Exterior 1st Gen Dumb rear light question

Yes, rear fog in 2002-2004 taillights. If you don't have a toggle switch for it (3rd from the right in the switch bank), the feature isn't enabled in your car.

 

I got 2 big staples, wrapped some electrical tape around the middles and "jumped" it to enable those lights to being used as additional brake lights, since we all know that ya cannot be too visible in a MINI.

I did this to my '03 R50 in '05 and the brake lights are still burning brightly. This might have made that Bimmer guy "see" your car better....

 

That's been a popular mod and most people haven't had any problems, but as a precaution I would use an LED bulb at the top position. Otherwise the brake light circuit in the BCM is driven at twice the power load, and there is some evidence that this mod has caused some BCM failures. Using an LED bulb greatly reduces additional power to the circuit.

 

That's a great suggestion. Unfortunately, LEDs were not in vogue back in '05 and, since changing the rear bulbs is kind of challenging for me, they are gonna stay there til they ALL burn out! :arf:

 

The BCM on my car went not long after doing the same mod. I DO NOT suggest you use a jumper wire, best way is to just swap either the brake or running light wire with the upper/fog light. That way the running light is different than the brake light. Mine has the running lights on the bottom and the brake lights come on at the top.

 

LEDs are ok but do not Jump any wires or you are asking to buy a new BCM that now cost $490.00

 

I did this many years ago and it works well. An LED draws minimal extra
current, unlike a regular bulb, and has really no chance of frying the BCM
when jumping the brake to an upper LED on both sides.

I used a bulb like this one in each side (2.3W vs 21W for regular bulb):
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-brake-turn/1156-led-bulb-single-intensity-45-smd-led-tower/526/