View Full Version : Fog light clarification...
ELX13 06-03-2003, 11:24 AM has anyone contacted rx8orders or their dealership regarding the 3 different fog light colors available? the GT package comes with fogs, of course, but you weren't able to choose the color.
i would think u should be able to choose your fog light color without incurring any extra costs on top of the cost of the GT package.
i'll e-mail rx8orders about this if none of you have done so already.
edit: by "3 different fog light colors" i mean the different colored lenses available: clear, blue tint and mulit-colored tint. see pic below
chikai 06-03-2003, 11:45 AM excuse my ignorance, but what are the three colors available? Was this a JDM option?
unfortunately by looking at the pictures in the brochures with the fog lights on, they appear to be amber in color...i'd MUCH rather have the clear ones to match the HID lights and i'm also planning on getting the clear corner lenses when an aftermarket comes out...
hopefully we can at least open them up and change the bulb residing in there...i can't see why not as fog light bulbs should be replaceable
ELX13 06-03-2003, 12:04 PM Originally posted by chikai
excuse my ignorance, but what are the three colors available? Was this a JDM option?
here u go chikai:
http://www.theresslers.com/images/rx8-access/rx8a-2-small.jpg
Elara 06-03-2003, 01:37 PM Originally posted by BRx8
unfortunately by looking at the pictures in the brochures with the fog lights on, they appear to be amber in color...i'd MUCH rather have the clear ones to match the HID lights and i'm also planning on getting the clear corner lenses when an aftermarket comes out...
hopefully we can at least open them up and change the bulb residing in there...i can't see why not as fog light bulbs should be replaceable
Ugh- amber fog lights would completely negate the purpose of fog lights- amber light isn't going to make fog visibility any easier. I hope you're mistaken on that.
And to reply to ELX13, the colored lights are an accessory- that's why they cost extra. They probably do cost a bit more to make to begin with, so even if they were an original option on the car, you would have had to pay more to get them. In the end, its 6 of one and half dozen of the other. I wouldn't bother RX-8 orders about it if I were you- it's not something that's going to change, and they can't do anything about it anyway. They aren't there to be a complaint department, rather, they are there to answer questions.
medcina 06-03-2003, 01:44 PM Originally posted by Elara
Ugh- amber fog lights would completely negate the purpose of fog lights- amber light isn't going to make fog visibility any easier. I hope you're mistaken on that.
And to reply to ELX13, the colored lights are an accessory- that's why they cost extra. They probably do cost a bit more to make to begin with, so even if they were an original option on the car, you would have had to pay more to get them. In the end, its 6 of one and half dozen of the other.
Actually, fog lights were originally amber in design because yellow light diffuses less than other colors and helps limit the amount of light that gets reflected back in fog. In contrast, blue light diffuses a lot and is terrible to use in fog.
Elara 06-03-2003, 01:48 PM Originally posted by medcina
Actually, fog lights were originally amber in design because yellow light diffuses less than other colors and helps limit the amount of light that gets reflected back in fog. In contrast, blue light diffuses a lot and is terrible to use in fog.
I didn't realize that- I've never seen amber fog lights on anything, so I just assumed that it would make it a lot harder to see sicne it's dimmer. Thanks!
gettingan8 06-03-2003, 01:58 PM The color of the light has little to do with its foul-weather performance. While yellow light will penetrate a little better in fog, the beam pattern is really the difference between a driving lamp and a fog lamp. A round-pattern yellow lamp will not work much better than a white lamp in bad weather, because it casts too much light upward to be reflected back into the rider's eyes. True fog lamps have a very wide, flat beam that does not cast any light up to be reflected back.
Toadman 06-03-2003, 01:59 PM LOL, you young pup Elara. You've never seen amber(yellow) foglight kits before?
medcina 06-03-2003, 02:03 PM Originally posted by gettingan8
The color of the light has little to do with its foul-weather performance. While yellow light will penetrate a little better in fog, the beam pattern is really the difference between a driving lamp and a fog lamp. A round-pattern yellow lamp will not work much better than a white lamp in bad weather, because it casts too much light upward to be reflected back into the rider's eyes. True fog lamps have a very wide, flat beam that does not cast any light up to be reflected back.
