foglight idea

Hey, folks, I am thinking a lot about a fog light design lately, just wanted to run it by you folks, see if it's possible to make it happen. Mine is a 07 i sedan, and like the fog housing, but don't like the oval OEM fog lenses. Wanted a *yellow* fog light that fill the housing, (see the doctored photo), would like the fog to be independent, having a switch to control it. Also would like the fog light to have two bulbs in each set, one is a normal fog bulb, the other is an off-center low wattage bulb (4 DRL?). An alternative is a two-filament bulb, low setting for DRL, high setting for fog. Yet another alternative is a single bulb, but for DRL setting, it runs at 60% power. (am i obsessed again?) it may be not feasible at this moment, but will be on the lookout for these type of fog/drl combo. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!






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Hmmm.  I think I can help you out in part at least, but don;t have that much time @ the moment.  Let me get back to you.
 
I will say that the "independent fog light mod" has out there for a long time and has been successfully accomplished by many a 3 owner.  A relatively quick switch of some wires in the fuse/relay box does it and they are then still controlled by the factory switch.
Personally, I don't see a need for it as fog lights should only be used w/low beams anyway and in most places that I'm aware of, it's illegal.
 
 

Thanks, Virgin, below is the Texas Fog Lamp Law:

----------------------
§ 547.328. FOG LAMPS PERMITTED.
(a) A motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two fog lamps. (b) A fog lamp shall be:
(1) mounted on the front of the vehicle at a height
from 12 to 30 inches; and
(2) aimed so that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam from a lamp mounted to the left of center on a vehicle projects a beam of light at a distance of 25 feet that is higher than four inches below the level of the center of the lamp. (c) Lighted fog lamps may be used with lower headlamp beams as specified by Section 547.333.----------------------
Look like it can be independent for Texas, as for NY, I could not find related regulations (if someone knows, please jump in). Below is excerpt from car inspection (screen capture)






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Ah, keep in mind that Texas has TWO sets of laws depending on whether or not you're talking about inspection or "driving" laws.
I didn't know that either until I got into an argument w/someone about my 5% rear tint who swore that 25% was max for Texas.
I lost the argument because the inspection laws states that the driver's compartment must be at least 25%, but anything past that, including 5%, is legal.
The second set of laws, the Driving laws, state that ANY passenger compartment must have no less than 20% pass tint on it.  As long as the vehicle has TWO side mirrors, anything behind any passenger's compartment is legal up to 5% pass.  That leaves the traingular rear windows and the back light.
I was pulled over, but not ticketed, for it once... when we had so much "stuff" in the hatch area it wouldn't have mattered anyway... and the dealer I bought the car from had it installed before I ever layed eyes on it.
STUPID, but typically Texas.

 
Also, I must refer you to part of what you yourself had included....

"(c) Lighted fog lamps may be used with lower headlamp beams as specified by Section 547.333.---------------------- " 
W/O actually looking up that statute, a very time consuming process, or can be, it could mean anything, and I am the distrusting sort.  :D  My best guess is that it means that they cannot be used in conjunction w/high-beams, indicating that the independant fog light mod is questionable at best.

truthfull i want the 04 fog lights. those look sooo much better. 

 
Me too.
 
 

boo you.. wanna trade . even though i dont have fog lights i got those plastic thingys. even swap lmao

so independent fog + hi-beam could be a legal problem I guess. Physically, hi beam make the visibility worse in fog.
anyways, I found that PIAA makes a tri-beam lamp, which looks pretty much what I wanted. Haven't found any picture of them being installed on mazda3 yet.  http://www.eautoworks.com/ORD-1-1-1-86214.cfm

The statute as you listed it is so vague that I would expect that field officer's can interpret it any way they want. i.e. fogs w/no other beams on = illegal?
 

And Win, those ain't fog lights you're lookin' at y'know?  I don't know why they're calling the "spot" beam a DRL?  They are usually reserved for Rally cars and off roaders.  I would think the "marker" light would be a better choice for that? 
I'd be surprised if they were DOT approved in any state's laws?  Please note the legal disclaimer at the bottom of the description.
 
 

I looked at the description a little more closely and have to wonder how they get the equivalent of 110w out of one 55w H3 and only 85w (relative) output from the other?
These are basically driving light w/extras.  Driving lights should always be connected to the high beam circuit and adjusted to supplement them.  They should also be mounted as close to the height of the high beams and go out when the low beams are chosen.  Otherwise you'll piss off a lot of oncoming drivers as you completely blind them going by the other way.
You sure you want these?
Also, I did not see a size listed.  Will they fit in the space that you intend for them?
 
 

i have noticed that the hi beams actually work better then regular lights in the fog. i have no idea why. but in this car it works alot better then regular lights.. i should get high beams but they cost up to $600

In light fog, perhaps, but in REAL fog, your high beams will reflect more light back to your eyes than shine forward through the fog.
 
 

reallly... hmm im gonna have to watch that.

It's a proven fact, Bud.
 
 

well considering ivve had my licence for maybe 6 months i still dont know that much about it. yet on my written test... i kinda screwed up on that :D

Ya' can't change the basic laws of physics.  Learn them and you'll know much more about how the world works.
 

will do :D. well then again grade 10 science... i learned about physics but i dont rememeber that.. although we talked ab out tazers and those police radar's. quite neat..

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ORIGINAL: jaimie08mazda3

will do :D. well then again grade 10 science... i learned about physics but i dont rememeber that.. although we talked ab out tazers and those police radar's. quite neat..

No, no, NO!!  Too hi-tech. Start w/the basics. .. like the effects of gravity on a specific mass, etc.

the whaaaaaaaa...?

OK, Basic Physics, For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh consequences :D. t

 
YESsssss!     
 
For every consequence, there is a reactive consequence.  Same thing.
Improve one thing (handling) reduce another (ride.) Etc....  Don;t get ahead of yourself w/radar or you'll never really understand the basics... the necessity of physics.  See?
 
 

hmmm ya know what. i give up on physics. how about this.. for a new turbo ... higher insurance. kinda like that for new shocks (lowered aftermarket shocks) voided warranty on mazda parts. stuff like that lol