HELP! Replacing a reverse light?

[Saul]

OK, so i have a 2001 Mini Cooper.

My reverse light has stopped working and I need to replace it.

But...upon looking and feeling around the underside of the bumper there is a rather large plastic box in the way. I dont know what its for, perhaps a spare tyre or something (i have runflats so the box is empty).

Does anyone know what to do? Do i need to remove the box? Or is there another way around this?

Please please post back as soon as you can.

Thanks,


Saul

[snid]

There's a good chance that it isn't the light that's out, but that the mechanical switch that turns on the light when you put the car in reverse has failed.

Unfortunately, I forget how to remove the reverse light. Sorry. But on mine, it was the switch anyway.

[LOUDpipes]

The spare wheel cover is held on by 3 screws into the bumper. Just unscrew these and pull the cover down where it meets the bumper, its all quite flexible so don't worry. There are two further screws holding it at the back but I didn't bother with these. Just pull it down far enough to get your hand in - don't wrench it down to the floor. Then reach up behind the bumper and you'll feel the reversing lamp. Press the clips on either side of the lamp and it should pop out of the bumper...well that's the theory...I couldn't get mine out, so have left it until the weather warms up a bit!!...good luck!!

[merv]

Quote: Originally Posted by snid (original)

There's a good chance that it isn't the light that's out, but that the mechanical switch that turns on the light when you put the car in reverse has failed.

Unfortunately, I forget how to remove the reverse light. Sorry. But on mine, it was the switch anyway.

Exactly like Snid said, when the reversing light stopped working on my 52 Cooper it was the switch and not the bulb!

[Saul]

Thanks for the help.

After unscrewing the 3 screws for the spare wheel cover and fiddling with the 2 latches it turned out not to be the bulb after all.

It did turn out to be the switch for the gearbox.

So i've ordered the switch and its being fitted very soon.

Thanks again,


Saul.

[6sabre]

I have checked mine and the bukb etc is ok, so I guess its my switch. Can anyone say where its located, I couldnt work out where it was.
cheers
Steve

[6sabre]

Found the answer in the forums...thanks all

[burt0001]

I own an 01 mini cooper. The reversing light wasn't working. Having read a few of the forums I believed that the way to remove the switch was to remove the nearside wheel and the switch was accessible that way. After removing the wheel I could not find the switch anywhere!
I rang Sytner BMW in Nottingham who were very helpful and put me through to a mini engineer (no I don't think he was a small engineer!) Anyway, he told me to remove the air filter housing and the switch would be visible screwed into the top of the gear box. I did this and yes, it was there. Used a 22 mm spanner to remove it after unclipping the electrical joint. I sprayed some wd40 into the plunger and worked it a few times. Plugged it back in and tried it before screwing it back in and it worked.
Thankyou for the forum pointing me in the right direction and I hope some of this information may help another with the same problem.

[21CoopS]

I have a 2006 Mini Cooper S. The reverse lights are not working, I checked the bulbs and they are fine. I looked through the forum and found out where the switch was. I took the drivers side tire off and saw the switch. I could not figure out how to get it off. I was using plyers and twisted the plastic top part off. Did I break the switch? After looking online, I see that the whole part screws in, but I could not figure out how to get a socket over the plastic part to reach the nut. Any suggestions? Also....there was nothing plugged into the top, is that correct? Thanks