Changing Foglights/Driving Lights

[jubhi]

Hi Guys,

I want to change my current foglights/driving lights to a blue effect style that match my xenons. There is plenty of choice on the web of different makes to go for. Anyone recommend a particular make/brand?

Also, to actually change these I'm assuming the bottom engine cover would need to be removed to gain access as there is not enough space to do it from the top. So my question is has anyone done this and is it a big job to remove the bottom engine cover?

Is it something I should attempt myself or get a professional to do it. I'm quite hands on normally but worried that I may damage or break something.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jubhi]

Anyone with any information please?

 

[dava]

It's early you know, I used the Philips white light, as recommended by Autoocar mag, noticible difference.

 

[Rory]

Are you thinking of changing the whole unit, or just the bulbs?

 

[jubhi]

Are you thinking of changing the whole unit, or just the bulbs?

Just the bulbs mate.

I'm more interested in finding out how to remove the bottom enginer cover so if anyone knows that would be great.

Thanks.

 

[David Nock]

Yes, if it's the same as the 2004 W 209 Avantgarde.
You remove the panels which go inside the wheel arches, some fasteners are accessed from inside the arch, with the wheels turned to give clearance, some are under the bumper. They are those funny snap fastenings with a push-up middle like a plastic peg.
Then the complete fog light is fixed with 2 vertical screws - use a nut spinner from below.
Do not disturb the horizontal screw reached through the grille at the side of the foglight; that's for alighnment with a long screwdriver.
If you're reasonably hands on you won't break anything.

 

[hawk20]

I hope you are not one of the many who do not seem to realise it is illegal to drive on foglights when there is no fog! My only question would be is it really worth doing just to use in poor visibility?

 

[jubhi]

I hope you are not one of the many who do not seem to realise it is illegal to drive on foglights when there is no fog! My only question would be is it really worth doing just to use in poor visibility?

Hawk,

No I'm not one of those, it's just that I have the adaptive lighting (turning lights) on mine and so it would be nice if the fogs actually match the colour of my xenons when they come on instead of the standard yellowish colour.

Thanks.

 

[hawk20]

Hawk,

No I'm not one of those, it's just that I have the adaptive lighting (turning lights) on mine and so it would be nice if the fogs actually match the colour of my xenons when they come on instead of the standard yellowish colour.

Thanks.

Fine. Good luck with your search.

 

[jubhi]

Yes, if it's the same as the 2004 W 209 Avantgarde.
You remove the panels which go inside the wheel arches, some fasteners are accessed from inside the arch, with the wheels turned to give clearance, some are under the bumper. They are those funny snap fastenings with a push-up middle like a plastic peg.
Then the complete fog light is fixed with 2 vertical screws - use a nut spinner from below.
Do not disturb the horizontal screw reached through the grille at the side of the foglight; that's for alighnment with a long screwdriver.
If you're reasonably hands on you won't break anything.

Thanks Dave,

I will give that a try once I get the right lights

 

[airbag]

I do not have a merc at this moment so was wondering... are those low front lamps only fog lights, rather than driving lamps?
Can you not have them on separatly, or are they integrated with the parking/driving/fog switch?

 

[hawk20]

I do not have a merc at this moment so was wondering... are those low front lamps only fog lights, rather than driving lamps?
Can you not have them on separatly, or are they integrated with the parking/driving/fog switch?

Even if you can put them on separately, you should never drive on foglamps unless it is poor visibility. It's in the Highway Code.

It is spreading as a habit though, to drive on dipped beam and foglights. Perhaps we should all flash them like mad.

 

[whitenemesis]

Interestly "cornering" lights come on like headlamps but go out slowly over 3sec, a slow fade.

 

[airbag]

Even if you can put them on separately, you should never drive on foglamps unless it is poor visibility. It's in the Highway Code.

It is spreading as a habit though, to drive on dipped beam and foglights. Perhaps we should all flash them like mad.

If the fog lamps are a nuisance and cause too much light to oncoming drivers.. then I agree they should only be used in the fog.
...
But if they simply light up more of the road, without shining in other drivers eyes... surely they are a good thing to use when driving normally?

 

[David Nock]

I do not have a merc at this moment so was wondering... are those low front lamps only fog lights, rather than driving lamps?
Can you not have them on separatly, or are they integrated with the parking/driving/fog switch?

On the CLK they're an extension of the main lights, so light switch has to be in main/dip beam mode first, then pull out the switch for fog, i.e. 'driving lights'. Very good on winding country lanes on a dark night.
Strangely, pull the switch again and the rear fog light comes on. That means you have to have the front fogs on before you can turn on the back one. Odd.

 

[hawk20]

If the fog lamps are a nuisance and cause too much light to oncoming drivers.. then I agree they should only be used in the fog.
...
But if they simply light up more of the road, without shining in other drivers eyes... surely they are a good thing to use when driving normally?

That is not what the Highway Code says. It is quite clear they should not be used except in bad visibility.

 

[Rory]

On the CLK they're an extension of the main lights, so light switch has to be in main/dip beam mode first, then pull out the switch for fog, i.e. 'driving lights'. Very good on winding country lanes on a dark night.

I'm fairly ambivalent about people driving with them on but they're fog lamps, not driving lamps, and it's illegal to use them except in reduced visibility.

I have had cars in the past where they were useful for lighting up the side of the road, but I find in my MB they make no useful difference - they only light up about 10ft in front of the car, so once you're going at more than about 4MPH there would be nothing you could do even if they did illuminate something you needed to avoid.

Strangely, pull the switch again and the rear fog light comes on. That means you have to have the front fogs on before you can turn on the back one. Odd.

It's not odd. If it's foggy enough to have your rear fog on then you certainly should have the fronts on - they make the car easier to spot for other drivers pulling out of side roads etc. I live in a village which is in a bit of a dip, and it's noticeable when trying to pull on to the main road on a foggy day that I can see front fogs marginally before I see the same vehicles headlights.

 

[David Nock]

It's not odd. If it's foggy enough to have your rear fog on then you certainly should have the fronts on - they make the car easier to spot for other drivers pulling out of side roads etc. I live in a village which is in a bit of a dip, and it's noticeable when trying to pull on to the main road on a foggy day that I can see front fogs marginally before I see the same vehicles headlights.

Motorway driving in heavy spray. I don't always want the front fogs on but the car says I've got to. That's odd....in your village under foggy conditions I would have told the car to put the front fogs on.
Also I have the auto lighting turned off because I find it very odd that the car tries to tell me what to do..... usually the car's wrong and does things at the wrong times. I don't want dipped beam in a multistorey for example.

 

[Rory]

Motorway driving in heavy spray.

Perfect example of misue of rear fogs.

Pls don't put your rear fogs on in motorway spray - it's dazzling for the following vehicles and makes brake lights harder to spot. No-one is going to run into the back of you when you're travelling at speed, and if you have to stop then, unlike fog, the spray stops too.

 

[euclidb2]

Lets face the fog lamps are really driving lamps and are only useful for lighting the sides of the road up,which i too find helpful on unlit lanes,but whatever happened to proper foglamps with the amber lens?