Need help and suggestions, on an excellent fog light for a 2016.5 Mazda CX-5 GT.


Current candidate: Hella FF50 Fog Light. At 4.8"H x 3"W, it seems about as large a light as can fit within the bumper area itself without significant modifications, though at the expense of the factory "surround" piece that holds the existing factory fogs in place. Would likely mount pendant style (hanging from above). Have had the Hella FF's on a previous car, some years ago. Was quite impressed. Fairly wide light coverage on the road, and decent throw (for fogs), with excellent output and visibility enhancement. Not bad for a smaller light.

I would dearly love something like a Cibie Oscar SC (VA) type light, but at ~8" round there's nowhere near enough space without carving out whole sections of the bumper/fascia material and rigging a mount, along with heavier wiring. Which I'm open to, if absolutely necessary to get effective light coverage on the road. Am entirely unimpressed with the factory fogs that come with the 2016.5 CX-5. ("Pointless" is a good word for them, IMO. Great for being seen; not at all for seeing better.) Don't want a bull bar. Want something tolerably "factory" looking, more or less.


Would like to hear what others have done, along with any suggestions you might have, for stuffing a fog light that fits well into the existing bumper/fascia space. Looking for greatest amount of light on the ground, widest effective coverage.

Comments? Suggestions? Your own experience with high-output, effective fog lighting on the CX-5?


Example photo snip from Mazda catalog:

Factory fog light on 2016.5 Mazda CX-5, showing the surround piece that holds the light in place within the bumper fascia.

 

Actually, there IS enough space if one considers the grille assembly in front of the radiator. (Assuming a pair of aux lights could be added without severe restriction of the airflow.) Have poked around, awhile, with a variety of searches on the 'net but have yet to find anything other than a SEMA prototype MX5/Miata at the Mazda Irvine facility.

Has anyone done this sort of thing, modification of the grille to accommodate fairly large auxiliary/fog lights?

 

If you step back to a 2013-15 style fog lamp surround and go with a 2.5" projector lamp you can significantly increase the light output & fill the void below the regular headlamps. And not alter the factory appearance a great deal.