So I have read many post on changing the tail light bulb and none are really helpful. One says twist bulb out and the other says remove the screws.

So for a 2008 Mini Cooper S hardtop, how do you change the rear tail light bulb? So far open hatch, remove the little cover, then.....what? Anyone have pics or a link to a video?

Thanks in advance.

 

The instructions and diagrams in the Owner's Manual seem pretty clear.



This may help you understand:

 

If you do not have the OM that should be with the car you can DL one from the MINI owners lounge (create an account).

https://ol.miniusa.com/

 

It's a tight fit. I was checking backup bulbs and it takes some real dexterity.
On a side note, has anyone changed them to LED bulbs?

 

Was looking into the leds. Not sure if the bulb out warning would pop up.

 

Cheap LEDs (read not from VLEDs ($50-100 units) will not be as bright and cause hyperflash.

 

Another reason why they call this car a "mini" :-) Had a malfunction error for one of the rear backup light bulbs in my '08 Hatchback. Opened the back felt cover and saw this really cool plastic "V" bracket that I turned slightly counter-clockwise and I could pull the bulb and bracket out and saw the bulb was burned out. Got another and put it in - then the fun began. Essentially, you have to have "mini" hands to really get the bulb back into the hole in the housing. Yea, the plastic "v" makes it easy to turn into/out of the housing - but the size of that bracket also makes it challenging to get the bulb into that very precisely-sized hole - and there's not much room between that hole and the wheel well arch. Now that I know the "trick" on how to get it in (you get on your knees, lead with your hand in a "backhand" fashion and slowly put the bulb into the housing, then switch hands and feed it the rest of the way in and then easily turn the bracket). I'm a big buy with big hands (size 13 ring). I'm pretty sure someone with "mini" hands would find this much easier.

I was impressed, however, that there are no wires on the bulb bracket itself - pretty cool design to have the housing itself have the circuit. If that bracket also had the wire I'm sure I'd still be out there cussing...

I was also impressed that the computer in the car knew not only the bulb it was - but whether it was right/left. Even my Acuras don't do that!

andy