Show your fog light setup

[blake28]

After searching for fog lights a few times I realized there aren't many threads on the subject.

If you care to share....
-brand, purchase place, price
-how you mounted them, where you got your power, switch location
-pictures?

Here are a few pics of some nice looking setups I found on google.

[syncrodoka]

I would consider those driving lights. Fog lights mount as low as possible to minimize the light hitting the fog and reflecting back to blind the driver. The problem with mounting fog lights is that they will see damage in everyday driving- ever notice how many bimmer fogs are broken?
This does come up from time to time- http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=453654&highlight=fog+light

[blake28]

[syncrodoka]

I drive in the coastal marine environment(FOG) and have driving lights mounted on top of the bumper- they don't help much.

[VisPacem]

Howdy

If you want look at my set up, 2 fogs front (100W each), 2 back (55W each) here are the links

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/397298.jpg

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/397299.jpg

They are wired as:
Spot and driving lights: ON with parking lights/OFF/ON with high beams
Fog front and back : ON with low beams/OFF with high beams. The rear fog also can be ON with brake lights only or OFF

I don't post the images as they were posted several times already and there is always a donk to make, of course, an asinine comment.

On this subject of fog lights there seem to be major confusion/ignorance by amateurs who call any auxiliary light a fog light.

My perception was:

*Fog lights : fluted/patterned lens/glass spreading the light laterally, usually preventing to see the bulb

Driving lights : "patterned" lens/glass giving a somewhat light beam reaching much further and focused forward in the manner of high beams

Spot lights : a narrow far reaching beam

*Sometimes also known/used as cornering lights I believe

Doing a search on the Net or EBay for example if you use fog lights as keywords you'll get everything BUT fog lights or just a few.

Am I wrong ?
_________________
LG aka VisPacemPB, *The* party Pooper

No Regrets (Nothing to do with Vanagons)

[kamzcab86]

Mine (2nd owner installed them):

...but they're more driving lights than fog lights. Did use them in the fog up at Sequoia a couple weeks ago... let's just say they did work (80W headlights really sucked in the fog!), but not as good the genuine fog lights (yellow lenses) that came on my Cabriolet when I bought it.

-brand, purchase place, price
Don't know, in northern California, don't know.

-how you mounted them, where you got your power, switch location
On top of bumper; grounded on chassis, power from fuse panel up to genuine VW fog switch mounted above hazard switch.

Breakage: The lights have been on the van since around 2003 and are still in great shape.
_________________
~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子

[IdahoDoug]

For breakage worries on lights/fogs, PM me as I deal in 3M light and paint protection. I also keep my covers on when there's no chance of needing my aux lights.

Also, many folks in the US consider any auxiliary light hung on their vehicle a "fog light". An ordinary light in fog (not a correct, quality fog beam pattern) won't help a bit. Unfortunately, cheap lights sold in the US also are commonly labeled right on the box as a "fog lamp" when they essentially have an unshaped random beam pattern so consumers are also mislead even with good shopping intentions. But a true fog lamp is great in fog, blowing snow and a variety of poor visibility conditions. Lower is better, but the standard of height is measured from the driver's eye level. With the Vanagon driver being up so high, even a lamp atop the bumper would easily meet this proper vertical drop from the eye down to the lamp's center.

Again, the beam pattern makes all the difference. Amber lamps help only a small amount and only in certain conditions. The higher overall light output of a white fog lamp beam helps more in more conditions and is why you rarely see amber/yellow any more except for styling purposes - a wretched reason to design a piece of working gear like a vehicle lamp.

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, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[WestyBob]

On my rigs ('87 and later) I still use the stock headlights so I've added the projektzwo fog lights (excellent) and inner bumper mounted driving lights. The driving lights are carefully aimed and so far I haven't had an knowing complaints from passing drivers (flashing lights), but I only use them on road trips when it really gets black out there.

Most of the time I'll use the fogs for night driving since they also don't seem to be blinding others and they laterally light up the road lines very well. The driving lights supplement the weak stock headlights when necessary and are are smaller than what most put on in those pics, but together with the headlights they seem to offer what one should really have out there for visability short of installing the SA grill and round lamps with higher watt bulbs.

Both the fogs and driving lights are on separate circuits. If the headlights (or switch) ever goes out I can get by with the driving and fogs.

Most of those larger driving lights like the large round Hellas I see in the pics are technically illegal for street use in many States and can be quite blinding to other drivers. In fact many States ban auxillary driving lights all together although it's not often enforced unless an obvious nuisance.

A friend's brother was driving his vanagon down the Oregon coast highway at night about 6 months ago and was pulled over and given a warning regarding his driving lights. So far I haven't had any po-leece problems.

[plummerdesign]

You may wish to refer to samba post "Putiing on the Hellas". I like mine and they help a lot.
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Cheers, Jeffery
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( Westfalia Camping videos at YouTube link below)
_________________
It is old and green and it makes me grin.
1984 Westfalia 1.9

[Timwhy]

_________________
'15 Audi A3 Quattro
'09 VW Tiguan (dead)
'87 VW Westy
'91 Tin Top
'90 Cabby
What the Westy wants the Westy GETS


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Timwhy&show_results=summary

http://www.youtube.com/user/TIMWHY2?feature=mhee

[JunkYarDog]

I have the typical Hella 500's on mine in the typical mounting position with power via a factory fog light switch.
_________________
I have never owned a VW I didn't like, but there have been a few Fords and Chevy's.
85' GL Sunroof
68' Beetle sedan
72' Chevy C10 (LWB Step)
(67' Volvo 122S pending)

[vanaru]

_________________
1962 sunroof beetle
1982 porsche 911 SC
1991 vanagon WRX powered

[IdahoDoug]

Now THOSE are lights!! Heh - Have a pair of Hella Rallye 3000s on the workbench for the Vanagon.

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, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[ragnarhairybreeks]

some Cibies from JDM Pajero. Mounting and wiring info here
http://shufti.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/fogaux-lights-installed/

alistair
_________________
'86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com

[blake28]

[RGS Paul]

[IdahoDoug]

Careful with pencil beam patterns. On a high center of gravity vehicle like an SUV or Van the constant bouncing of a tight small circle of light diminishes its usefulness. This pattern on a road vehicle would be the lowest in functional usefulness. It will put hot spots on signs with a lot of light blowback, deteriorating your night vision and then you'll be constantly dimming for oncoming motorists. When you do THAT, you won't be able to see well for a bit.

So consider a eurobeam pattern for a useful almost as long distance illumination strategy.
_________________
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, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[Corwyn]

_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Corwyn]

I bought a pair of Scirocco amber high beams (similar part #) and replaced my square high beams; then I wired them so I can turn them on as high beams or seperately.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...EBDIX%3AIT
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Corwyn]

There's another set for sale:

[url]
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-Scirocco-2-Mk2-Y...4026[/url]
_________________
'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~