In England you do not use your front or rear fog lights when it is not foggy – if you accidentally turn them on you will soon know it, as you annoy many other drivers who in turn will flash full beam headlights at you to remind you to correct your bad lighting.
Front fog lights should be designed very low to the ground and are only of benefit in VERY foggy conditions where the headlights are just creating glare, being reflected right back at you so that you see worse with them on than off – this is why on the MINI you can have front fog lights on with side lights; that is the best way to drive in really thick fog.
Rear fog lights are as bright as brake lights, and should be turned on in foggy conditions if there is a chance that an approaching driver behind you cannot see your less bright side lights. The brighter rear fog lights enable the approaching driver to see you earlier – once the car behind you is closer, you should out of courtesy switch off your rear fog lights to prevent dazzle (and to make it easier to recognize when you are braking).
In USA it appears that there are completely different rules. Front fog lights are often so high (especially on trucks) that they would be just as useless as headlights in heavy fog; rear fog lights are rare, except on European built cars.
Apparently there is a law that requires all Subaru drivers to have their front fog lights turned on all the time; this law is obeyed by many trucks and other vehicles too …
So while supplying the auto-up-windows MINI circuit to people this year, a number of buyers have asked if I can do auto-on front fog lights. Originally I refused, citing the “proper purpose” of front fog lights as described above.
But over time I am getting ever more frustrated by other cars with wrongly used lights, and I have come to a “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” position; and in that position when I got another request recently for auto-on front fog lights, I succumbed!
I had an email from Dave, saying he wanted the “track mode DSC” and “auto-on front fog lights” features, but did not care about auto-up windows! So I was able to sacrifice the circuitry normally used for the passenger side auto-up, and “steal” it to implement auto-on front fogs instead. I needed to do some other track cuts and a couple of extra components were also needed (and of course the PIC needed different programming):
After testing the modifications on GBMINI, I shipped this circuit earlier this week and today I received a very nice phone call from Dave, thanking me for the circuit – which works perfectly for him. Another happy customer 🙂
M&I / GBMINI 
Hanging out in MINI2 has made me realize the social differences across the atlantic in regard to fog lights.
Often you will find more cars with them on than not, especially if you consider its an extra cost option on many vehicles!
MOST however are not annoying, and are properly aimed to only illuminate a few feet of the road infront of and to the side of the car, and should not disturb a passing driver. Of course there are plenty improperly mounted as found on trucks, and others that are more like rally lights as on subarus. It would be nice if these people realized that their lights are disturbing and use them only as needed.
But honestly, with the number of people I see every day with no lights on in bad conditions or even at night, and the number that don’t use their blinkers, have blinding white taillights or signals, in comparison I have NO issue if they have fogs on.
I can also attest that on my Ford, turning on the headlights and fogs involved a twist while pulling on the knob. Pulling all the way turned on the fogs as well. It is HARDER to only pull part way and turn on only the headlights. Given the average driver out there, I’m sure many are too ignorant to know they even have them on. Bad ergonomic design is attributing to this as well.
And of course you should continue to be applauded for your personal customization!
Josh,
Thanks for the input – appreciated.
Totally agree that people with no lights, and also people with permanent high beams, are also frustrating.
Also as you say design is a factor, but driver education and common sense are needed too.
what about making the fog lights work with all the lights? i know it is not needed for real world driving most of the time, but it would be nice to have the option for photo shoots and midnight runs on the dragon that need all the light you can throw at it. just a fun option, not to be used all the time.
The only way to change the way the MINIs lighting works is to rewire the car, or reprogram the BC1.
The restriction that turns off front fogs when you select high beams is part of the BC1 programming.
The MINI circuit is a “non-invasive” way to alter the MINIs functionality, so it cannot do things that the MINI does not already do …
I have the driving lamps installed by the dealer. I DON’T turn on the driving lamps unless I am on a very dark road with nobody coming towards me. That said however, there is a button that requires you to manually push the button, which I somtimes forget. Is there a way to have that button turn itself on automatically when I turn on my headlamps? The driving lamps in turn only turn on when I activate the high-beams… So having the button on doesn’t immediately turn on the driving lamps. It would just be nice to not have to turn on the lights and then remember to turn on the other lights. Am I making sense?
Add to that, since I’ve yet to get the auto-up windows from you and the fact I am starting to want that feature more and more, is there a way to add this modification to the auto up circuit along with perhaps having the fogs turn on, like you wrote about?
Okay, I’m done. I’m annoying enough I am sure now. :o)
GSK,
Please see this picture of an “auto enable driving lights” circuit I designed recently.
I made a tidier version for a friend and he reports that it works perfectly for him.
Ian,
I think the front fogs on all the time trend is developing in the UK too. Odd to think that I was once stoped by the cops (mainly as an excuse to breathalise me) for having front fogs on when it wasn’t foggy. In my defence it was a badly lit village and I put them on to watch for animals running out in front of me. I put them off after the cop let me go though!
For the most part front fogs are the least annoying badly used light. The number of people I see with main beams on drives me mad..! Also the Euro cars that have front and rear fogs on the same switch – I bet most people with that think they’re just putting the fronts on because that’s all they can see without knowing that the rears are on too and dazzling the driver behind.
I also use my front fogs in non-fog; especially on the road where all the sewer excavating is going on, to get some chance to spot the wonderful sinkholes they leave behind 😦
id be interested in maybe three of those auto fog lights on
but as for mine is there a way to have fogs on without the headlights on too as i like to drive without headlights on but markers and fogs on,i dont want to disconnect the fogs and run a new switch and wiring to them…….please help me mister mini wiring god
thanks in advance ron
Ron,
You can run fog lights with only the side lights, and not the headlights – the MINI programming allows that.
When I first came to the states 5 years ago, I was shocked at the “anything goes” attitute, blatant disregard for any law on the highway and upkeep of cars here. E.g Driving with no licence plates, high beams on, no turn signals, ignoring road markings, merging on to a highway at 30mph or even stopping, running red lights, going before it gets green, no working lights, no bumpers, widespread drunk driving, driving with no licence or insurance.
I’ve seen so many amazing things on the road here that compared to them, keeping the Mini’s dimly lit “useless in fog” lights on is nothing.
Great mod Ian!
I like too know if someboby has the wiring diagram for the installation of original fog lamps for a Mini Cooper S type 2004.
Thanks a lot.
Matias Moletto.
Lima-Peru
The fog lights install on the Motoringfile DIY page has a wiring diagram – I don’t know any more than that.
Simple solution.
Remove the rear lights, cut the trace and wire the UNUSED and useless rear fog light. Now run a short jumper from the fog light to the brake light on each of the two lights.
Now, you have FIVE break lights!
If you wanted front fog lights, wire them yourself!