Yet another Fog Lamp thread...

[jfanaselle]

Ok, so I know there has been 8 or 10 fog lamp threads already (I searched!) but I was looking for feedback if anyone has tried this or not - I found alot of people suggesting this but I'm not sure if anyone has actually tried it. I've already talked to Bob from versaspeed.com via email and he's been a huge help. Has anyone actually tried to utilize the stock fog lamp wiring on an SL with aftermarket lamps? Bob said the stock switch is about $45. I'd be willing to pay the $45 and buy some aftermarket fogs if I knew it was going to be a simple install. I'm confident that I can make the aftermarket ones look stock, but I don't want to install a horrible looking switch on my dash or somewhere else. Also, maybe someone with factory fogs or someone who threw the factory fog kit on can answer this question: how does the functionality of the fogs work? Can you have them turned on indipendantly from the rest of the lights? Do you have to turn on the parking lights or head lights? Can you use them with the brights?

[versa2nr]

I am pretty sure the wiring harness is just a positive and a negative in the pigtail. I would imagine all you would do is lop off the connector and just connect your own fogs and voila!

[Clipsed]

well seeing how it is illegal in CA to have your fogs on without your parking lights, and illegal to drive with your parking lights alone at anytime. I would imagine that all FACTORY systems make it so that you have to have the parking lights on to be able to have the fogs on. As for doing what you wanted to do, it would be a simple task.

[jfanaselle]

I'm sure you're right. I'm actually more concerned about whether you'll be able to operate them with the high beams or not. It's always a bad idea to use your high beams in fog or mist, but my intention is actually to use them more as a driving light. There are many times that I need to REALLY have alot of light, especially when I go visit my parents' house out in the middle of nowhere. I wanted to hook up "driving" lights with a long beam instead of fogs and run 100w or even brighter lamps so that I can light up the countryside. Obviously, this wouldn't do me any good if I have to operate them with the low beams. Alot of factory systems will disable the fogs automatically once the high beams are turned on. Is there ANYONE who has factory fogs installed that can answer that question? Don't make me have to consult my owner's manual.

[Clipsed]

see my sig? That is better lighting than any fogs you can buy, and the bulbs are only 35watts!

[jfanaselle]

Yeah and it looks great but I've read your other posts regarding HID and there's no way I could invest the time or the money to do it the right way - and I know you wouldn't want me doing it the flea-bay P&P way. Like I said before, my typical highway driving is fine. It's only when I travel out into the middle of nowhere that I could use the extra lighting. I was looking for a more cost effective route to deliver me similar results. Where my parents live, all of the roads are dirt and there are no lights of any sort. The properties are spread out in a manner that you don't even see lights from homes. I was just hoping someone could answer the question about the fogs with the high beams so that I could decide whether to install them or not. If they can't be operated with the high beams, then there's no reason for me to use driving lights and I should either bypass the factory wiring or use regular fogs instead for bad weather driving. I just didn't want to drop $45 on the switch to experiement and decide what kind of lights to buy.

[Clipsed]

I see. Well IMO, if I were in your situation, what I would do is put circular fogs in the stock area with the stock switch, and add a set of rectangular driving lights in the middle bottom bumper area, kinda like Codered did with his first set of fogs. That is what I would do, so that is just a suggestion. As for the ebay P&P, if you ever actually put them in your headlight, you will figure out that yea it may look pretty cool, but the output will be worse than stock, and you will blind people. Anywho, if you need more suggestions, or any input on anything or questions, feel free to ask!

[versaspeed.com]

J!

Almost forgot to answer this thread........I checked my Versa and the Fog's do go off when high beams go on.

What might be pretty kewl looking would be to put a pair of KC's or PIAA's in the lower grill and just run a special switch for both in the blank next to the side mirror adjuster.

You'd have to cut the grill but done right would look really hot! Rally Versa version?

[jfanaselle]

Thanks for the answer - I didn't want to buy the switch in order to find out how it was going to work. In this case, I'll just throw some fogs in there and forget about the whole driving light situation. I would do what clipsed suggested, because I would like to have the fogs and seperate driving lights, but I have a billet grille that was installed by the dealer (upper and lower) and it sits perfectly flush with the body lines so I wouldn't be able to utilize any of the space. I suppose I could mount some lights behind the grille, but the billet is very close and wouldn't allow much light through. Has anyone seen an H4 bulb with a higher wattage high beam (100 watts or so) but still a standard wattage low beam? That would be optimum for me also because I wouldn't ever use the high beams in the presence of another vehicle.