Educate me about fog lights

scottmandue · 10-30-2013, 09:32 AM

I always love the racy look of fog lights, I even put a big set of yellow Hella's on my first car.

So my options are:

H3 halogen projectors = $35
Chinese HID projectors = $100

What think ye?

look 171 · 10:35 AM

I don't know if the additional lighting will make a difference in our city. I think some wide spread beam driving lights aimed low would make a better choice? I have factory ones on my 4 runner and when they are on, I do noticed the difference. The Bosch or whatever they are, do not do a thing. In terms of looks, I have no opinion.

I meant to say the bosch on my 930 don't do anything in terms of lighting anything up 2 feet in front of me.

notmytarga · notmytarga's Garage

Just don't drive with them if it's not "foggy". A pet peeve of mine. I think there are some vehicles that have them wired like daytime running lights. It's like running your brights day and night.

tcar · 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notmytarga

Just don't drive with them if it's not "foggy". A pet peeve of mine. I think there are some vehicles that have them wired like daytime running lights. It's like running your brights day and night.

No. Fog lights don't do that... they're not like brights. They spread the 'beam' wide and close to the ground. They do not shine in others eyes.

Only Driving lights do what you are describing.

Fog lights shine no higher (usually lower) than Low Beams for a reason; to keep the light from reflecting back from the fog.

Driving lights are used as a supplement to High Beams; they shine high and long. Only use when there is NO oncoming traffic.

javadog · 10-30-2013, 10:42 AM

Neither of those options is worth using. I doubt you'll get any benefit from any fog light but if I had to recommend a set I'd look at what Cibie makes. Look at at the bigger lights, the small ones are virtually useless.

If you just like the look of the things, install some driving lights which do have some usefulness. Again, stick to the larger ones if you want to see much.

JR

porwolf · 10-30-2013, 10:50 AM

Good, low, fog lights are also very helpfull when driving at night when it is snowing. They are indispensible then.

scottmandue · 10-30-2013, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcar

No. Fog lights don't do that... they're not like brights. They spread the 'beam' wide and close to the ground. They do not shine in others eyes.

Only Driving lights do what you are describing.

Exactly, I upgraded my Sylvania sealed beams to Bosch E codes in the Miata... the E codes are twice as much light but also well made to cut off well below the oncoming drivers line of sight.

The fog lights on same Miata would be so low as to not be in anyones eyes also.

Because yes, I find the high power driving lights blaring in my eyes from oncoming traffic annoying too.

I'm more curious about the output of the H3 Vs HID?

Or has anyone tried the ebay Chinese knockoff HID fog lights?

As look 171 says, the usefulness in our area is questionable... The factory fog lights on the Hyundai just illuminate the ground ten feet in front of the car.

On the other hand the Miata is tiny and anything that makes it more visible to other drivers is a good thing.

look 171 · 11:54 AM

I had a set of fogs on my NA. They came with the car. PIAA halogen of some kind, small powerful to my eyes, but set very low, right about the lower valance. It did not do a thing when on. Very little area was lit. About 5 feet but wide spread. Waste of energy IMO.

Oh, let me add this:

I notice them on from the light bouncing off the wall while hauling ass down the carpool lane on the 110 going south. If I get out with the others, I notice no additional lighting on that fwy or any other fwy around here for that matter. This is just something you can compare to because I know you are on it daily screaming at the stopped up traffic of course. In the rain, all light disappears.

scottmandue · 10-30-2013, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by javadog

Neither of those options is worth using. I doubt you'll get any benefit from any fog light but if I had to recommend a set I'd look at what Cibie makes. Look at at the bigger lights, the small ones are virtually useless.

If you just like the look of the things, install some driving lights which do have some usefulness. Again, stick to the larger ones if you want to see much.

JR

These are for a Miata, no room on the front bumper for large round lights.

It is common to mount the small lamps inside the grill opening.

Shifter · 10-30-2013, 12:33 PM

If you are looking for a bit more light out front, pick up a set of these.

Kuryakyn Phase 7 Headlamp 2249

They are spendy, that price is each! You can find them cheaper if you look, though. I put them in my Alfa spider, and it made a world of difference for forward visibility. Very nice cutoff also. But they do look a little goofy, but I am fine with that.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

I bet you can find what you are looking for here
MX-5 Miata Forum

Apparently you want to swap for these first. WOnder if they will work for the 914
http://www.rallylights.com/h6024-7-round-e-code-hi-lo-conversion-headlamp-kit.html

John Rogers · 10-30-2013, 02:31 PM

Here is a pict of the ones I had on my 2003 Mini S model. The middle ones were pencil beam driving and the outer ones were wide beam fog. I had them switched so I could use either set or all 4 with the HID Mini lights that were great when a big 'ol SUV would pull in front of me on the freeway....... The bulbs were replaced with the highest power ones available from PIAA.

look 171 · 10-30-2013, 02:48 PM

Geeez John, how often do you use all those around these parts?

scottmandue · 10-30-2013, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobra

I bet you can find what you are looking for here
MX-5 Miata Forum

Silly boy, where do you think I got the idea to add fog lamps?

NOT MY CAR!!! but you get the idea you can see how ther is almost no room to add large lenes:

Head lights have already been upgraded to Bosch "E" codes (IMHO as good as Hella or Cebie at a fraction of the cost)

look 171 · 10-30-2013, 03:01 PM

Scott, I had one of those except in red with those or similar kind of lights. Worthless.

You have an NB right, or was it the NC?

masraum · 10-30-2013, 03:21 PM

Not exactly what we are talking about, but...

I've always thought that this was a good look/solution. This miata was in the GRMS $2004 challenge. The guy pulled the pop-up headlight setup to save weight and mounted these in the bumper. It's a pretty major mod, but if it was done well, maybe with perspex covers, it would be cool.

scottmandue · 10-30-2013, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Scott, I had one of those except in red with those or similar kind of lights. Worthless.

You have an NB right, or was it the NC?

NA 1996, dark blue non-stock paint by PO.

scottmandue · 10-30-2013, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

Not exactly what we are talking about, but...

I've always thought that this was a good look/solution. This miata was in the GRMS $2004 challenge. The guy pulled the pop-up headlight setup to save weight and mounted these in the bumper. It's a pretty major mod, but if it was done well, maybe with perspex covers, it would be cool.

That does look cool... but maybe a little more extreme than I want to go... at this point

Wife is not happy with how much I am spending on mods... and I still want to do coil-overs.

scottmandue · 10-30-2013, 03:35 PM

Or these:

Amazon.com: Optilux H71010291 Model 1100 12V/55W Black Halogen Projector Fog Lamp Kit: Automotive

look 171 · 10-30-2013, 03:36 PM

The NAs are pure and raw (not early 911 raw). I had the 1.6L car and yours is the 1.8L? I liked mine, but had to rev the piss out of it to get around a tow truck (car in tow on its flat bed)going up hill to beat him to a one lane road that merges into a single lane up on Mulholland.