Enable Rear Fog lights (Free Mod)

[MCarRacr07]

Originally Posted by midlifecrisis

Every time I come up on a Audi, Volvo, or Merc with their rear fog lights on, all I can think is - what a #%&*@!^ idiot! Most of the time, they're blazing away even though there's not a hint of fog. It always looks like the car is possessed by electrical gremlins! They are truly one of the most misused features on most European cars in the U.S., and I'm happy that BMW doesn't deliver their cars with them.

Please, please, please - resist the temptation!

Rant over. Sorry if I offended those who think this is cool. Just my opinion, but I'm an old fart and everyone ignores me anyway.

At least it is a functional item.....not like some of the M3's tooling around with tow hooks on them..
S

[mrkbbd]

On RealOEM.com, the headlight switch has the same part # for Euro and US spec M3s and all yrs appear to be the same as well...am I looking at the wrong part?

[BimmerM]

Originally Posted by mrkbbd

On RealOEM.com, the headlight switch has the same part # for Euro and US spec M3s and all yrs appear to be the same as well...am I looking at the wrong part?

I've seen this on ECSTuning however it also has the button for front fog lights (which the M3 doesn't have). I guess you can always swap the button with your OEM switch.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E92-M3-...tch/ES1899562/

Either way, why spend $120 when you can do this for free.

I showed a co-worker and he did it on his 2008 sedan with lego blocks (that he took from his daughter, LOL). Works great and was free.

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRoaster

With your laptop?

I believe with the proper software, you can activate the brake force display lights. These are the same bulbs used as the rear fog lights.

[Mike Benvo]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRoaster

With your laptop?

Yeah, I can activate pretty much any light on the whole car with it.

Along with other stuff like fans, valves, etc..

These cars are very electronically sophisticated

[cmk227]

Originally Posted by Mike@Powerchip

Yeah, I can activate pretty much any light on the whole car with it.

Along with other stuff like fans, valves, etc..

These cars are very electronically sophisticated

More info....

[jeffnnj]

Looks like a really easy DIY but since I am totally mechanically inept and work at a BMW dealer, I had one of my mechanics do it for me. It took him all of about 10 minutes and it works flawlessly. Not sure of the brightness because I only saw it during daylight but I'm sure that it's more then enough. I think that this is most helpful when being tailgated, driving in front of someone who has their high beams on or in fog. Otherwise, it will remain off. Much thanks to the OP for the excellent suggestion.

[Alex1911]

I've never understood why rear fogs are not mandated here like elsewhere.

Because people are stupid... Look at all the clowns who drive in a storm with the hazards flashing away (which is illegal in my State).

[OC3]

Originally Posted by BimmerM

There's already a few threads on this topic already however I just wanted to share my own experience with the install.

On my 2011.5 M3 there's no need for the little lego block trick as the button extension is already in there. So technically this mod is FREE.

All you have to do is take the button out (I have my own DIY but there's a few good DIY's on M3Post already), then trim off the four little tabs that is preventing it from being functional. Once trimmed the button will work and function fine. The only thing is the button will not have the rear fog light icon as in the euro switch. I prefer it this way so the car still appears stock US spec.

Once done you will have working rear fog lights to help illuminate behind you as you back up or whereever your imagination takes you.

03/08/2011: Updated with Links
Here's my DIY specifically done on my 2011:
http://www.fastm.com/e92m3/rearfog.html

Here's links to other DIY's that was provided a few posts down by zhangzeyuandss:

Nice DIY. Does anybody have photo(s) of E90 tailights lit up that had this done? I don't think the narrow white backup lamps light up on E90's.

[mrkbbd]

Originally Posted by Alex1911

Because people are stupid... Look at all the clowns who drive in a storm with the hazards flashing away (which is illegal in my State).

Alex, I don't think it's illegal or stupid in FLA. When there is a heavy rain and you slow down to the point that you would be impeding the flow of traffic, you are obligated to turn on your hazards. Also, it makes sense to light up the car so others can see you when there is almost no visibility.

