Fog Lamps--things to consider

[smockers83]

I know it looks cool, I will admit that, and I know I'll probably get some bad feedback from the lot that have already done this (I'm ok with that though so go ahead and bring it ), but changing your fog lamps to HID or HID simulators (or just a higher K in general) can be dangerous to yourself and others. And for the reasons most people do it, its ultimately pointless in terms of functionality, which I know some of you don't care about haha. There really are reasons why things are designed the way they are, not just to save money or something.

The angle at which these beams are projected at, they serve little to no purpose over 30 MPH when used incorrectly. For whatever reason that is beyond me (at least for those with projectors), people like to drive with their fogs on when they don't need to. Maybe some of you can explain that to me now. If you're driving down the highway at 60 MPH on a good night, these lights serve very little purpose. By the time you see something in the road 10 feet in front of you, you have no time to react to it. The beams are designed to light up the edges of the road and the immediate foreground during bad weather conditions like fog, rain, and snow not to increase down-field visibility.

Anywho, those that have done this swap or are thinking about doing the swap, just read this and keep it in mind in your decision. It talks about the light conditions for the driver and others, why fogs are yellow in hue, and a couple other things.

http://www.danielsternlighting....html

[Slow Old Man]

Good read, there are many that try to re-invent the wheel with their mods, and tend to make things worse. I am not against mods, I used to mod the crap out of my cars, then I learned how much R&D went in to a car, and that things were a certain way for a reason. Some need headlights that compare to the light emitted from an arc welder, I am alright with that

[Kenrik]

I live in Miami.. I don't need fog lights.

[smockers83]

Some need headlights that compare to the light emitted from an arc welder, I am alright with that

I don't know if I'm taking this out of context, but I wasn't talking about headlights anywhere in the post. I have HID headlights as do all 06 coupes so that puts me into the arc welder category as well.

[W661335PF]

With the way some people drive (those whose egos dull the pain of stupidity), fog lamps are a must- not so we can see better in the fog or rain, but so others can see us better. I use them in city driving for added visibility to others- day or night. I realize this isn't a common practice, but I'd rather be seen than heard.

[Slow Old Man]

I probably toook it out of context, I was just reffering to some of the aftermarket bulbs out there, in general. Again, I am not anti-mod, I think there is some nice stuff out there, it just seems most of it is not so nice, and the masses think that any change from stock is better, just because. My G came with the HID lights, and love them, but less white OEM foglights(for lack of better words) work great too.

Anyway, back on subject, the read was good and informative

I don't know if I'm taking this out of context, but I wasn't talking about headlights anywhere in the post. I have HID headlights as do all 06 coupes so that puts me into the arc welder category as well.

[Slow Old Man]

ut so others can see us better. I use them in city driving for added visibility to others- day or night.

That is another good point. I have logged many miles on motorcycles, before a serious track crash anyway . I cannot remember where I read it, but it stated something like: The more lights, the more surface area, the more surface area, the better a human eye can use depth of field, and judge speed. Motorcyclist are hit and killed daily by people that simply stated "I just didn't see them ".

[zozoka1212]

With the way some people drive (those whose egos dull the pain of stupidity), fog lamps are a must- not so we can see better in the fog or rain, but so others can see us better. I use them in city driving for added visibility to others- day or night. I realize this isn't a common practice, but I'd rather be seen than heard.

Well said.

Zozo

[Kenrik]

Exactly.. I drive with my lights on 24/7 Both the HIDs and the FOGS.. Remember I'm in Miami so pretty much 100% city driving.

It helps because everyone here sucks at driving and I want them to be able to see me.

[smockers83]

More lights, surface area, and depth of field don't always coincide because you have to get the lighting just right to balance fore and background. Now if you can increase the surface area covered by your headlights, then you are looking at greater depth of field and better vision, which is what projector headlamps do. For motorcycles though, I understand where that comes from because I complain about the lighting of motorcycles and I've never rode one, I'd like to though.

Now driving in the city with fog lamps on for increased vision to others? Ok, I can sort of see where you're going with that. OEM type ok, but if they're HID fogs, then . I live in a city of terrible drivers and driving around with 2 lights on or 4 lights on isn't going to make a difference if one sees me or not. Its true. If they claim they didn't see you, its because they just weren't paying attention in the first place, lights aren't going to change their action; they'll remain oblivious to you. Think back on close encounters where you've made the mistake and said that f'er came out of nowhere! What proportion of those incidents would you honestly say would have been different if more lights were on? You might as well weld a light bar on the roof of your G...that would be a sight. That'll increase both surface area and ability to be seen.

I'm curious, how many people have switched to HID fogs? If you drive with OEM type fogs all the time, that isn't really a problem. I'm not trying to bring anyone down here, that's not my intention--just looking for a healthy discussion because I apparently have a different mindset on this, so I want to understand the mindset of others.

[Kenrik]

http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/DRLs/studies.htm

Please note the part where it says if they are BRIGHTER then it makes it easier to see other cars. (Daytime)

Plus HID looks Sooo Cool!

