Has anyone ever changed the circuitry on their Merc to allow the fogs to be on in conjunction with high-beams? My last car (Nissan Maxima) came with a similar screwy set up - fogs could be on only w/low-beams, not independently and not with high-beams. I had a friend, who is now long gone, in those days that was good with electronics. He came over on afternoon, a snip/snip here and a reconnect there, and *viola*. I had fogs that could be turned on independently or with either high or low beam. It was a beautiful thing.
Not being handy with electronics and volt meters myself, I don't dare attempt such a job on my E430 - unless there were some very exacting DIY instructions in my hands. Anybody have such??
thx
__________________ Why, oh why, did it take me so long to buy a Mercedes??
reason for fogs is for fog or poor weather conditions
They are not driving lights,they are not meant to be on with the high beams.
They are not fashion statements,they have a purpose.
Yes they can be wired through a relay and a separate switch and powered off the alternator.Use them as intended and you will have no need to mess with the wires.
You want cool and functional get the selective yellow euro spec fog bulbs from Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply
install them and use them in the fog or rain,they cut it like butter
ohlord
Not exactly sure what causes you to believe/assume that I'm solely interested in making a fashion statement or that I am not aware what the purpose for fogs lights is. I am. What kind of fashion statement could one make with fogs on in conjunction with high beams? It would be far too bright for city driving, meaning no one would see it - a fashion statement with no audience is self-contradicting.
I live in Colorado Springs. The drive home after a day of skiing at higher elevations is a long, lonely and extremely dark one that's filled with deer, elk, fox, raccoon, big-horn sheep, mountain goat, you name it. Highway 24, which is the principle route back to the Springs from Breckenridge and Vail is a 2-lane highway that is sparsely traveled and even less sparsely populated. It, along with U.S. 50, are just a series of mountain passes. There are no 'street lights' what-so-ever for 100's of miles and its not uncommon to drive an hour w/o seeing another vehicle. These roads are notorious for animal/vehicle collisions. I hit a deer (in my wife's Honda Odyssey) on the way home from Crested Butte in December. And brother I want to tell you its DARK up there.
On such roads and in such situations, one can easily be over-driving his or her headlights at 30 mph. If its possible, I'd like to protect myself, my family and my Mercedes from damage by illuminated the road ahead as much as possible. That's the reason for the inquiry - not b/c I want to pose around town with bright lights so everybody can see how cool I am. I couldn't care less.
so no fashion statement.
Fog lights are short range low aimed side beamed low output lights.
You over drive them the minute you go over 30 mph.
Remove the fogs and retro fit some driving lights.
and if put up to a vote I did not assume you were making a fashion statement it was one of three possibilities I offered up.The other two about not driving lights and not for use with high beams prove you are not aware of what the proper use of fog lights is.You don't
running H7 bulbs in your headlights?Or xenons?If H7's get 4 65watt rally H7 bulbs from Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply toss them in, polish you lenses if hazed over and then you won't have to worry about out driving your lights.
Try hway 20 over what they call the American alps in wa state when the snow is cleared so it can be opened,hway 24 is a piece of cake compared to that and fog lights with high beams would make it no easier or safer.
BTW we have sheep goats fox deer bears elk moose mountain lions raccoons and even the occasional salmon crosses the road,so we know what driving on country roads is like with no street lights late at night.
Man, why on earth does such a simple question have to turn into a pissing match? Yes, you do overdrive fogs the minute you go 30mph. But I'm not just running fogs. I'm attempting to run low beam, high beam and fogs. The three in concert are not so easily over-driven. Good Lord, ohlord.
Apparently you've frequently driven U.S. 24 through thru Colorado at night, which qualifies you to know that its a piece of cake when compared to U.S. 20....whatever. Thanks for the useful pointers, I do appreciate it. You are clearly a knowledgeable member of this community. However, insulting a fellow member, then inserting a little smiley face after said insult, does not somehow make the insult alright. I'm a big boy. I don't need the patronization nor do I need my jibes washed down with sugar water. If you are picking apart my post to somehow, for some unknown reason, 'prove' that I'm not aware of the proper use of lights - then just state it and own it. Spare the little green grinning man, I understand that you think I'm a poseur. So be it.
New York to Michigan hway24 to Colorado in the winter of 1971 with driving lights in an MGB still own it
If your own admission is that yes you overdrive your fogs above 30mph is something you understand then why subscribe to your theory that in conjunction with high and low beams they would be of any use at all.
The little green smiley was to lighten up the subject a bit,no foul intended
install those H7 bulbs with the H9 burners and drive safe.
the circuit itself doesn't sound that difficult. probably something as simple as
a switched sub-harness connected in parallel to the high beam. if the switch
is ON, and high beam is activated, it would power the relay, which in turn,
completes the circuit to the fog light.
relay, switch, fittings, inline fuses and wiring alone shouldn't cost any more than
$30.
this is just what's in my head. I've not done this myself. I have HID bixenon
so flipping on halogen fogs while running with HIGH wouldn't even be seen.
i wonder if such an modification might affect the bulb malfunction circuitry?
__________________
raymond-
47º34'N 122º18'W
Last edited by raymond- : 03-03-2008 at 10:54 AM.
Reason: on second thought....
One too many cups of coffee last night, and I'm defensive as a mama bear with cubs. Pay no attention to the man behind the green curtain.
Thanks. Just out of curiosity though - what in the world were you doing on Hwy 24 in southern Colorado on a trip from NY to Michigan?!? I'm clearly missing something on that one??
Not a door ding or rock chip anywhere. Just ticked over 72,000. 100% stock, except for the tint and Bilsteins. Most likely will stay that way for 2008. Only things I'd like to do to it (aside from add a super-charger; but who doesn't) is jump to some classy 18's and good exhaust. The 295 claimed factory hp is bottling this engine up way to much, and it needs a little bit of bark. I realize that a part of the car's appeal is its silence, but this is a joke. A V8 should have just a little rumble.
or poor weather conditions
Linear Mode
