[~sugar~]

A lot of people here in Phoenix drive around with their front fog lights on. So I decided that I would too. Ever since I drive with them on, i get flashed all the time at night. Are the fog lights that bright? Plus the car is so low to the ground it can't affect them that much, right?

[MiniMan7]

Thats retarded, flash em back!! Let them know whos boss!!!

[BruceK]

Simple. Fog lights are for use only in fog or very heavy rain/snow.

People flashing you are trying to inform you of the weather.

[Humourl3ss]

FWIW, I was pulled over once for having fogs on in light drizzle (bit still high visibility conditions). The cop was an ex-pat limey who took a dim view of drivers who used fogs unnecessarily. After a rather vigourous tongue-lashing, I was sent on my way with nothing more than a warning.

The moral: keep the fog lights off, unless conditions warrant it.

-CW

[~sugar~]

Thank you!!! - i just don't think it's fair that all those suv's use them.

[Smokey 4]

Or, more then likely it's their daytime driving lights that you’re seeing.

[~sugar~]

It has to be their fog lights, they are bright and light up my entire MINI when they are facing me - I'm pratically blind too.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Quote:

Originally posted by ~sugar~
Thank you!!! - i just don't think it's fair that all those suv's use them.

I agree 100%. But what can we do? Shoot out their lights? Hmmmmmmmmmmm!

[catalyst]

~sugar~ -

I'll bet that it is their foglights that are nearly blinding you.

Out here, it's not just SUVs (with their inherently higher stance), but it is also many college kids (as well some local Army personnel visitors to town, God bless 'em) in Pontiacs, Camrys, Honda sedans, etc. , who like to illuminate their vehicles in the thought that it looks "cool".

For an acknowledging "wave", I'd not thought of using the fogs: maybe that's OK, but as for driving around with them on when there isn't any need, I'd say thumbs down.

[Tonyt3]

It is simply NOT cool to drive with the fogs on unnecessarily. In the UK, although most people don't actually know it, it is actually against the law - although I have never heard of anyone being prosecuted for it though...
If you want to be seen, just use your side lights (running lights?)
You drive a Mini, the coolest thing around.... even with the fogs off!!

[noahe]

Agreed 100%. Fog lights on in fog.

I'll go one further... OEM fog lights on most vehicles don't work anyways. Most of them are useless.

The MINI's fogs are kinda useless, and completely useless if you have DRL's enabled. They're really low, really tiny. With DRL enabled, you can't turn them on unless the main beam (Xenon) are on. The Xenon's are reasonably effective on their own, but by the time the fog is dense enough that they scatter and light up the fog, a wee set of halogen fogs is not helping. If you put the lights to parking lights, the DRL's come on, which are high-beam at half power. These are really useless in fog. Aimed high, to light up the fog, but not driven hard enough to penetrate the fod either. To make matters worse, the DRL's are the high beam, and the fog lights go out if the high beam is activated. Smart. The DRL's go out if the hand-brake is activated, but then you're dragging your rear tires, which can't possibly help.

So, I would like MINI to add the following software fix. If DRL's are activated on a MINI, then they should go out when you turn on the fogs, rather than vice-versa.

[GordonD]

Noahe

right on. I am seriously thinking of pulling out the stupid factory lights and getting someone to inset a proper set of fog lights with sitching independant of the DRLs.

My main problem is I would miss the cute little green light on the end of the switch

[noahe]

Quote:

Originally posted by GordonD
Noahe

right on. I am seriously thinking of pulling out the stupid factory lights and getting someone to inset a proper set of fog lights with sitching independant of the DRLs.

My main problem is I would miss the cute little green light on the end of the switch

There's another solution... Find a dealer that will disable the DRL's in Canada. This would technically be illegal. Then, just drive around with the lights on. All CDN cars come equipped with the Xenon's, which typically last the life of the car. It's a good idea to run the lights all around anyways for the same visibility reasons.

Then, with the DRL's disabled, we could see just how bad the fogs are. Perhaps the dispersion is okay, and a more efficient (read more lux) bulb would do.

There's not THAT many fog days here. But snow... Have you looked out your window?!

[GordonD]

Noahe

I'm trying to get the DRLs and fogs on together as i suspect the OPP would give one a hard time if the DRLs were disabled. I've always wondered of there is something in the handbrake assembly that could be 'fixed' The fogs come on is the sidelights are on at the same time as the handbrake is engaged - just a little expensive to drive around in that configeration.

Actually snow is exactly the condition I had in mind when i started my quest for better lighting.

[noahe]

Quote:

Originally posted by GordonD
I'm trying to get the DRLs and fogs on together as i suspect the OPP would give one a hard time if the DRLs were disabled.

Doubt it, you'd just need to drive with your lights on. Advocates of DRL's are also advocates of driving with all your lights on. Running lights are always good.

Quote:

I've always wondered of there is something in the handbrake assembly that could be 'fixed' The fogs come on is the sidelights are on at the same time as the handbrake is engaged - just a little expensive to drive around in that configeration.

You could tap into the hand-brake switch and add a defeat button. That would do it, but not activate the brakes. However, you'd get the ultra-irritating bright red warning lamp on the tacho lit.