I went to Radio Shack before to pick up a pack of quick splices to do the fog light rewire on my Max tomorrow. I like the idea of having my fogs being able to function independently. The factory setup of only having them come on with the headlights really defeats the purpose of having them there.

However, I am not crazy about the look of my fogs. To me, the bulbs produce a dull, weak light, almost like that of a heat lamp at McDonald's.

While I would love to get a set of Lexus capsules, they don't go for cheap. Plus I would still have to bake my fogs open and install them myself. Not crazy about that idea.

An HID kit is the next logical option, but again, not very budget-friendly and I'd still be dealing with an installation that's above my skill level.

So that leaves changing the bulbs as the last option. While it may not have the most noticeable effect, I imagine some good bulbs will be a step up from the dull stock ones. The installation is simple enough for a moron like me to figure out, so this works best for myself and my wallet.

I see bulbs on eBay ranging in price from $9-20. I'd like a set of yellow bulbs, but realistically I don't think I can expect to get a nice golden yellow color similar to that of the Lexus capsules from something like this from just a bulb change (would these even work in our cars?):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Xenon...#ht_3796wt_935

A stock HID headlamp match would be my next preferred option. Or just anything a little whiter and brighter than the stock ones.

So what are you guys using? Anybody pick up a set that really knocked your socks off after you installed them? Let me know what you got and if you recommend it or not. Links are a plus. Pictures =

 

you may be able to run a silverstar type bulb. they make some blueish ones.

when i get my pass side lens fixed, im going to attempt to color match with the headlights instead of going yellow

 

The yellow bulbs would work, but they arent "xenon" or "hid" in terms of brightness. I had a pair of Luminics hyper white H3 bulbs, which is basically an ebay brand, they are not much brighter than stock, just the color is different. You have to remove a section of splash guards and remove the fog light to change the bulb, so you might as well just get an HID kit. Theres write ups round here in 5th gen stickies. Installation isnt hard at all, just make sure you mount the ballast well. You can get a HID kit from DDM Tuning for like $35 shipped now, price is the same to do JDM style or match color. It looks good to drive around dusk or on overcast days with just the fogs on, plus its actually functional.

sorry for the boat lol





pics brought to you by palm pre.

 

I have these and like them http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nokya...item588af767e3

 

Now those I like! They look great, nice white color but not blue. If there's one thing I'm trying to avoid here, it's the blue look. I'd be curious to see how they match up to the 02-03 stock HIDs. Not a bad price either. I definitely will be looking into these more. Thanks for posting the pictures.


Hmm... happen to have any pics of those that you wouldn't mind posting? Those could be promising. Can't beat them if they do the job well for that price.

 

Pick up a 4300k HID kit from DDM. Problem solved. It's worth the extra $10 and will last you 5x longer.

 

Ultra-white or bluish fog lights defeat the purpose of having fog lights at all. They increase the glare-back from fog.

Where I live, lifted trucks with blue HID fogs are fairly common, and the joke around here is that those people have more money than sense, especially when you see them showing off the blue fog lights when it is not foggy out.

So if you go that route just remember that a lot of the other drivers out there are thinking you are an idiot. Jus' saying.

Fogs should be soft white or amber/yellowish to be most effective, and brighter is not better. Same reason you don't turn your hi-beams on in the fog; it just bounces back at you.

 

Get a 35W 3000K HID kit from DDM.

 

I did a quick couple of searches on the HID kit option... $35 like you guys said from DDM Tuning. That is VERY enticing.

Are there any write-ups out there on the installation? I feel like this is something I would screw up very easily. I checked in the How-to sticky but of course the link was broken (as almost all of them in that thread are).

You guys may end up making me change my mind on the HID kit option here...

 

It comes with instructions (I think) and it really isn't that hard.. DDM is pretty good quality as well, been using my fog lights from them for over 2 years and still working great!

 

What temp bulbs are you running? If the yellows look good I think I might go with a 3000k kit.

I think you guys have me just about sold on this, especially if the kit is easy to install and will last for a good while like you said.

 

I'm using 6k, I wanted 3k after a while (and even bought bulbs but don't know where they went) but I think I'd like 6k better. 3k would look good if you did yellow fog lense IMO.

Changing bulbs or installing hids in fogs should be almost the same amount of difficulty. The only hard part was squeezing the wire inside the fog housing and closing that lid or whatever.

 

Are you running stock 4300k HIDs or 6000k bulbs in your headlights? I'd assume 6000k to match the fogs. You do make a good point though, it wouldn't be a big deal to switch the bulbs if the color wasn't really working out.

 

Running 6k headlights as well.

Here's what I found on google for some instructions:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5505065_repl...an-maxima.html

Here's what I found on this forum, some useful information in here if you haven't looked at that thread already:

http://forums.maxima.org/infiniti-i30-i35/609246-h3-fog-light-installation-few-thoughts.htmlhttp://forums.maxima.org/infiniti-i30-i35/609246-h3-fog-light-installation-few-thoughts.html

 

8k in my fogs luv it

 

I am ordering the hid fog kit from ddm tuning. Do I need the hid harness or error eliminator?

 

3000K FTW!!!

 

i helped a friend of mine install the same exact bulbs. which he thought were yellow. but when we turned them on they look a little brighter than the stock bulbs. i honestly do not recommend this brand if you want to go with yellow

 

I looked into it more and I'm leaning towards one of the 55w 6000k HID kits from DDM Tuning and getting matching D2R bulbs for the headlights. I looked into it more and the installation is easier than I thought it would be.

 

55W HIDs are a no go for fogs. They're just too small of a housing and you're gonna end up burning something (whether it be the reflectors or lenses). Stick with 35W and get matching D2R's and you're good.

 

for the foglight HID kit where did all the "foglight installers" here mount the ballast??

PS. on the photo above, are those scorpions all over your driveway...

 

I think most people interested in doing this are looking for purely a cosmetic solution to the difference in light between the headlights and foglights. Or if you're in clear driving conditions an HID foglight will provide better lighting than OEM.

 

Here are some pics to help you:

NOKYIA Yellow Bulbs:




Now a picture to compare yellow bulb with 3000K HID



3000K hid at night



3000K HID during the day:

 

^^^ Are those Nokya 2500k H3s ??

 

Yes, scorpions

I have since switched to 3k and I <3 them.

 

I think those were the 55W hyper yellow H3. They were like $25 or so from eBay.

The HID kit is also from eBay, +/- $80 and about 2Hr for the install. I ziptied the ballast to the chassis behind the bumper, and it's been there with no problem for a year.

 

Is there a preferred location to mount the ballast for HID fogs??