Pretty much all of us now have Euro lighting of some sort. Most of those also have HID low beams in an assortment of rainbowy colors. Here's a great guide to adding a set of HID's to your fog lights for "completed" look to your lighting.

Please note: This guide was made using ZKW fog lights. Other brands may vary in design. Use your best judgment to apply this guide to other brands.

Tools Needed:
-Brain (stop now if you're lacking) :drool:
-7/8" hole saw cutter w/drill bit and ability to disassemble (shown below)
-Dremel tool with a large size grinding stone
-Super Glue
-Exacto knife
-Small bladed flat head screw driver
-Something to secure the cap while drilling

http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1564.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1564.JPG)

Start by removing the rear cap on the fog light.
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1559.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1559.JPG)http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1560.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1560.JPG)

Then remove the inner seal (screwdriver should easily remove it).
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1563.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1563.JPG)

Time to drill the rear cap. It just so happens that the Vanos removal tool fits the rear cap perfect and allows you to securely hold the cap while drilling! Use whatever keeps your hands safe and the cap perfectly still.
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1565.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1565.JPG)

Line up the bit in the middle of the two rear prongs, like so.
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1567.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1567.JPG)

Drill!
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1568.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1568.JPG)

Once you've drilled out everything, take a screw driver to the cap on the cap (haha). Pry up all around the cap being careful not to deform the plastic and only applying enough pressure to break the glue (easy to do).
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1569.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1569.JPG)http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1570.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1570.JPG)

Now take your dremel and knock down the inner chamber walls (dont mess with the border). You need to knock it down ~6mm or so.
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1571.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1571.JPG)

Then take your exacto knife and clean off all the gooped up melted plastic from dremeling. Mmmm clean!
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1572.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1572.JPG)

Do the same for the cap; exacto off any left over glue or plastic.
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1573.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1573.JPG)

The cap should fit back onto the base perfectly, it should also have a good size gap between the cap top and the base chamber tops, and the cap should also fit the xenon bulb gasket perfect.
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1574.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1574.JPG)http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1576.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1576.JPG)http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1577.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1577.JPG)

The installed gasket should also allow the cap to fit on the base perfectly snug. If it doesn't, you didn't knock the chamber walls down enough.
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1578.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1578.JPG)

Once everything fits perfect; remove the xenon bulb and gasket. Superglue the underside edges of the cap and outter edges of the base and join the two back together.
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1579.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1579.JPG)

Let dry for 10mins with pressure on top.

Now install your xenon bulb again and gently guide the gasket into the hollowed out chamber area. When you look into the cap, you should see the gasket perfectly flush in that chamber area. Also install the orange gasket you removed in the beginning.
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1582.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1582.JPG)

Ok, last haul of this DIY.

The clips of the ZKW (not sure on hella or replica) do not hold a xenon H1 bulb properly. The clips are notorious for popping to the side and letting the bulb come loose or not sit flush. You can see this here:
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1583.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1583.JPG)

To fix this you need to bend the retaining clips ever so slightly. (click to see the notes)
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1584.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1584.JPG)

Now the clips hold the bulb PERFECT and they also stay out of the way of the cap when installed onto the rear side of the fog light
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1587.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1587.JPG)

Install the modified cap onto the fog light and you got a sweet looking; OE grade setup!!!
http://msportparts.com/DIY/s_IMG_1588.JPG (http://msportparts.com/DIY/l_IMG_1588.JPG)

YES!
This is what im talking about.
Thanks for the good write up. Im sure it will be useful for members

YES!
This is what im talking about.
Thanks for the good write up. Im sure it will be useful for members


Bitte :D

A++! Another excellent writeup by Braymond! :thumbup: Now if I just had an HID kit for my fogs... :shifty

mods, sticky this bad boy

that is almost exactly what I did today, only thing Is i cut the male connectors off the end of the power for the ballast so i could solder them to the stock wires.

+1 great write up

this needs sticky status!

Great write-up with good pictures, thanks for taking the time to do this as it will help out hordes of newbs in the future.:D
this needs sticky status!

+2

Looks OEM and so much dam detail will make this install easy...Now if only I was home from school so I can install my 3000k kit only a couple more weeks:alright....finish the DIY!:D

thanks guys! I'll get some ballast wiring info up shortly... maybe now actually. :D

thanks guys! I'll get some ballast wiring info up shortly... maybe now actually. :D

Also, thanks for not mentioning any affiliations as it will save your thread from the verbal battles that are popping up in many other threads.

Also, thanks for not mentioning any affiliations as it will save your thread from the verbal battles that are popping up in many other threads.

WORD! :)

Sweet. Post some illuminated pics

Like this?

http://ipccomputers.org/car/IMG_0684.jpg

Nicely done. I was going to do an DYI myself as I just finished mine a few days ago, but you saved me the time.;)
I did mine on a set of OE Hella's. The procedure was pretty much the same, though I did do a few things differently. I might load up some pix of the different ways in which I went about it.

