMW refers to it as NSL standing for Nebelschlussleuchte in German). The IHK/IHKA module (controls the switches), the FRM (lighting) module, and the instrument cluster module (to warn you the bulb is out) all get changed during this process.
If your car is not running the same software version that the dealer has, it can take 4+ hours to complete as everything in the car gets updated to the latest version before they can process the retrofit.
If your car is not running the same software version that the dealer has, it can take 4+ hours to complete as everything in the car gets updated to the latest version before they can process the retrofit.
Last edited by strobeyprobey; 11-17-2011 at 09:37 AM.
#13
I hated the blank spot as well. I was able to order the Switch and Switch Cover. I installed it last night... and love the complete look it now has.
Cover Part # 64-11-3-456-232 $88.89
Switch Part # 64-11-3-452-459 $8.87
I have an appointment on Tuesday to see if they can program them to work. We will see... stay tuned!
Cover Part # 64-11-3-456-232 $88.89
Switch Part # 64-11-3-452-459 $8.87
I have an appointment on Tuesday to see if they can program them to work. We will see... stay tuned!
Last I spoke to my SA he called one of his techs up about this. They said it can be done but I will need to purchase the switch and cover plus have them program the car to activate it.
He said is should run around $150-$175 for it all. Not that bad actually.
#14
Well I was poking around the underside of my Mini today while cleaning her up and decided to have a look at the rear fog/backup lights. It turns out that on the 2011 the backup and rear fog are built into the same housing. The rear fog does have a bulb installed and the housing only has one electrical plug also.
This leads me to believe that adding the rear fog to a 2011 might be just a matter of installing the switch and possibly just enabling the option in the ECU or whatever module controls such things.
I did not have a chance to remove the rear of the housing a look at it in detail. Anyone have a 2011 with the rear fog that can see if its the same setup?
This leads me to believe that adding the rear fog to a 2011 might be just a matter of installing the switch and possibly just enabling the option in the ECU or whatever module controls such things.
I did not have a chance to remove the rear of the housing a look at it in detail. Anyone have a 2011 with the rear fog that can see if its the same setup?
From those discussions and my own poking around.
- The toggle switch is only a handle which presses tiny micro switches on the circuit board. The micro switches are already present.
- The fog and other lights are controlled by the footwell module (computer).
- The system must be programmed for the option to work even if you put in a toggle. Some dealers won't or can't figure out how to program the option.
- Not all MINI's (Clubman) have the wiring in place (from footwell to the fixture), even though the bulb is present. Early '10 Clubmans had the wiring later builds did not. If not, there will be a wire missing from the connector. I think it was 5 wires with and 4 without. I'll have to check.
- The fixture has a metal buss structure for power and common (ground) to all the bulbs. (Not wires to each socket). It would be difficult but not impossible to modify the fixture to isolate the fog bulb if you wanted to run the fog separately. Note that the common buss in the fixture is not connected to the chassis ground. It is controlled by the footwell module. It's not like working on older cars and trailers. Hopefully you would not get a bulb out warning?
#15
I hated the blank spot as well. I was able to order the Switch and Switch Cover. I installed it last night... and love the complete look it now has.
Cover Part # 64-11-3-456-232 $88.89
Switch Part # 64-11-3-452-459 $8.87
I have an appointment on Tuesday to see if they can program them to work. We will see... stay tuned!
Cover Part # 64-11-3-456-232 $88.89
Switch Part # 64-11-3-452-459 $8.87
I have an appointment on Tuesday to see if they can program them to work. We will see... stay tuned!
#16
This has been discussed several times on the Clubman forum. Clubmans always had the fog, brake & turn in the same fixture.
From those discussions and my own poking around.
- The toggle switch is only a handle which presses tiny micro switches on the circuit board. The micro switches are already present.
- The fog and other lights are controlled by the footwell module (computer).
- The system must be programmed for the option to work even if you put in a toggle. Some dealers won't or can't figure out how to program the option.
- Not all MINI's (Clubman) have the wiring in place (from footwell to the fixture), even though the bulb is present. Early '10 Clubmans had the wiring later builds did not. If not, there will be a wire missing from the connector. I think it was 5 wires with and 4 without. I'll have to check.
