Fog lights! with a factory look.

88formula · Samba Member Joined: February 15, 2011 Posts: 75

they look good, but i still want to put something in the holes at the bottom of the bumper. do you know a company that builds a quality set that will fit?

88formula · Samba Member Joined: February 15, 2011 Posts: 75

I found this.
http://www.streetglow.com/Xenon-Fog-Lights-SG-797-CH?sc=2&category=5448
They fit in the holes.
Kill 2 birds with one stone, fog and driving in one unit.
My "accent lighting" and new curtains will be blue, so they fit in there.
But apparently the lenses are crap, and crack when they get wet. This must be because of the heat from BOTH lights on at the same time. And I plan on putting 100w bulbs in. That would probably melt that cheep glass right off.
Anybody know of somthing similar?

88formula · Samba Member Joined: February 15, 2011 Posts: 75

bump?

IdahoDoug · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:22 pm Post subject:

88,

I've got to be straight with you here and perhaps others are feeling the same way. The lights you found and posted indicate you're really just looking for lights for style. If that's what you're looking for then you need to say so. For automotive illumination the lights you posted are junk. Pure junk. And when I think of someone planning to put 100w bulbs in who's looking for this type/quality of light, I dunno - just sounds like I'd be encouraging another annoying vehicle on the road with overpowered cheap crap lights. The roads need another setup like this like we need a hole in the head. I'd urge you to either get quality lights, or buy cheap crap blue lights and leave the stock bulbs in them.

DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

randywebb · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 6:48 pm Post subject:

I've always wondered how good the flat high beam units in the SA Grill kits are for distance illumination...
_________________
1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

1621 · Samba Member Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174

I'm in agreement with Doug, those lights are crap. Reading the two user reviews even say as much. Bulb heats up the glass, water splashes on it and the glass is toast. No replacement glass either. Not worth the time and $80.

Like several others have pointed out, mounting the lights low invites all sorts of road debris impacts - even with lift springs and protective coverings. You're also very limited in what you'll find with the 6x2" requirement. Even when you do find something appropriate size wise, the light quality will likely not be worth it. I understand what you're trying to do, just pointing these things out based upon my own previous experience.

I spent 20 minutes looking around the Internet at reputable manufacturer sites and found only one Hella light that might work (FF75, though still a little tall for that spot). If you're open to above the bumper it will open up so many more options. I like Cibie lighting, but some of the others recommended by Doug early in this thread are worth a try. Not trying to be a dick, just would hate to see you waste money on crap that will get destroyed on a tall curb.
_________________
'85 Westy

IdahoDoug · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:13 pm Post subject:

I guess I should also chime in to say that I'm also not trying to be a dick (heh). There is quality automotive lighting, and there's "other stuff". I'm trying to keep you away from the other stuff. It's worth noting that most people have never driven behind a set of quality lamps. Once you have experienced this, I'd think it hard to move back down to the other stuff. Ironically, the other stuff is often priced at or above the price for quality lamps.

DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

syncrodoka · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:19 pm Post subject:

These are what I am running.

Link

Not what you are asking about but very durable and good light output.

rfoubi · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:21 pm Post subject:

So I'm not even going to get into the debate of "real lights" vs crap. Whatever, it's your van do what you want, someones always gonna have something bad to say about it. Anyway as far as factory ish look, this is what I did on my rig.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

I just cut out the lower grill and built a little mini light bar out of angle stock aluminum to bolt the lights to. I like the look, they are out of the way, look like they could be stock but yet look unique. And I went with shitty lights. Well they may or may not be but I just bought 60 dollar lights at Canadian tire and they throw lots of light, are aimed properly and light up the logging roads nicely at night. Less than 80 bucks for everything and they've been on there 5 + years.

kamzcab86 · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 7:38 pm Post subject:

88formula · Samba Member Joined: February 15, 2011 Posts: 75

IdahoDoug · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:33 pm Post subject:

88,

I give man, I give. You rant about folks with excessively bright blue lights in your area and how you're "not part of that" then bring up and link blue lights and insist you're putting 100w bulbs in whatever you get. Huh?

I think you chose the location for the lights and simply cannot let go of that decision. And don't get me started that those holes were intended to ensure proper air flow gets to the front disc brakes due to the air flow change of the spoiler. I'm sure you've got a good reason for that as well and I can't wait to hear it.

Anyhow, it's all good. Room on the roads for another set of too-bright blue lights, I guess - even here in Idaho.

DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

rfoubi · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 5:38 am Post subject:

As far as under the bumper goes, personally I drive off road too much to consider it, but if you are just using it for normal use what you have to worry about with the lower mounting point is not hitting them on stuff, but rather rocks/gravel smashing them. Get too close to one by rig or snow plow and smash there goes your investment. I've had great success with th rockblocker style vinyl like clear plastic Light overlays. My first set of fogs got smashed within months due to the boulders they like to sand the road with here in Bc. After that I bought a sheet of the film, cut it put it on and no problems. Just a thouht

OddN · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 7:18 am Post subject:

kjurkic

Howdy all

It has been my experience, with many vehicles in often extreme conditions, that a good rule-of-thumb is "the higher the better".

Low-mounted lights have the drawback of not reaching very far when the road is anything other than dead-flat. It is also annoying to drop $$ for the good quality lamps, just to lose a lens to a stray rock or curb.

I also have a rally/daily car that I drive regularly at night, in craptacular weather. I moved the 4x100W driving lights off the front rack that came with the car, and bolted them to the roof. This improved the lighting so much that I have been using my 6" round driving lights even in heavy fog/rain/snow, as I don't get the blinding "light blob" just in front of the car.

On a westy, I would consider recessing them in the front fascia of the roof; for my Vanagon, I have been looking for some cargo basket or even an emergency light rig & replace the flashers with driving & fogs. It will not do wonders for the appearance, but if seeing where you are going is the primary concern, then mount them high is what I say.

[img]

fender-proto-02 by kjurkic, on Flickr[/img]

regards
Ken
PS I cannot speak for your jurisdiction, but in my area the police have never pulled my over or otherwise bothered me about these. This car is a daily driver.

IrideWheelies · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:32 pm Post subject:

kjurkic,

When you use the roof mounted lights in fog don't they illuminate all the fog in front of your windshield?

I always thought roof mount lights would be bad in fog or dust because the helmet mounted lights I use for night mountain biking are. I can hardly see through the beam if I use a bright helmet light in fog or dust while the same light on my handlebar works great in those conditions.
_________________
89' Dove Blue Syncro Hightop

IdahoDoug · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:48 pm Post subject:

Roof lights are generally subject to causing a lot of light blowback because they light a cone of dust up close to your eyes and directly in line with your line of sight (vs a light several feet below your line of sight like a bumper mounted light). They also are apt to light up the hood - again a source of light in the driver's view. The rally vehicle shown has them wisely mounted back on the roof to avoid lighting the hood.

Funny you mtn bike at night - teaches some fast lessons about vehicle illumination, eh? I also ride and race mtn bikes at night.

Anyhow, vehicle roof lights would generally be a bad idea for poor visibility conditions unless you're in a place where you can fire merciless amounts of light forward so being dazzled is less of an issue - such as racing. A vehicle on a public roadway with roof lights would be less effective.

DougM
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

Fog lights! with a factory look.
Page: Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 Next

	Forum Index -> Vanagon	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 Next
Page 3 of 4