legal fog lights?

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Old Dec 23, 2012 | 12:39 AM
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keonigt's Avatar
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legal fog lights?

Hello my friends,

I am thinking about purchasing a 3000k HID kit for my fog lights on a 2013 WRX.

I was wondering if, in the state of Hawaii, it was illegal for any HID fog lights, or specifically 3000k?

Also I previously knew that HID headlights were illegal, are they still ilegal now?


Thank you guys
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 12:34 PM
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HID anything on cars not factory equipped as such is illegal. Adding to that, putting HIDs into foglights is outright a stupid idea. You're completely negating their intended function in doing that (in fact actually making them hinder your vision) and you're turning your car into a mobile road hazard.
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 01:04 PM
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Check your state laws.
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by pho_shizzle
Check your state laws.
It's federal law.
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 06:48 PM
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Okk thanks guys, I remembered I put HIDs into my 2002 pathfinder and it was pretty good looking and lit up the road good

Thanks for the info
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 07:45 PM
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At least do like 3000k so it stays yellow
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Brfatal
HID anything on cars not factory equipped as such is illegal. Adding to that, putting HIDs into foglights is outright a stupid idea. You're completely negating their intended function in doing that (in fact actually making them hinder your vision) and you're turning your car into a mobile road hazard.
I would have to disagree with it hindering your vision, turning your car into a mobile road hazard and it being a stupid idea.

Starting with hindering your vision, in Hawaii, Oahu more specifically we do not experience very much "fog" so by using fog lights, would then only increase visibility. Also a 6000 bulb would actually be beneficial because it picks up police patrol cars' reflective blue tape at a further distance than a halogen would.

As far as being a mobile road hazard, I partially do agree but that's only if they housing are poorly aligned. HID's in bucket style housing are a bad idea because halogen light bulbs themselves are not bright enough to emit usable light, hence the bucket housing. In fact it is the reflective action of the bucket that creates the light used. HID's on the other hand, DO produce enough light so by putting them in a bucket housing, the light output would be overwhelming for oncoming drivers as well as for those driving in front of you. And being that the OP is referring to fog lights and not driving lights is why I am not so against the idea. My solution would be to direct the fogs low so that they are not aiming at eye level for other drivers.

Lastly, increased visibility, whether it be in terms of road visibility or for spotting cops is always a good idea. After all, fog lights can be turned on and off at will.

Please take what I said with a grain of salt as this is primarily my opinion and has been formed after doing my share of research on the topic. I understand how HID's can seem obnoxious at times but not all are blinding when installed in bucket housings. Good luck with your modding and be safe!
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 08:54 PM
  #8  
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The problem is that you're viewing foglights as the same as axillary lighting, which they are not. Foglights are specifically designed to shine only a few feet in front of the car to light up the lane markers on either side of the car in incremental weather and fog to allow you to stay in your lane.

Since they are such short range, they don't need to be very bright since the light is generally being dispersed less. However foglights also don't have a cutoff either like your projector headlights. Putting a super bright bulb in such a small housing will produce a ridiculous amount of glare, which will be sent straight at the cars in front of you.

The short range nature of foglights often give you the illusion that your lighting is much improved, but by the time they light up something on the road themselves it's already too late to stop. If you truly want to improve your over all night time vision, what you want to do is improve your lighting down range. The best way to do this is by putting better optics in your headlight low beams. Installing good HID lenses in your headlights will send more light where it's best applied, further down the road.

Last edited by Brfatal; Dec 23, 2012 at 09:59 PM.
Old Dec 23, 2012 | 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Brfatal
The problem is that you're viewing foglights as the same as axillary lighting, which they are not. Foglights are specifically designed to shine only a few feet in front of the car to light up the lane markers on either side of the car in incremental weather and fog to allow you to stay in your lane.

Since they are such short range, they don't need to be very bright since the light is generally being dispersed less. However foglights also don't have a cutoff either like your projector headlights. Putting a super bright bulb in such a small housing will produce a ridiculous amount of glare, which will be sent straight at the cars in front of you.

The short range nature of foglights often give you the illusion that your lighting is much improved, but by the time they light up something on the road themselves it's already too late top stop. If you truly want to improve your over all night time vision, what you want to do is improve your lighting down range. The best way to do this is by putting better optics in your headlight low beams. Installing good HID lenses in your headlights will send more light where it's best applied, further down the road.
This or get extra driving lights that are meant to be used for off road/back road use only if you want to improve your vision. I hate when people are following behind me or driving in front of my with HID everything glaring every where. Halogen housing cars aren't as bad depending on car. But still, that extremely bright glaring light makes me want to punch them in the dick.
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