[jps3b]

Does anyone really think this is a big deal? Is there anyone out there that use their fog lights on a regular basis?

[Chas8283]

Originally Posted by jps3b

Does anyone really think this is a big deal? Is there anyone out there that use their fog lights on a regular basis?

There were times I used them on our ’19 X5 but definitely not regularly (now twenty years ago, driving to high school in my Honda Accord, that’s a different story - those pepboys aftermarket fog lights were ALWAYS on and they were sweet - no one can convince me otherwise). Actually just about a month ago I used them - foggy, misty weather on mountain roads. They did help light up the road. Not a dealbreaker for me (in fact we got an M which doesn’t have them as an option). Check one out in person though and make sure you’re okay with the looks without them. I don’t think the M-line looks good with the blank, filler pieces where the lights should be but I still can’t imagine it’s a dealbreaker.

[Chas8283]

Originally Posted by TFresh47

M cars don't come with fog lights, never have

Wasn’t saying they were pulled/missing from M. Just trying to make the point fog lights obviously aren’t a dealbreaker for me, which was the OP’s question.

[Flying Ace]

I have fog lights in my E70. Some notes:
1. On auto sensing, when you turn the wheel, each side fog lights turn on to act as additionally lighting for cornering light. I found this mildly helpful.

2. When you actually use the fog lights in fog or rain, The output is so bright that it reflects off the fog and rain. In other words the name "fog light" is ironic as you will actually not use it in fog.

3. The major use case for fog lights is when driving in rural, pitch black situations or in urban situations where you are unfamiliar with your surroundings and want to shine light on the surrounding area (to avoid a ditch, pot hole, animals)

Ultimately I don't think it's needed. In my opinion rear fogs are much more critical. You can also supplement with laser lights. Someone on here once posted a technical explanation published by BMW of lighting output and coverage for laser.

My subjective view is the front bumper looks cleaner without the lights.

[jps3b]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

I have fog lights in my E70. Some notes:
1. On auto sensing, when you turn the wheel, each side fog lights turn on to act as additionally lighting for cornering light. I found this mildly helpful.

2. When you actually use the fog lights in fog or rain, The output is so bright that it reflects off the fog and rain. In other words the name "fog light" is ironic as you will actually not use it in fog.

3. The major use case for fog lights is when driving in rural, pitch black situations or in urban situations where you are unfamiliar with your surroundings and want to shine light on the surrounding area.

Ultimately I don't think it's needed. In my opinion rear fogs are much more critical. You can also supplement with laser lights. Someone on here once posted a technical explanation published by BMW of lighting output and coverage for laser.

My subjective view is the front bumper looks cleaner without the lights.

Wonderful explanation. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. I guess living in SoCal I won't really need them anyway.

[goobies818]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

I have fog lights in my E70. Some notes:
1. On auto sensing, when you turn the wheel, each side fog lights turn on to act as additionally lighting for cornering light. I found this mildly helpful.

2. When you actually use the fog lights in fog or rain, The output is so bright that it reflects off the fog and rain. In other words the name "fog light" is ironic as you will actually not use it in fog.

3. The major use case for fog lights is when driving in rural, pitch black situations or in urban situations where you are unfamiliar with your surroundings and want to shine light on the surrounding area (to avoid a ditch, pot hole, animals)

Ultimately I don't think it's needed. In my opinion rear fogs are much more critical. You can also supplement with laser lights. Someone on here once posted a technical explanation published by BMW of lighting output and coverage for laser.

My subjective view is the front bumper looks cleaner without the lights.

Agree on all fronts

I don’t understand why we don’t have the rear fog lights…they’re very helpful seeing cars when it’s raining and everyone is zooming on the highway where there’s just so much mist being kicked up

[Flying Ace]

From another discussion

Originally Posted by Brukes

I ended up doing it for the laser lights.

They're significantly better than the standard LED projectors in my opinion.

See the analysis from IIHS:

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle...-door-suv/2021

The laser lights have significantly better high beams and produce way less glare.

I drive enough in country roads that it helped get me over the edge to add the package (looking cooler etc didn't hurt though).

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by TFresh47

M cars don't come with fog lights, never have

Not entirely correct - F85 X5M / F86 X6M throwing "fog" your way.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by Auricom

Not entirely correct - F85 X5M / F86 X6M throwing "fog" your way.

Auricom, the book of truth on all X5 knowledge.

[3Wagon]

Originally Posted by goobies818

Agree on all fronts

I don’t understand why we don’t have the rear fog lights…they’re very helpful seeing cars when it’s raining and everyone is zooming on the highway where there’s just so much mist being kicked up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phD1zuIl5Q4

Because idiots really misuse them badly and they can be super annoying. (yes video is UK, but it's the same everywhere. US spec Audi's seem to be the most annoying IMO.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Auricom

Not entirely correct - F85 X5M / F86 X6M throwing "fog" your way.

