26 replies to this topic

[satvinder]

Im currently rebuilding my mini, and is far away from being done but while driving home today I thought to my self, I want to take my fog lights off (from the rear valance) and convert one of my reverse lights. Nice simple to do.

But is there any law that will prevent me from doing this. I know that some cars have one rear fog and one reverse but how will this affect things on my mini?

[Tommyboy12]

Cant see why not. My Mini has passed its MOT with only one working reverse light for 3 years.

[satvinder]

Cheers for that.

Edited by satvinder, 26 October 2011 - 05:05 PM.

[Spitz]

I can't see replacing one of your reverse lights with a red one being legal.

Over here ( CA ) I'm sure if I had my rear fog light on ( car was imported ), even in fog, I'd get ticketed. We have no such thing here.

[satvinder]

Oops misread

[satvinder]

Not sure what you are getting at spitz
I wouldn't just change the bulb to red. I'd change the wiring about so it only came on when I flick my rear fog switch

[L400RAS]

To move the fog light into the RH rear cluster, you do have to alter the wiring slightly (easy) and change the bulb to red. There is an issue in the UK with doing this for MOT testing; the fog light must be more than 100mm (4") away from the stop/tail. I have done this and passed for 3 years, but that is not to say it is correct to do so...but it does look a lot better with the rear end tidy.

Edited by L400RAS, 26 October 2011 - 05:14 PM.

[satvinder]

Yeh I've seen it before and had a look a while ago and it's ever so easy to do.
Thanks for the reply I rember seeing something like at a while ago on here. Just couldn't rember what it was tho.
I may do a bit of modding as I hate coloured bulbs. Even tho I'm not going to use the fog much I just hate it when they fade.
I had coloured indicators an brake lights any after a few months I put my coloured lenses back on as my brake lights would just go pink very quickly.

[AVV IT]

No it's not legal, as under the construction and use regulations it has to be at least 100mm from any brake light. Also a rear fog lamp needs to emit a light that is brighter than a standard brake lamp, which is why rear fog lamps tend to have a mirrored lens behind the bulb to reflect the light. A red bulb in a standard reverse lamp would therefore not provide a bright enough light to be a fog lamp either.

Although this is actually a common classic mini mod and unlikely to be picked up on an MOT that doesn't make it advisable or a good idea. What you need to consider is that if you were to be involved in a rear end collision in the fog, any insurance claim could well be deemed invalid if you were to be found to be using have fitted a fog lamp that does not conform to the required regulations. (...& do bare in mind that a driver who collides with the rear of your car would normally be to blame and therefore liable in these circumstances, but with an illegal rear fog lamp you could well be deemed to have contributed to the accident instead and possibly find yourself liable for the damage to both cars and with no insurance to pay for it!!) So for the sake of a minor styling issue, I certainly wouldn't take the risk personally. If you don't like the "add on" look of the standard classic mini fog lamp, then I would cut a hole in the rear valance and fit one of the sunken versions instead.

[Midas Mk1]

Just put it into the rear reverse light, looks so much better, had mine fitted for over 5 years.

Its a common mod, and its typical of this forum to be scaremongering of something so small, next thing you'll be told because of the mod you'll need an IVA

[Spitz]

Just put it into the rear reverse light,

Yes...that is a much better place than the front reverse light

( sorry...couldn't resist )

[Ethel]

How about a high level brake light in the back window? You could also use it as the fog light, rear fogs can be up to 1m above the road.

[AVV IT]

Just put it into the rear reverse light, looks so much better, had mine fitted for over 5 years.

Its a common mod, and its typical of this forum to be scaremongering of something so small, next thing you'll be told because of the mod you'll need an IVA

I'm sorry if you believe my advice to be "Scaremongering", but the modification is being discussed is illegal and for the reasons stated above could all too easily lead to an invalid insurance claim given the circumstances for which a fog light is intended (i.e. providing a safety warning to the vehicle behind you in the presence of fog). Whilst it may only be a "small" modification to make, the potential consequences to the mod can be somewhat larger. The OP specifically asked if there was a law preventing him from making this modification to which I have provided an answer and also explained the potential consequences of flouting that legislation. It is up to the OP as to how they choose to act upon the information provided.

I have to say that telling someone to "Just put it into the reverse light" simply because it's a common mod and that you have done it for the last 5 years is somewhat irresponsible. Advocating the use of a dim and poorly sited illegal safety lamp, could quite easily be described as dangerous advice and I was of the impression that giving out dangerous advice was against the rules of this forum??

[project mini chris]

How about incorporating it into a mk2 rear light cluster? Therefore not interfering with any 'reverse light issues'
But I have to agree with AVV IT, could the removal and relocation of a fog light (which is a legal requirement) be seen as a modification in an insurers eye's?
I've seen people do silly mod's to their cars, write them off and then having to go to court because their policy did not cover the car's modifications..

[shough]

Sorry to hijack but what fog lights can you fit into the valance?
I have seen someone fit a 206 one, could you fit a new MINI fog light from the model that had the smaller single fog light at the rear?
Think it is the MK2, up to 2006 possibly.