Interesting thread.
One question: If I buy these on eBay or the OEM EU rear fog light kit, what do I need to do to have the rear fog lights connected to the front fog lights and not to the tail lights?
To me, fog lights (front and rear) should only be on via a switch, I don't want the rear on with the tail lights. Others may think differently.
Rear fog light is only on one side, never been on both! For left-hand-drive vehicles like in Germany, only left-rear fog light lit up almost as bright as brake light. When you see one single bright red rear light on the left and lower part of rear end, you know the rear fog light is on. For right-hand-drive vehicles like in UK and Japan, the rear fog is located at lower right rear end.you can wire them to the same circuit, or import the EDM switch that lets you turn on rear only, and front & rear
great, tell me something I didn't knowRear fog light is only on one side, never been on both! For left-hand-drive vehicles like in Germany, only left-rear fog light lit up almost as bright as brake light. When you see one single bright red rear light on the left and lower part of rear end, you know the rear fog light is on. For right-hand-drive vehicles like in UK and Japan, the rear fog is located at lower right rear end.
Even if you get OEM headlight switch with front and rear fog lights for US version CX-5, you still have problem to activate front and rear fog light indicators in the instrument cluster which are not only required by regulation outside the US, but also you have to relay on rear fog indicator to tell if it's on or not. The reason is rear fog switch is a toggle switch by regulation and can only be turned on after the front fog been turned on. The stalk switch position will always stays at front fog position and can't tell the rear fog is on or not by switch position.
Of course you also need to lay missing wire harness from front cabin to rear end for rear fog light with OEM headlight switch with front / rear fogs.
so add more lights to the back for "visibility" while losing retroreflectors in the process, meaning someone can't see your parked car well and rear ends your parked car? (rolleyes)I think it's more for looks and also just auxiliary lighting to let rear drivers know you're stopped, I've seen a couple of cars now on the road with lighted bumper lights, I have no issues with them blinding me, like Chris_Top_her said, they're no brighter than OEM regular running brake lights and they're aimed downwards.......I've also seen OEM Lexus RX, Audi A5, and Inifiniti EX with lighted bumper lights straight from the factory not modified by owners.....
someone did the same for the 1st gen CX-9, I plan to do this mod also....
so add more lights to the back for "visibility" while losing retroreflectors in the process, meaning someone can't see your parked car well and rear ends your parked car? (rolleyes)
the Lexus, etc cars have them because regulations requires backlit SIDE retroreflectors, they just happen to be also visible from the rear... they're not there to help others see you better from behind while you're driving down the road... that's what the tail lights are for!
so add more lights to the back for "visibility" while losing retroreflectors in the process, meaning someone can't see your parked car well and rear ends your parked car? (rolleyes)
the Lexus, etc cars have them because regulations requires backlit SIDE retroreflectors, they just happen to be also visible from the rear... they're not there to help others see you better from behind while you're driving down the road... that's what the tail lights are for!
whoa, chill man, if anything the Durango's are more blinding and distracting than two little lights on the bumpers that we're talking about.....and not sure what you meant by losing retro reflectors ? the original poster is using OEM Mazda parts that still reflect light
Looks like your gonna argue every thing about a rear fog light at this point. Good thing it's all moot here in the USA. If someome rear ends your parked car because they didn't see a reflector there is a much bigger issue, like did your forget to turn your headlights on..What if they rear end your parked car in fog? Then what's the excuse? It was the fogs fault because the reflecting ability was reduced by it! (uhm)
Although both are red with similar intensity, the way to distinguish the brake lights and rear fog light is rear fog light has a single light but the brake lights have two on both sides with a third high-mounted red light. I haven't seen any rear fog light from factory with two red lights that is against the regulation in EU. Yeah single rear fog light that located in the middle like the Mini is a money-saving and one-size-fit-all way to meet the regulation for both right-hand-traffic and left-hand-traffic countries.great, tell me something I didn't know
some cars do come with both rear fog lights or one that works for any country (middle of bumper), but the former is very rare.... rear fog lights are very bright as required by UN regulation and could be as bright as brake lights
Yes I did see friend's Lexus RX 350 has two lighted rear bumper lights from factory on the other night. The intensity is low like the taillights and they serve as part of the taillights.⋯ I've also seen OEM Lexus RX, Audi A5, and Inifiniti EX with lighted bumper lights straight from the factory not modified by owners.....
No in case of Lexus RX 350, the lens of those rear bumper lights, just like our CX-5, can't be visible from the side. Lexus make them lighted as part of taillight in US market simply is to show the distinctiveness for marketing. In other regions where the rear fog light is required, they will be served as rear fog on one of the locations. The rear side marker, or "backlit SIDE retroreflector" is build-in on the side of taillight unit, just like our CX-5's.⋯ the Lexus, etc cars have them because regulations requires backlit SIDE retroreflectors, they just happen to be also visible from the rear... they're not there to help others see you better from behind while you're driving down the road... that's what the tail lights are for!
Although both are red with similar intensity, the way to distinguish the brake lights and rear fog light is rear fog light has a single light but the brake lights have two on both sides with a third high-mounted red light. I haven't seen any rear fog light from factory with two red lights that is against the regulation in EU. Yeah single rear fog light that located in the middle like the Mini is a money-saving and one-size-fit-all way to meet the regulation for both right-hand-traffic and left-hand-traffic countries.
No in case of Lexus RX 350, the lens of those rear bumper lights, just like our CX-5, can't be visible from the side. Lexus make them lighted as part of taillight in US market simply is to show the distinctiveness for marketing. In other regions where the rear fog light is required, they will be served as rear fog on one of the locations. The rear side marker, or "backlit SIDE retroreflector" is build-in on the side of taillight unit, just like our CX-5's.
US DOT requires front amber side reflectors or "retroreflectors" with light starting in 1973; and rear red side retroreflectors with light starting in 1974. In addition, two rear-facing red retroreflectors are required with taillights since even earlier years. Those retroreflectors and lighted side markers are not required by any other regions in the world, hence car manufactures have to find a clever way to design different front and rear light housings for different regulations. Using rear bumper lights for rear-facing red retroreflectors for US market, and rear fog for other regions is just a simpler way for manufactures to meet different regulations.