Foglights

[davidjpowell]

My comments are aimed at those whose fog lights are legal, aligned correctly and working properly.
You cannot legislate for the tw@ts who drive around with misaligned, faulty or with inappropriate bulbs installed. In which case, I would totally agree that their use is illegal and dangerous.
I was actually thinking more of the smaller, below the bumper type of fog light as fitted to my W203. In essence more of auxiliary driving lights more than true fog lamps.
I often use mine in preference to dipped headlamps during the hours of pre-dusk when sidelights aren't quite enough and dipped headlamps are simply unnecessary.
Just to make myself more visible to other road users.
Not for any "look at me, Ive got fog lamps" reason. Most cars have them nowadays anyway, so hardly a style statement.

I don't get this. If it's getting dark and you need extra light why would you not switch your headlights on? It seems a farily obvious first step to me.

 

[verytalldave]

BEFORE its dark. As I said..................PRE-DUSK.
Its not a case of NEEDING extra light, it simply a way of giving yourself greater visibility.
Yesterday was a good example in point. It was very gloomy all day, not to the point of NEEDING headlamps, but something more than just sidelights.
The lights are there, fitted as standard, so why not use them ? ?
We will have to agree to disagree.

 

[davidjpowell]

If you need extra light for visibility then you do need extra light. In a haze (or even fog?) on their own in the distnce they could be mistaken for headlights. It's what drivers expect to see. By leaving them off you make them process something extra on top.

 

[crockers]

I use two basic rules.
If I need to be seen, usually murky wintery weather, use headlights. MB cars have facility to have headlights on permanently. But not the fog lights. I wonder why? Must be because if you need to be seen then use your headlights.
2nd rule. If I struggle to see the car in front. Then the car behind is struggling to see me. On with rear fogs.

 

[raymont]

Mercedes bi xenon cornering lights.

If you have these fitted you get the following fog light activation if travelling at less than 40kph:

Signal left and the left light illuminates, cancels with indicator,

Signal right and the right light illuminates, cancels with indicator,

Steer left / right ( fairly tight turn as in, e.g. turning on to a side road) and the relevant light illuminates, cancels shortly after you steer straight ahead,

Engage reverse and the light on the outside of the turn illuminates.

This is all over and above headlights which swivel as you corner.

On a vaguely related point it’s quite disappointing that on misty mornings, like today here in Surrey, the auto headlamp function doesn’t work. Whereas on a sunny morning with perfect visibilty when the sun is still low in the sky the system seems to feel the need to turn the headlights on. Not just an MB feature, previous Land Rover behaved the same as does a colleague’s Audi.

 

[Shude]

2nd rule. If I struggle to see the car in front. Then the car behind is struggling to see me. On with rear fogs.

In dense fog then I use this simple rule:

Can I see a car behind?

If no then rear fog on
If yes then rear fog off

If I can see the headlamps of a car behind then they can defintely see my tail/fog lamps as red light is a lot more obvious than yellow/white light.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

BEFORE its dark. As I said..................PRE-DUSK.
Its not a case of NEEDING extra light, it simply a way of giving yourself greater visibility.
Yesterday was a good example in point. It was very gloomy all day, not to the point of NEEDING headlamps, but something more than just sidelights.
The lights are there, fitted as standard, so why not use them ? ?
We will have to agree to disagree.

I thought that your W203 would have auto lights.

 

[verytalldave]

I thought that your W203 would have auto lights.

It does.......same as auto wipers.
But I don't normally have them switched on.
I dont like the lights/headlamps coming on before I have started the car.
Old habits die hard.........................

 

[crockers]

In dense fog then I use this simple rule:

Can I see a car behind?

If no then rear fog on
If yes then rear fog off

If I can see the headlamps of a car behind then they can defintely see my tail/fog lamps as red light is a lot more obvious than yellow/white light.

Good derivation to mine - but bear in mind it is easier to see headlights behind you than rear lights (not fogs) in front...so perhaps we should adopt both yours and mine..

