08-07-2011, 01:17 PM | #1 |
Private
8
Rep 63
Posts |
North American E84 rear fog light activation
Hi Everyone,
After reading an excellent and well documented post last night about how to do this mod on an E92 M3 (http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=531296) I thought I would give it a go on my E84 X1, as there clearly is a set of fog lamps in the rear tailgate. European X1's come with rear fog lamps, and a button to activate them located immediately below the front fog lamp button in the lighting cluster to the left of the steering wheel (on left-hand drive cars). They also come with a "Dynamic Brake Lights" feature which flashes the brake lights under heavy braking. In North America, we don't have rear fog lights, but these same lamps are used in the "Brake Force Display" feature. These "inner brake lamps" are activated in addition to the regular brake lamps under heavy braking (North American X1 Owner's manual p.82). So... can these "inner brake lamps" still be used as fog lamps? Yes they can. Note: This modification does not require you to purchase or manufacture any parts. Everything you require already comes with the car. The fog lamp button is present, and just needs to be enabled. And the fog lamp light is already present in your gauge cluster. I'm not going to walk you though every detailed step, as this has already been done numerous times online. The procedure is the same as the one mentioned above, with a couple of exceptions, which I will address below. 1. You must first remove the vent housing located above the lighting button cluster. I accomplished this using my finger tips and a pair of small needle-nosed pliers to grab a hidden part of the assembly. A trim tool would have made this an easier task. The vent housing uses metal spring retainers on three sides (top, left, bottom) and pops out nicely under gentle pressure. Be very careful not to accidentally remove the visible outer trim piece from the vent housing, as this also serves to retain the 5 louvred vent blades. Reinstalling these blades and the tiny metal strip that connects them together could be very finicky and is guaranteed to be a huge hassle. 2. Once the vent housing is removed, reach inside and downwards and locate the 4 plastic retaining clips (2 on the upper side and 2 on the lower side) that hold the lighting button assembly in place. Gently pressing these clips against the body of the assembly will cause it to release. Pull the button assembly inwards towards the front of the car, and then it can be passed through the open vent area. 3. The lighting button assembly is attached by the same electrical connector described in the other thread. Use the same procedure to disconnect it. 4. Use the same procedure to open the lighting button assembly, release the fog lamp button and trim off the plastic tabs. 5. Perform the same steps in reverse to reassemble everything. 6. Check your work: 7. Enjoy! This modification took me approximately 45 minutes, but would have been much shorter without having to reassemble the vent louvres, I mean, if I had made that mistake. IMPORTANT: Check your local laws concerning the use of the rear fog lights. Please use this feature responsibly. Do not abuse it or blind other drivers with it. DISCLAIMER: Use this DIY procedure at your own risk. I'm not responsible for any damage to your car. Last edited by iwantanx; 08-07-2011 at 01:32 PM.. |
08-07-2011, 02:39 PM | #2 |
Captain
15
Rep 633
Posts |
LOL. Hats off to you , sir. Well done you! Might try it. Thanks.
__________________
His: 2016 Jag F-Type 'S' Italian Racing Red
Hers: 2012 E84 Deep Sea Blue xDrive28i with HK, CA, PDC, Nav+Prem+Conv+Light Pkgs |
Appreciate
0
|
08-07-2011, 05:18 PM | #3 |
Mario
26
Rep 981
Posts |
Are rear fog lamps illegal in Canada? Why?
__________________
"Do or do not, there is no try!" - Master Yoda
"Always in motion is the future" - Master Yoda "Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is" - Master Yoda "There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living" - Nelson Mandela |
Appreciate
0
|
08-07-2011, 09:54 PM | #5 |
Private
8
Rep 63
Posts |
Rear fog lights are perfectly legal in Canada as far as I know, but uncommon enough that they can cause confusion when used. Drivers following a car with its rear fogs on tend to think that you are driving with your brake lights on. We really only see them on European-spec cars, and even then, you rarely see them in use.
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-08-2011, 04:14 AM | #6 | |
Mario
26
Rep 981
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
"Do or do not, there is no try!" - Master Yoda
"Always in motion is the future" - Master Yoda "Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is" - Master Yoda "There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living" - Nelson Mandela |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-08-2011, 04:42 AM | #7 |
X Eins in der Luft
14
Rep 81
Posts |
Interesting thing... I wonder if you can enable HDC and automatic driving lights control using the same button-knob modifications. However, I'd prefer electronic break locking on my 18i, heck I need that badly.
