Front Fog Lights

[Smudger]

Not sure if it's just me, but lately I've seen cars that appear to have the front fog light come on on the side where the driver is steering, which then goes off once they straighten up. I though it was just some dodgy wiring to start but I've seen it more and more lately, particularly on Volkswagens. Is this a feature now, or just a batch of forked electronics in VWs?

[DanceswithUnix]

First saw it on a Mercedes, so I guess it is a German thing. I believe it only happens at low speed.

I thought there were quite strict rules on fog light activation which would make them illegally wired. Also the highway code says that foglights must only be used if visibility is under 100m: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-high...to-237#rule236

I presume these lights are not called foglights by the manufacturer to defeat these piffling legal matters

[peterb]

Wish more people would use their ordinary lights in low vis conditions. The number of cars and vans running with just side or no lights at all in mist is staggering.

[Guy]

Yeah, no idea on the technical name but the illuminate each side when turning. I guess to try and counter people not always indicating.

[Gerrard]

I had a hire car do the same thing; a Renault Capture I think. I only noticed it when I was parking the car, but it is by design and is a cheap way to get the "headlights" to "turn" as you turn the steering wheel. My Merc on the other hand has the whole bulb assembly on two pivots to allow it to turn and is also moves it up for full beam. It looks weird when they first turn on; they do a power up check and go cross eyed briefly!

[GoNz0]

seems to be a variant of adaptive lighting (cornering lights) , Dads BMW has the full kit, automatic main beam, adaptive lights that pivot like Gerrads and when turning above a certain angle at low speeds a little side light that only comes on when turning lights up to illuminate where you are going to turn, I guess it would only serve a purpose in an unlit road as it isn't that bright but a 2nd purpose would be to let others know you are there.
Newer models have a swiveling fog light so it must be this?

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/t...ng_lights.html

[walibe]

My skoda yeti (VW based obviously) doe this. They aren't particularly bright when they come on and they specifically light to the side. Not sure if its a separate bulb or the power reduced. On my model the xenons seem to move with the steering anyway so not amazingly useful but every VW based car seems to do it now.

[Gronich26]

Only noticed them on my Seat, after about a year, when I was doing a low speed maneuvre in the dark; not very useful...

[PorcupineTime]

Thought this was going to be about people driving with their fog lights on and was building up a head of steam, fortunately not.

This kind of thing came in with the DS, this seems to be just a cheaper way to do swiveling headlights, as said above. I prefer the lights under the side mirrors which light up the keyholes, that seems more useful to me.

[walibe]

Thought this was going to be about people driving with their fog lights on and was building up a head of steam, fortunately not.

This kind of thing came in with the DS, this seems to be just a cheaper way to do swiveling headlights, as said above. I prefer the lights under the side mirrors which light up the keyholes, that seems more useful to me.

Does anyone actually use the key hoe now days? These so called puddle lights in my mirrors just annoy and the fact the yeti turns its xenons off 30 seconds after I leave the car and as soon as I unlock it is also annoying. I need to read through the manual and find how to switch it off, I've only had it a few weeks.

[DanceswithUnix]

Does anyone actually use the key hoe now days?

I gather it is fairly common for people in older cars to find if their battery goes flat that the key holes are bunged up with dust & grime and don't actually work any more!

So no, I don't think anyone does.

[walibe]

I gather it is fairly common for people in older cars to find if their battery goes flat that the key holes are bunged up with dust & grime and don't actually work any more!

So no, I don't think anyone does.

I had a Renault Grand Scenic (I had many, many Renaults before nearly being bankrupted by them...) and I remember starting the car with the key card in the slot, reversing out the garage - getting out of the car and closing the drivers door to close the garage door. It was then I heard the car lock itself. Its never done this before, it normally does it when moving over a certain speed as an anti hi jack feature. The doors were locked. Went and got the spare key card and that wouldn't unlock as it as the car was started with the key card in the slot. No sign of any key holes on the car. Panic begins to sink in... lots of googling to find under a small tab on the passenger side door is a key lock and pulling the corner of the key card reveals a key! Yay!!!

I'd love to say that was the last Renault I ever owned but I can't .

[deejayburnout]

Wish more people would use their ordinary lights in low vis conditions. The number of cars and vans running with just side or no lights at all in mist is staggering.

I agree. The other annoying thing is those who have a blown light and keep driving. Does no one check there light before they drive? I got in my car 2 nights ago and immediately noticed my passenger light was out. Went straight to Halfords and fixed it.

Much better

[GoNz0]

I agree. The other annoying thing is those who have a blown light and keep driving. Does no one check there light before they drive? I got in my car 2 nights ago and immediately noticed my passenger light was out. Went straight to Halfords and fixed it.

Much better

I know I watch the wife go every morning and check her lights as she doesn't, but to be fair she does spot when a driving lamps out, my cars coming up to 18 years old and tells me when a lights failed apart from the sidelights and indicators (but they click faster when ones out)

[Tumble]

My Ford does that too. Turns both of em on when you're reversing with the lights on too. I can't turn it off

[GoNz0]

I put new brakes on the Wife's mini, took it out to do the rapid bed in method so it was ready for her to drive, after I got some bite in them I slapped on doing to 50-0 50-0 50-0 method and found the hazards come on if you do an emergency stop, then go off when you pull away. I think it has the pulsating 3rd brake light as well as I had just repaired that due to the solder giving up where the cable went into the LED cluster. Some fancy features coming in on the newer cars

My 6 year old went running into the house to "tell mummy" what we discovered, grassing lil expletive.