Installing Hella 500's on a MINI: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Dec. 9, 2011 7:05 p.m. Jeff Dork

I want to mount 4 Hella 500's on my MINI. Two fogs and two driving (I have these, bought them years ago and have had them on several vehicles). I was out looking at the bumper and not seeing any obvious way of mounting them. Has anyone mounted lights on a MINI? How did you mount the bracket?

I'd also like to wire the fogs into the existing fog light circuit (the OEM fogs are a joke). Can I just wire them straight in? It would also be nice to have all four on with the high beams.

BTW, still looking for a co-driver for the January Jaunt and beyond. PM me if your interested in starting your new rally career .
Dec. 9, 2011 7:23 p.m. Ian F SuperDork

Go on NAM and do some searching. R53 or R56? My experience is mainly with the R53. The R56 is a bit different.

4-light set-ups are usually mounted low through the lower black plastic grill. If you were in Eastern PA, I could recommend a guy. It's unlikely the bonnet struts will support 4 lights, but mainly the sheet metal the mounts are screwed to through the grill isn't all that substantial and is barely adequate for the OE lights.

The OE fog-lights are wired through the hi-beam circuit through the switch w/o a relay. While we've never had a problem (the g/f's '03 has the factory fogs), I've heard of trying to turn both on at the same time blowing a fuse. Obviously, the best way would be to run a relay directly from the power, then wire a relay or two through the lighting circuit of choice.
Dec. 9, 2011 7:47 p.m. mw HalfDork

I would use a relay for sure. This light barlooks easy enough to copy: http://www.altaperformance.com/products/show/24/Rally-Light-Bar-with-Lights?catego...
Dec. 9, 2011 8:39 p.m. Jeff Dork

R 53. MW that bracket does look easy to make, thanks.
Dec. 10, 2011 12:07 a.m. heyduard New Reader

Outmotoring.com makes a bracket for the lower grille as well.