One of my cars, the American one requires the headlights to be on for the fogs to illuminate. They are operated by the same switch. My German car has a separate switch for the fogs but the amber parking or running lights have to be on for that switch to have electricity to it.
My main complaint is people who run with fogs on all the time. They are essentially an mal-focused light and can be very distractive to drivers wearing glasses or who have cataract problems, also some of the after market lights seem to be very bright and have significant glare. This is especially noticeable on large vehicles like trucks ans SUVS. Oh well enough of a rant
Real fog lights (mostly factory installed) have a deliberate down and wide side to side beam and can help significantly to illuminate the lane lines or ditches.......they are most useful in fog that is so dense you cant go more then a few MPH and you are in a insane place when stopping is too dangerous...
Yellow lights don't really help the driver much more then white-- but they do penetrate much further and help on-coming traffic see you from further away....in real dense fog I put on my warning light flasher just so the ambers are flashing
While you can find aftermarket fog lights in most AutoZone type shops and wally world---the aftermarket "Driving" lights tend to be in better looking holders and far out sell fog lights even though the customer was shopping for fog lights specifically....
Driving lights in the fog light position are the lights most of us don't like just as dbwill stated.....They are annoying to oncoming traffic... AND in real fog they are no good to the dummy who installed them on his car
In my area here, we don't get more then 3 or 4 days of real dense fog per year... When I lived in coastal areas where it was more common the locals seemed to have a clue, slow down and drive for the condition...
Here, I am always amazed when I am poking along on the 70 MPH commute at 25~35 MPH..The fastest I can go for the distance I can see...and folks run up my azz..swap lanes at last second and zoom past at 65~70MPH just like they can see for miles.... sooner or later I come up on the inevitable crash site and shake my head in amazement of what idiots I am sharing the road with.
I always option in factory fog lights if available....
Most states have differing laws... Many require head lights on and low beam only for fogs to be active and most domestic manufactures set up the main light switch to turn off fogs on high beam...and every web site has some way to defeat this safety feature...go figure
I am very glad it is an option, too bad no rear fog too (I'll tell you, in thick fog and heavy rain being kicked up that rear fog helps being seen a lot).
If you really want a rear fog and we find out the NA 451s do not have the factory pig tail already there...I will be happy ...later*.... to draw up a parts list, wiring diagram, and install instructions so we can do a semi pro non hack job of it...
*Later...as in... after I get mine and see the best way to add additional circuits
Many cars in Europe, particularly in the UK, come with the rear fog light built in now. Used to be an add on (have the kit for our Mini, haven't installed it yet) but now is built in. I believe Volvo has them as well, even on US cars. Very helpful in thick fog, although I'm not sure how much good they do in one of those chain reaction scenarios.
Maybe you forgot.... THIS IS A SMART FORUM, NOT JUST A 451 FORUM. Also sorry to tell you, it is in the interest of many, not just you.
there are 450 owners that aren't aware that they have a rear fog light as standard equipment.
Donald LaFavor
I really know this is a Smart forum, however the context of my statements about the rear fog was regarding the car I am expecting, a 451, thus my reply since I didn't understand how your post was a response to mine (after all you quoted me). Also see the ' ' at the end.
I'll be interested to see what you come up with Fredvon4, thanks, although I have strong reservations about doing any non factory approved retrofits at this point.
I understand the concern... in fact I have the exact same concern and that is why I put my aircraft electrician training to use and create mods as if the factory had done it...sometimes better
You would be amazed at how many times a particular model car does not have some opiton but the wireing and switch locations are there waiting for the right parts to complete the option
example --- In 2005 Ford stopped installing the bulb and holder behind the red lens in driver and pass doors of Superduty pickups just to save a few bucks...they did not offer it as an option... just deleted a standard item that was there in 2004... I simply went to AutoZone and got two holders and two bulbs and added them to the socket and wireing that was still there behind the lens...door opens...light come on... when courtesy lights go out (timed or engine start) the light go out... too easy...Cheap arsed so and so's
In our case if the NA Smart car has the rear fog pig tail already there then we can assume a euro spec head light or fog light switch will activate the circuit... only need the switch and rear red fog light assys... too easy
If not there--- adding it in exactly as factory engineered it on Euro cars is not much more difficult but does require adding the wireing circuit and any relays or switches
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1976 Rover Mini
2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec (SOLD)
2009 smart Passion (Gone)
2011 smart Passion
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