1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Clear tail lights on an 2002

  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #4 Nathan, Jan 28, 2013
    MINI didn't solder them in. Could this be an aftermarket tail light assembly?

    Early Tail light ...

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #2 Crashton, Jan 28, 2013
    Welcome to M/A

    Guess if I could see a picture of the light maybe we could figure it out. Could you un-solder the bulb & solder in a new one?
     
  3. BIGTSV

    BIGTSV New Member

    Jan 28, 2013
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    #3 BIGTSV, Jan 28, 2013
    That appears the only way to do so, however the tricky part of that will be that each bulb has 2 solder joints on them so I need to be quick to get them both. I will pull them this afternoon and snap up a pic. I can not believe they would solder them in.

    And thank you for the welcome. I have been a life long car car, VW's and Triumphs more so then anything else. Now with a Mini!!
     
  4. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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    #5 rkw, Jan 28, 2013
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2013
    The OEM clear taillights have bulbs soldered into the panel. MINI only sells the 3-bulb panel as replacement. I think it might be a legal issue, to prevent customers from using clear bulbs as replacement. The OEM bulbs light up red and amber (silvered so they won't show through the lens when unlit).

    Your options are to unsolder it yourself or get the 3-bulb panel.

    Here's the listing for the OEM clear tails: http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=RE33&mospid=48021&btnr=63_0735&hg=63&fg=95

    [​IMG]
     
  5. eMINIparts

    eMINIparts Well-Known Member
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    #6 eMINIparts, Jan 28, 2013