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Fog Lights

70 messages,  Last post on Sep 16, 2012 at 1:12 AM

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Messages Page 5 of 7

#41 of 70 Foglamps by catam

Apr 01, 2006 (7:02 pm)

I have an 03 Suburban, I need a new drivers side foglamp. I was wondering if anyone knew where I could pick up a new one cheap, or an aftermarket set. I would want the aftermarket set to fit in the mount in the bumper and if possible use the same wiring connector. Thanks, Catam.

#42 of 70 Re: are fog lamps useful or decoration [pod] by eharri3

Apr 03, 2006 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: pod (Sep 25, 2005 8:13 pm)
I've done a ton of researh lately on this when buying driving and fog lamps so I figured I'd chime in. That 'scattered light near the car' is actually the purpose they are intended to serve, to light the ground immediately in front of you and the road markers edges where you won't be able to see when there's heavy fog or precipitation, so you can keep the car pointed straight down the road. Fog tends to hover a foot or so off the ground. Properly aimed, well designed fogs throw out a broad, but not very far-reaching beam with a sharp cutoff that starts immediately in front of the car, goes under the fog, fills out the dead spot before the head light beam, and go slightly beyond that while also lighting some of the sides of the road. If the weather's that bad out, you're going slow anyway so what is immediately in front of you is more important than what is a foot ball field away.
 
They don't go very far or very high because if they hit the moisture or fog they'll be reflected all over the place and create glare. So don't expect your fogs to improve long or medium distance night vision when it's clear out. Get driving lamps for that.
 
 I find most OEM fog lights are weak and low-wattage and aimed way to low, to the point where they're basically illuminating the ground underneath the front bumper and not much more. This was the way the ones on my Dakota Quad were and based on that I assumed fog lights in general must be pretty much worthless. I then tried an aftermarket 55 watt set from Pep boys for 45$ and aimed them carefully. Before with the OEMs on they lit up an area maybe 3-4 feet in front of the truck and threw a very narrow, limited amount of useful light 8-10 feet to the side. The new ones completely fill in the dead spot between the front bumper and where the headlight beam starts and light up whole houses on the side of the road. It's amazing, even inexpensive entry-level aftermarket lamps will out-shine the overpriced OEMS. The stock ones on my Dakota Quad cost anywhere from 150-200 from a dealer for a complete kit and put almost no useful light in comparison. Even just one single Dodge fog light at a dealer costs nearly twice as much as an inexpensive complete aftermarket kit.
 
So I guess in short I would say yes, most OEM fogs are there purely for decoration. I think they put the cheapest ones they can get from their suppliers on there just to be able to say they offer fog lights on their vehicles. But alot of aftermarket ones make a real difference in inclement weather.
 
Also, I did alot of experimentation with aiming using the precise textbook methods on PIAA's website and elsewhere on the web as well as my own subjective measures of where I thought they would be most effective. Turns out the angle of aim where I get the most useable light on the ground with minimal useless light thrown up in the air happened to coincide with the PIAA method, which has the top of the beam about 3-4 inches below beam center on a wall at 25 feet on level ground. Too high and I had alot of weak, unfocused light in the air doing nothing for me. Too low and they didn't light up enough of the road in front of me.

#43 of 70 Re: Foglamps [catam] by bigfur

Apr 24, 2006 (9:26 pm)

Replying to: catam (Apr 01, 2006 7:02 pm)
Have an 01 Silverado...similar front bumpers...and installed four way piaa lights into the factory fog light openings with very little trouble. Work great and light up a long ways.

#44 of 70 Camry Hybrid fog lights? by jbollt

Jul 25, 2006 (12:21 pm)

I am a new owner of an 07 Camry Hybrid. Unfortunately, they do not come with, or even offer fog lights, as the XLE model has as standard. Has anyone researched the installation of the factory lights in the 07 Camry Hybrid, or how about after market?
 
I see there are several posters in the Camry Hybrid threads with the same quiery, so I thought I would post here to see what anyone has to say.
 
Thanks

#45 of 70 fog lights on civic si in sf by mahiri

Jul 27, 2006 (5:30 pm)

I just bought a civic si and am considering getting fog lights installed, in part b/c i live in sf. Please excuse the following stupid question: Are they only for looks or will they really come in handy in san francisco? thx.

#46 of 70 Re: fog lights on civic si in sf [mahiri] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 27, 2006 (6:56 pm)

Replying to: mahiri (Jul 27, 2006 5:30 pm)
Depends if a) you get really good ones or not and b) if they are aimed/focused properly. Yeah, if they are quality items, it makes a difference in parts of San Francisco, like going over the GG Bridge or in the Sunset district. But I doubt you'll need fogs in North Beach!
 
The fogs should cut a wide low beam and allow you to see the sides of the road better. If they are aimed too high they will just bounce back at you.

#47 of 70 Re: fog lights on civic si in sf [Mr_Shiftright] by mahiri

Jul 27, 2006 (9:27 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 27, 2006 6:56 pm)
When I bought the car, the dealer offered me a fog light option for $619. Are fog lights from the Honda dealer probably good ones? I'm hesitant to go after-market because I want them covered under the new car warranty.

#48 of 70 Re: fog lights on civic si in sf [mahiri] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 28, 2006 (9:36 am)

Replying to: mahiri (Jul 27, 2006 9:27 pm)
My opinion is that dealer-added accessories tend to be good quality but overpriced...so your decision is kind of a toss-up. I didn't add them on my new car because the price seemed too steep, but now I'm still searching for an aftermarket product that fits well and is of good quality. I may have to resort back to the dealer option at some point.

#49 of 70 Re: Camry Hybrid fog lights? [jbollt] by karuso

Nov 17, 2006 (5:26 pm)

Replying to: jbollt (Jul 25, 2006 12:21 pm)
I am also the owner of an 07 Camry Hybrid. I also wanted the fog lights as well.
 
Take a look at this link, and let me know if this helps (unless you have found this already).
 
http://www.blinglights.com/shopbling/store/comersus_listCategoriesAndProducts.as- p?idCategory=56&curPage=2

#50 of 70 Re: Camry Hybrid fog lights? [karuso] by jbollt

Nov 17, 2006 (9:27 pm)

Replying to: karuso (Nov 17, 2006 5:26 pm)
thanks karuso..i will check them out....have you installed them?

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