Thanks for the video, I managed to remove mine using your tips, disassemble and repair the slightly warped connector for the top bulb which saved replacement

What part of the States are you in? I'm in the UK and have never had trouble removing any tail-light bulbs from the inspection panel and I have had BMW minis since they came out in 2001. Your average daytime temperature must be much higher than here. I had other problems though. The paint ran on my first Mini and the Renault / mini engine was complete rubbish, and I kept popping the handbrake plastic end off the early models. I've had five minis and all did over 100,000 miles. Only problem with coopers is the service intervals are much closer together than the mini one. First two generation minis ate tyres but that is much better now but brake pad wear is worse but disks last longer. The passenger door window on the frameless windows sometimes didn't drop on opening or closing but never happened on the driver side. In all though I have been happy with them as long as you don't skimp on the servicing. Never had the automatic versions. Good tip on removing those back lights though 👍 Rings around the front lights are just as bad.

Great tips, Mike. Any idea if the replacement is an improvement over the original that failed??

Do you still have this Mini? I work at ECS, I'd like to send you some of our in house brand products for it!