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Fog light options please!

 
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Dathaeus



Joined: 28 Sep 2008
Posts: 33

PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 1:14 am    Post subject: Fog light options please! Reply with quote

One of my fog lights kinda fell off and crack, and I have it ghetto taped right now and its fine, but maybe its time.... I have some nice HID regular lights, which are like brighter than my hi-beams, lol, but I would like some fogs to compliment them... my choices?

1. Standard HID fogs, OEM style or aftermarket, $40-$60 I think from like DDM
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Categories/HID-Kits-Lighting/Fog-Lights

2. Or what I really like, are the 8 LED daytime/switched lights that fit in the fog hole, but are these bright enough to make a difference at night? Or are they all looks only? Like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Euro-8-LED-Daytime-Running-Light-DRL-Driving-Fog-BMW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33713QQitemZ280588342666

Or anything else u guys have that might be cool, but I do not want to spend over $70 or so for the kit since I am also paying to get them installed, thanks!!!
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1997 328i w/Sports Package
5 speed manual
140,000 miles
Front: 17" (225)
Rear: 17" (245)

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walshja



Joined: 03 Apr 2001
Posts: 1139
Location: guilford, ct, usa

PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

well, my suggestion is to buy something cheap. I was replacing mine with stock BMW fog lights when they broke, and finally gave up, was getting to expensive. started replacing them with cheap eBay ones, and since then, they have not broke. go figure . . .

if you do buy a nice set, I would look into buying those plastic sheet protectors that stick on. like what people put on the cell phone screens. that should protect them from cracking on you.
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joe

1994 325iC, 195k miles
http://home.comcast.net/~walshja/index.html <--- check it out

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Dathaeus



Joined: 28 Sep 2008
Posts: 33

PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Geez! Do you live in a mountainous area or gravel filled neighborhoods? I'm not sure why mine fell out in the first place but thats the only reason it cracked.. but that film is probably a good idea anyways, I do use one for my phone... u cant see them on the fogs right?
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1997 328i w/Sports Package
5 speed manual
140,000 miles
Front: 17" (225)
Rear: 17" (245)

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PJK



Joined: 14 Feb 2002
Posts: 1829
Location: Shingle Springs, CA

PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:37 pm    Post subject: Re: Fog light options please! Reply with quote

The LEDs which you linked appear to be DRLs rather than fogs. If you really want a proper fog-light pattern you probably should avoid them. The other ones may be OK but I wouldn't expect the quality of the OEM lights.

Here is a link to what I used: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380247661110&_trksid=p2759.l1259#ht_1002wt_1167

I am happy with these lights. They are projectors and I believe they provide a better pattern than the OEMs. There are however issues. The mount is a cheap copy of the OEM mount and somewhat flimsy. Also the range of adjustment was not sufficient to get the proper aim. It took some modification but now they are in and working well. I complained to the seller and he returned part of my purchase price. He said he would talk to the vendor and get the problem resolved.

The small lens is less of a target for stones than the large flat lens in the OEM light. In addition to the look that was the appeal to me.

If you go this way, call the seller to verify that the problem has been solved.

Phil

Dathaeus wrote:
One of my fog lights kinda fell off and crack, and I have it ghetto taped right now and its fine, but maybe its time.... I have some nice HID regular lights, which are like brighter than my hi-beams, lol, but I would like some fogs to compliment them... my choices?

1. Standard HID fogs, OEM style or aftermarket, $40-$60 I think from like DDM
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Categories/HID-Kits-Lighting/Fog-Lights

2. Or what I really like, are the 8 LED daytime/switched lights that fit in the fog hole, but are these bright enough to make a difference at night? Or are they all looks only? Like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Euro-8-LED-Daytime-Running-Light-DRL-Driving-Fog-BMW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33713QQitemZ280588342666

Or anything else u guys have that might be cool, but I do not want to spend over $70 or so for the kit since I am also paying to get them installed, thanks!!!
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walshja



Joined: 03 Apr 2001
Posts: 1139
Location: guilford, ct, usa

PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't live in the mountains, worse, the north east.

