[mikeythemini]

Having seen the shots of the 2005 rear lights I thought about the set up on my Mini.

In areas where fog is common I think I would stick with 2 fogs up in the rear lamps for safety reasons, but I have seen fog once in the last 2 years.
However I do have a use for better reverse lights as I reverse down a long drive into a garage at home.
The result via a small mod to the wiring & swapping a few bulbs around is 2 reverse lights in the rear clusters (where the fogs had been) and a Fog lamp where the reverse was.
What do you think??
This is only possible if the clear rear lamps are fitted.

[\\chrome//]

Think this is a much better way of doing it. Even if it is foggy, theres nothing worse than following a car with rear fog lights on - right in your eye line. Having it lower like youve got it is much better

Ps Check your email m8

[KenL]

IMO having two fogs is a REALLY bad idea as it can make it difficult to see brakes being applied so I think your mod is a great idea Mikey.

[StevePSB]

Mikey - how much of a job do you think it would be to do the opposite? By that I mean fitting current lamps to 2005 model year. Still a bit stumped as to what to do re: ordering an S, as I don't like the facelift rear lamps at all.

[mikeythemini]

Providing they are the same size, wiring is easy

[StevePSB]

Really? Obviously there's going to be a wrong number of wires for the reverse/fog seeing as though they're changing (1 reverse, 2 fogs to 2 reverse, 1 fog) How do you sort that properly?

I wouldn't be scared of it if it was a straight wire cut and cross, but I'm not terribly technical and I'm not sure of how you'd go about it with too many & not enough wires thrown into the equation...

[mikeythemini]

No probs, one of the reverse light wires would be disconnected, the other run down to what was the fog.
The fog wire would be split to do the 2 lamps. It is only low current so no probs with the wiring.
Obviously you would need a white lens for down below. (as I was going the opposite way just used a silver red bulb in the white lense)

[StevePSB]

Oh good. Was worried about power issues spliiting the fog wire.

I think I will be going for the September build facelift S now then, and swapping the S two spoke MFSW from my current car to the new car, and also putting a set of current red/white lamps on it.

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by StevePSB

Oh good. Was worried about power issues spliiting the fog wire.

I think I will be going for the September build facelift S now then, and swapping the S two spoke MFSW from my current car to the new car, and also putting a set of current red/white lamps on it.

Why not just buy a pre-facelift S Steve?

You might even get a discount if it's one of the last few of the current model.

[monsta]

Mikey, how do we do this? Are you making a 'kit'?

Reversing lights need improving for sure!

[StevePSB]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL

Why not just buy a pre-facelift S Steve?

You might even get a discount if it's one of the last few of the current model.

I'd rather it was a facelift model as it'd lose less money than the pre-facelift model, even though I would be changing some of the new features back to old ones!

Besides, the steering wheel is going to be an issue if I order a facelift car or not...

Can't see there being any discount on a 2004 spec car to be honest. It's not as if there is a problem selling them at the moment. Every MINI they buikd is sold, so it's not as if they have a glut of them to get rid of. Maybe they'll get a little bit of a slowdown later on in the year before the new model comes in, but I'd still be surprised to see any discount being given.

[mikeythemini]

Monsta - no kit really needed just a 2 bulbs and a bit of wire but I can make one up.
Will do a DIY on how to do it & post it on my site

[mikeythemini]

Quick guide
Remove left rear cubby, chop the yellow/brown wire going to the light cluster, extend the side coming from the light and run it across to the right cubby.
Remove the right rear light. Chop the yellow/black wire going to the light cluster, extend the side coming from the light with a short length of cable.
Under the right rear light you will see a loom going down through a grommet in the floor, chop the blue/yellow. Connect the side of this that comes from inside the car to the 2 extended rear light wires.
Connect the side of the blue/yellow that comes up through the floor to the car side of the chopped yellow/black that no longer goes to the rear right light.

Remove the bulb carriers from both rear lights, remove the top bulb from each (these are soldered in so you will need to melt the solder)
Fit one of these bulbs into the original reverse light.
Fit the reverse light bulb into one of the empty top slots in the rear light clusters, obtain a similar bulb for the other side. (no need to solder them)
Job done.

(This job is done at the owners risk, I have done my own and it works great) The car must have rear fogs - some USA models don't
Mike