[cfabluenose]

If you install the European light switch that controls the rear foglights, will the sharp braking light still come on if the switch is set to the off position for the rear foglights? Has anyone tried removing the right hand bulb so only the left foglight comes on? In Europe the rear foglight usually lights up only on one side. If you remove one of the bulbs, do you get an error message for a burnt out bulb? Thanks.

[V2 plus 10]

Originally Posted by cfabluenose

If you install the European light switch that controls the rear foglights, will the sharp braking light still come on if the switch is set to the off position for the rear foglights? Has anyone tried removing the right hand bulb so only the left foglight comes on? In Europe the rear foglight usually lights up only on one side. If you remove one of the bulbs, do you get an error message for a burnt out bulb? Thanks.

Someone correct me if i am wrong, but my understanding is that the Brake lights which are used as fog lights will work if the fog lights are not turned on. I Think the 2 fog lights are a BMW thing.

[Kevin Harney]

Yes the emergency brake lights will come on if the fog light is off. Why would you want to take the bulb out anyway ??!?!?! Then you would not have an emergency brake light. If you are that worried about the lights I would think that you would want the emergency light more than the fog light .... What is wrong with 2 fog lights ?

[jopa489]

If you remove a bulb, it will throw an error. And besides, having one rear fog looks stupid. All the Volvo's and MB's out there with that setup annoy me. When the rear fogs are on, the adaptive brake lights are disabled - both systems use the same bulb.

[Majikthese42]

Originally Posted by V2 plus 10

Someone correct me if i am wrong, but my understanding is that the Brake lights which are used as fog lights will work if the fog lights are not turned on. I Think the 2 fog lights are a BMW thing.

BMW does it and I think Jag does it, too. From what I've seen, Volvo, VW, Audi and Porsche use the asymmetrical approach to avoid confusing the rear fog with the brake lights.

I think the BMW setup makes it look like an octogenarian driver with one foot on the brake and the other foot on the gas. Unfortunately, that's the BMW setup. Maybe paint the right bulb black? I thought the sequential brake light setup was disabled on US cars -- isn't it? In any case I wouldn't bother to change it. I don't care if I look like a geezer to the guy behind me in the fog just as long as he doesn't run into me. I don't use the fog lights when it's not foggy.

[spdy330]

Originally Posted by jopa489

If you remove a bulb, it will throw an error. And besides, having one rear fog looks stupid. All the Volvo's and MB's out there with that setup annoy me. When the rear fogs are on, the adaptive brake lights are disabled - both systems use the same bulb.

jopa489 is 100% correct on this.

[cfabluenose]

Thanks. It's not a big deal if the rear foglights are lit on both sides. But if only one is lit, then it's less likely to be mistaken for the brake lights. In any event, I would not need to use the rear foglights very often. Good to know that adaptive brake lights still function if the fog light is switched to off.

[bsamoul]

It's just a shame that nobody but people on here actually know what adaptive brake lights are for though lol

[Kevin Harney]

Well yes but your point is what? That when they see the really bright red lights they will not know that you are stopping ?

[jopa489]

Originally Posted by bsamoul

It's just a shame that nobody but people on here actually know what adaptive brake lights are for though lol

People don't need to know their car is equipped with it, or the science behind it. It's a safety feature, just like DSC - for the average driver and most enthusiasts, it helps when you need it and otherwise stays silently in the background.

[Wosby]

Originally Posted by cfabluenose

If you install the European light switch that controls the rear foglights, will the sharp braking light still come on if the switch is set to the off position for the rear foglights? Has anyone tried removing the right hand bulb so only the left foglight comes on? In Europe the rear foglight usually lights up only on one side. If you remove one of the bulbs, do you get an error message for a burnt out bulb? Thanks.

Yes, the sharp braking light will still come on, but ONLY when you have the rear fogs OFF. In Europe there are a lot of cars with only 1 left rear fog, but not all. Some do have 2. You WILL get a error code if you remove one bulb.

[Wosby]

Originally Posted by jopa489

People don't need to know their car is equipped with it, or the science behind it. It's a safety feature, just like DSC - for the average driver and most enthusiasts, it helps when you need it and otherwise stays silently in the background.

That's because most of the U.S. is a BIG highway; BIG cars; drive in whatever lane; drive in a straight line without thinking "culture". Whereas in Europe, there is more of a "driving", "car enthusiasts" culture.

I've driven in several European countries, and I'm always disappointed when I get back to the U.S. because of how badly most American drive. In Germany, where I believe you're required 100 or so hours of instruction before getting your license.

Most people here could care less about the science, only that when you turn the key, it all works. It's a shame.

[jopa489]

Originally Posted by Wosby

That's because most of the U.S. is a BIG highway; BIG cars; drive in whatever lane; drive in a straight line without thinking "culture". Whereas in Europe, there is more of a "driving", "car enthusiasts" culture.

I've driven in several European countries, and I'm always disappointed when I get back to the U.S. because of how badly most American drive. In Germany, where I believe you're required 100 or so hours of instruction before getting your license.

Most people here could care less about the science, only that when you turn the key, it all works. It's a shame.

I completely agree with you, and it is unfortunate. BMW made the right choice by not activating the rear fogs on US-spec cars. The vast majority of people are just too clueless to use them properly. I routinely see MB's, Audi's and Volvo's with the rear fog on during the clearest of nights.

[wuchao1]

If you remove one bulb it will throw an error. And will I dont really think people will mix the fog light with the break light because theres the stop light also.
btw, does the rear fog light switch only work on cars with xenon or it also work with halogen headlights??

[Wosby]

Originally Posted by wuchao1

If you remove one bulb it will throw an error. And will I dont really think people will mix the fog light with the break light because theres the stop light also.
btw, does the rear fog light switch only work on cars with xenon or it also work with halogen headlights??

It should work with either!

[I335]

Even if people do mistake them for brake lights, so what? What's the harm in that?

[wuchao1]

Originally Posted by I335

Even if people do mistake them for brake lights, so what? What's the harm in that?

so they may not be paying that much attention when you are actually breaking so they might hit you??

[Kevin Harney]

Originally Posted by wuchao1

so they may not be paying that much attention when you are actually breaking so they might hit you??

These lights are more noticeable so if they don't see them then I really think they are blind. If they are not paying attention that is when you want them on so they will be seen. I think that was the point of the previous comment.

[wuchao1]

Originally Posted by Kevin Harney

These lights are more noticeable so if they don't see them then I really think they are blind. If they are not paying attention that is when you want them on so they will be seen. I think that was the point of the previous comment.

yea I guess youre right.. lol

[DnA Diesel]

Originally Posted by Majikthese42

...I don't use the fog lights when it's not foggy.

+1

...and that's the important part of having this mod...not to ABUSE the rear fog lights by using them inappropriately.