[dogpaddler]

Has anyone attempted a self install of the rear fog lights and the switch panel for 05-06 model year? If so, was it difficult? How long did it take?

Thanks.

[twouptons]

Nope. Nobody's done it
And certainly don't look at this thread:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...light=rear+fog

-Eric

[Gr8Dain]

It was the first thing that I did. Really easy to do. Check out the thread posted above. 30 minutes tops.

[Gr8Dain]

Quote: Originally Posted by twouptons

Nope. Nobody's done it
And certainly don't look at this thread:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...light=rear+fog

-Eric

Wow Eric, it was interesting reading that thread again. I had forgotten all about it. Boy did it take you a while to get yours activated. I guess I am a lot less patient than you.

[rkw]

For those in the US, I want to note that the price of the toggle switch panel was raised substantially sometime during the past six months. It now carries an MSRP of around $150. Some dealers (such as Classic MINI or Morristown MINI) will discount it to around $120.

[twouptons]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gr8Dain

Wow Eric, it was interesting reading that thread again. I had forgotten all about it. Boy did it take you a while to get yours activated. I guess I am a lot less patient than you.

Yeah, you don't want to know how long I've waited to have the dealer reset all the preferences they screwed up after they turned the fogs on...

I guess we've just been having too much fun driving the car to be bothered

-Eric

[Gr8Dain]

Quote: Originally Posted by rkw

For those in the US, I want to note that the price of the toggle switch panel was raised substantially sometime during the past six months. It now carries an MSRP of around $150.

That is quite a hike. I guess since the demand was high enough, they decided they could justify it. I am glad I did it early enough then.

Eric - the dealer messed up at least two things when they activated ours. I think it was the next morning that I went in to have them fix it. Of course, I drive by my dealership every morning. It is about a mile from my house. Quite convenient.

[snoopydog]

What are you guys doing with the switch panel you remove? I'm looking to buy one used, but don't see anything in the For Sale section and don't see that there has been much offered even over the last couple years.

[Gr8Dain]

Mine is sitting in a box in my garage. Along with a BRG Grill from our S. If I keep it up, I will have a whole car worth of spare parts.

By the way, why do you need a used one? Are you looking to scavenge parts off of it, or do you have a problem with yours?

[snoopydog]

Scavenging, I guess, for a purely cosmetic mod. I just got the car, and those two missing switches bug me more than I thought. I don't think I'd have any use for the foglights, so even putting two non-functional switches in there would serve my purpose. I'll buy the panel with all the switches if I have to, but it seems like a waste.

[Gr8Dain]

Have you checked on ebay? You might find some. WHo knows. You could PM me if you are interested, I might be willing to give up the spare panel. Not sure what I would ever do with it anyway. From what I hear, it is not difficult to get apart and mess with. I have seen some things done including a garage door switch that was neat.

[harrop]

get some bike lights

[snoopydog]

Gr8Dain, I'm new to this and can't figure out why the system won't let me PM you. Does that require the privilege membership? I'm interested in your spare panel, and that garage door switch is a great idea.

[Poiman]

I just installed a new toggle panel and I was able to get it from Classic MINI in Ohio for $60. They quoted $75, but a mention of NAM, and it was down to $60. Great people to deal with. Install on my '06 MCSc was very simple. Now I just need to take to the dealer for activation. Plugging in the light and installing the toggles took 15 minutes, tops.

[rkw]

Gosh darn, I also got my toggle panel from Classic MINI last October, and they quoted me $150 MSRP/ $120 NAM. I was surprised it was so high because I had been reading that it was around $70-$80, but then I found a post that said MINIUSA had jacked up the price. Maybe it's come back down to its former price.

[Gr8Dain]

Quote: Originally Posted by snoopydog

Gr8Dain, I'm new to this and can't figure out why the system won't let me PM you. Does that require the privilege membership? I'm interested in your spare panel, and that garage door switch is a great idea.

I sent you a PM. Let me know.




edit: Woohoo 800 posts.

[dogpaddler]

Is Classic MINI the best place to check? What about MINI of the Hamptons? I would like the toggles for sure and the light would be a bonus. What about a white lens with red bulb inside? I would assume that the pre-05 reverse light is the same size, but what about the wiring?

[Gr8Dain]

Quote: Originally Posted by dogpaddler

Is Classic MINI the best place to check? What about MINI of the Hamptons? I would like the toggles for sure and the light would be a bonus. What about a white lens with red bulb inside? I would assume that the pre-05 reverse light is the same size, but what about the wiring?

Mikey does that sort of thing, so it is possible. I just saw a post with pics of a pre '04 with tail lights of a 2005. It had a white lens with red LED (I think).

Maybe you should PM Mikey.

[Poiman]

Quote: Originally Posted by dogpaddler

Is Classic MINI the best place to check? What about MINI of the Hamptons? I would like the toggles for sure and the light would be a bonus. What about a white lens with red bulb inside? I would assume that the pre-05 reverse light is the same size, but what about the wiring?

I think Classic is the way to go, but feel free to call MINI of the Hamptons. I bought a clear lens with a white bulb kit from myminiparts.com.
It also serves as a back-up light when wired in. Very simple install. If you choose to just do the rear fog, the wire harness is already there and you just pop off the cover, untape the harness and plug in the light.
I had my toggle bank/rear fog lights activated today for $50. So now that light lights up when I back up as well as when I switch it on forr use as rear fog lights.

I think you can also get a red lens and bulb from the site I listed above.

[McQz]

We are installing the rear fog light in our '06 Mini. We have the light in place. We have the toggle switch assembly hanging loose. We haven't been able to figure out how the connector is disconnected from the assembly. The clip-like pieces on the connector don't seem to have anything to do with the latching mechanism. Squeezing them does nothing. trying to spread them does nothing. Gently prying under them meets resistance and moves the latch, but doesn't appear productive.

I've removed the toggle panel with the tabs, which makes it easier to access the assembly and connector. It appears that all of the actual switches are in place, including the switches for the rear fog light!

The "kit" includes a 2-hole connector that doesn't appear to have any wires to interface with, nor any socket into which to plug.

Q1) How does one remove the connector?

Q2) Would simply replacing the old toggle panel with the new one which includes the fog light toggle be sufficient?

Q3) Is the "kit" connector for an earlier year? Perhaps one that didn't have the rear fog light switch already wired in? If not, where does it come into play? There are no instructions, just the pieces. We've gotten this far only by the assistance found here.

Thanks,
Fran & Nanette McHugh
Winslow, AZ