R50 - Tail light issue and other quirks

R50 - Tail light issue and other quirks

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Original Poster:

355 posts

199 months

Wednesday 9th January 2019
quotequote all
Hi to all and first time on the MINI forum. smile

I have had my 56 plate, MINI ONE (1.6) for about 9 months and love it, however I have had a few mechanical dramas which I have been ironing out as they become apparent.

The latest is that my tail lights stop working whilst driving at random times,unfortunately however I have tried allsorts but am unable to replicate the issue on the drive.
The tail lights are on at the start of the journey (I now check before setting off) and all other lights are working, front and rear. The car's lights are set to be on all the time so it is not as if I am acccidentally turning them off. As best I can tell, the lighting issue resets itself and comes back on when I restart the car after the fault has occured without any fiddling with wires, fuses etc. Other than the usual response of 'bad earth' is it likely to be anything else? Only other thing I have done recently is changed the car stereo but that was quite straight forward and works fine.

Another thing... I noticed today that when flick the toggle switch for the rear fog lamp, a 'puddle light' comes on under the door. Is this normal or are the lights supposed to come on only when the door is open (which they do not do)?

Any advice is much appreciated.

kind regards,
MB.

Vince70

1,942 posts

201 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
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That’s a very late R50 if it’s on a 56 plate but if your having electrical gremlins on an r50 check for damp carpet in the drivers footwell as you might have a wet BC1 unit which is situated in the plastic panel behind the bonnet pull.

Mine is soaked and had issues and the cheapest option is to buy a second hand unit and get it coded.
But find the source of the leak first.

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Original Poster:

355 posts

199 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
quotequote all
Thanks for the reply.
I will have look at the weekend. smile

Dave.

7,519 posts

260 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
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I changed the head unit on my R53 years ago, and the rear wiper did 2/3 of a sweep every time I switch off the ignition.

You could try swapping the yellow and red wires on the back of the head unit (should be on plugs).

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Original Poster:

355 posts

199 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
quotequote all
Thanks. I'll have a look at that too! smile