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-08-2011, 10:30 AM | #8 |
Enlisted Member
3
Rep 38
Posts |
Fog lights. Excellent when used in the fog.
For some reason in Australia people feel the need to use them when it gets dark. Or rains. Or just because they own a Hyundai Excel and don't seem to know what the switches are for. |
Appreciate
0
|
08-08-2011, 05:05 PM | #9 |
First Lieutenant
11
Rep 375
Posts |
bacchaebabe, trust me, EVERY BMW late-model driver in my hemisphere puts on fogs at night - even in summer - it's some sort of prestige thing! I haven't caught on yet!
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-15-2011, 08:39 AM | #10 |
Enlisted Member
3
Rep 38
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-30-2011, 11:58 PM | #11 |
New Member
1
Rep 18
Posts |
Thanks to you and BimmerM for those instructions on making the rear fog lights operable - took me about 1/2 hour and worked like a charm! I did start to pull off the vent bezel which, as you predicted screws up the louvers - but in so doing realized that the vent assembly does not have to come out. There is a panel - visible when the door is open (and shows up in your first picture to the left of the vent and light switch assemblies) - just gently pull it out - there is a tab that fits under the vent louver, that will expose the dashboard insides and the light switch can be easily reached and removed through that cover. Worked for me! Thanks again - great tips and easy to follow directions. Jack
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2011, 02:07 PM | #12 |
Private
3
Rep 72
Posts |
Do we get two fog lights in the UK? I've never actually stood behind with the lights on, however most other cars I've had have had only one at the rear. I must have a look.
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-09-2011, 11:47 PM | #13 |
Enlisted Member
0
Rep 41
Posts |
I did see a new Volvo (I think it was S40) with rear fog light on,here in Calgary.
I don't get it,why do they block this button for NA though ? Last edited by dinamo; 09-09-2011 at 11:57 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
09-28-2013, 09:42 AM | #14 |
Enlisted Member
3
Rep 32
Posts |
Wow!, thank you 'iwantanx', I followed the step by step instructions and now the rear fog light works on demand. That is a nice extra security feature that I use only out of the city.
Please do not hesitate to share other mod's ! |
Appreciate
0
|
09-28-2013, 12:48 PM | #15 |
Captain
33
Rep 671
Posts
Drives: '15 M4, '15 i3
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: RVA
|
Just finished! Took only a few mins. Thanks!
__________________
2002 X5 3.0i/man.*
2006 330i/man./Arktis/Grau* 2001 525i/step./Schiefergrün/Sandbeige* 2013 X1 xDrive35i Alpinweiß/Schwarz/M Sport/Dinan Stage 2 *retired |
Appreciate
0
|
09-30-2013, 06:41 PM | #18 | |
New Member
4
Rep 20
Posts |
Jack, are you referring to the entire "triangular" panel that tucks behind the weather stripping?
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-30-2013, 06:52 PM | #19 |
Likes Cars
0
Rep 56
Posts |
The alternative option to the "through-the-vent" route does indeed involve the roughly triangular panel that has a circular indention in the center of it.
Once you remove it you can see the back of the light switch module and removal is as simple as feeling for the clips, gently depressing them and easing the assembly out. |
Appreciate
0
|
09-30-2013, 07:11 PM | #20 | |
New Member
4
Rep 20
Posts |
Any tips on how to remove the triangular piece? Do you pry the weather stripping or do you try to remove it from the side closer to the vent/front of the dash?
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
09-30-2013, 08:40 PM | #21 | |
Likes Cars
0
Rep 56
Posts |
Quote:
And enter from the exposed side, not the trim side. I've attached a picture with little red lines indicating roughly where the clips are. They're fairly robust, but do pry gently. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-01-2013, 06:16 AM | #22 | |
New Member
4
Rep 20
Posts |
Thank you - I'll give it a shot tonight.
BTW: would you know about how many clips there are (6 based on the number of red lines you drew)? Quote:
Last edited by X3 for sale; 10-01-2013 at 06:58 AM.. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|