 

[Deleted member 6183]

It does.......same as auto wipers.
But I don't normally have them switched on.
I dont like the lights/headlamps coming on before I have started the car.
Old habits die hard.........................

I know that one, Mrs always puts headlamps on before cranking the engine. But then, she's never driven some of the old bumpers that I have with dodgy batteries.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I know that one, Mrs always puts headlamps on before cranking the engine. But then, she's never driven some of the old bumpers that I have with dodgy batteries.

Having said that, I just leave both auto wipers and auto lights on permanently. Not let me down.................................Yet!

 

[stevesey]

I know that one, Mrs always puts headlamps on before cranking the engine. But then, she's never driven some of the old bumpers that I have with dodgy batteries.

+1 - I remember those times when the battery seemed to have just enough umph to get one cylinder to the top of the stroke and the car fired-up. SWMBO always puts the lights on first (and I cringe every time).

 

[Niks]

Interesting thread... Soon im going to have some Hella Comet 550 auxiliary lights installed just under my front bumper The fogs are already built-in the headlight assembly on the W124.

My reason for this? I have some road trips planned and driving into/through remote areas with no lights so the extra candle power could turn out to be useful!

 

[davidjpowell]

Do the headlights not go to sidelights on the operation of starter. I can't recall, but would be surprised with all the lengths that MB went to on putting back up scenarios in place for bulbs, they did not think about operating the starter when the battery was in poor condition or in colder climates.

 

[Wizeng]

On the other hand, driving to work this morning in thin fog (thick mist) some pl0nk3rs did not have any lights on at all

 

[stevesey]

Do the headlights not go to sidelights on the operation of starter. I can't recall, but would be surprised with all the lengths that MB went to on putting back up scenarios in place for bulbs, they did not think about operating the starter when the battery was in poor condition or in colder climates.

Never seen that (other than the natural dimming when turning the car over), but it makes sense. Similar to a 6V coil with a ballast resistor and a relay to short the resistor (so applying 12Volts) when starting - did this on my MGB (plus electronic ignition), even on the coldest mornings it would fire instantly.

 

[st13phil]

Putting to one side the propensity for oiks in chav-tastic Saxo's and Corsa's to misuse any lighting system for minute...

What is the deal with front foglamps, no usable light penetration above 10mph, do they think they look cool?...utter idiots, they should be shot!

The switch logic on my W204 won't allow me to use the rear foglamp without the front foglamps being on too. My Mk IV Golf was the same, so assuming that there's a need to use the rear foglamp, then many (most?) cars will have the front fogs operating too.

On a vaguely related point it’s quite disappointing that on misty mornings, like today here in Surrey, the auto headlamp function doesn’t work.

As the handover guy put it when I picked up my car in Stuttgart: "The automatic headlamp assist feature detects a lack of light, not a lack of visibility"

SWMBO always puts the lights on first (and I cringe every time).

Pretty much all modern cars disconnect power to heavy consumers (like the headlamps) when cranking so this is rarely an issue except on older cars which also had lower charging capacity and lower battery reserves. Hmm... I see the problem

 

[HR17]

I got pulled over by the cops when i was in my yoof for having my fogs on. I'd actually been using them correctly on the motorway before pulling off and into town where it was slightly less pea soup. I was goiven a verbal telling off for using them inappropriately despite my claims about visibility on the motorway. I understand totally why they stopped me as it was wrong. Nowadays, though, it seems that every other car has them on - usually with just sidelights(is that two laws they're breaking?) so it amazes me that the police don't stop them and inform them. If I were a yoof nowadays, possibly driving a cheap car that I could barely afford to run, possibly a bit pimped as well, the last thing I'd do is give the cops such an obvious reason to stop me and tell me off while checking my car over. The same goes for personalised number plates that have been buggered about with to make a name/word - again totally illegal but so obvious to the cops.

 

[rf065]

Nowadays, though, it seems that every other car has them on - usually with just sidelights(is that two laws they're breaking?) so it amazes me that the police don't stop them and inform them.

Driving in a 30mph limit with street lighting does not require the use of headlights. So only one law broken in those circumstances.

Russ