Do the Fog's Do Anything? Better to light a candle.......

[Racebrewer]

Hi,

U.S. spec' 2011 Mazda 2 with original OEM foglights. The best the fogs do is splash a tiny amount of light to the extreme left and right just where the mirrors block my vision.

I put in higher wattage bulbs, but unlike my wife's Honda Fit, the increase didn't do much of anything.

Is this an issue in other countries or just the U.S.? Is there a good way of fixing this?

Does anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks,
John

 

[larson701]

I have always thought of fog lights as useless. The light pattern only fills in the area immediately in front of the car, inside of the low beams. Even in foggy conditions, the improvement in vision is negligible. The pattern is such that it is not even useful to shine in the ditches for a better deer warning.

A set of driving lights is a different matter!

 

[rchrist364]

I know what you mean. The fog lights seem to do nothing and just make your car look better. But are they a necessity. NO! I just bought a new bumper and it doesn't have holes for fog lights like the original bumper has, so my dilemma is should I fiberglass a base to put the fog lights in to fit in my new bumper or leave them out all together. Another Idea I had is to put angle eyes over the fog lights like they do in HID Projector Headlights. If you don;t know what angle eyes are. heres a picture, Just imagine same concept on the fogs (Mostly for looks).

I would probably do red. only to match my car. But blue is totaly BA!

Heres a good comparison!

 

[Racebrewer]

Actually, I have had good fog aftermarket lights (Marchal, Bosch and, way back when, Lucas Square 8's). Mounted low they didn't reflect back off of the fog or snow into your eyes and were a big help. Up on the Canadian border I get to drive through fog and snow fairly often.

The OEM fog lights on my wife's Honda Fit responded well to an upgraded bulb. ( H-9's vs H-11's. With a modified base.) They put out useable light and do not bother oncoming cars when there are any.

In the M2, the foglights do virtually nothing and the additional output of the modded bulbs added virtually nothing. I would like foglights that work (not for cosmetics) and that was one of the main reasons for going for a touring model. I'm not happy that the additional money I spent paid for nothing.

John

 

[rchrist364]

I agree, I wish my fog lights would actually help. it was the same in my old 03 Suzuki Aerio SX not much of a difference

 

[rchrist364]

OH hahahah Okay so I was going through and checking out ways to improve fog lights and came across a solution to both that the fog lights dont work and that they could look better.

Not that much either http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/UNIVERSAL-BLUE-CCFL-ANGEL-EYE-PROJECTOR-FOG-LIGHT-LAMP-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem415705fcadQQitemZ280632884397QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_3367wt_941

 

[Racebrewer]

Good thought. Kind of reminds me of a bathroom ceiling light I used to have........ from the 60's....

Not much of a clue as to how well they work as foglights though. Doubt if the manufacturer cared.

The US M2 OEM foglights appear to have a round, silver colored, center piece that may have an effect on how the lights work. Do the M2's in other markets like Asia or Europe have those?

Thanks,
John

 

[yengski]

I have OEM fogs here in the Philippines and does not help at all during night time.. LOL... also replaced them with a yellow colored H11s..

Different story for my Mazda 3 though...

 

[Racebrewer]

Hi Yengski,

Any idea why the M3's work better than the M2's? Reflectors, lens, that round thing in the center?

I've thought about taking mine apart and really looking at them. No M3 available for comparison.

John

 

[lovmyrx7]

Just so you know, their called "fog lights" for a reason. They are not meant to lighten up the whole road so you can see better. What did you expect? Not being a butt, but seriously?

 

[Rockin03mp5]

my fogs on the my protege5 didnt do much either till i aimed them up higher. not sure if that is possible on the new mazdas. (havent tried on my 5 or 6)

they are fog lights and not driving lights though.

 

[Racebrewer]

Hi,

What I had hoped for was something like my Bosch, Marchal, or Lucas fog lights. A broad, low beam with a sharp cut-off. Something that would illuminate the sides of the road and the road in front of the car. With a sharp cut-off to minimize reflection back off of snow and fog.

The fogs on the M2 just don't seem to do much of anything, while those on my wife's Honda Fit seem to do much better.

And, yes, I have also had driving lights of different types and I'm familiar with the difference.

The US M2 foglights appear to be simply decorative. I was just wondering if the M2 fogs in other markets were any better.

