Installing Hella 1000s w/ Harness on my R53

Discussion in 'Mid-Ohio Motoring' started by hughes, Nov 3, 2010.

  1. hughes

    hughes New Member

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    Well I have the harness and I have both of the Hella 1000's for the MINI.

    My issue has always been with installing electronics in cars. I wanted to know if someone might want to lend a hand, after I meet up with Aaron and grabs these brackets, hooking these things up?

    I am not asking for charity, I won't mind paying. :) I just want to make sure they are done up right. :cornut:
     
  2. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    Aaron probably has a DIY how-to for you to use in hooking these up. Just ask him.
     
  3. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Hey duuuude, I'll most likely be down at the shop Sunday morning, if you're interested? It's always nice to work on the MINI when it's in a heated room.:D I'll post a note up on the forum and let you know.:Thumbsup:
     
  4. hughes

    hughes New Member

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    #4 hughes, Nov 3, 2010
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2010
    Cool thanks guys, yeah I will ask Aaron, if he does I might try it. If not I might see if I can run downtown to meet up with Sir Metal. :)
     
  5. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    MM and Nick, let's establish the bar quickly here...early on Sunday for MM is a long way from early on Sunday for Nick :D in fact, MM's early Sunday might be the same time as Nick's late Saturday :devil:
     
  6. hughes

    hughes New Member

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    Typically on a weekday I am a 5:30AM guy, Saturday I am a 8:30AM kind of guy. But I think because I am going to be out all day on Saturday driving, I shouldn't be doing too much that night. MM you have an idea of a time frame? (i.e. 5-7AM? or Later?)
     
  7. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    Nick, it won't be long until you and yours get to be up several times during the night feeding and cleaning :D ....can you say TWINS??
     
  8. hughes

    hughes New Member

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    Thanks for the reminder Mark, never let me forget that do ya! :beer

    Remind me to slug you in the arm later tonight! After a few beers! haha!
     
  9. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    TWIN car seats are going to look GOOD in that MINI :sleep::sleep:
     
  10. hughes

    hughes New Member

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    Yeah they are, I have been scoping out some Recaro's. But swinging the money for those will be the trick. :) I don't think the Ms. will be having that.
     
  11. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Ha......
    5-7AM on a weekend, no way......:frown2:

    I roll out of bed on weekends around 6:00am +_.:arf:
    Start the coffee maker, scratch my rear.....
    Feed the dog.....
    Get my M/A fix....
    Read the newspaper....
    Walk the dog......
    And maybe if I'm smelling rank, take a shower (I can always tell.... if the neighborhood dogs are following me on my walk it's a good indicator if a shower is called for):idea:

    9:30am would be a good target.:D
     
  12. hughes

    hughes New Member

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    9-10 Sounds GRAND for me. I will let you know how goes things rounding up some money to buy those brackets from Aaron. I need to find out if he is going to allow me to pick up those brackets. I have never met the guy I don't think. I might of at Tim Horton's once in New Albany but I had a long night before that... :rolleyes5:
     
  13. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    I thought you were going to fabricate those brackets. Or maybe I fabricated that in my mind. :crazy:

    When at Aaron's pick up a bottle of Lucas replacement smoke.

    You can get Racaro baby seats & you & your wife will both be happy.
     
  14. hughes

    hughes New Member

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    I laid out the dimensions and then made a rough test, they were not structurally sound. Those lights are HEAVY! So, if Aaron's are proven to work, I am just going to break down and buy those.
    I just don't want them bouncing along all down the highway. Although I think I am going to go with the bonnet mounted probably. I think I will get the light I want out of them that way.

    Lucas Replacement Smoke? Eh?

    And I am pushing to get baby seats, not seats for me. I love the MINI driving seats! :D
     
  15. WolfGTI

    WolfGTI Active Member

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    We have two Recaro child seats - 1 in each car. Come spring the MINI will have front Recaros as well.
     
  16. hughes

    hughes New Member

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    How much did those run you if you don't mind me asking?
     
  17. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    No way are you going to get those heavy lights to be stable with a bonnet mount. They will bounce all over heck.

    I have Hella 500 driving lights & while mounted a bit lower than I like they are rock solid.

    You may be too young to understand Lucas smoke....

    lucas-smoke.jpg
     
  18. hughes

    hughes New Member

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    Lol harness smoke wtf?

    Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using Tapatalk
     
  19. ImagoX

    ImagoX New Member

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    Here's my How-to from waaaaaaaay back in 2006 - it should still be relevant:

    MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring - Interior/Exterior :: Outmotoring Bonnet Brackets & Driving Lights

    Really the #1 most important, completely non-negotiable thing abouut ANY electronics installation is:

    DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL BEFORE TOUCHING **ANY**WIRING.

    Don't follow this step and you *will* short something, 100% guaranteed. Best case, a short will just pop a fuse, but worst case, it can damage things, so take the extra 2 minutes and follow this crucial step.

    If you follow it, all you need is reasonable care and a basic functional knowlege of DC wiring (the difference between positive and ground... how to pick a fuse to protect the circuit you mean to create, etc.) to do a good job. As you're using a pre-made kit with wiring harness (and good instructions - Hella does a pretty good job), then you should be fine, but when in doubt it's always a good idea to have someone who knows ehat they're doing look over your work. Take a look at the How-to and it should give you a good idea of what to expect...

    -Matt
     
  20. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    Matt, if I remember correctly your write up on this subject was very good. Can you re-produce it and post it in the Library for others here on MA to use? It's good to have you over here!
     

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