Foglights to Spotlights

NickDE · Post by **NickDE** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 7:58 pm

Has anyone converted the foglights into spotlights/driving lights ? I have no use for the puddle of light around the front of the car, I want a brighter beam of light out the front for dark country A roads.
This is on my Z4C, so post-facelift.
Any ideas or tips ?

Buckley06 · Post by **Buckley06** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 8:04 pm

NickDE wrote: ↑Sat Dec 08, 2018 7:58 pm Has anyone converted the foglights into spotlights/driving lights ? I have no use for the puddle of light around the front of the car, I want a brighter beam of light out the front for dark country A roads.
This is on my Z4C, so post-facelift.
Any ideas or tips ?

I will be watching this post, I to need more light.

Jl-c · Post by **Jl-c** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 8:30 pm

remember technically fogs below bumper, spots/driving lamps above bumper, but they will be very picky if you are stopped for it.

noiseboy72 · Post by **noiseboy72** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:03 pm

I don't think you would ever be able to do much with them, as they are mounted so low down. I've converted mine to daylight running lamps with LED bulbs and fitted Osram Nightbreakers to the main and dipped beam. I actually feel like I can see more than 40' down the road now!!

I guess you could cut out the bumper and fit some larger lamps into their place. Maybe Hella Jumbo320s or similar. These will give a lot more punch but I think it will look a little strange...

NickDE · Post by **NickDE** » Sun Dec 09, 2018 8:18 pm

I'm already running Philips X-Treme in the main and dipped beam which was a huge improvement. I'm now looking for the lighthouse effect for when I'm running on a country A road with no other cars for at leat two miles. My old Spitfire had 100W main beams and 200W spotlights and did the trick.
I'm also looking at some of the LED light bar thingies on eBay for off-roaders, to fit in the middle of the bottom grill. I'm not convinced this is a good idea though....

NickDE · Post by **NickDE** » Sun Dec 09, 2018 8:19 pm

Jl-c wrote: ↑Sat Dec 08, 2018 8:30 pm remember technically fogs below bumper, spots/driving lamps above bumper, but they will be very picky if you are stopped for it.

Hmm, the whole nose of a Z4 is bumper, how do you fit above it ?

NickDE · Post by **NickDE** » Wed Dec 26, 2018 8:37 pm

I haven't found a spotlight solution yet. But in the meantime decided it was time to do something to the foglights to help on dark country lanes

First remove the foil I was using to disguise the fog lights, as that will obviously limit their effectiveness !

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This showed how much condensation there was

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So I got the drill out and made some holes

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And bought some high power new bulbs

: IMG_5119.JPG (180.93 KiB) Viewed 1186 times

Whilst the old bulb was out, and the wife was out shopping, I used a bit of vacuum cleaner nozzle and her hair dryer to dry out the foglights

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Leaving clear foglights, with only very light corrosion inside

: IMG_5125.JPG (196.69 KiB) Viewed 1186 times

Once reassembled there was light !

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Clobber · Post by **Clobber** » Wed Dec 26, 2018 9:20 pm

Holy cow! Does this work for better lights????

NickDE · Post by **NickDE** » Fri Dec 28, 2018 10:56 pm

Clobber wrote: ↑Wed Dec 26, 2018 9:20 pm Holy cow! Does this work for better lights????

I got the chance to try them on a dark run down the A68 this evening. The fog lights are much brighter now, but have the fog light problem of just putting a pool of light around the front of the car. Good for tight corners, but not much benefit on fast straights.
More spot light work is being planned...

Doddsy · Post by **Doddsy** » Sat Dec 29, 2018 12:26 am

What about this solution behind the grills Nick? I’d imagine you’d have to drive down the back roads with the grills off for full effect and it would probably effect cooling somewhat perhaps

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NickDE · Post by **NickDE** » Sat Dec 29, 2018 12:37 am

Can I put blue flashing spots behind the grills ? That would be a good way to get the slow-mo's out of my way

Cooling worries me, so I don't want to block any grilles or vents. I had thought about a light bar but can't find anywhere to put one....

NickDE · Post by **NickDE** » Sun Jan 27, 2019 8:10 pm

The resurrected foglights still weren't giving me what I wanted.

So I drilled some more holes

: IMG_5146.JPG (244.26 KiB) Viewed 926 times

Bolted in brackets

: IMG_5150.JPG (234.72 KiB) Viewed 926 times

And fitted these spotlights

: IMG_5152.JPG (188.55 KiB) Viewed 926 times

After much headscratching and purchasing these
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Automoti ... 2749.l2649
and these
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-H11-H8-Ca ... 2749.l2649

Followed by two days building a wiring loom to supply the spotlights and a bit of Carly coding I now have Angel Eye DRLs that illuminate whenever the ignition is on

: IMG_5170.JPG (120.87 KiB) Viewed 926 times

The spotlights are wired to only come on with both main beam and foglights on. I'll post a photo once I get a chance to test them on a dark A68...

NickDE · Post by **NickDE** » Sat Feb 02, 2019 2:38 pm

This is how it looks with sidelights, angel eyes, dipped, main, fogs, and spots on

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NickDE · Post by **NickDE** » Sat Feb 02, 2019 2:45 pm

This is dipped beams. Not many bushes:

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Then main beams. More bushes appear:

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Then main beams plus foglights plus spotlights. Another bush appears out of the gloom:

: IMG_5224[1].JPG (122.97 KiB) Viewed 856 times

Total range of my lights has not increased, but the amount of light in the middle range is better, with a wider spread of good light (helping on open country curves and dips), and the light is whiter rather then a warm orange glow.

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