I actually took it one step beyond and took the lenses off to tint them amber and modify the cutoff and re-do the reflector chrome since it had pealed totally off one of the reflectors.

I actually took it one step beyond and took the lenses off to tint them amber and modify the cutoff and re-do the reflector chrome since it had pealed totally off one of the reflectors.

Please post pics!

Begging for night pics.....

I'm trying to finish my install, but I can't get the backing off my damn fog light to fix the shade thing that keeps the light from blinding people...

I swear it's like welded on... i let it sit under a hairdryer for 5 minutes today, and i still couldn't get it off.

i did this about 2 months ago, good diy

https://demo.paradigmhealth.com/m3/HIDs/Fog6K_HIDs%20056x.jpg

https://demo.paradigmhealth.com/m3/HIDs/Fog6K_HIDs%20058x.jpg

https://demo.paradigmhealth.com/m3/HIDs/Fog6K_HIDs%20059x.jpg

I'm trying to finish my install, but I can't get the backing off my damn fog light to fix the shade thing that keeps the light from blinding people...

I swear it's like welded on... i let it sit under a hairdryer for 5 minutes today, and i still couldn't get it off.

I used a butane torch to loosen the lens from silicone/epoxy on the housing. Heat up one side at a time w/out letting the flame touching the plastic. After 30 secs or so you can pry it lose with a putty knife. Repeat with the other three sides.
BTW, this was on a set of Hella's that have the rivets in the back of the housing. You can try drilling out the rivets as well.

I used a butane torch to loosen the lens from silicone/epoxy on the housing. Heat up one side at a time w/out letting the flame touching the plastic. After 30 secs or so you can pry it lose with a putty knife. Repeat with the other three sides.
BTW, this was on a set of Hella's that have the rivets in the back of the housing. You can try drilling out the rivets as well.

What kind of bulbs are you running in the fogs? or do u have lamin-x...You have the exact look im trying to achieve including the city lights

Eventough iv'e already done my fogs, Very nice writeup

What kind of bulbs are you running in the fogs? or do u have lamin-x...You have the exact look im trying to achieve including the city lights

I am running 5K fogs with the inner lens painted translucent amber.I did the same to my hi-beam lenses and am running amber bulbs to match the lens so the lens does not have to filter out to much color.

Braymond141, have you thought of cutting the cap by measuring down from the cap end to where the bridges end and taking a band saw, Dremel, etc to it?

Simply cutting it off, round off the hole, stick the grommet in and pat it on its a$$? That would save some time as well as being clean.

? That doesnt leave enough material to put the seal into place and it doesn't leave any ventilation or water resistance.

This guide is for people with common tools. Most people here are lucky to have a dremel tool, let alone a band saw (I dont even have one).

A dremel will make the cut fine, even a fine mini hacksaw would work. I really don't see it being a problem with the seal, your just moving it forward a 1/2" or so.

Silicone is your friend and some small holes in strategic places would work just fine.

If I get to do another set I will be going this route. It would also be an alternative to those who might have broken there cap trying to remove it (the most delicate part of the DYI) this would get them out of a huge jam.
Just my 2cents and your DYI.

Looks great!

A dremel will make the cut fine, even a fine mini hacksaw would work. I really don't see it being a problem with the seal, your just moving it forward a 1/2" or so.

Silicone is your friend and some small holes in strategic places would work just fine.

If I get to do another set I will be going this route. It would also be an alternative to those who might have broken there cap trying to remove it (the most delicate part of the DYI) this would get them out of a huge jam.
Just my 2cents and your DYI.

i've been messing with fogs for the past 3 years; never have i seen a broken cap.

not saying youre wrong; just saying...

Hey Braymond anyway you can do the follow up? Sort of explaining how to wire it up to existing wire/plugs?

How do the ballasts attach to the OEM wires?

what will i need to make it work?

Thanks

I saved the oem connection on the cap to make an adapter piece between 9006 hid plug and and the fog light wire

very nice write up man, great pics, and an awesome final product!

Just FYI, the back of the DDM fog lights screw off so there is no need for a dremel.;)

HardcoreM; I'll add the wiring to the guide tomorrow.

Thanks a lot braymond, been a lot of help.

Just FYI, the back of the DDM fog lights screw off so there is no need for a dremel.;)

Actually you still need to dremel. This is a clean install guide, not a hackjob install guide. :)

I've done both OE fogs and most of the reps like this. ;)

http://ipccomputers.org/Bfc/s_IMG_1964.JPG (http://ipccomputers.org/Bfc/l_IMG_1964.JPG)

Waiting on you for the wiring guide, Braymond. :eatpop:

Sacretis

Hey Brett, would you mind posting some info on the best way(s) to connect the HIDs to the stock foglight wiring? How did you wire yours up?

