[MICKEY]

Before anyone asks, Yes i've checked Search and could'nt find anything on this.

I'm going to change the side indicators and rear lights to the clear ones.
I've figured out how to change the side indicators by reading some other threads. (Thanks Monsta)
I've pretty much figured out how to change out the 2 rear lamp units, just undo the little nuts. If anyone knows different please let me know.
Now the difficult one, well for me it is.
The rear centre brake light, how do you remove this one?
I’ve see three torx screws on the inside of the rear hatch
Do these let you remove the middle brake light? I’ve loosened them and tried to pull the light out but it did not want to move. I was going to pull a little harder but thought better of it, I don't want to break anything.
Could someone confirm if I’m on the right track and just need to be a bit more forceful or please put me on the right track? By the way I’ve not ordered the lights yet as I want to see how hard the job was before I got in over my head.
Maybe if I got the lights it would be self-explanatory?
Any advice would be most grateful. Thanks.
p.s don’t say take it to the dealers

[AidenL]

Id be grateful to see how to do this too, cos I might tackle fitting them myself as well.....

[monsta]

There are instructions on this thread:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...ighlight=clear


As long as you don't have a chilli spoiler then you should be ok getting the third light off. I just used a small flat headed screwdriver to undo the torx screws and then off it comes. If you do have the spoiler I think it is necessary to remove it first.

[MICKEY]

Dam, Dam, Dam, Dam, Dam. Who's got the spoiler. Yes you guessed Me.
I'll have another look now i know i'm on the right track.
Thanks Monsta.
Now why could'nt i find that link in search?????
Don't answer that one

[MICKEY]

Well, I’ve fitted the clear side indicators there easy.
I’ve had another look at removing the rear centre brake light. You remove the three torx screws from the inside of the hatch, Unfortunately as monsta said the light will not come out as I’ve got the chili spoiler. I've found the spoiler retaining bolts, there are three plugs in the top of the hatchback on the inside, you pull these out and in the recesses there are three bolts that you undo
Undid them and the spoiler wont come off, it looks like its also stuck on (Sometimes I wonder why I start things)
I'm now back to the drawing board. I think if you are a bit brutal and push the spoiler up you might just wriggle the light clear of the spoiler and out. Anyone tried or done this? Any ideas?

[ADO15]

I seem to recall reading something about the spoiler also being glued/taped to the hatch.. can anyone confirm this?

[Cooper i Do]

ok guys listen to me,

I got the clear lenses on my 2 days old cooper.
The dealer told me it took the guys in the workshop 2 hours to get the breaking light changed. The unscrewed it and than putted a little wig under the spoiler and lifted it up.
Be carefull not to use to much force because the spoiler is also clued on the roof (some kind of silicon i think) you only need a couple of milimeters to do the job. They were able to fit the lens in and took the wig out again and voila there it is.

Hope this will help you.

Catch Ya Later,
Cooper I Do

No more counting!

[MICKEY]

Thanks Cooper I do.
I had a chat with a mate down the pub last night and he has a friend of a friend who works for BMW. (You know how it goes) well I got a call this morning and although it not the official way (I don't think BMW/MINI have an official way) and BMW/MINI won't admit to it, and they have only done one at his workshop, they basically used the brutal prise the spoiler up and quickly pull the old light out method. Same with the reverse. They came to this conclusion after messing around for an hour or so.
So if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.
Plenty of masking tape to stop the scratches, a hold of the breath and away I go.
Well not today it’s raining

[spanky2k]

Raining! The sun is shining and there's not a cloud in the sky here!

I'm waiting a few months until I get the clear rear lights, need to finish exams and earn some money first! (Not to mention pass my test!!! ) It doesn't sound like much fun refitting that third brake light, but there's no way I'm paying MINI a hundred quid or whatever it costs to install if there's any way I can do it!

[Cooper i Do]

attention Mickey,

Keep in mind that they only have to lift it a couple of milimeters !!!!!
Dont let them take of the spoiler.

I had mine done by dealer because i am a technical nono and i didn't want to make any scratches on my car.

Catch Ya Later,
Cooper I Do

Counting days are over!

[MICKEY]

Well its not raining now, but there are plenty of big black clouds blowing by. I thought I’d go out and try to change the lights over, but with the way my lucks going on this job, the minute I start it's going to P**s down. I agree with you Spanky2k about paying £100 to someone to change out some lights, but there have been a few momenents when I thought different.
I don't think I’ll be doing the job today and tomorrows already booked, so it now looks like next weeks job. I'll add a post to let you know how it went. I.E not to bad, or a complete and utter bas*ard.
Thanks

[MICKEY]

An Update.
Well I did it. The rear lights are now clear.
There are already threads on how to change the two rear sidelights so I won't add any more about them.
The problem I had was the change over of the centre brake light. This is because I have the cooper chili spoiler and the light fouls the spoiler on removal, well I changed this over today and it’s not that bad of a job. You need a little bit of patience and be practically minded.

You will need to loosen off the centre bolt for the rear spoiler, this gives the spoiler more flex, this is needed as you will be pushing the spoiler up to get the light out.
(You must do this other wise the spoiler will not flex enough)

Remove the three torx screws that hold the light in.

I put masking tape on the underneath of the spoiler and gently pulled the rear light out a bit and put masking tape under the light, try to get the tape over the inside lip of the spoiler where the light is. Take your time it will help protect the paint.

