Hello there and welcome to the BMW Car Club of America.

If you are a BMW CCA member, please log in and introduce yourself in our Member Introductions section.

2003 E39 fog lights

Discussion in 'E39 (1997-2003)' started by vhle, Nov 10, 2010.

    vhle guest

    Post Count: 7
    Likes Received:0
    I want to replace my fog lights any suggestions for a replacement?
    • Member

    John in VA

    Post Count: 624
    Likes Received:3
    • Member

    Dmarque

    Post Count: 112
    Likes Received:1
    Factory are moderately priced, look good and a new set is like a fresh detail job. In fact once you put them in you WILL detail your car from the inspiring look of having new fogs again!

    vhle guest

    Post Count: 7
    Likes Received:0
    I want to replace my fog lights with a more brighter and white bulb. Was wondering if I could just replace the bulb I have now with a PIAA Xtreme White Bulbs - H-8 or do I replace the whole fog light?
    • Member

    John in VA

    Post Count: 624
    Likes Received:3
    I don't know what model car and style of your fogs, but you can put a higher watt bulb in, or go with a whiter bulb as you suggested. Just get the proper bulb style/number.
    • Member

    Dmarque

    Post Count: 112
    Likes Received:1
    Ya, what would BMW know about selecting proper lighting for their cars?
    • Member

    bcweir

    Post Count: 1,280
    Likes Received:9
    Be very careful about putting in higher wattage bulbs

    Putting in bulbs with a wattage higher than 55 watts could melt your housings as well as possibly damage your electrical wiring, as the stock wires were probably not designed to handle that much power.

    One option you may want to take a look at are HiR bulbs. No that's not a typo. See the weblink for more details.

    http://hirheadlights.com/
    • Member

    John in VA

    Post Count: 624
    Likes Received:3
    Ya, no BMW owners have ever upgraded tires, suspension components, audio, engine management, lighting...
    ;)

    catbert guest

    Post Count: 10
    Likes Received:0
    At the risk of being flamed by the purists, I believe the OP has identified the same issue I've noticed. The xenon headlamps look great, but the driving lights look sadly yellow when they're used at the same time. It's not a good look and as a result, I don't use the driving lights. I know, I know: It's not about "the look".

    Catbert
    Mine: 2003 530i
    Daily Driver: Toyota Avalon
    Mrs. Catbert: 2003 325xit
    • Member

    MGarrison

    Post Count: 3,989
    Likes Received:259
    The simple answer to your question is that you don't have to replace your foglight housing, the bulbs are designed to be replaceable.

    The safest path is to replace with bulbs of the same wattage, or equivalent current draw, as stock, regardless of which brand and type of bulb. If you start upping the ante with wattages, the more above stock you go, the more you risk an issue, worst case scenario being a wiring short, possibly even from melting the wire insulation, resulting in a underhood fire or wiring meltdown. That's more likely if you did something like going to 110w bulbs (or higher) over the stock 55w, and swapping in higher amp fuses on the headlight circuits to handle the additional current draw, without changing the wiring.

    I have PIAA's on my E34 - happy w/ them, but the HIR's look intriguing.

    vhle guest

    Post Count: 7
    Likes Received:0
    thanx on the post above my man
    • Member

    CRKrieger

    Post Count: 1,616
    Likes Received:21
    Contact Daniel Stern Lighting.

    Nobody you can talk to knows automotive lighting better than he does.
    • Member

    svartorn

    Post Count: 19
    Likes Received:0
    Kind of like high pressure fuel pumps.
    • Member

    bcweir

    Post Count: 1,280
    Likes Received:9
    I'd say that's a moot statement....


    ...considering BMW doesn't MAKE either component.

    +1 on CR Krieger's statement on Daniel Stern Lighting. Anyone who's read his site would realize the man knows his stuff.
    • Member

    530fonz

    Post Count: 7
    Likes Received:0
    any suggestions for fog lamps? I'd like to replace them with some brighter whites.
    • Member

    blackknight530i

    Post Count: 1
    Likes Received:0
    Get these http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-HID-Kit-Slim-Ballast-35W-or-55W in H8 fitment in the range of 4300K-6000K color 35W. You will be quite happy with them. They are easy to install and look great. If you get tired of a particular color, a new pair of bulbs by themselves are only $30 including shipping. I've got the 6000K in mine and at night, I can leave my headlights off and still light up the road very well, just a bit lower cutoff than the headlights.

Share This Page