quikmp5

I just re-wired my foglights and realized how bad they light up the road. I've installed numerous aftermarket sets on many different cars and I'm wondering if the problem is our bulbs or the design of the housing.
If you've changed your bulbs, did it help a lot? Or should I quit complaining?
Your help would be appreciative!

dru

I quite agree. I have yet to change the bulbs (need to borrow a jack). Someone awhile back was mentioning the technique for aiming the fog lamps. I'm thinking that it might help. If you do a search on fog lights (or something like that) I'm sure it will turn up.

firefly

As far as I know the fogs are suppose to cast a wide but short beam pattern instead of a long and far one. It doesn't make much diff when the road is clear but try them in a foggy nite and you'll appreciate how good they light up the road.

arl240

Their aim is crap from the factory, since they (Mazda) know so many people will drive all the time with them on and probably never through inclimate weather. You can adjust the fogs aim on their stand underneath, there are two bolts that hold their aim.

Bumble_G

I don't ever recall being in a car that had good factory fog lights. Most of them are there for decoration. If the fogs were an option I would not have got em.

arl240

You know what would be cool? Take out the fog lights and put in some foghorns. I bet you could get some that would fit and holy sheiser would that blow (heh)

douggie

I would have to disagree. The ones on our P5s are "real" fog lights that do work when you're in foggy situations. If you look carefully, there's a shield to prevent direct light rays from shooting out from the top, so most of the light rays coming out the fog lights are reflected beams and are pretty dispersed. If you tried to drive in heavy fog with the high beams on (esp at night), u'll understand why this is impt.

Don't confuse driving lights with fog lights. They serve different purposes.

But yeah, i agree that the aim of those fog lights are pretty bad. I've adjusted mine up a little and it works great, giving me a little more light.

zmzmp5

All:

Okay, I have to chirp in on this one.

The P5 lights ARE real fog lights and are made by Koito, the same company that makes many lights in Japan including all of Acura's.

There are (2) things to do to improve these fog lights. I have done them both and what a hell of a difference.

1) Replace the stock H3 bulbs with Nokya Artic Whites

2) Via the back/bottom of the fog light, loosen up the bolts and push the fog light up (towards the hood). It will only move about 1/4". Tighten.

Do these two steps to both fog lights. Now, at night, the lights are projected approximately 25 feet (I've measured with a ruler) in front, about 12-13 feet depth and width about 20 feet as well.

Time do do both the first time (not doing it before) 30 minutes for both.

Enjoy!

- Brian

Tom Slick

this is a funny thread (to me). i posted the same problem a while back and everyone disagreed with me and said they thought the stockers were "great". i still think they suck when compared to hellas or any other of the aftermarket fogs i have installed. they illuminate a very small area just in front of the bumper, very little to the side. i'd aim them up a bit but they already light up the fog and give me worse vision then with them off. i'd replace them but i haven't found any replacements that will fit except for overpriced PIAAs. i might try some 55w amber bulbs and see if that helps at all.

sorry about the rant, it one of my only peaves about this great car.

arl240

Once I get off my *** I am going to pick up some amber fogs....I have just seen too many white and HID look-a-likes and I think the amber would really improve driving vision in crap.

I do think the stock fogs are fairly decent, they just need to be aimed properly. A fog shouldn't be illuminating too far in front or else it kicks glare up into everyone else's eyes.

MazdaSpeedRacer

Hehe, i dont get fog out here on the west coast. Its all looks for me ! I was thinking about gettin some overpriced PIAA's but i put PIAA's in to replace my yellow front turn signals, now the fogs and the turns are the same shade of off-white and my main headlights have the superwhite/blue look. So i think it looks hella sweet.

zuMP5

I'd have to say they work ok not great but ok...this past weekend we were driving through some wicked fog heading back to the Seattle area....well everyone else without fogs had trouble seeing I guess...because they were going like 20MPH and us in our P5 were going like 40MPH with no problems....by the way the fogs have this type of shield over them on the inside of the light...what I did was removed that shield and I'd have to say the light output is a little better...

douggie

Damn, have you stood in front of your car with the fogs on? That must be a lot of glare you're giving to other drivers! I've aimed my fogs a bit higher and already it's quite hard to stare right at the fogs at night!

Anyways, yeah, the fogs are OK, and I wouldn't go and replace them right now. But in the event that the lens get cracked by flying rocks (knock on wood), i'll find something better.

zuMP5

sorry Douggie...I tend not to stand in front of my car and stare at the lights...but I don't get other drivers flashing me after I did this...

[Cruzer]

well I can't compare to the MP3/MP5 fog lights. But when my ES
had the orginal fog lights I didn't like them either. I'm really happy
with the setup I have now. I installed PIAA 40 driving lights and
now I can see the road much better now.

Just my 2cents.

RC