Agreed. But lets remember that we are talking about fog lamps and by definition, it should have (not necessarily will though) the wide beam pattern that you describe. All things being equal, yellow light is optimal for fog than white or blue.
medcina 06-03-2003, 02:04 PM Originally posted by Toadman
LOL, you young pup Elara. You've never seen amber(yellow) foglight kits before?
Lots of Lexus' come with amber fog lights. Might be an option, not sure. I see them all over the place here in the states.
chikai 06-03-2003, 02:16 PM I was just on the "Virtual RX-8 Garage"
http://www.mazda.co.jp/accessory/garage/rx-8/rx-8.html
and saw that there are three options in Japan. Without knowing any Japanese and looking at the pictures I see:
1) Yellow/Gold
2) Hyperwhite/Blue
3) Clear
I like the "Multi-tint" coating option as it reminds me of the old Catz XLO's I used to have. I bet those produce a "yellow" beam.
medcina 06-03-2003, 02:20 PM Originally posted by chikai
I was just on the "Virtual RX-8 Garage"
http://www.mazda.co.jp/accessory/garage/rx-8/rx-8.html
and saw that there are three options in Japan. Without knowing any Japanese and looking at the pictures I see:
1) Yellow/Gold
2) Hyperwhite/Blue
3) Clear
I like the "Multi-tint" coating option as it reminds me of the old Catz XLO's I used to have. I bet those produce a "yellow" beam.
Yeah, I noticed that too. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the U.S. spec cars come only with the clear lenses. From my experience, most U.S. buyers prefer the clear over the amber color and most manufacturers don't give an option for fog light color. Still, it would be nice to be able to choose.
ELX13 06-03-2003, 03:20 PM Originally posted by medcina
Yeah, I noticed that too. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the U.S. spec cars come only with the clear lenses. From my experience, most U.S. buyers prefer the clear over the amber color and most manufacturers don't give an option for fog light color. Still, it would be nice to be able to choose.
ahhh...medcina brings the thread back to my original point:
1) fogs are part of the GT package (which i ordered)
2) the fogs come in 3 different lens colors (clear, blue, and multi)
3) here's my confusion...if clear is standard in the GT package, why isn't it listed as only an accessory for the other packages? (ie. Fog Lights (Clear, standard with GT package)) similar to the way they specified that the "aluminum pedal set" is an accessory for the auto tranny.
this would make it clearer to me that i have to pay extra for the "color variant" versions if i want them. (which apparently is the case.)
make sense? (i guess it's just a matter of semantics.)
Originally posted by ELX13
ahhh...medcina brings the thread back to my original point:
1) fogs are part of the GT package (which i ordered)
2) the fogs come in 3 different lens colors (clear, blue, and multi)
3) here's my confusion...if clear is standard in the GT package, why isn't it listed as only an accessory for the other packages? (ie. Fog Lights (Clear, standard with GT package)) similar to the way they specified that the "aluminum pedal set" is an accessory for the auto tranny.
this would make it clearer to me that i have to pay extra for the "color variant" versions if i want them. (which apparently is the case.)
make sense? (i guess it's just a matter of semantics.)
the lens may be clear but the bulb emits an amber light...so if you have the HID headlights, you'll probably want the blue lens as it will produce a bright white light which would match the HID lights better...i think most people will, in the end, opt for the other colors as opposed to the "clear" lens
ELX13 06-03-2003, 03:46 PM Originally posted by BRx8
...so if you have the HID headlights, you'll probably want the blue lens as it will produce a bright white light which would match the HID lights better...
this is exactly what i plan to do...or at least swap the bulb. most likely both.
but again, this isn't the topic i'm trying to focus on. #3 in my previous post is all i'm really asking about.
and...elara, this isn't a complaint. it's a simple question that i think is the exact type of inquiry rx8orders is equipped to answer.
Elara 06-03-2003, 07:21 PM Originally posted by ELX13
this is exactly what i plan to do...or at least swap the bulb). most likely both.
but again, this isn't the topic i'm trying to focus on. #3 in my previous post is all i'm really asking about.
and...elara, this isn't a complaint. it's a simple question that i think is the exact type of inquiry rx8orders is equipped to answer.
