W211 - Rear fog lights - one or two?

[gruslang]

Hi, I'm not close to my car to check it myself but need an answer asap.
Does the E220 (W211) have two on both sides or one rear fog light on the right side only?

Thank you.

 

[renault12ts]

One.

 

[gruslang]

One.

Thank you!

 

[Headhurts]

Yes one only.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Marku]

I have asked why Mercedes only show the right side several times even at dealers. No one can give a definitive answer. All the wiring and bulb are there on the left side but it doesn't work. Neither is there anything on COMAND to allow you to switch it on. My argument with the dealer was I wanted to drive in France and if I did at night and need the rear fog light not only would it be illegal it would be dangerous. They said they would look at it at one of the services but came back with nothing so I still have no answer.

 

[190]

Fog lights are mostly misused and in my view reduce safety when conditions don't justify them being on. It's my old hobby horse of more light only being an improvement when it's really needed. Given that situation I think MB's stance of one fog light makes it easier to distinguish between the fog light and brake lights.

 

[sturgeon]

I think I read somewhere that its not legal to have two rear fog lights in Germany.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

In Germany, you only need 1 foglight, but on the other side from us of course.

 

[renault12ts]

I have asked why Mercedes only show the right side several times even at dealers. No one can give a definitive answer. All the wiring and bulb are there on the left side but it doesn't work. Neither is there anything on COMAND to allow you to switch it on. My argument with the dealer was I wanted to drive in France and if I did at night and need the rear fog light not only would it be illegal it would be dangerous. They said they would look at it at one of the services but came back with nothing so I still have no answer.

It's most manufacturers not just MB. Ask a few of them they may know.

 

[Codger49]

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/11/made
See the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 link - only 1 rear foglamp located on the centreline or offside of the car. On vehicles first used between 1980 and 1989 you could have no more than 2 (a matched pair on vehicles first used between 1986 and 1989) and on a vehicle first used before 1980, any number of them.

 

[Martin 1]

I had an Audi 80 some years ago, and resolved this by substituting a LHD tail light, however, if the fittings etc are there, can you not spur off the right hand one ? I'd love to know as mine's the same and it annoys me.

 

[rf065]

I had an Audi 80 some years ago, and resolved this by substituting a LHD tail light, however, if the fittings etc are there, can you not spur off the right hand one ? I'd love to know as mine's the same and it annoys me.

As post number 6 says, there is a good safety reason for having one foglight and not two, if you are on the m/way for example in fog and you suddenly see two bright lights in front of you, when you have caught up with a car travelling much slower than you, you're first reaction is too think it's brake lights and hit your brakes, perhaps causing the person behind you to start one of the pileups that happen all over the world when fog descends on a m/way. Also, when abroad, although your foglight might be on the opposite side, that is not illegal. If you were to import the car permanently you may have to swap though.

Russ

 

[Martin 1]

An interesting point, though a single light, may make you think it's a motor cycle, leading to the same possibility. I agree wholeheartedly with 190 about mis-use but I think my point still stands.

 

[Ted]

I have asked why Mercedes only show the right side several times even at dealers. No one can give a definitive answer. All the wiring and bulb are there on the left side but it doesn't work. Neither is there anything on COMAND to allow you to switch it on. My argument with the dealer was I wanted to drive in France and if I did at night and need the rear fog light not only would it be illegal it would be dangerous. They said they would look at it at one of the services but came back with nothing so I still have no answer.

Marku, I remember reading a magazine or bulletin from Mercedes back in the seventies saying that there was only one foglight so it doesn't get confused with brake lights.
In the same article, it also explained those large ribs on the W123 rear lights were so that the whole light didn't get covered in dirt.

 

[190]

Fog lights were introduced when tail lights were relatively dim compared to those on cars today. By the time fog lights are truly needed over and above modern tail lights then visibility is so poor that drivers should already have slowed down to the point that mistaking a single fog light for a motorcycle is not an issue. It's an unlikely event anyway. As a motorcyclist I wouldn't be out in thick fog in the first place. Other motorcyclists will know you can't ride in fog as the visor or goggles mist up and we don't have wipers. So if you do see one give it a wide berth as the poor sod will be practically blind.

Over nearly 50 years of driving I wouldn't need all my digits to count the number of occasions when I really needed to use fog lights. The reality of actual use as we know is very different which means they are on balance as much of a menace as a safety feature. The wording in the highway code says you should use them only when needed and MUST switch them off when visibility improves. That form of wording suggests it's an offence to have them on when they are not necessary.

 

[Martin 1]

I'm quite surprised at the anger in those replies ! Have you never seen an M/C courier ? Nuff said. I've been driving for 54 years, 33 of them as a Driving Examiner, I've also been a motorcyclist, and have seen the hysterical ineptitude of both ! As for mistaking fogs and brakes, the third brake light takes care of that. It IS an offence to use fogs, front or rear if not needed, surprised you didn't know that as you can quote the highway code. P.S. if you don't know how to keep your helmet visor clear, you should probably stay off two wheels !

 

[190]

Angry ? No, only with experts who pretend to know the answer to something like the secret of perfect vision for motorcyclists in fog, fairy liquid perhaps ? but who instead of sharing that with us deal out sarcasm instead.

First time I've ever added someone to the ignore list.

 

[rf065]

As for mistaking fogs and brakes, the third brake light takes care of that.

Not all cars have a third brakelight, nor do a lot of 4x4's, vans or pickup trucks either let alone anything larger.

Russ

 

[stephenleak]

So, how to make use of this unused rear fog light? There seem to be two options.

1: Connect the working offside light to the "spare" nearside light. Simple, but not "OE".

2. Connect both to the existing wiring through a changeover (single pole double throw (SPDT)) switch. Then, when you're where they drive on the wrong side of the road, you can switch to the light on what is now the offside. OK, a little more work and the expense of the switch, but more "OE" than MB.

One question, though. Will option 1 with two bulbs cause any problems with the bulb monitoring system? Cars have become infinitely more complicated since I first started messing about them.

 

[Dec]

Is the nearside fog light a single filament bulb?

single and double filament bulb - Google Search

Dec