[MINIAC]

Rear fog lights were not first available as a factory option until December 2003.

Despite the fact that the bulbs and wiring were present in the tail light assemblies, and that rear fog lights were an option in Europe, MINI USA originally chose not to offer them.

Some owners used them as extra brake lights, while many undertook a quest to get the fog lights to operate.

A grassroots petition started in November 2002 caused MINI USA to rethink their position on as evidenced by this May 2003 Autoweek article:

Quote:

Mini will get a rear fog lamp in the not-too-distant future, says Jack Pitney, head of Mini’s U.S. operation.

Big deal?

Well, it is to 729 signers of an e-petition (petitiononline.com/MINIfogs) irked over a disabled fog lamp that dresses the Mini’s rear end.

Europe gets the working edition of the lamp, but U.S.-spec cars are lacking the switch and software to activate the light. Pitney says all U.S. Minis, new and used, will get rear fog lamps.

The "not-too-distant" future for used MINIs turned out to be the end September 2003.


A rear fog light was not a factory option on the 2005 model until November 2004.

In July 2004 the fog lights changed from one in each tail light assembly to a single one in the rear bumper position formerly occupied by the reverse light. Unfortunately, because the new fog light location was illegal in California and Oregon, MINI USA decided not to offer the rear fog light as an option.

Once again deluged by customer complaints, MINI USA obtained a waiver from California on the fog light location and made the fog light a factory option, except in Oregon. In February 2005 a bulletin was issued for retrofitting the rear fog light, but it only applied to cars built after mid October, as those built prior had no wiring harness for the light.


Associated Reading:

• How to use inoperable rear fog lamps as extra brake lights
• The Quest
• The Petition
• CA and OR Laws

Associated Images (left to right):

• Retrofit Bulletin for 2002 - 2004 model year
  • Page 1
  • Page 2 [see NOTE]
• Retrofit Bulletin for 2005 model year
  • Page1
  • Page 2

NOTE:

Switch Pack part numbers (61 31 6 917 ###) for cars with and without front fog lights have been reversed. Refer to the 2005 model year bulletin for correct part numbers.