30 replies to this topic

[AVV IT]

I keep meaning to fit a high level brake light at the top of my rear window, but not sure which one to go for as I want something that that wont look out of place on a classic.

 

I used to have one a few years back, but the bulb was forever blowing so I got rid of it in the end. I understand that modern versions use LED's though, so they're supposed to be much more reliable, Many any of them seem quite long and thin too and I was a bit worried that they wouldn't stick to the curve of the inside of a minis rear screen.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations, or pictures of one that they have fitted?

 

 

[minisilverbullet]

I tried one of the cheaper LED ones from eBay. It was supposed to stick to the screen. It never really stuck, constantly fell off. Maybe the vibrations. I even tried different double sided adhesive pads and it never helped. Looked pants too!

 

I spent a bit of time when trying to find a nice solution, here are some options-
These look cool - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380461053806

Here is a genuine rover part http://www.ebay.co.u...d=321108698398


In the end I took inspiration from Japan:

Stumbled across this idea a while back, while looking for Japanese mini styling.


I also remember seeing some cooper S race cars with two brake lights at each corner of rear screen. so I thought i would combine the two



Some inspiration from Japan....





....
.So i ordered some lamp brackets from a neat ebay shop and (after many hours ebaying) some American truck lamps from the USA.





the lamps:



and together...


 
 

Finally fitted, Had a nightmare trying to conceal my speakers. Speakers are now hidden within the speaker board.

But all done.....








 
 

[Sean C]

Here is mine. Cost less than a fiver from ebay and a piece of cake to fit. I modified mine and took the feet off it where it sticks to the window and stuck it direct to the window with a couple of dabs of tigerseal. 

 

 

Ebay link: http://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1439.l2649

[zinzan]

Prior to the current teardown, I had fit a cheapie LED light on the back window.  Bought it off ebay for about $10 and was easy to connect in.  Had to make my own pedestal-type base for it as it had a strange clip-style bracket on it already.  More of a temp fix for the base to sit on the parcel shelf against the window at the time.  

LIKE THIS: http://www.ebay.ca/i...&vxp=mtr&_uhb=1

 

Now that I'm completely rebuilding, I was thinking of finding something more proper. Not sure that it makes a huge difference, but with the variance in size between my Mini and all the gigantic monster trucks over here in Canada I'm willing to try just about anything to make it more visible.  Just about got run over a couple times by lift-kitted Dodge Ram pickups...

 

 

Has anyone fitted a narrow LED strip style high mount light between the rear window and gutter?  Wondering if it'd be easy to do during the current rebuild.

[surfblue]

Used a mini rear foglight mounted on the parcel shelf, not got any photos tho.....

[HarrysMini]

Used a mini rear foglight mounted on the parcel shelf, not got any photos tho.....

That's actually a really good idea. Most of the LED ones you see look cheap and don't last.

 

I wonder if the wattages are OK and it's legal?

[surfblue]

I think it's a 21w bulb, same as that in a stop / tail light bulb, wouldnt expect any problems.

[AVV IT]

Thanks for the replies so far, I'm not so keen on the parcel shelf solutions though, as Ideally I want one at the top of the rear screen as that's more likely to be within the the eye line of drivers behind me.

[bcjames]

A Rover Mini one, sticks to the windscreen. It's still at the bottom though, although a vast improvement on the original taillights!

 

Brake lights by coachjamesbull, on Flickr

[1984mini25]

I had this 3rd brake light fitted to mine for a number of years at the top of the screen, but fitted in such a way as it's almost invisible/discreet when not lit.

 

 

[AVV IT]

 

I had this 3rd brake light fitted to mine for a number of years at the top of the screen, but fitted in such a way as it's almost invisible/discreet when not lit.

 

 

 

 

I like this idea, what sort of lamp is it, and how did you have it fitted so that it was almost invisible?

[1984mini25]

It's one of these...

 

 

I can't exactly remember what I paid for it being as it must have been around 2006 ish, but it certainty wasn't more than a tenner from a local motor factors. As for how it's fitted, its screwed directly into the inner rail along the top of the rear window with the wiring all fed behind the headlining and down the c pillar to the o/s rear light.

[Minto1]

I don't mind the look of the LEDs even if they do look a little out of place, but I just bought a strip of about 10 little red LEDs (something like these: http://www.amazon.co...t/dp/B005EE3PVI) and attached them onto the top of the windscreen with super glue and sticky fixers and all sorts, none of which held so I just got two tiny screws into the windscreen rubber (making sure I didn't drill through the wires for the LEDs or ruin the rubber obviously....)

Another thing which would probably be more discreet would be something like these: http://www.amazon.co...E/dp/B00841KM1Y. If you can get the adhesive to stick properly (might require a lot of super glue or something stronger) they will be really well hidden, but to wire them in you'll need to have quite a steady hand for soldering and lots of patience, as they can be a big pain in the arse to solder if you're as cack handed as I am

[mab01uk]

SVC do a clear high level LED brake light which lights up red

http://www.s-v-c.co....el-brake-light/

[zinzan]

SVC do a clear high level LED brake light which lights up red

http://www.s-v-c.co....el-brake-light/

Those are pretty neat.  Wonder if the arms on the side allow the light to swivel for adjustment at all?

 

I spent the better part of the morning avoiding my actual paperwork and reports to instead browse used 3rd brake lights on ebay.  Found lots of "maybes"...I would prefer something higher up if possible as my Mini is so little compared to most North American cars, but haven't yet figured out something I can mount at the top of the rear screen without cutting into the headliner.

 

Is there anything else around in a smallish rear spoiler with a built-in LED.  Have found spoilers at Minisport, but they're pretty pricey.

 

EDIT: current Minispeed link: http://www.minispeed...ial-order-only/

Edited by zinzan, 26 January 2014 - 08:48 PM.