Thanks,
John

 

[lovmyrx7]

Hi,

What I had hoped for was something like my Bosch, Marchal, or Lucas fog lights. A broad, low beam with a sharp cut-off. Something that would illuminate the sides of the road and the road in front of the car. With a sharp cut-off to minimize reflection back off of snow and fog.

The fogs on the M2 just don't seem to do much of anything, while those on my wife's Honda Fit seem to do much better.

And, yes, I have also had driving lights of different types and I'm familiar with the difference.

The US M2 foglights appear to be simply decorative. I was just wondering if the M2 fogs in other markets were any better.

Thanks,
John

I think the look your going for could be easily achieved with the projector fogs. I have no idea if any fit or work yet. Might just have to test it out? The fogs in my MSM were amazing when i added PIAA super yellow bulbs, the light almost reached the middle of my headlights.

 

[Racebrewer]

That's the problem. I was hoping for lights that actually work. Not for a 'look'.

When I first turned on the M2 fogs I thought that the fuse had popped, something had failed, or I had turned the switch the wrong way. They really put out that little light. And, that test was without fog or falling snow.

If I look around the outside mirror and turn the fogs on and off, I can see a bit of light. I'd be really upset if i had paid $300+ for them from a dealer.<LOL>

John

 

[DaleNixon]

I mostly use fog lights to be more visible to other drivers. My sport doesn't have them and I'm considering adding them.

 

[lovmyrx7]

That's the problem. I was hoping for lights that actually work. Not for a 'look'.

When I first turned on the M2 fogs I thought that the fuse had popped, something had failed, or I had turned the switch the wrong way. They really put out that little light. And, that test was without fog or falling snow.

If I look around the outside mirror and turn the fogs on and off, I can see a bit of light. I'd be really upset if i had paid $300+ for them from a dealer.<LOL>

John

I dunno man, I'm sure plenty of cars have had the same problem. Just try to keep finding a solution, not everything is perfect from the factory

I mostly use fog lights to be more visible to other drivers. My sport doesn't have them and I'm considering adding them.

Just did my first pair last week, super super easy

 

[Racebrewer]

True. Harder to add aftermarket fogs now with plastic bumpers and the like. When it gets a little warmer up here I'll have to look behind the grill for a good spot. Did you install the OEM kit or something else?

I was hoping that Mazda might have used better fogs in other markets where they may be taken more seriously. Something OEM looking.

I know that with my Type R, Honda used some "more fun parts" (e.g. bigger rear sway bar in Japan) in other markets. Hoping for something similar.

Along the same lines, I noticed that the M2 rear suspension beam has mounting holes for a rear torsion (sway) bar. Is that available anywhere in the world?

Thanks,
John

 

[MazdaTwo]

True. Harder to add aftermarket fogs now with plastic bumpers and the like. When it gets a little warmer up here I'll have to look behind the grill for a good spot. Did you install the OEM kit or something else?

I was hoping that Mazda might have used better fogs in other markets where they may be taken more seriously. Something OEM looking.

I know that with my Type R, Honda used some "more fun parts" (e.g. bigger rear sway bar in Japan) in other markets. Hoping for something similar.

Along the same lines, I noticed that the M2 rear suspension beam has mounting holes for a rear torsion (sway) bar. Is that available anywhere in the world?

Thanks,
John

CorkSport.com, sir. Released it early this year. $99. Click Here

 

[brandini]

The fogs on my miata are great! They fill in the space between the lo-beams and the car, and they widen the pattern at the front of the car as well.

Fogs are meant to do exactly that, aide in fog, when you're already driving slowly and need more definition to see the road itself.

Driving lights are what most people desire, they throw a narrow beam WAY down the road and are great for nighttime driving on highways and interstates.

 

[Racebrewer]

"The fogs on my miata are great! They fill in the space between the lo-beams and the car, and they widen the pattern at the front of the car as well.
Fogs are meant to do exactly that, aide in fog, when you're already driving slowly and need more definition to see the road itself.
Driving lights are what most people desire, they throw a narrow beam WAY down the road and are great for nighttime driving on highways and interstates. "

Yup, exactly. The U.S. M2 lights don't seem to accomplish what your Miata's do.

I'm looking for good fog lights. Not driving lights. Really.

And "Thanks", I'll have to take a look for a Miata to check out the design. What year is your's?

Re the rear torsion bar, I saw Corksport's bar and that is a very good price. I was surprised that they made it out of aluminum when steel is the usual choice. I've seen other rear bars of various diameters in steel by Autoexe and Ultra Racing. Just checking to see what was out there and if there were any other designs, including OEM.

John