1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

how to choose new fog-lights.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by bmparent, Sep 20, 2014.

  1. bmparent

    bmparent Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2014
    159
    65
    0
    Location:
    barre ma
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    due to front end damage, my Prius didn't come with (working) foglights installed. I live in a pretty rural area where the roads are dark and windy; I've recently installed Maxlux 5000k HID's that I'm pretty happy with, and I'd like to know how to choose a fixture/bulb that compliments those bulbs. Buy fixture and bulb separately? Buy any old fixture but special bulb? Do they have to be HID if that's what the headlights are? Or maybe I should just forget the whole thing and save my money 'cause they won't help much anyway? I'm new to Prius ownership and don't know a lot of technical electronic terms and am looking to spend 100-150 for the pair of lights. I hope to install them myself (I took out the broken ones when I bought the car) and have a shop do the wire-up.
     
  2. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    744
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    personally, I'd stick with oe style fog lamps. I don't like the idea of chopping up the bumper to install some "universal" lights. I did see on ebay there are oe style lights without a shield over the bulb. perhaps those will do a better job than the originals, which don't seem to do much.
     
  3. bmparent

    bmparent Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2014
    159
    65
    0
    Location:
    barre ma
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    To clarify, the bumper already has the holes where the foglights went; they just got taken out. I don't know what you mean by a "universal" foglight? I've seen lots on ebay that are stated to fit this car, and look as if they'll fit the fixtures. Are you saying that these aren't very effective?
     
  4. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    744
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    many of the fog lights on ebay will claim to fit prius but won't fit without modifying the bumper, if at all. once you have cut or drilled your bumper, the oem lights won't attach. so unless the fog lights are exact fit, like these: 2006 2009 Toyota Prius Fog Lights Clear Lens Front Bumper Lamps Complete Kit | eBay
    you will have to cut, drill, or otherwise ruin your bumper. there may be some universal fit lights that will fit without too much hassle, but I'd stick with oe fit and try to find brighter than stock bulbs.
     
  5. bmparent

    bmparent Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2014
    159
    65
    0
    Location:
    barre ma
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Looks like a decent kit to me, at a good price. I'll consider that one.
     
  6. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,842
    3,099
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Please don't put HID bulbs into reflector based housings because they don't have a physical cutoff shield, like projector lights. They'll throw a lot of stray light, AKA glare, that will be very distracting/dangerous to other drivers.

    The most effective foglight color is yellow/amber. In poor visibility conditions like rain and fog, your HID lights might actually reflect back into your eyes. The lower mounted foglights, will be less likely to do that, especially if they are a lower color temp. Yellow/amber light will provide much more contrast than a white or bluish white light in bad weather as well.

    Besides, IMO the contrasting color of a yellow/amber foglight looks good. ;)
     
    Daves09prius likes this.
  7. DaneH5

    DaneH5 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2014
    464
    60
    0
    Location:
    Pinellas, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    [Xliderider, post: 2073218, member: 90146"]Please don't put HID bulbs into reflector based housings because they don't have a physical cutoff shield, like projector lights. They'll throw a lot of stray light, AKA glare, that will be very distracting/dangerous to other drivers.

    The most effective foglight color is yellow/amber. In poor visibility conditions like rain and fog, your HID lights might actually reflect back into your eyes. The lower mounted foglights, will be less likely to do that, especially if they are a lower color temp. Yellow/amber light will provide much more contrast than a white or bluish white light in bad weather as well.

    Besides, IMO the contrasting color of a yellow/amber foglight looks good. ;)[/QUOTE]

    I perfer yellow over white fogs as well. Call me old school. I remember when fogs all were yellow and driving lights were white.
    I found a set on eBay that were yellow and have HIDs, I will check into the issue you mention.
     
  8. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    744
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    i actually bought yellow myself to replace the oem's cause they both have cracked lenses. but I think the op wants maximum visibility for out in the sticks where there aren't many oncoming drivers, not fog lights.
     
  9. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,842
    3,099
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    That's what highbeams are for. ;)

    SCH-I535
     
    Daves09prius likes this.
  10. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    744
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    sometimes you need more. even with hid its hard to see deer sometimes and they are so stupid they'll jump in front of your car. so I'm hoping the yellow won't be too brutal on other drivers.
     
    Daves09prius likes this.
  11. bmparent

    bmparent Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2014
    159
    65
    0
    Location:
    barre ma
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    it's true, max visibility is what I'm after. Also, I don't like the empty holes where the 'lights used to be. I want to have the whole package!
     
  12. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2010
    680
    161
    0
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    One
    That ebay kit looks really good, it even includes the fog-light on\off switch that will fit into the blank slots down on the dash board. That's a awesome find! Thanks again 69shovlhed! bmparent, welcome to PriusChat! once you select a kit, please post some pictures and a write up of what you've done.

    My Prius, didn't come with foglights, and that ebay kit is exactly what I was looking for and at an affordable price.
    I can always swap out the bulb for a Philips Crystal Vision Ultra or x-treem power bulb. Ordering from amazon.com the bulbs are $20 - $30 a set, where as NAPA sells them for $60 - $80.

    Here are some links to the bulbs I'm talking about:

    Buy the Philips CrystalVision Ultra Automotive Headlight 9006CVS2 Automotive Headlight

     
  13. Daves09prius

    Daves09prius Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2010
    680
    161
    0
    Location:
    Gettysburg, PA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    One
    Hey my amazon links didn't post? weird. If you go to amazon.com and search for "9006 philips bulb" you'll see what I'm talking about.

     
  14. thegoldenhand

    thegoldenhand Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2014
    44
    4
    0
    Location:
    California USA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Is there an OE foglamps with yellow covers? Mine are cracked too and I want to replace them but want a yellow foglamps.
     
  15. DaneH5

    DaneH5 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2014
    464
    60
    0
    Location:
    Pinellas, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Apparently (at least for 2014), I got a kit off of eBay with yellow lenses. Another option is putting yellow tint film over the Clear lens.
     
  16. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    744
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    there are oe style lamps with yellow lenses, but they aren't genuine Toyota. I just got mine and they appear to mount just like the real Toyota fogs. I'm pretty lazy, but I might just get them installed this weekend. i'll let you know how they turn out.
     
  17. thegoldenhand

    thegoldenhand Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2014
    44
    4
    0
    Location:
    California USA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Thanks! That was my last resort if I couldn't fine one. Tint them with yellow film. But I would prefer if there is a direct bold on OE foglamps with yellow lenses. Something where it's just plug and play with no wiring/rewiring needed.
     
  18. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    744
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    so. the aftermarket fog lamps are of low quality, as far as fit goes. they looked good out of the box, but the adjustment screw is too long and mushroomed so it probably won't fit the hole in the bumper which it should snap into. the mounting ears are too small in diameter so the fogs will flop around while driving. won't that look spiffy. verdict is: gonna have to find real oem fogs and tint em or get yellow led bulbs.

    next question is: can you bake the fog lights to get the lenses off to replace them and/or remove the bulb shield?
     
  19. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

    Joined:
    May 13, 2012
    2,170
    744
    0
    Location:
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I went back and looked at the ebay listings. it is possible that SAE approved aftermarket lamps may fit correctly. the ones I stupidly bought are not SAE; they will have SAE molded into the lens if they are approved. I should have been more careful. anyone tried the SAE aftermarkets yet?
     
  20. thegoldenhand

    thegoldenhand Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2014
    44
    4
    0
    Location:
    California USA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    thank you for the update. let us know what set you end up getting.