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Newbie Question regarding Rear Fog Lamps.

Old Sep 2, 2010 | 12:28 PM
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2000 E430
Newbie Question regarding Rear Fog Lamps.

Just bought a 2000 E430 from my sister. Noticed right rear fog lamp not hooked up.
Why is that?
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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 01:00 PM
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apparently the configuration was set only to activate to mark the 'outside' or
traffic side of the vehicle. so for vehicles with right hand drive, the opposite
occurs, ie the RIGHT lens is wired as the rear fog while the left lens is deactivated
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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 04:23 PM
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I asked the same question with my previous car (Volvo s60r). The answer was because volvo believed the reason for not having both on is that they could be mistaken as brake lights.
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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 09:19 PM
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That's rather silly. I have. Land Rover with fog lamps front and back. Rover leaves all four on. Is there a work around to get the forth one on?
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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 09:38 PM
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I agree.

not sure, is there a socket in the right housing? I me regardless, if you REALLY wanted a right rear fog, you could do it by just adding your own bulb socket and hooking up the wires to the left rear fog bulb circuit.
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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 10:24 PM
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The fog

is for the car behind you overtaking you so they know you are in the right lane.in poor vis conditions.
Don't defeat the purpose that it was intended for.If you have both on people in the fog think the brakes are on.Rather smart....
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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 10:58 PM
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I guess in a unusual way it is rather smart. Then again, if your using your fog lamps you want to be seen. Having both on just makes you easier to see and
to me if I saw those in front of me I would be even more cautious. Thanks All.
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Old Sep 3, 2010 | 01:34 AM
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you know, i've read the justifications and logic behind the single fog rear, but
only now have i dwelled on this for more than a minute or so.

the presumption is that when driving in inclement weather conditions, especially
fog, one presumes that by seeing a single lit tail, that the overtaking driver
would move to the left of the displayed light.....as if that gave the driver a
thumbs up to pass to the left.

yet, there is a part of me that says that could be one the worst maneuvers to
make.

how many times have you seen a taillight out on a car?.....even the left tail?

suppose I were a motorcycle parked on the right shoulder with the single tail
lit (many motorcycles have parking light capability...no headlight...just rear
light lit)?

by presuming too much and passing on the left....trusting that the steady
red fog light cleared you to overtake on the left.....could be an invitation to
an accident.

so whether the rear fog were single....or double, it really doesn't serve as an
indicator to do anything but to proceed VERY CAUTIOUSLY, no matter which
side of the light you were passing. the single rear fog light, is of no use to
me as an indication insofar as which side I should be passing.
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Old Sep 3, 2010 | 12:39 PM
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Raymond. I'm with you. Being seen is more important overall.
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Old Sep 3, 2010 | 03:56 PM
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Drive like they

know how to drive at speed in Germany and you develop the logic.
People actually keep right at speed and you go quickly by with caution but quickly never the less.

I look for the single fog shining on the rear in the states on clear nights to determine the idiots that drive with their fog lights on.


Before I fly by them

Last edited by ohlord; Sep 3, 2010 at 04:08 PM.
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