Sorry I misunderstood- I'm getting tired of seeing everyone who has an issue with the car bitching to RX-8 orders -they really don't deserve all the abuse they're getting.
And no, Toadman and everyone else, I've never noticed yellow foglights. Every car I've had that had foglights (2 SHOs, 325i, the Boxster I borrowed) had white lights. And if they're on a lot of Lexuses, that might explain it. I usually ignore them.
TybeeRX-8 06-03-2003, 07:32 PM Originally posted by Elara
Sorry I misunderstood- I'm getting tired of seeing everyone who has an issue with the car bitching to RX-8 orders -they really don't deserve all the abuse they're getting.
And no, Toadman and everyone else, I've never noticed yellow foglights. Every car I've had that had foglights (2 SHOs, 325i, the Boxster I borrowed) had white lights. And if they're on a lot of Lexuses, that might explain it. I usually ignore them.
I've also had BMWs (early 80's) and Mercedes with amber fog lights. They are prevalent in Europe, not white or any other color.
TybeeRX-8 06-03-2003, 07:42 PM Originally posted by Elara
Sorry I misunderstood- I'm getting tired of seeing everyone who has an issue with the car bitching to RX-8 orders -they really don't deserve all the abuse they're getting.
And no, Toadman and everyone else, I've never noticed yellow foglights. Every car I've had that had foglights (2 SHOs, 325i, the Boxster I borrowed) had white lights. And if they're on a lot of Lexuses, that might explain it. I usually ignore them.
I've also had BMWs (early 80's) and Mercedes with amber fog lights. They are prevalent in Europe, not white or any other color.
IGOZMZM 06-03-2003, 10:44 PM Originally posted by ELX13
3) here's my confusion...if clear is standard in the GT package, why isn't it listed as only an accessory for the other packages? (ie. Fog Lights (Clear, standard with GT package)) similar to the way they specified that the "aluminum pedal set" is an accessory for the auto tranny.
this would make it clearer to me that i have to pay extra for the "color variant" versions if i want them. (which apparently is the case.)
make sense? (i guess it's just a matter of semantics.)
But then again the Fog Lights are included in every package (Sports, Touring, and GT), the only way to NOT get the fog lights is to order a base model of either the 6SP or AT. Please add this to your theory and re stat it. Makes it even wierder that they didn't say that in the brouchure. ;) :D
TerenceT 06-04-2003, 12:29 AM yellow is for contrast!!!!
how well the light pass thru the fog depends on the wavelength
i've heard some real fog lights are white, yet the penetrate the fog just as well
HOWEVER
having experienced the coastal fog in CA, i'll have to say yellow is the way to go because of the yellow light it cast, you will have a much better contrast of distant. (imagine fog so thick you can see past the hood)
as other has pointed out, Mercedes, bmw, used to have yellow fog lights, and now the Lexus. Personally, i've gone out of my way to get yellow fog for my wrx and old A4
Multi coating sort of emit yellow lights, how yellow, we'll have to wait but for me they are usually not yellow enough but just yellowish.
how well is blue in fog, i don't know but i am guessing now really cuz of the long wave length??
maybe the JDM guys can let us know how wide the "fog" lights are. They should be wide and short, illuminating the side plus right infront of the bumper. if you want it bright, go for some pencil beams "driving" lights.
A word of causion, since we are on the topic of fog lights. Rear fog light should only be on one side and that's the driver side, the purpose of the rear fog is so help the car behind you identify the driving lines on the road ONLY.
i have no idea about the 8's fog in the middle tho, maybe it's illegal in the states? i don't know. (civil code didn't mention rearward facing red light, only forward facing red and blue are illegal for civilians)
ELX13 06-04-2003, 10:24 AM Originally posted by IGOZMZM
But then again the Fog Lights are included in every package (Sports, Touring, and GT), the only way to NOT get the fog lights is to order a base model of either the 6SP or AT. Please add this to your theory and re stat it. Makes it even wierder that they didn't say that in the brouchure. ;) :D
DOH! :eek:
you're absolutely correct...good catch.
you're right...now it's even more confusing.