Now the grit your teeth and hold your breath bit, you need to push the spoiler up quite firmly to give you a 3 to 4 mm clearance,(I used the palm of my hand, cooper I do said his dealer used a stick, I would not recommend doing it this way, if you slip it could cause some damage) once you have pushed the spoiler up you should be able to wriggle the centre light out, its quite fiddly and may take a few attempts to get it right, but it can be done.(make sure you are pushing the spoiler up enough and keep the pressure on till the light is all the way out)

It’s exactly the same to put it back.

Best of luck anyone who tries’s this.

Legal bit. The above info is just advise and in no way makes the author legally responsible if you attempt to use the above advice to change your lights.

[Cooper i Do]

Hey Mickey,

Good to see everything went well.
Join the "clear" gang

Catch Ya Later,
Cooper I Do

ps i did put up some chrome plate surrounds on my cooper today.

[-Q-]

Quote: Originally Posted by MICKEY

You will need to loosen off the centre bolt for the rear spoiler, this gives the spoiler more flex, this is needed as you will be pushing the spoiler up to get the light out.
(You must do this other wise the spoiler will not flex enough)

Remove the three torx screws that hold the light in.

I put masking tape on the underneath of the spoiler and gently pulled the rear light out a bit and put masking tape under the light, try to get the tape over the inside lip of the spoiler where the light is. Take your time it will help protect the paint.

Now the grit your teeth and hold your breath bit, you need to push the spoiler up quite firmly to give you a 3 to 4 mm clearance,(I used the palm of my hand, cooper I do said his dealer used a stick, I would not recommend doing it this way, if you slip it could cause some damage) once you have pushed the spoiler up you should be able to wriggle the centre light out, its quite fiddly and may take a few attempts to get it right, but it can be done.(make sure you are pushing the spoiler up enough and keep the pressure on till the light is all the way out)

I have the small spoiler on a 2004 Cooper, I think it came with the Sport package.

I don't seem to have any center bolt on the spoiler to loosen. I don't see any bolts.

The light is nice and loose so I can play with it easily it's not silicon-ed or taped in place. But nothing I can do will get it out. Any suggestions on wether I should try to get it out top first or bottom first? I've been able to get it stuck about halfway out by pulling out the bottom and it rests on the little plastic bit just before the circuit board. After that I figure the top has to roll out but it's just not happening. I got the whole thing to make a God-aweful noise, maybe the spoiler glue breaking? but it's not coming out. I have stopped trying for now and screwed it in place since it's dark.

Any other tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

['THE MIGHTY IMP']

Thanks mickey.. if i ever buy a pepper white or pure silver Cooper 'S', i may well go clear..

for now i'm happy with my projector lights from Ultra. see my gallery for installation pics..

[Damo]

Have to say I fitted the Red/White clear light kit, and decided to fit the third brake light (wasn't going to bother at first). I have the Aero spoiler, and didn't have much trouble. I think because of the "cut out" of the Aero its easier.

[devilsushi2000]

Ive got the complete clear light kit too . I have the cooper chili spoiler too. It took me about 2 hours, in the end i undid the torx screws, undid the spiler bolts a little, but still no joy. I figured that to get the spoiler up enough i would have to get the glue and tape loosened off so i got an old credit card and slid it under the wing, getting rid of a bit of the stickiness. The 3rd brake light came out in the end....The problem was then getting it back in......... at one point i must admit i thought i would have to take it to BMW because neither me or my father could get the clear one in. In the end after much pushing i got it in and all was well. See my gallery for pics!!

[-Q-]

OK I was finally able to get it done by myself.

Here's how I did it. Removing was the real problem. I have to assume that in the process somewhere I removed the adhesive from the spoiler above the light. So keep that in mind. I tried the push and pull method but that wasn't working. Finally I taped up the spoiler with blue painter's tape. I placed a very thick piece of cardboard up at the top of the light. I can't remember where I got this but it was thick non-corrugated baord. I cut it to about as long as the light. Then what I did was open the hatch and put in two Stanley (made in CT!) nail sets into the screw holes to push against the light's screw holes. I lowered the hatch and used the lowering pressure to push the sets into the holes pushing the light outward. It'd be a good idea to put card under the sets too as I eventually scratched the paint under the hatch a bit, not visible at all, but still. Then I worked with the pressure of the hood and moved the card around in underneath and pushing the spoiler up and pulling the card a bit to pull the light out. Somehow at the last minute I broke one of the screw holes off of the old light, so that was bad, be more careful than I was I guess. =)

After the light was out I noticed the card had worked its way under the spoiler a bit. I left it there. Attached the new light and set it in the hole at the bottom. Using the card and pushing the light straight back, maybe a bit more on the top I got it in really easily. The only hangup was the little circuit board at the bottom had a few parts sticking out but it worked in very easily compared to removal.

Taking it out was about 20 minutes once I had this idea in mind. Putting it in was less than a minute job. Tested and works nicely. I'll eventually get pics up after a wash. I don't want to put in my taillights yet until I get reflectors but I figured I'd get this much done first.

Hope this helps someone. =)

['THE MIGHTY IMP']

Quote: Originally Posted by -Q-

I eventually scratched the paint under the hatch a bit, not visible at all, but still....... Somehow at the last minute I broke one of the screw holes off of the old light, so that was bad, be more careful than I was I guess. =)

Okay, so that's how NOT to do it
Only joking.. Well done for persevering and not getting charged a fortune by your dealer. (who would probably broken, scratched, etc everything that you did!)