Hey Brett, would you mind posting some info on the best way(s) to connect the HIDs to the stock foglight wiring? How did you wire yours up?

I cut the stock connectors off, twisted the wires together and then electrical taped it up clean. Essentially converted the stock connectors to 9006. I did the same thing on my mom 540i when we upgraded her from the old style sport bumper (fogs in h7 i think) to the new Mtec bumper w 9006 fogs.

If I ever need to go back to stock, i'll buy new connectors at the dealer (cheap) and wire it back up nicely again.

I finally have time today to work on MY car... maybe I can finish this guide :shifty

I cut the stock connectors off, twisted the wires together and then electrical taped it up clean. Essentially converted the stock connectors to 9006. I did the same thing on my mom 540i when we upgraded her from the old style sport bumper (fogs in h7 i think) to the new Mtec bumper w 9006 fogs.

If I ever need to go back to stock, i'll buy new connectors at the dealer (cheap) and wire it back up nicely again.

I finally have time today to work on MY car... maybe I can finish this guide :shifty

Oh ok, I think I see what you did there. :shifty I just saw your post about that in that other thread too. So you bought 9006 connectors since they match up to the ballast for power going in, and put them in place of the stock, white foglight connector. So your ballast becomes PNP, and the bulb wiring is untouched so they are also PNP, and the only real wiring you have to do is wiring up the 9006 connector. That right?

, and the only real wiring you have to do is wiring up the 9006 connector. That right?

Essentially. Although your HID kit should come with 9006 harness.

Ok, couple more questions..

1) Did you have to bump up the foglight fuses when going from the stock halogens to HIDs?

2) Did you leave the cutoff thingy inside of the foglight in place? If so, did the HID bulbs fit all the way in the fogs ok with that piece in there?

3) High beams... did you wire them to up so that the fogs stay on with the high beams? As long as the fogs stay on with the flash-to-pass feature I will just leave that alone, as I hardly ever use the high beams continuously, I do however use the flash-to-pass somewhat often. Wouldn't want the HIDs in the fogs to be flashing on/off w/ the high beams.

wiring I made my own adapter wire so I can return to stock easily. cut out the plug at the end of the cap and wire it to a male 9006 plug and silicon and shrink the eposed solder and wire.

1. havent yet, the pin out shows 2 fuses in my box relating to fogs (not sure which is which, also one could be for rear fogs even thou we dont have the option. If I remember right right now I have 20a and a 5a in there now i think. I have not changed them if one blows I will go up 5a. not sure if this is safe or what else is on the circuit but this is my plan.) I have 50w 4500k in mine. No problems for a week now.
2.I did not mess with internals of my zkw fogs
3.no I will never need high beams with txs retrofit

Ok, couple more questions..

1) Did you have to bump up the foglight fuses when going from the stock halogens to HIDs?

2) Did you leave the cutoff thingy inside of the foglight in place? If so, did the HID bulbs fit all the way in the fogs ok with that piece in there?

3) High beams... did you wire them to up so that the fogs stay on with the high beams? As long as the fogs stay on with the flash-to-pass feature I will just leave that alone, as I hardly ever use the high beams continuously, I do however use the flash-to-pass somewhat often. Wouldn't want the HIDs in the fogs to be flashing on/off w/ the high beams.

1) No, but you can if you're popping them

2) Yes, everything about the foglight was left alone except for bending the holders. They fit fine.

3) There are no proper guides for fogs on while highs are on. The current guide out is complete and utter rats nest crap. Use at your own risk, but I won't. I use my highs a lot so I turn off my fogs when I do that to prevent the fogs from on/off/on/off too much.

1. havent yet, the pin out shows 2 fuses in my box relating to fogs (not sure which is which, also one could be for rear fogs even thou we dont have the option. If I remember right right now I have 20a and a 5a in there now i think. I have not changed them if one blows I will go up 5a. not sure if this is safe or what else is on the circuit but this is my plan.) I have 50w 4500k in mine. No problems for a week now.
2.I did not mess with internals of my zkw fogs
3.no I will never need high beams with txs retrofit

:confused

1) No, but you can if you're popping them

2) Yes, everything about the foglight was left alone except for bending the holders. They fit fine.

3) There are no proper guides for fogs on while highs are on. The current guide out is complete and utter rats nest crap. Use at your own risk, but I won't. I use my highs a lot so I turn off my fogs when I do that to prevent the fogs from on/off/on/off too much.

Cool, thanks Brett. I think I know what guide you are talking about, it did seem a little iffy, and the guy who wrote it up didn't sound like he totally knew what he was doing.. Damn, I keep forgetting to check... when you flash the high beams by pulling the stalk towards you, do the fogs go out? Or is that only when you push the stalk away from you to turn them on completely? I'm too lazy to walk downstairs and go check.. :shifty

Anytime the high beams are on the fogs switch off. Sucks because sometimes I need to flick a flash and I do have the fogs on...

