Rear fog lamp

[JPaul]

Red rear fog lights are required in some markets (Germany for one), and only 1/3rd of the 451 are just for the US, so the wiring must be there.

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by CruisingAZ

Cann't explain why, but if you drive with them on you will receive a ticket. US laws only allow red to the rear.

The rear fog lamp is a bright RED warning light, not white.

[HGB]

I have never heard about a rear fog light being illegal in any state. My AUDI A6 has 2 built in and I use them when driving in heavy fog or in a downpour. In Europe the most common set up for a single RFL is favoring the left rear side of the vehicle at about the height or below the standard rear lights.
The RFL has a red lens that emits a sharp beam that can only be seen by persons following. From the sides it can hardly be seen. Think of a concentrated steady brake light for output
I have installed a lesser expensive generic RFL on my wife's CR-V with an indicator on the dash. It is wired to come on only with the low beams and the indicator let's me know that it won't be used for normal driving.
While driving on I-75 a few months ago we had heavy rains that cut our sight down considerably. The RFL gave me confindence that we would not be rear ended by one of the many idiots driving behind us.
I would very much like to install one on my 451, either as part of the vehicle's lights or bolted on below. These RFL's can be purchased on line I'm sure. I bought mine in Germany for about $15 before the Mark was replaced. If anyone has a solution for an integrated unit... I would certainly welcome it.
As for the drivers that drive around with their front fog lights on in good weather at night...well... what can one add to that?

[Old smart]

The LHD Continental 451s have the rear fog light intergrated into the left rear tail light cluster (giving up one backup light). The U.S. wiring harness probably has the wiring already in it, but unless you ordered the factory front fog lights you may have to come up with a switch and some electrical logic wizardry too.

[Razorback]

My MB C230 has rear red fog light build into the brake light assembly that are enabled by the headlight switch and I do find that it is a safer option when in low visibility.

[SmartPassion]

Originally Posted by CruisingAZ

Rear fogs are not legal in the US so I doubt the 451 has the function.

Not 100% sure about Arizona but fog lights are specifically addressed within the California Vehicle Code. See (emphasis mine):

Fog Taillamps

<!****** #EndEditable ******> <!****** #BeginEditable "section_number" ******>24602<!****** #EndEditable ******>. <!****** #BeginEditable "section_content" ******>(a) A vehicle may be equipped with not more than two red fog taillamps mounted on the rear which may be lighted, in addition to the required taillamps, only when atmospheric conditions, such as fog, rain, snow, smoke, or dust, reduce the daytime or nighttime visibility of other vehicles to less than 500 feet.<!****** #EndEditable ******>
<!****** #BeginEditable "addl_section_content" ******> (b) The lamps authorized under subdivision (a) shall be installed as follows:
(1) When two lamps are installed, one shall be mounted at the left side and one at the right side at the same level and as close as practical to the sides. When one lamp is installed, it shall be mounted as close as practical to the left side or on the center of the vehicle.
(2) The lamps shall be mounted not lower than 12 inches nor higher than 60 inches.
(3) The edge of the lens of the lamp shall be no closer than four inches from the edge of the lens of any stoplamp.
(4) The lamps shall be wired so they can be turned on only when the headlamps are on and shall have a switch that allows them to be turned off when the headlamps are on.
(5) A nonflashing amber pilot light that is lighted when the lamps are turned on shall be mounted in a location readily visible to the driver.
<!****** #EndEditable ******>
<!****** #BeginEditable "section_change_history" ******>Amended Sec. 30, Ch. 615, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.
Amended Sec. 11, Ch. 270, Stats. 2005. Effective January 1, 2006.



This was pulled from the Arizona statute:

Title 28 - Transportation (Arizona Revised Statute)

28-931. Lamp colors
A. Front clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of a vehicle shall display or reflect an amber color.
B. Rear clearance lamps and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall display or reflect a red color.
C. All lighting devices and reflectors mounted on the rear of any vehicle shall display or reflect a red color, except that:
1. The stoplight or other signal device may be red, amber or yellow.
2. The light illuminating the license plate or the light emitted by a backup lamp shall be white.


Couldn't find anything with addressing fog lights specifically with my quick search.

Note: Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway). This information is not intended as legal advice or as substitute for legal advice. It is not to be used for anything other than entertainment purposes and sometime idle banter on this forum. The laws of your state may be different. Your mileage may be different. Check with your favorite lawyer for specific legal advice as it may relate to your specific facts.

[Old smart]

The rear fog light noted here is a common UK item: http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/410 . When surface mounted it is a neater installation than the stalk-mounted Bosch RFLs, but can be bracket-mounted if need be. One was supplied with my Caterham, but I never mounted it. They are available from Caterham USA as part numbers 71187 (w/out bracket) or 71187B (w/ bracket): http://www.uscaterham.com/home.html . It should be mounted low on the left rear, the “off-side.�

[jwight]

Fog Tail Lamp (Rear Fog Light) Systems, Document Number: J1319

As far as I can tell these rear lights are not illegal in the USA; they may be in certain states but since Volvo and BMW supply them in new cars don't think that's the case either. The add-on style above is fine for older cars but will not enhance the look of your smart (take a look at a Eurospec C5 Corvette if you want to see a kludged up add-on from GM!)

These lights are mandatory in the UK so those 451s must have the proper light assembly and switches; should be smart part numbers for those. Caveat: there may be a computer activation step required to make them work, much as is suggested for the elusive DRL mod.

[CruisingAZ]

Since they are red in color (I thought they were white or amber), I would think they would be legal unless specificlly addressed by statute.

Thanks SmartPassion for your research.

[anthony94114]

Both our 2006 Saab 9-5 and our 2002 BMW 325it have red, rear fog lights. They were standard equipment. They are selectable independent from the front fog lights and illuminate much brighter than the standard rear tail lights. They *must* be legal, or they wouldn't have come as standard equipment. As for the smart, I don't know.