Driving / Fog lights

Do you need the dealership to do it? The SE comes with "bad weather lights" that do a decent job. The 2021 had more traditional, separate auxiliary lamps, while the face-lifted (2022+) model has a more discreet setup, using the cornering lamps to cast a wide beam to the sides of the road. If you're looking to add auxiliary driving lamps or rally-style projectors, why not just go to a garage that specializes in off-road mods?

 

For a current MINI, just think how large the auxiliary lights would have to be to match the proprortions of the lights on that original Mini! I haven't come to grips with the wimpy looks of today's LED driving lights (despite their amazing performance). Back in 1966, I stuck a pair of gorgeous Lucas Flamethrowers on my Dad's Fiat 1500 Cabriolet. They made the car much faster!

 

Believe me the lights you see on my bull bar a temporary LED not connected to power 4 1/2 “ they ugly I agree but the biggest I can get are and looks vintage are 6” my concern is I should get an amber lens or clear to mach front lights a chrome cans I will paint yellow .Those lights illegal in New York and only I get away not paying tickets if they are not connected to power .Any way I’m doing this for look not for any practical use.Mini SE have good lights for any road conditions .

 

I don’t want to discourage you from installing off road lights but SE entire front is plastic is nothing there as solid frame ,metal to drill to fastened a lights .The way I did is pretty complicated to build that bull bar .Nobody is selling for Mini .I try every muffler shop to band my pipes but no one was able to do bc the muffler pipes are bigger diameter and they don’t have smaller dies to do a 90’ bends.To fastened that bar I use 1x1 “ aluminum square pipe under a carriage with u bolts about 36” long on each side .On top of this I replaced a factory “carboard “ shield “protector “ with clear LEXAN for better protection and aerodynamics for better air flow .The pipes you see on my bull bar I pic up of the street as somebody disposed old kids swing with all my 90’ bends there and dimensions of pipes meeting my needs to build this .I use good quality self tapping screws on straight connections I insert smaller pipe inside is only 3 cuts and center pipe fail to fit smoothly I grind heads of screws bondo everything sending primering painting.That is a story how I pull this out.

 

Go this direction

 

I was really keen on doing something like that for my SE because of the nostalgia, but then I learned it's illegal to use the lights on the road (at least in my state), so I decided to limit to grille badges instead.

 

VIP Custom Parts has several light kits. I purchased the bike rack kit from them and the quality is very good.
https://www.vipcustomparts.com/F56%20parts%20page.htm

Craven Speed also has a light kit.
https://www.cravenspeed.com/the-rally-light-bracket-kit/

 

I've never had lights as bright as the brights on my SE. They put my 1966 Lucas Flamethrowers to shame, so I'd be surprised if those antiques would be deemed illegal. However, I'm sure modern auxiliary lights like the ones @JonR linked above are even brighter than my SE's LEDs, so they should be illegal to use on the road. The 6.3" Hella lights at VIP Custom Parts look great (you have to scroll a long way down, past outdated exhaust systems).

 

The brights on my '03 S lit up the entire countryside. They reminded me of landing lights. That being said, I had to adjust the headlights on my '20 S so as not to blind oncoming drivers, and my '22 SE is almost that way. I'm still aggravated about the so-called "fog lights" on the '22. Worthless, and the switch is impossible to find.

 

I believe it's something about "auxiliary lights" that's the criteria, not brightness. And yes, my SE's brights are amazing. I especially like when the side lighting kicks in.