Farsyde 06-04-2003, 10:26 AM Originally posted by TerenceT
i have no idea about the 8's fog in the middle tho, maybe it's illegal in the states? i don't know. (civil code didn't mention rearward facing red light, only forward facing red and blue are illegal for civilians)
here in FL, blue lights are ALWAYS illegal if you can see the bulb or not. If you have a blue light on your car and the cops can see it, they can write you a ticket for it. Red is also illegal to shine forward and i'm pretty sure that green light bulbs cannot be seen (hence green undercar neons are ok). Also, red, amber, and white are the only colors allowed for the rear of the car.
neit_jnf 06-06-2003, 04:26 PM Here in PR, the blue lights are illegal as well. The cops can give you a ticket or citation for "trying to impersonate a cop" or something crazy like that.
Keeper 06-06-2003, 08:31 PM Originally posted by neit_jnf
Here in PR, the blue lights are illegal as well. The cops can give you a ticket or citation for "trying to impersonate a cop" or something crazy like that.
Most laws state that fog lights and headlights must be substantially white in color -- having a blue tint to the lights won't get you a ticket.
Now, having blue strobes, neons, or windshield washer nozzles will. But those things are not substantially white in color. Aside from the fact that anyone dumb enough to put those on their car out to get a ticket just for the sheer lack of taste... ;)
Farsyde 06-07-2003, 11:44 AM Originally posted by Keeper
Most laws state that fog lights and headlights must be substantially white in color -- having a blue tint to the lights won't get you a ticket.
Not true, this is actually left to the discretion of the officer. If you have those stupid little blue LED's in the headlight case to add a blue irridecsence (damn that can't be spelled right) you can get a ticket. But even bulbs that are too blue can get you a fine. I think the only safe way would be to look for bulbs that have a DOT certification on the side of the package. (yes i know DOT doesnt technically certify them but there's nothin else to go on)
Although this is Florida and outside of CA prolly have the most bitch ass cops this side of the US so that would explain it.
Racer X-8 06-07-2003, 08:36 PM Originally posted by Keeper
Most laws state that fog lights and headlights must be substantially white in color -- having a blue tint to the lights won't get you a ticket.
Now, having blue strobes, neons, or windshield washer nozzles will. But those things are not substantially white in color. Aside from the fact that anyone dumb enough to put those on their car out to get a ticket just for the sheer lack of taste... ;)
Windshield washer nozzles? Are they illuminated?
Keeper 06-07-2003, 10:28 PM Originally posted by Racer X-8
Windshield washer nozzles? Are they illuminated?
Yeah, you can buy windshield washer nozzles with colored leds in them. Dumbest thing I've ever seen. Right up there with the blinking led light tire caps and the led exhaust tip ... lol.
Farsyde 06-08-2003, 11:23 AM Originally posted by Keeper
Yeah, you can buy windshield washer nozzles with colored leds in them. Dumbest thing I've ever seen. Right up there with the blinking led light tire caps and the led exhaust tip ... lol.
hahaha. Hey go ask a honda ricer and he'll tell you those things add 50hp!!!
I'd also like to add the fire extinguisher to the useless items list.
Sputnik 06-08-2003, 04:58 PM Originally posted by Farsyde
I'd also like to add the fire extinguisher to the useless items list. While a chromed fire extinguisher strapped to the A-pillar is admittedly over the top, having a fire extinguisher in a car whose fuel system has been modified is definitely not "useless". I've known a couple of people who have completely lost cars due to fuel fires. While they obviously made a mistake with the fuel setup (whether they didn't connect something correctly, or they installed a FPR that increased the pressure past what the stock fuel system could handle, who knows), they were otherwise competent mechanics. Shit happens. And the more complex your modifications, the greater the odds of messing something up.
Heck, when the mechanics first installed the turbo kit in my Miata, there was a small fuel leak. They only found it because they checked for leaks very closely, and it took them a long time to find exactly where it was because it was such a small leak. But if it was an even smaller leak that they wouldn't have found looking over the car carefully when it was first started up...
---jps
Farsyde 06-09-2003, 09:38 AM yeah i understand the real importance of having one, but 99% of the cars i've seen with them are little honda rice boys. i wonder why that is?
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