"DRLs, at sufficient levels of intensity, increase visual contrast between vehicles and their background. Various studies have shown that DRLs can improve the noticeability and detectability of vehicles in the central and peripheral fields of view"

[Slow Old Man]

I seem to have missed something. I did not realize there were purpose built HID fogs available. I was more reffering to the aftermarket bulbs that have a different color and are more, if not all, for looks. I am with you, I am looking for a honest discussion and information, than to argue.

[adren77]

Good read!

I was always wondering why they design the fog lights as they do, and what their true purpose is.

I agree that it's better to be "seen than heard," and I do agree everyone should have their headlights on at all times. However, at night, I think your HID's are plenty of light for others to see you, and that having fog lights on will not help and may only hinder your abilities to see (as explained in the article).

[champagneG35]

Good post . I think more people probably not in our forum should read this as well. They're yellowish and lower powered for a reason people

Edit: Sometimes I wonder what genetic misfire can occur in ones mind to make them think that somehow having brighter non yellow/amber foglamps will ever help them in fog ?? You would think they've tried to hit their highbeams at some point to see better, one would think during this experiment that they would figure out brighter white light is not better in fog!!

[smockers83]

There aren't purpose built HIDs for fog lamps, its just that people convert their fog lamps from halogens to HIDs.

I'm aware of studies done on DRLs. DRL studies can quickly be dismissed from this discussion though, particularly in your case Kenrik. DRLs are just driving lamps that are automatically on when the headlights aren't on. If you're driving with your HID headlights on all the time, there is no need for extra light from HID fogs. Until you can find a study that says otherwise, I'll stand by that.

Please note the part where it says if they are BRIGHTER then it makes it easier to see other cars. (Daytime)

Nowhere does it say brighter on that page. It does state however SUFFICIENT levels of intensity, with sufficient being halogens so again extra HIDs in the fog lamp housing are not needed when you're driving with your HID headlights on during the day. I could be wrong on this, but I think DRLs put out less light than headlights.

They do look cool, I'm not going to lie about that one. That's the only plausible excuse I'm coming up with so far.

[W661335PF]

With the way some people drive (those whose egos dull the pain of stupidity), fog lamps are a must- not so we can see better in the fog or rain, but so others can see us better. I use them in city driving for added visibility to others- day or night. I realize this isn't a common practice, but I'd rather be seen than heard.

Good thread. One more piece tho-- if you really want to be seen, drive with one light out. For example, one burned out fog light draws more attention to your vehicle than both lights on. Some research indicates that this slight variance in the appearance of your car draws more attention to it than uniform and good lighting. I'm not suggesting this be done, just highlighting how common sense and perception don't always mimic reality

[smockers83]

Or...if you have the HID fogs on with your HID headlights, they see you and want to shield their eyes from you because its too bright, which means they don't want to notice you and that completely ruins the point of wanting to be seen. AND, if its too bright that ruins the other driver's vision and puts you more at risk of an accident.

There's a point in where your ego becomes so large that people don't care to see you at all. If you want to be seen to feed your ego and image (in this case your car), my advice is to be classy, people will remember you much more favorably. Now that's a life lesson.

[W661335PF]

Or...if you have the HID fogs on with your HID headlights, they see you and want to shield their eyes from you because its too bright, which means they don't want to notice you and that completely ruins the point of wanting to be seen. AND, if its too bright that ruins the other driver's vision and puts you more at risk of an accident.

There's a point in where your ego becomes so large that people don't care to see you at all. If you want to be seen to feed your ego and image (in this case your car), my advice is to be classy, people will remember you much more favorably. Now that's a life lesson.

You are very right, as usual--- hats off to you (and I caught the parallel between this thread and a previous one). Tu eres el guapo aqui (you are the man)!

By the way, I have zero mods on my car-- don't want to be noticed too much here

[smockers83]

Muchas gracias. Mis comentarios no fueron apuntados hacias. Sólo quise terminar mi mensaje de su otro mensaje. Lo siento si mi español es malo, esto ha sido algún tiempo.

[Kenrik]

Muchas gracias. Mis comentarios no fueron apuntados hacias. Sólo quise terminar mi mensaje de su otro mensaje. Lo siento si mi español es malo, esto ha sido algún tiempo.

You should be sorry your spanish is awful..

Lol J/k I can't say mine is much better but my wife tries to teach me (She's Cuban)

[W661335PF]

You should be sorry your spanish is awful..

Lol J/k I can't say mine is much better but my wife tries to teach me (She's Cuban)

Talk about being off topic here! I understood perfectly your Spanish Smocker.... as well as you understand my English. Kenrik... ay, ay, ay, tu pobre esposa, mi sentimiento!!!

In Brasil, they speak Portugueese, very little Spanish. I've lived in Guatemala, MX, Brasil and the US (Los Angeles Phoenix, Dallas, El Paso and Pittsburgh)--- loved it everywhere.

[Kenrik]

^ haha very funny.. Ejo de ****, porque? Tu aries mallo.