Was wondering if most people order the Rear Fog light for safety?

I got my MA to add it recently since Mini had not started building my car.
Safety is really nice as I do NOT want anyone to hit me but I actually got it more for 2 other reasons beyond the safety reason.

1. I realized my toggle switches would have 1 black spot and knowing I am a bit OC more than the average I knew it would eventually drive me nuts and cost a great deal more after market to add it.

2. I really hate when you are in the fast lane with 20 cars in front of you and a moron flies up on your backside and decides if he/she (usually a he) tailgates me massively some how that will make the other 20 cars in front of me disappear. Welcome to my revenge/spite as that rear fog light acts like a mini highbeam (almost) on the back of the car, I figure that might get their attention to back the h3ll OFF!

I figure I will use it during the foggy and rainy times here in Florida to keep the people behind me aware that I am in front and not to live on my backside. I do drive like a madman but I am also very courteous to get out of the way (if possible) if you are driving even faster than I am which is usually way too fast anyways. ;+)

Just wondering as I have noticed not too many people seem to order that or at least it isn't listed on most people's signatures. ( I need to update mine).

 

Feel free to post when you find out how to use some of those awesome features. You'll help those of us waiting to learn them befoe we pick up our babies!! Post some photos so we can be green with envy.... Oops, I mean so we can be even happier for you!!!!

 

Production numbers are overrated. I have two and neither of them have changed status in 30 days.

 

Production numbers are overrated. I have two and neither of them have changed status in 30 days.

 

Wow, thanks for sharing!

 

"Was wondering if most people order the Rear Fog light for safety?"

Deffo, i got caught leaving Daytona for North Palm Beach back in Sept. It rained so hard I had <50ft visibility. No one came nearer to my rear than 100 ft. Great in fog , and Snow. I could have had my exact car from stock except for rear fog and dimming mirror, both I won't do without.

 

Too funny that you would mention driving from Daytona to NPB (I grew up in WPB - Jupiter specifically) but that is the exact area I was thinking about when I asked about adding it to my order originally and was talked out of it the first time. I was driving from WPB to Jacksonville (where I live now) and was just south of Daytona at the time and remember driving in fog so dense I could only see the lights of another car when I was about 2 car lengths away, if I was lucky. It was terrifying as I was driving about 20 MPH and so where most but I kept imagining someone doing 80 to 90 MPH (normal speed in that area for the fast lane) slamming into us at any moment. I still look back and think how stupid I was for not just getting off the road but even the exit was almost impossible to see. Must be something about that area that allow for fog to be so dense as it is worse than the everglades and that can be like soup.

 

I was feeling really bad about all the crap you went through between the 2 prod #'s and the very long ETA as I figured someone at your dealer was treating you like a 2nd class buyer but now after finding that news article about the factory not reopening until Jan 21st... I think your Dealer was just trying to under promise and over deliver plus I think they must have known about the factory being closed a few extra weeks.

I simply wish Dealers would share more information so that we have a better understanding. Ultimately it would keep us the buyers from driving them nuts while we are waiting for our Minis.

 

I lived in NPB area 23 years, my Mum still lives there. So I visit fairly often, The Condo people are adverse to my riding the ZX14 Ninja down so I take the Mini usually. I moved to Philly area 12 years ago, so now I get to go skiing again, but have to have a set of winter rims and tyres. The rear fog lights get used fairly often. In the old days in England with fog like you would not believe, I used to get a red lens cover for a fog light and mount it on the rear. This meant I had a reversing lamp too. (something few cars had back then.)

 

The only reason I ordered mine on the new car was to have a full bank of switches. That empty slot always bothered me on my first MINI.



Ordered: Dec. 8, Prod. Start: Dec. 11, Born: Dec. 19, In Transit: Dec. 30, VDC: Jan. 13?, Est. Delivery: ?, Pickup: ?
2013 Cooper S Hardtop - Eclipse Grey w/ Black Stripes

 

@ Glazer
Now you'll have to use it LOL

 

I did not order fog lights by mistake but I wish I had. Mainly for the looks. Now I am going to have fog light envy. LOL

 

Never mind yours is quite tasty!

 

Ha ha thanks! Sell me your fog lights dammit!

 

So I called 1-866-ASK-MINI and specifically asked about the closure. They confirmed the plant was closed for 2 weeks but say it is back up and cars are in production.

Has anyone else been able to confirm or deny the closure? I definitely believe it could be true but can't seem to verify it anywhere.

 

Totally agree with you Weaf27. I spoke to my dealer today and was AGAIN told my Mini is in production and has been since December 2oth (interesting date). BUT, the don't have any further update. I asked them about the closure and they assured me the plant is operational. I even called 1-866-ASK-MINI to see if I could get further information from them but was told the exact same thing. My MINI is IN production since the 20th and they don't have any other update as they are back logged from the 2 week closure over the holidays.

So I am back to square one. No clue when I will get it, not really sure if the plant is closed or not. So frustrating. I wish they would just say the plant is closed and you can expect your MINI around this time. Then I would stop wishing I MIGHT get it sooner.

