Date:         Sat, 22 Jan 2000 11:10:10 -0700
Reply-To:     Kent Christensen <lkchris@USWEST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kent Christensen <lkchris@USWEST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon grilles and lights
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

re:   If you are low on money, call up JC Whipme and buy their
cheesiest, cheapest foglights (Ken)

Ken, I think you are using term "foglights" generically.  If what
folks want is broader, more filled-in light on low beams, this is the
way to go.  If they want to see farther on high beam, foglights are of
no help--it's "driving" lights that help there.  Most European auto
manufacturers--when they provide foglights as standard equipment--wire
them in a manner that they only illuminate with low headlight beams on
and are extinguished when headlights are switched to high or main
beams.  The "stock" inner lights I received with my SA grille are
certainly "driving" pattern, and I'll wire them to illumininate with
my high beams (no extra switch, but certainly another relay,
required).

My experience with true foglights used in actual fog (or falling
snow), despite my age, is quite limited since I live in New Mexico and
we hardly ever have any.  Basically, I think fog lights are a waste of
time since--given their stated purpose of controlling the light beam
downward and outward so as to not cause glare back into the driver's
eyes  from light reflected by the fog or snow--they hardly do this
anyway and you still have to slow down and using foglights can't get
you more than 2 or 3 mph extra speed in these conditions anyway.
Nevertheless, I have a nice set of round Bosch Pilots I purchased on
Patch Barracks in Stuttgart installed on my bumper and mostly only use
them to "flash" idiots driving with foglights on when there is no fog
or snow (most everyone driving a BMW).  It usually accomplishes
nothing since foglights don't "flash" very effectively.  These lights
shine about 10 ft in front of the vehicle, like most foglights.  I
have them because they look kewl and I got to fill in the blank on my
dash with a genuine foglight switch.