[stevenross]

Originally Posted by mrkbbd

Alex, I don't think it's illegal or stupid in FLA. When there is a heavy rain and you slow down to the point that you would be impeding the flow of traffic, you are obligated to turn on your hazards. Also, it makes sense to light up the car so others can see you when there is almost no visibility.

i think i am that clown.. i do that crap all of the time.. heavy rain.. hazards.. anyone else?

[Mike Benvo]

Just did the mod. Actually made both buttons work. I used electrical connectors, one facing down and the other one diagionally. It took a while to trim everything to the correct length. It was worth it, it has the press and feel of the factory buttons.

FYI, enabling the front fog light switch on the E90/E92 m3 doesn't do anything. I guess its because we don't have fogs. I thought it might turn the indicator on though.

Thanks for posting this DIY!!

[BimmerM]

>Mike@Powerchip: Cool, glad you found the DIY useful. Beats using the laptop. LOL. I've been following those coding threads also the last few months, very interesting stuff.

[Budge]

FYI, I did this mod using legos, and it worked. But the 3-dimple piece on the bottom lego sort of straddles the two contacts on the control board. At least in my car, this made the rear fog button functional, but there was no feedback when you pressed it.

I read on another DIY that someone used a pen cap glued to a base of stacked credit card pieces. I decided to give this a try. HUGE difference! The flat bottom of the credit card pieces presses evenly on the top of the two contacts, as it should. So you get that punch-in-bounce-back feedback that all the other buttons in your car have.

Maybe someone could try gluing a piece of credit card to the bottom of the lego pieces to get the same effect.

[Looper]

Originally Posted by Budge

FYI, I did this mod using legos, and it worked. But the 3-dimple piece on the bottom lego sort of straddles the two contacts on the control board. At least in my car, this made the rear fog button functional, but there was no feedback when you pressed it.

I read on another DIY that someone used a pen cap glued to a base of stacked credit card pieces. I decided to give this a try. HUGE difference! The flat bottom of the credit card pieces presses evenly on the top of the two contacts, as it should. So you get that punch-in-bounce-back feedback that all the other buttons in your car have.

Maybe someone could try gluing a piece of credit card to the bottom of the lego pieces to get the same effect.

If someone happens upon this thread knowing nothing about these cars their going to be horrified or be LTAO....... Were gluing pen caps, chunks of plastic and legos to our cars in an attempt to modify it, to funny! I guess I was lucky that mine came with the required parts.

[Biggerunn]

So this discussion has raised a couple of questions in my mind. The German switch that is shown in some of the threads has icons on both the upper and lower right-hand push switches. This would indicate both are functional. But I don't think the German M3 has front fogs either. So does only the lower switch function on the German M3? Is the German switch that is shown in the threads the one that is used on the 328/335, and that's why it's got icons on both switches? I went on the German BMW site, and they don't seem to have as many gallery pictures as we get in the States, but it looks like the German M3 uses the same iconless switch as we've got. The interior view they show has the steering wheel mostly in the way, so it's tough to reach too many conclusions, though. Of course, more pictures may be there, but my German isn't real sharp these days.

Anyone know exactly how the German model is configured? Any icons on the switches? Are both upper and lower functional, but only the lower one turns something on? Or does the German M3 come with both front and rear fogs?

[Sean91]

i just did this mod yesterday took me 20 mins really easy to do great diy instructions!

[Xcelrrate]

Just did the mod, working great.

[dman229]

BTW great write up. I did the mod on my '08 m3 MT It was very easy but It does not do anything. the dash indicator does not come on either. Anyone have any ideas ?

[SGMe90]

I did this with a measured piece of pen and placed a nickel, works perfect. Thanks for the info

[MMME30W]

Originally Posted by dman229

BTW great write up. I did the mod on my '08 m3 MT It was very easy but It does not do anything. the dash indicator does not come on either. Anyone have any ideas ?

Hm.

I'd be checking the fuse panel. I seem to recall someone saying their fuse was actually removed. Sorry cant help much further, but might be a thread to follow...?

[bsiciliano]

Just an FYI, if you do both buttons, and have the headlights on auto, by pushing non-fog light button, it will turn on the head lights.