It sucks to want something so badly. hahahahahahahaha
At least I can come here for my daily therapy!

 

I received my production number today and my MA confirmed the plant was closed until Jan 21st.

 

Some things are worth waiting for!

 

First it is wild the so many of us are either in FL or have been.
Second I know what it is like to have all the switches but no toys as I use to have a Mazda GLC Deluxe (GLC was a small sedan but Deluxe meant it had all the bells and stuff but mine just had all the wiring and connectors but nothing worked as the owner before me bought it with NO Extra...) drove me NUTS to have buttons all over that didn't work for anything.

As for the plant closure that was news from somewhere in England and the actual story was more about better hours, more workers and increased production so the whole being closed and re-opening on the 21st of Jan is very believable.

It is beyond frustrating to not know this before hand but it makes perfect sense why nothing has been progressing like it did just before the 20th. With the exception of the cars that got out of the factory before the holidays.

I am impressed when ANYONE gets something out of the 1-866-ASK-MINI as every time I've called them they are friendly but plead stupid about EVERYTHING. I ask simple questions and even give them what I believe to be the answer and they say "I don't know", "They have not told us that", "Ask your Dealer", "I'm not sure" I can get more information out of a rock on the ground compared to 1-866-ASK-MINI. Very frustrating.

I mean seriously what is wrong with Mini/BMW informing us or at least their dealers. Change is part of life and I prefer to be informed even if it is not good news for me, I really get upset when I am simply left in the dark.

Think if Mini told your Dealers "Hey we will be closed from Dec 21st till Jan 21st for Xmas, New Years Vacation and then to prepare for the new model line and other changes" Thank You. I would have still ordered my Mini, maybe a week later but I would have still ordered it. I would NOT have slightly driven my MA nuts and I would not have OC'd as much and I would not have called -1-866-useless.

Looking through the history it even appears that many orders (from this support group) that came in in late Nov and early Dec got completed slightly faster than normal, probably to ensure they weren't sitting until late Jan. Even if I known that back in Nov it would not have mattered as I didn't have the $$$ yet anyways so it wouldn't have helped me.

It is what it is...but knowledge is power and I feel very low on power lately.
I now just want Feb to come and go very quickly so all my work travel will be done and I will have my Mini so I can go cruising...

 

My MA finally got in touch with me last night to let me know that the truck had arrived, and that our MCS would be PDI'ed and tinted by Wednesday afternoon.
In an odd twist of fate, my wife was rear ended in her Honda on the way to work this morning on the freeway. The impact was bad enough to cause the driver's side door to be difficult to open... My guess is that the car will be totaled.

So I guess she was needing a new car anyway

She's a bit sore (the doc said it'd be that way for a while) but altogether doing fine (the other driver was ok too, other than the airbag beating he took), and was really ecstatic when she finally saw her new baby. So, for those of you who are waiting... I present to you... Elsa (my name - we'll see if the wife sticks with it).

 

Awesome, Congrats and thank you for the cool photos...very nice ride.

 

Very Nice Gratz!!

 

This post had me chuckling a little bit but there are a couple things I would like to comment on but lets start with the obvious...

I sold my Volvo S60 to purchase my Mini. My Volvo had every option including rear fog lights. And although my Volvo was a daily driver I think I turned on my rear fog lights about a half dozen times during my 3 year ownership of the car. Please note that 4 of the times were to ensure that they still worked . The other two legit times were during inclimate weather. Both rain/hail storms that made seeing past the hood a bit challenging. Yes I was not looking for someone to rear end me either.

When I sold it to acquire my Mini the Mini did not have the option for rear fog light. Which does not bother me so much. What bothers the OC in me is the lacking of a switch to make the row look complete. Hell I have even conciderd buying the switch just to fill the row or spend the money and retro the lights into play. So worry not you are not alone!

The other chuckle here is you comment about men and their driving. But in honesty as humans we all have poor driving habits from time to time, even you stated you drove like a madman. LOL.

Happy Motoring no matter how much of a rush others see us in

P.S. I think I'll call the dealer today and see how much it would cost to buy the rear fog light kit!

 

If the rear fog cost is too much to add after the fact let me know and I will do a search as I did find a company (don't remember currently who it was) that sold the oem parts for just the toggle switch. This way you can have a complete dash just no rear fog attached. Who knows maybe you can connect the toggle to some cool 3rd party item you really do want and can use. Maybe an electric cup holder to keep coffee warm?

Although I have a rule in my old crap truck (that seems to be falling apart ever since I placed my Mini order) that will carry over to my gorgeous new JCW when I get it...NO food or drinks except bottled water.
I hate fast food so the eating part is easy and I mainly drink water anyways but the rule is there to keep the kids (my two boys) from bringing soda and chocolate into my auto as they do enough damage in my wife's CRV.

 

Mini driving lights $600.00 Proper Hella Rally lights $80, so I'm guessing that switch must be worth its weight in platinum.