The rear fog light on my wife's mini cooper is white, not red, this can't be right!
Or - is it me?
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 17/03/2008 at 19:05
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What colour does it show when it's on?
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There is an option, at £50 to have white lenses fitted to the indicators, perhaps this also includes the foglight? (the bulb should still show red when lit).
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White, should it have a red bulb? Thats all I can think of - I've noticed others are the same, they may have a red buld but its hard to tell when its not on.
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There was a fashion in the '70s to fix a free standing white rear facing fog, or headlamp, on the rear bumper of Mini Coopers and the like. I think people got away with it by claiming it was a manually operated reversing light. Its' actual purpose was to cause permanent retinal damage to tailgaters or indeed anyone who had the audacity to look as if they might want to overtake. :-)
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I think you will find that by law you can only show a white light in the direction the vechile is traveling in.
ie. white at rear only when reversing
Another car coming up behind you, espesialy in fog could mistake you for an oncoming car and take drastic/fatal action to avoid you.
The same would apply with a red light at front.
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To be totally pedantic, Graham, the legislation also allows white interior lights to be shown to the rear regardless of direction of travel ! :-)
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QUOTE........
To be totally pedantic, Graham, the legislation also allows white interior lights to be shown to the rear regardless of direction of travel ! :-)
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Yes Pugugly you are being "pedantic"
You can also fit a blue "interior" light but try fitting one on the "exterior" and see how far you get !!!
You are comparing "apples with pears" :-)
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Well, at the moment (assuming the lights are on) I'm straight back to the 70's!
However, should I actually need a rear red fog light I'm stuffed! I guess I'll have to change the bulb.
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From a quick google it seems that pre 2004 minis had a reverse light in the bumper, post 2004 had a fog light in its place, so if the pre and post 2004 models share the same bumper the pervious owner may have swapped lenses.
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From a quick google it seems that pre 2004 minis had a reverse light in the bumper post 2004 had a fog light in its place
Had the OP mentioned the year of his vehicle (as per the 3 separate requests he ignored) then we would know whether it's a post or pre 2004.
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sorry, it's Nov' 2004 {added to header}
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 17/03/2008 at 19:07
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As Screwloose said:
"What colour does it show when it's on? "
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white
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Just a thought but where is the fog light on a Mini? Is that the light in the middle or is that reversing? (Trying to visualise this!)
If it is in a cluster which light cluster is the fog light in? Should be drivers side - if its passengers then perhaps its been set up for LHD?
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...or has someone switched a lens for it look (abysmally) "cool"
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it's possible as the car has a cream bumper, but unlikley as it was a company car, I think it will have to have a red bulb, or a red lens.
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Why not just contact your nearest BMW dealer for advice?
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Or answer the question that someone asks when they are trying to offer help? :(
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Sorry Bobby. The fog light is in the centre of the bumper, the reversing lights are very small white circular sections in both rear clusters.
I have considerd contacting BMW, just thought someone may have some unbiased background info'.
Edited by gebby on 18/03/2008 at 09:07
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Lights used for reversing must be switched by the g/box OR have a warning light visible to the driver.
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And this passed it's first MOT right ?
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Rear end smash repaired with wrong parts????
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Yes passed 1st MOT, and no I don't think its been in a crash, I have seen other minis with this white lens, I'm assuming they have a red bulb.
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My wife has a MINI - 2003 - and on this model it has the central reversing light and the fog lights located within both rear light clusters.
My Haynes manual shows that both the earlier central white lens reversing light and later (central) red fog lights are exactly the same fitting.
I can only guess that the lens was smashed whilst reversing or possibly in a minor knock the whole lamp unit fell out - it's only held in by 2 "snap" fittings - and maybe a fitter fitted a white reversing light unit instead of a red fog lamp unit by mistake, The units are outwardly identical as far as I can tell (apart from the lens colour!!) but the bulb holders inside are different. The earlier central reversing light has a 21W bayonet bulb and the later central fog light is a 16W "pull out" wedge type.
To check - put your hand up behind the bumper and squeeze the clips at each end of the unit and the lamp will pop out - twist the buldholder anticlockwise and see what bulb you have.
The MINI used car website shows both a Sep 04 model, and a Aug 04 model with the RED central foglight - and 2 earlier cars (Mar 03 and June 04) with the WHITE central reversing lamp. Haynes lists the change as 07/2004.
Jacks
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Thanks Jacks, very comprehensive, I'll check it out.
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