I work from home now, but when I traveled to an office every day, 50 miles each way, I was breaking at least 1 fog light a year. when it snows the state used to dump sand on the roads, and everyone's front end would get blasted with sand/rocks.

my car now has 211k miles, and the only blemishes on the paint is on the front end, little chips.

the film for cars is invisible, I had a friend who did the front end of his car with the film, really couldn't see it at all. wish it was available when I got my car !!

there are many vendors who sell this, this is just an example
http://www.invisiblecarbras.com/
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joe

1994 325iC, 195k miles
http://home.comcast.net/~walshja/index.html <--- check it out

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Dathaeus



Joined: 28 Sep 2008
Posts: 33

PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:18 pm    Post subject: Re: Fog light options please! Reply with quote

PJK wrote:
Here is a link to what I used: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380247661110&_trksid=p2759.l1259#ht_1002wt_1167


Well I didnt really care about proper fog lights, being in FL, lol... it gets foggy here about once every century. My main priority is illumination and then some aesthetics, hopefully both... but ya I dont think those LED's I listed would have much practical road brightness, more like 100% ricey aesthetics.....

Your listing there looks interesting, but what is "Black projector fog light".. does that mean jus the housing is black or is the light covered in a black tint... do u have any nighttime pics? And are they brighter than the hyperwhite halogen OEM type fogs I was thinking of getting from DDM?
_________________
1997 328i w/Sports Package
5 speed manual
140,000 miles
Front: 17" (225)
Rear: 17" (245)

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Dathaeus



Joined: 28 Sep 2008
Posts: 33

PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 12:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

walshja wrote:
I don't live in the mountains, worse, the north east.

I work from home now, but when I traveled to an office every day, 50 miles each way, I was breaking at least 1 fog light a year. when it snows the state used to dump sand on the roads, and everyone's front end would get blasted with sand/rocks.

my car now has 211k miles, and the only blemishes on the paint is on the front end, little chips.

the film for cars is invisible, I had a friend who did the front end of his car with the film, really couldn't see it at all. wish it was available when I got my car !!


Ya I'm not surprised, let alone all the potholes and road work damage on your tires... wow 211k??? You got your car restored too didnt you, no way it looks that good with factory paint!

Someone showed me these projector fogs on ebay he said he got, needed a little adjustment but are nice:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BLACK-PROJECTOR-FOG-LIGHT-92-98-BMW-E36-318-323-325-328-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem27b8793278QQitemZ170598675064QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
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1997 328i w/Sports Package
5 speed manual
140,000 miles
Front: 17" (225)
Rear: 17" (245)

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walshja



Joined: 03 Apr 2001
Posts: 1139
Location: guilford, ct, usa

PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 12:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

my car is all original, even the top (new window though)

even the leather is in perfect condition, no cracks, but a seam has come undone, I'll fix that soon.

paint is original as well. this car is a tank, I honestly can't believe how well it's holding up. it really looks brand new, and there are no creaks or rattles when driving.

and don't talk to me about potholes and wheels, I'm on my 3rd set of wheels, finally went to 17 inch, and that made a HUGE difference in how the car looks and performs. I already cracked 1 on my new wheel, that was my spare tire. down to 4 round wheels on this set . . .

I've seen those fogs on eBay, they look nice, for sure worth a gamble for only $40
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joe

1994 325iC, 195k miles
http://home.comcast.net/~walshja/index.html <--- check it out

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PJK



Joined: 14 Feb 2002
Posts: 1829
Location: Shingle Springs, CA

PostPosted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 1:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Fog light options please! Reply with quote

The black is just the housing. The lens does not appear to be tinted. The total light output compared to the OEM is hard for me to say. It may be a bit less. I do like the pattern. I probably have mine set a bit high for fogs. The cut-off is just below the low beams. They do a good job of lighting the side of the road. I do have the euro Hella headlights and I like them but these fogs when lit do make my low-beams closer to what you see on newer cars.

Out of the box these pointed very low, to the point of being useless. If you are having these installed, don't expect the tech to modify them to aim them properly. Call the seller to find out if the problem has been fixed.

Phil

Dathaeus wrote:
PJK wrote:
Here is a link to what I used: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380247661110&_trksid=p2759.l1259#ht_1002wt_1167


Well I didnt really care about proper fog lights, being in FL, lol... it gets foggy here about once every century. My main priority is illumination and then some aesthetics, hopefully both... but ya I dont think those LED's I listed would have much practical road brightness, more like 100% ricey aesthetics.....

Your listing there looks interesting, but what is "Black projector fog light".. does that mean jus the housing is black or is the light covered in a black tint... do u have any nighttime pics? And are they brighter than the hyperwhite halogen OEM type fogs I was thinking of getting from DDM?
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