E85 Facelift Fog Light Options

[Pstearns]

New owner here.

I have a 2006 E85 3.0si. The fog lights are rusted like normal.

Is there a quality replacement? I hear the original design is bad and continues to be bad.

Best “free” option to clean, scrape, and repaint with chrome inside?

I’m ok paying for new ones but if they simply kill themselves in a year I’d rather not.

Any good non-oem options?

Help please?

 

[jock156]

You can buy OEM blanking plates and lose the fog lights altogether

 

[darich]

I sourced a set of used ones and replaced them. Not perfect but significantly better than the ones I removed. I drilled 3 small holes in the bottom of the ones I fitted to reduce condensation and so far it's working well......long term still to be determined.

I also thought about the chrome paint interior and still have the original foglights but I couldn't split them. I read somewhere that someone dumped them on hot water and that softened the glue but I've not tried that yet.

 

[enuff_zed]

I painted the insides black and fitted DRL strips instead. You can use as fogs or wire to an ignition live as DRLs.
Cost me £4.39

 

[Pstearns]

Thank you both for the insight.

 

[Pstearns]

Looks like I’m going to buy a couple new replacements from Bimmerworld that will probably set me back about $220 US. I have a call into them that I expect to be returned sometime tomorrow asking if these are any better quality than the factory versions, or if they are simply the same under a different name. Once I saw the video on removing the front cover of my 2006 facelift version, this looks like a pretty straightforward job. This is a weekend sunny day car and I don’t anticipate ever seeing rain. That said, these units might be sealed in such a way that the heat pulls in moisture and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Thoughts?

 

[Pstearns]

Quick Question - I see there is a Hella LED conversion for the lamps but it comes with a warning that I may get a lamp malfunction warning due to the lower current draw. Has anyone experienced this with the 2006 models? I wasn't sure if they had lamp current draw technology or if that started later in life.

Thoughts?

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Lighting/Bulbs/Hella-LED-Conversion-Fog-Light-Bulbs-H7.html

 

[Cannon1891]

Pstearns, can't comment on the fog lights, but I changed my side lights to Led & main beam to H7 Led (Halfords own which are actually stamped Osram - approx £35)
I used this inline resistor from halfords on the 501 sidelight bulb and I stupidly put it only on one side (don't ask), and it worked fine where fitted. The one without it showed up as a bulb gone. The indicator light lit up as a result as a safety feature because it thinks the bulb is out.
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs/halfords-501-led-resistor-kit-719249.html.

The H7 for main beam work well with no issues. Modifying the bracket for the bulb was fiddly though and I done it with the lights removed.

 

[Zedebee]

You should be able to get Magneti Marelli OE fogs for significantly less than $100 each unless parts are much more expensive over there than over here. If you’re only using the car in good weather they should last a few years.

 

[Zulu4]

I simply put tinting film on mine which disguises the corrosion but leaves them useable.

 

[enuff_zed]

Pstearns, can't comment on the fog lights, but I changed my side lights to Led & main beam to H7 Led (Halfords own which are actually stamped Osram - approx £35)
I used this inline resistor from halfords on the 501 sidelight bulb and I stupidly put it only on one side (don't ask), and it worked fine where fitted. The one without it showed up as a bulb gone. The indicator light lit up as a result as a safety feature because it thinks the bulb is out.
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs/halfords-501-led-resistor-kit-719249.html.

The H7 for main beam work well with no issues. Modifying the bracket for the bulb was fiddly though and I done it with the lights removed.

If you find someone with Scanner 1.4 you can easily code out the bulb checks to get rid of the light on the dash

 

[Cannon1891]

Cheers enuff_zed,
I've had them back out and sorted thanks. However condensation on the drivers side that I can not work out, everything sealed, inlcuding access door, will have to have another go!