Anytime the high beams are on the fogs switch off. Sucks because sometimes I need to flick a flash and I do have the fogs on...

I'm sure there's a way to rewire the fogs to stay on with the high beams. You can figure it out, Brett!

Which brands of aftermarket fogs have you done, Brett? (or anyone else that has done this on aftermarket fogs) Did you have to do anything differently for the reps than what you wrote in your DIY?

I did the reps carried by Umnitza. I think all the vendors have the same ones.

It's pretty much the same, except the part of the cap you pop off can be removed by screws. The mounts for the screws have to be deleted too and the cap superglued back onto the main cap (just like this guide).

if i wanted to buy hid's for my euro headlights as well as hid's for my fogs would i just by 2 pairs of the same type of hid set up? are they both h1 bulbs? i'm currently looking at ddmtuning and i don't know what to buy for my headlights/foglights
-thanks, james

if i wanted to buy hid's for my euro headlights as well as hid's for my fogs would i just by 2 pairs of the same type of hid set up? are they both h1 bulbs? i'm currently looking at ddmtuning and i don't know what to buy for my headlights/foglights
-thanks, james
h1 lows h1 fogs h1 highs
assuming your running euro headlights
-Marcus

h1 lows h1 fogs h1 highs
assuming your running euro headlights
-Marcus
thanks, what do you think would be better 55w hid lows and 35w hid fogs, both 55w or both 35w? and yes i do have euro glass headlights. and what is your set up? it looks amazing!

thanks, what do you think would be better 55w hid lows and 35w hid fogs, both 55w or both 35w? and yes i do have euro glass headlights. and what is your set up? it looks amazing!

Stick to 35watt in the fogs.
55watt are good for low beams.

Stick to 35watt in the fogs.
55watt are good for low beams.
ba humbug, 55w for both :redspot

thanks! this is a great write up and i will definitly be using it for my fog light HID's

Nice job on the write up!I did one a while back the same way.Its in the DIY section here in the lighting forum.:)
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=834566

Just finished my install this past weekend. Everything went pretty smoothly and I can honestly say I don't see any better way to do this. Props to Braymond. :buttrock The most bothersome part of the install would probably be grinding down the walls on the cap's main body, and having to stop to try and pick metled plastic off of the dremel bit. :mad Bending the metal clip is also necessary with Hellas, as it is on ZKWs. This part is pretty much guess and check, but not difficult at all. Other notes:

-I would recommend popping the pins out of the cap before drilling. All you need is a punch and a hammer, they come out w/ a couple of light taps.
-I also went one step further and cut the raised part off of the cap before drilling, using the dremel w/ cutting disk.
-After pulling the two extra wires out of the grommet I squeezed a little silicone into the two empty holes in the grommet, to seal them up.
-I wired into the car just as Brett did; cut the stock connector off and wired the male 9006 connector that came w/ the HID kit in its place. With most HID kits, this then connects right up to the ballast, making for a completely plug-n-play system. :redspot

A couple pics... 35w Apexcone kit @ 5000K (same kit in lows, @ 4500K.. both kits full sized ballasts).

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb82/roarf/cars/IMG_0051.jpg

The reason I went w/ 5000K and not 4500K like my lows was b/c I was told I might get a better match this way, due to my used fogs not being as nice and clear as the headlights, and the 4500s being behind projectors. Made sense to me, so I figured I'd give it a shot. So far it looks like I made a good choice, they match perfectly to my headlights from straight on.

For some reason I have two diff. fogs, one Hella and one ZKW (thanks PO :shifty). The DIY procedure was identical for both. I'd say the ZKW seems like a little bit nicer of a fog though.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb82/roarf/cars/IMG_0048.jpg


And for those of concerned about HID fogs being too bright and/or blinding other drivers, they ARE bright but not overly so, and they most definitely don't blind other drivers. (this being a 35w kit, dunno about 55w) Find yourself a good deal on a HID kit and do et! :buttrock

Just did mine last week, they look great!...Used this writeup btw too.

So I had my 55w hid in my fog 2 weeks then last night a mystery animal (dog/cat/possum/rabbit) made a jump of faith towards the holly light and busted by right fog light.... Thank god my hid bulbs are still intact!

is there more pics of the wiring set up, namely the way it all plugs together? thanks.

where did you guys pick up the 9006 male connectors for your hid kit? i bought an HID kit from DDM but it didn't come with any 9006 male connectors.

where did you guys pick up the 9006 male connectors for your hid kit? i bought an HID kit from DDM but it didn't come with any 9006 male connectors.

They are suppose to come with the HIDs. Either it was a mistake or they charge extra for it.