HID fog lights

Audio, Electronics and Lighting questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, zombie, Andrew, -alex, miata

NaKeD

HID fog lights

Postby NaKeD » Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:27 am

Hi guys,
i've just got my 2003 mx5 limited edition classic and i'm LOVING IT.
My first mod would be to HID the projector head lights, im sorry if this has been covered previously but ive tried searching for it. I wanted to know if its legal to 6000k HID the mx5 fog lights and if its possible to fit HID bulb into the fog. I tried removing the OEM fog lights bulb and they are really short compare to HID bulbs

Has anyone done it before? some pics would be GREAT!
IMO HID low beam alone with yellowish fog lights don't go that well

Cheers

NaKeD

User avatar
Steampunk
Speed Racer
Posts: 4670
Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:16 am
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Southside of Breeze-bane

Postby Steampunk » Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:41 am

Uhmm ... are you installing a proper HID kit into your normal headlights? or installing a proper HID kit into your fog lights? or just replacing bulbs?

- If you are installing a proper HID kit into your fog lights then I would think that it is both illegal and does not make sense.
Fog lights are not there to aid visibility, they are there to warn other motorists and pedestrians of the presence of your car in heavy fog. Fog lights have a steep angle downwards because if you are driving in heavy fog, the last thing you want is bright lights reflecting off it. Technically in heavy fog, you are supposed to drive with headlights on \"park\" (or whatever it's called) function\"and only fog lights on.
Police can also book you for driving with fog lights on all the time. (at least that is bookable several years ago)

- If you are replacing your headlights with a proper HID kit... why?

- If you are just replacing bulbs, with \"HID\" xenon woop-de-doo blue crystal blah blah blah, these are NOT HID, they only produce light with a blueish hue or very white hue.
Image

NaKeD

Postby NaKeD » Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:36 am

Thanks 1red5, your comments on the fog HID had a good point and I was just wondering. I won't HID my fog lights

On the other hand i have just HID my projector lights... I just think it looks more better with HID and more visibility.

I have seen alot of people with HID for their fogs.....

User avatar
Steampunk
Speed Racer
Posts: 4670
Joined: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:16 am
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Southside of Breeze-bane

Postby Steampunk » Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:25 am

No worries mate. I just don't want you to get in trouble. I don't know anyone who has been booked, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
Congrats on the new car by the way, and welcome to the forum.

Have you joined the local MX-5 club?
Image

chatchat
Driver
Posts: 41
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:36 pm

Postby chatchat » Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:05 pm

if forget about the legal part, 3000k or 10000k or even 16000k is better to fit in the fog lights?

I personally prefer 10000k or above, or a lot of people saying 3000k is very nice.

User avatar
Garry
Speed Racer
Posts: 3481
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SP
Location: God's Country
Contact:

Postby Garry » Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:46 pm

No aftermarket HID globe can legally be retrofiited to a car unless it is equiped with self levelling headlights and headlight washers. So feel to fit whatever colour bulbs you want to as they are all illegal.
Shiney black one with added red bits. Member of the fart club. Now with extra doof and Sunlong. - deceased and gone to heaven

User avatar
corners
Racing Driver
Posts: 1127
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:33 pm
Vehicle: ND - Supercharged
Location: Brisbane, QLD

Postby corners » Mon Feb 25, 2008 6:47 pm

I wouldn't bother fitting HID to foglights. If i were going to run the risk of the legalities i would only fit them as my main driving lights. Its not that foggy often.

Mr Morlock
Speed Racer
Posts: 6444
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:40 am
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Melbourne

Postby Mr Morlock » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:53 pm

There is some very sound advice being provided and impressive knowledge about HID lighting. Your lights whether they be fog lights or headlamps have been specifically designed optically to perform. As soon as you start to interfere with focal lengths with different light sources your reflectors esp in the case of headlamps no longer control beam patterns and dazzle or simply do not put the light where it should be. The projector lamps are very precise and in my opinion do a surprisingly good job for such a small headlamp. For those people who do country work you can fit aftermarket driving lamps and they will work very well for long distance. One other thing is that HID lighting also is more expensive to replace apart from matters of legality. Anyway we all choose what we want.

User avatar
sliq
Speed Racer
Posts: 3414
Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:33 am
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Postby sliq » Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:06 pm

group buy on HID's anyone? :P

chatchat
Driver
Posts: 41
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:36 pm

Postby chatchat » Wed Feb 27, 2008 4:54 pm

how much roughly each? I am looking for a set of HID anyway.

Mr Morlock
Speed Racer
Posts: 6444
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:40 am
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Melbourne

Postby Mr Morlock » Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:52 pm

It may be of interest that Hella have a xenon micro DE lamp ( driving lamp) cat #1302. I do not know how well it performs though for size it would be very good. Mounting in place of fog lamps might be possible or on a light bar and the product is legal though I am not sure of differing state laws. If you checked Hella they would be able to give some advice ( situated in Mentone Vic) and they have a web site. I have no idea of the cost.

User avatar
corners
Racing Driver
Posts: 1127
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:33 pm
Vehicle: ND - Supercharged
Location: Brisbane, QLD

Re:

Postby corners » Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:55 pm

Mr Morlock wrote:It may be of interest that Hella have a xenon micro DE lamp ( driving lamp) cat #1302. I do not know how well it performs though for size it would be very good. Mounting in place of fog lamps might be possible or on a light bar and the product is legal though I am not sure of differing state laws. If you checked Hella they would be able to give some advice ( situated in Mentone Vic) and they have a web site. I have no idea of the cost.


I dont believe they would be legal as they still dont self tilt.

Mr Morlock
Speed Racer
Posts: 6444
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:40 am
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Melbourne

Postby Mr Morlock » Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:13 am

jcs86 these lamps are aftermarket driving lamps and gas discharge are legal and comply with ADR. Headlamps ( low and high beam) are a very different story however and you and others have rightly pointed that out .

User avatar
bruce
Speed Racer
Posts: 7706
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NA8 - Turbo
Location: Victoria
Contact:

Postby bruce » Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:16 am

That's all I need. People putting in HID lights and blinding me everytime they're pointed at me.

IS IT REALLY NECESSARY ! May look nice and give a bit better visibility, but maybe you should wear your prescription glasses if you can't see what is in front of you.

User avatar
corners
Racing Driver
Posts: 1127
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:33 pm
Vehicle: ND - Supercharged
Location: Brisbane, QLD

Re:

Postby corners » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:12 pm

Mr Morlock wrote:jcs86 these lamps are aftermarket driving lamps and gas discharge are legal and comply with ADR. Headlamps ( low and high beam) are a very different story however and you and others have rightly pointed that out .


Ah no problem


Return to “MX5 Audio, Electronics & Lighting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 69 guests