I have run into a few "snags" if you will in the ALTA Light
bar/IPF lights install on 'enry UKDragon's MCS. So far we
have about 2 lazy working days on the project and it's
not satisfactory.

1. We FINALLY installed that light bar itself, those
directions could have been better and at least it had
some pictures that came with it. Should have looked
online for a tutorial first. Here's the point to note: The
MCS bumper is bowed outward and when you measure
exactly 18" it turns into about 18 ¼" at the tip of the L
Brackets. No biggie, with some tugging you can get that
puppy to connect.



2. Installing electrical wires for the 4 IPF driving lights
(extra high-beams) was basically easy except I got stuck
on the getting the wires from the engine compartment
through the firewall and into the cabin. The firewall is
hard to get to and IMPOSSIBLE to get a good drilled hole
in, not that i wanted to drill- the directions kept telling
me to use an existing grommet and the one most people
told me to use "the one with a thousand wires on the
driver side going in just in front of the steering wheel."
Yea, there was no way I was going to open that up. But it
did get me looking in the right direction and I found a
plastic cap that led right into the cabin with no problem
at all!!! Just drill a hole in that and make a slit to the
center to put the wires through, worked GREAT! Here's
some pics:






Match the colors, need to have centers on, or outside on
as stand alone for maximum coolness!


Places i drilled holes for the wires:


This is exactly where you put the wires through. On the
right side of the power steering.


3. According to both sheets of directions we were done.
But those stupid push-button on/off switches just won't
do in the Mini. It turns out that 'enry has 2 empty toggle
switches on the toggle switch panel. So we bought some
basic toggle switches to install there. We easily got the
toggle switches working with the lights (flip on = armed,
still have to switch to high-beams to turn them on).

THE QUESTION (1): I tried for about an hour to get into
the toggle switch pannel w/o any luck. There is 1 screw I
can't get to, the plastic piece beneath the steering wheel
needs to swing down (or get taken off) in order for me to
get to the top screw. Anyone know how to get it off?

Pic taken from inside & behind the steering wheel, no
idea what ANYTHING is back there or what's hoding that
piece on. So I started labeling random parts:



THE QUESTION (2): We want to protect these lights
from rocks and such but don't want to cover them up
with the supid looking IPF covers. We would like to cover
with Union Jack covers, solid colored/blank ones to paint
on ourselves, (anyone know if they make?) or leave them
bare but with a protective seal. What do are your
thoughs on getting a roll of this: http://www.clear-guard.com/bulkmaterial.asp

Otherwise this job has turned out SWEET. (thanks to
some help from other NAM members) Right now the
lights are working great but they are always 'armed' so
any time you flip to high-beams you get 8 lights (yes,
driving + high beams + Rally lights) BLARE!

That's 440W of light. Can't wait to put in the 100W bulbs
(620W TOTAL !!!)

 

to remove the tray under the colum just pull down "the angle" is a compression around that stud so just give it a sturdy tug and then it should fold down and

 

if you had a parcel shelf the big v is where you would hook the anchors to

 

See this file Page 8.
http://www.gbmini.net/MINIcircuit/MI...uitInstall.pdf

Can anyone else confirm that I'm supposed to take both
hands and slam it down?

 

Well, I wouldn't "slam" it... Just grab the top edge and pull down. It's held in by two friction points in the upper corners. Worst case, if you apply too much force, the lower hinges will pop off - no biggie - they're shaped like semi-circles so they can be re-connected if you get too enthusiastic.

 

Good job, the lights look great.

I HIGHLY recommend clear lamp covers for those IPF lamps. I got mine here: http://www.4by4connection.com/ipfaccessories.html

They're at the bottom of the page. Select the covers for the IPF 968 lamps, (the ones in the ALTA kit).

These covers let you use the lights, while still being covered, (and therefore CONSTANTLY PROTECTED). I think these are the covers that the lights should come with.

 

Agreed. Altho it still has their stupid logo all over it.

I was driving infront of 'enry at night when all the sudden the stadium lights
came on. It was incredibly bright, insanely distracting and utterly cool! it's
too bad most people won't get to see them on.

 

(Sigh)... I wish I could have the 4-light bar. Alas, I need a front plate in Ohio.

 

You can do what I did, just order the bar and one set of the lights from Alta. I think the two outer lights fit rather nicely around a front license plate. Check my link below for pictures.

Alta charged me somewhere around $280 for the bar and 2 lights. I'm happy with them, (though I do wish I could have all four down there!)