- The fixture has a metal buss structure for power and common (ground) to all the bulbs. (Not wires to each socket). It would be difficult but not impossible to modify the fixture to isolate the fog bulb if you wanted to run the fog separately. Note that the common buss in the fixture is not connected to the chassis ground. It is controlled by the footwell module. It's not like working on older cars and trailers. Hopefully you would not get a bulb out warning?
From those discussions and my own poking around.
- The toggle switch is only a handle which presses tiny micro switches on the circuit board. The micro switches are already present.
- The fog and other lights are controlled by the footwell module (computer).
- The system must be programmed for the option to work even if you put in a toggle. Some dealers won't or can't figure out how to program the option.
- Not all MINI's (Clubman) have the wiring in place (from footwell to the fixture), even though the bulb is present. Early '10 Clubmans had the wiring later builds did not. If not, there will be a wire missing from the connector. I think it was 5 wires with and 4 without. I'll have to check.
- The fixture has a metal buss structure for power and common (ground) to all the bulbs. (Not wires to each socket). It would be difficult but not impossible to modify the fixture to isolate the fog bulb if you wanted to run the fog separately. Note that the common buss in the fixture is not connected to the chassis ground. It is controlled by the footwell module. It's not like working on older cars and trailers. Hopefully you would not get a bulb out warning?
The 2011 rear lighting setup is different from the 2010 Cooper and Clubman. From what the tech said everything is in the car except the switch and cover.
#17
That is exciting news! If that is true, I'm very likely going to have this retro-enabled on my '11 R55. Keep us posted if you do yours!
#22
Inskip MINI in Rhode Island just called --- IT IS DONE! I now have Rear Fogs on my MINI!
They started working on it yesterday about Noon... and ended up keeping the car overnight (giving me a 2011 Clubman to drive, which I actually liked and would consider one in the future). They were on a MISSION to get it done. Me, I was giving up on it.
They called this morning about 9:00 confirming "KEVIN FIGURED IT OUT" -
They started working on it yesterday about Noon... and ended up keeping the car overnight (giving me a 2011 Clubman to drive, which I actually liked and would consider one in the future). They were on a MISSION to get it done. Me, I was giving up on it.
They called this morning about 9:00 confirming "KEVIN FIGURED IT OUT" -
#25
Picked up the car and headed home to Cape Cod - with the REAR FOGS SHINING BRIGHT!
Here's what can tell you - as written on my invoice: A "New Vehicle Order with Added Rear Fog Light Option from MINI". "Loaded the New Vehicle Order and Programmed the complete vehicle".
This "programming" must be true as I see a difference where the Trip Odometer is positioned. Before it was to the right of the mileage and always showing. Now, it above the mileage where you can toggle to see MPG's and such. No big deal.
Now with all that said, telling Inskip that I posted they were able to activate my rear fogs... they stated laughing saying "Your the First, Your the Last"... we'll see
In closing I want to see that Inskip MINI Service department are the best. I'd send them info from the site and were always communicating with me what was happening. Just for this experience, I would buy another MINI without hestitation.
Parts: $100
Labor: $150
Result: One Happy DonOnCapeCod
The Switch
The Indicator
The Finished Product
Here's what can tell you - as written on my invoice: A "New Vehicle Order with Added Rear Fog Light Option from MINI". "Loaded the New Vehicle Order and Programmed the complete vehicle".
This "programming" must be true as I see a difference where the Trip Odometer is positioned. Before it was to the right of the mileage and always showing. Now, it above the mileage where you can toggle to see MPG's and such. No big deal.
Now with all that said, telling Inskip that I posted they were able to activate my rear fogs... they stated laughing saying "Your the First, Your the Last"... we'll see
In closing I want to see that Inskip MINI Service department are the best. I'd send them info from the site and were always communicating with me what was happening. Just for this experience, I would buy another MINI without hestitation.
Parts: $100
Labor: $150
Result: One Happy DonOnCapeCod
The Switch
The Indicator
The Finished Product