Could you take pics of these rear fog lights you speak of...my bumper is void of them and I would like to see. Thanks!
Actually, the rear fog light is built-in to the left taillight bottom (USA model). With the car ignition on/running and the headlights on, pressing the bottom of the dash button turns on the rear fog light. Not sure why there is not one on the passenger side.Could you take pics of these rear fog lights you speak of...my bumper is void of them and I would like to see. Thanks!
Ran accross this post by mistake, but I know the answer to your rear fog only working on left side...and confirmed that my left rear fog light works with the bottom of the light switch pressed in. Is there really on ONE fog light? Why not two?
dave
Could you please provide a link to said DOT law? I'm asking because Jaguars, some Audis, Land Rovers, and heck even the Oldsmobile Aurora have dual rear fog lights. Cars that have a single rear fog light in the US have a single rear fog light in the ROW as well.Ran accross this post by mistake, but I know the answer to your rear fog only working on left side...
This same question comes up a lot, in euro version Benz both left and right rear fogs are wired up and work as expected. On all USA version cars, only drivers side is provided for, because of US DOT regulation that prohibits BOTH Rear fogs, ONLY Emergency vehicles in the US are allowed to have both, so Benz only wired up the left side to comply.
But, if your Benz is similar to mine, it may be doable. You look inside the right side tail light housing and compare it to the leftside, you'll most likely find an empty contact socket where the bulb should go. If it's like my W124, also left out was the actual copper contact and wire that would go to it.
I wanted both to work, so I got a contact out of a parts car and ran a wire over to the left side rear Fog Light. Works great, I know it's illegal, but I doubt if anyone will ever pick it up, even at the annual inspection. No one in the USA even knows they exist outside of a few Euro types...lol
PS: The lense for the rear fog is such that it really directs strong light backwards, so running with both fogs in a situation where they are not needed can be annoying for those following you. In my w124, the fog bulb is the same as a brake light, much brighter than the tail lights. If you do wire the right side up, only use them in low visability conditions, (Or for the driver on your bumper with his hight-beams on...lol)
What bothered me about having only one work was the obvious attention you will get with the single fog working. I think your more likely to get pulled over by a cop with only one working, then you have to explain rear fog light, the DOT regulation, both of which no one ever heard before.
Was it foggy out? There's a reason they're called fog lights. Using them in clear weather is counter intuitive and dangerous for the drivers behind you.Fog lights are there for safety...I was pulled over because he thought I had a light out...when in actuallity I didn't. He was nice about it...
Hi, this is a very sensitive topic, with boths sides, ( single of dual), making their cases for why. I have seen your reasoning given over and over again, and the other school of thought has something they beleive justifies two lights. I have some links for you to read, I left them at work, and rather than google all these things over again, I'll post the links from work tomorrow.Single is much better because dual rear fogs do mimic brake lights in intensity. In low visibility situations due to the intensity of the two rear fogs matching the brake lights, when the brake lights do light up the person behind you isn't going to react as quickly to the brake lights.
I would love to see the links because they sound like they counter everything that I've read in the past. USDOT currently doesn't require rear fog lights like they do in countries following UNECE automotive regulations. It doesn't make sense to me that each state has its own specific regulations for rear fog lights. Why is it that all MBs have a single rear fog light and all second generation Oldsmobile Auroras have dual rear fog lights?Hi, this is a very sensitive topic, with boths sides, ( single of dual), making their cases for why. I have seen your reasoning given over and over again, and the other school of thought has something they beleive justifies two lights. I have some links for you to read, I left them at work, and rather than google all these things over again, I'll post the links from work tomorrow.
Your first question has an elusive answer, not quite found it yet myself, but after reading a lot on the topic it seems that regulations may be adopting the idea of the rear fog light, and in some states, (California and Oregon are example), having dual fog lights is legal. This whole issue may be at the state DOT level right now, which would be a problem if you drove into a state that only allowed a single for that type light.
Basically, the argument FOR dual rear fogs is centered strictly around using them ONLY in cases of severe fog. The dual set up improves visability for the following driver, (he will see you sooner), and two lights set far apart gives depth perception to the following driver which a single light can not give.
The real big issue is that people should not use them at all unless there is a severe fog, only there will the dual lights show their worth. The single and the dual setup should never be used under ordinary situations, then the argument you have becomes valid.
Just google "Rear Foglights" you'll be surprised what will pop up, last count I saw eariler today was over 50 pages of hits, tough reading and I actually read the Oregon reulation that allows single or dual. Another poster found in the google search said he found the California reg's which were the same, and he said most states only allow singles...
To asianml:I would love to see the links because they sound like they counter everything that I've read in the past. USDOT currently doesn't require rear fog lights like they do in countries following UNECE automotive regulations. It doesn't make sense to me that each state has its own specific regulations for rear fog lights. Why is it that all MBs have a single rear fog light and all second generation Oldsmobile Auroras have dual rear fog lights?
The reasoning for dual rears in regard to depth perception is valid. However if you're driving in conditions that foggy you shouldn't be so close as to need two to figure out the distance between the car in front and you.