Fog lights

[brock]

Has anyone tried larger bulbs in the OEM fog lights? They are pretty useless as they come.
Brock

[Stephen R.]

My car now runs 9006 series Matrix Xenon 80watt yellow bulbs. No meltdowns to report. I know what you're saying about the token factory system, but for about $30 you can do this upgrade. Also, re-aim the lights. I went with yellow for style and function (better in the rain).

[Crash]

Keep an eye on the wires...but also the light housing as mine started to melt with the stock bulbs!

2001 Touring
smoked back up lights, red turn signals, adjustable antenna,LED washers, pedal covers

[Stephen R.]

**REVISED** Looked at my fogs yesterday. Damn bulbs look like they have BLISTERED and now there's a nice black dot on the bottom of the reflector. Seems the 80 watters are too much for vapor-chromed plastic. Headlights have the same ultra-thin coating (I know because I opened one up and learned the hard way). I think I'll try Sylvania SilverStars down there now (stock wattage).

Special Note: Fog bulbs are 9006 (has 90-degree bend for socket). This is not the same as the 9006 & 9005 in the headlights; they are 9006XS & 9005XS and do not have the bend. I tried experimenting with interchanging them and, well, it's not worth the hassle.

[Gear_Head]

I have installed a set of Eaglite gold color xenon lamps in my fog lamp housings. These lamps were purchased from www.midnightmoose.com
These are 9006 (65 Watt) gold color xenons. I have had them in for 3 months now and show no damage to the reflectors or the lamps themselves. 65 watt is the max that you can go w/xenons in the foglamps due to the small size of the housings. Any higher (even 80 watt) will lead to heat damage to the lamp and/or reflector. There is also a 55 watt model of the gold lamp available. Following is a listing of the lamps used on my cruiser. All have been in for more than 6 months (fogs only 3 months) without damage. I turn my fogs on whenever the headlights are on.

1. High Beams - 9005XS Eaglite Xenon 100 Watt
2. Low Beams - 9006XS Eaglite Xenon 80 Watt
3. Fog Lamps - 9006 - Eaglite Xenon (Gold Color) 65 Watt

PS: The XS version of the lamps are stated to be different than the nonXS version in ways other than the 90 degree bend. The wattage is the same so I don't know what the actual other differences are. The 9006s are used in the fogs so that when mounted properly the connector points down due to their location down by the road. The connectors are water tite (O-Rings) but the 90 degree down angle for the connectors completely waterproof the connections.

MidnightMoose has the best prices for replacement lamps that I have found.

[8)]

[Puck]

I thought mine were useless until I had them adjusted so they weren't pointed at the ground. If aimed in accordance with factory specs they do a reasonable job.
Puck

[turbomangt]

In your opinion, would their be any value in putting in a amber bulb, if you had an amber lens cover on your fog lights? dumb and dumbmer/ turbomangt

[Gear_Head]

No, If you put in an amber lamp, it will most likley not be as bright (no matter which wattage you use 55 or 65) as a super white xenon behind the amber cover. In effect you will be filtering out white light 2 times, once in the lamp envelope and once at the lens cover. The best combination in this case would be a super white xenon (at recommended wattage 55 or 65 watts) behing the amber cover. If you were to use a higher wattage lamp behind the amber cover there would be an excess heat build up from the filtering of the higher intensity light that could possibly damage the lamp and/or reflector assy. The foglamp enclosures are pretty small and not vented very well. [?]

[Dalite]

quote:Originally posted by turbomangt

In your opinion, would their be any value in putting in a amber bulb, if you had an amber lens cover on your fog lights? dumb and dumbmer/ turbomangt

True fog lights are designed to put a non-glare / non-reflecting light frequency "under" the level of the fog; close to the ground.

Amber is used as the color least likely to reflect off of fog. White light only reflects off the moisture in the fog, and creates additional glare.

The best specs on auto lighting, bulb ratings and performance and auto lighting theory I have found have come from Daniel Stern Lighting: http://lighting.mbz.org/

Dan can answer any lighting question with both fact and authority. He doesn't mince words, but he does shoot straight.

I usually run my fog lights all the time for safety (like daytime running lights). I would love to have them amber and higher wattage, to make them more functional as fog lights.

In the configuration they came in from the factory, they make good daytime running lights.

At night, they can possibly be helpful when used in the absence of fog. The while light they give off does little but reflect glare back from a heavy fog.