I wonder if the f85/f86 had the regular fog lights due to the LED headlights not having the cornering lamps? The X5/X6 models of this era utilized the fog lights as cornering lights, too...so if you removed the fog lights on the F15/F16/F85/F86 (X5/X5M/X6/X6M)...you'd be losing the cornering light feature unless you gave them a different headlamp assembly similar to their 5/6/7 series generational cousins were the cornering lamp was incorporated into the headlight assembly.

Hmmm...makes one wonder.

[evodz]

just loved the pic Auricom used to prove his point, leaves little room for doubt

[taek]

Mercedes also went away from separate fog lights in the current generation. They said it was because the function of fog lights is now integrated into the advanced lighting (multibeam intelligent LED) package.

"The headlamps also have the right answers to inclement weather conditions that often lead to irritating reflections: in unfavourable light conditions, the extended fog light function illuminates the outer half of the road lane more brightly. Adverse weather light is activated when the windscreen wipers are operating constantly, specifically dimming individual LEDs in rainy and wet conditions. The two together ensure that oncoming traffic and the driver suffer less dazzle."

That strategy did leave people who did not opt for upgraded LEDs without any "inclement weather" lights, but not surprising a car company favors people who spend more on packages.

If you're just polling opinion, I've never used them being near the city. Even my high beams never kick on. I'd imagine the use case is very specific to where the driver lives.

[YuicyYumboYack]

Originally Posted by taek

Mercedes also went away from separate fog lights in the current generation. They said it was because the function of fog lights is now integrated into the advanced lighting (multibeam intelligent LED) package.



That strategy did leave people who did not opt for upgraded LEDs without any "inclement weather" lights, but not surprising a car company favors people who spend more on packages.

If you're just polling opinion, I've never used them being near the city. Even my high beams never kick on. I'd imagine the use case is very specific to where the driver lives.

I prefer having fog lights on the x5 from an aesthetic perspective, but honestly, I don't think I've ever once used fog lights in my life. Wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

[omasou]

Fogs add light close up and to the sides.

I think some people confuse fog lights with driving lights.

This is very old but describes it well.

http://www.winktimber.com/vintageral...talog_1985.pdf

Reading the description in the table, it does appear adaptive headlights meet some of the utility provided by fogs.

I just wish BMW did a better job w/the front trim. The gap and mesh effect where the fog was looks like an afterthought. They should have made a new upside down L shaped trim to cover where the fog light was and a new extended mesh below it.

My in my first car (1984) I replaced the US spec headlights with Euro Cibies (the beam pattern we finally have now in the US, which lights the road and signs on right side of the road). On high, I had 400W of white light + another 110W from the fogs. I had to hide a switch so I could override the lows behavior b/c inspection laws stated they had to turn off w/highs.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by goobies818

I don't understand why we don't have the rear fog lights…they're very helpful seeing cars when it's raining and everyone is zooming on the highway where there's just so much mist being kicked up

this and rear DRLs (was hoping to code the latter)

[mar_carol]

Originally Posted by jps3b

Does anyone really think this is a big deal? Is there anyone out there that use their fog lights on a regular basis?

I love how they look, and was a little bummed that they're not available on the 2022 X5, but it didn't stop me from purchasing one anyway. I did actually use them on my prior vehicle which was a Toyota Highlander...but again, it was only for the aesthetics...there have only been a few times in all my years of driving where I actually used fog lights for their actual purpose. I hope this helps.

[maczrool]

I’m still deciding whether to attempt a retrofit. Just got my M50i and feel it cheapens the look without them.

[Chick Webb]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

The major use case for fog lights is when driving in rural, pitch black situations or in urban situations where you are unfamiliar with your surroundings and want to shine light on the surrounding area (to avoid a ditch, pot hole, animals)

I thought the point of mounting them down low was to provide some additional illumination so you can see the "fog line" and center line, since you get so much glare from the regular headlights and can't see very far ahead in thick fog.

And, that CA Central Valley Thule Fog == No Bueno!

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by evodz

just loved the pic Auricom used to prove his point, leaves little room for doubt

I always wondered why the F85/86 did come with fog lights. BMW M division used to always say that they needed all the opening they could get in the front fascia for cooling purposes.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by jps3b

Is there anyone out there that use their fog lights on a regular basis?

Fog lights are meant to be used in fog. Outside of a couple of places on earth I can't think of where one would use a fog light on a "regular basis"... More so is the fact that people will probably use their fog lights more often than full potential of their M50i/X5M or removing the limiters on their X5 in general... so what exactly are we discussing here?

Originally Posted by tfresh47

M cars don't come with fog lights, never have

100% False.

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

I always wondered why the F85/86 did come with fog lights.

In ROW markets they were spotlights when equipped with NVA... I dont recall but I believe they served as cornering lights in addition to fog lights when not equipped with NVA.

[goobies818]

Originally Posted by 3Wagon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phD1zuIl5Q4

Because idiots really misuse them badly and they can be super annoying. (yes video is UK, but it's the same everywhere. US spec Audi's seem to be the most annoying IMO.

Well…yeah.

But if everything we have had to take into account the lowest common denominators in society…the world would be pretty boring