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Installing aftermarket fog lights in 2006 that did not come with fog lights

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by laird, Dec 21, 2009.

  1. laird

    laird Junior Member

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    I had a rough foggy evening drive in my 2006 a couple weeks ago and would like to upgrade my lights. I've replaced my stock 9003 bulbs with brighter bulbs from powerbulbs.com and am pretty happy with the result. It seems about as bright as legal lights can be.

    I'd like to add fog and driving lights and hit a couple of goals:

    1. Keep to NOS bumper and dash appearance as much as possible. Nothing like KC hilighters bolted to the bumper, etc.
    2. Minimize install efforts and time by locating parts that would bolt into existing install points for OEM lights.

    I made a handful of searches on the forum before giving up. I must be driving the search wrong to not have hits against the word fog.

    If someone could point me to a sticky on this subject or might have info to shorten my project, that would be much appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Alan
     
  2. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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  3. laird

    laird Junior Member

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    Less like this:

    lightpod-prius.jpg

    And more like this:

    pr-black.jpg

    :)
     
  4. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    That is clean as hell. Where can I pick up one of those front bumpers (what body kit is it)?
     
  5. don_chuwish

    don_chuwish Well Seasoned Member

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    1 person likes this.
  6. bino

    bino JDM ZVW30

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    this is also a nice bumper ...

    [​IMG]
     
    BLNT and a_gray_prius like this.
  7. priusincc

    priusincc Member

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    I was considering adding fog lights at one point. The lower stock grill is in three plastic sections, and it appears that you can replace the end sections with the OEM fog light type. (I found them on line for about $21 each.) This would give you the mounting points and then adapt after market round lights. It would be a nice little project, but it wouldn't work if you want to add fog and driving lights.
     
  8. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    I should mention FYI, the stock fog lights are useless decorations. They cannot light up the road usefully.
     
  9. kh6kine

    kh6kine New Member

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    Bino -
    Yes! This is an excellent look - please let us know the source/where to buy this front nose, and how much $$$, please.
     
  10. NC_Prius

    NC_Prius Member

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    I would be curious to know where this bumper/eyelid combo can be found as well. Are there simply more choices to be found in Japan? You can get eyelids from BlueBatmobile, and he could probably shape them like this, but his are just vinyl overlays. These seem to be a little different.

    Looks like the hood is a little different as well...

     
  11. bino

    bino JDM ZVW30

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    @kh6kine .... most of the body kits that I found are in Japan... cost range from $1000 to $1800 for a set.... that does not include shipping from Japan which I think would be expensive because of the size......

    @NC_Prius.... the hood is the same.... but those eyelids would not fit the OEM US headlights... the Japan spec headlight has a little hump/bump (don't know the correct terminology to use) on their headlights...

    here's a pic of the Japan spec headlight that I have...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  12. NC_Prius

    NC_Prius Member

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    I see -- well it does look good with the eyelid on that contoured design (IMO). I thought that the eyelid itself was contoured, like it was made out of thicker material rather than a sheet of vinyl. I'm sure you could still have an eyelid cut to that shape on our headlights, but it just wouldn't be contoured like that so it wouldn't look quite the same.

    There must be a much larger market for Prius mods in Japan...
     
  13. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

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    I have a pair of old school Lucas Square 8 fog lights:

    [​IMG]
    These are real fog lights, and still provide a lot of light compared to modern fog lights. I plan to mount them behind the stock grille on my '06. Depending on how much interference the grill provides, I will either leave it stock for a stealth appearance (and some protection for the lights) or cut out some of the grille bars to allow the lights to mount flush with the grille.

    These were also available with a clear lense as a driving light. Back in the day, some weekend rally cars had one of each on separate switches to provide both patterns.
     
  14. bagwell

    bagwell Active Member

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    personally, I'd buy an HID kit (Bi-X) from ebay before going to fogs -- much cleaner, easier, useful mod. be sure to get 4300-4500K color temp to get the most light output.

    You'll be amazed at the difference!

    the bulbs you want will look like this.[​IMG]
     
  15. Mole_8

    Mole_8 Junior Member

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    They can also try HID 9006 Fog lights, they work pretty good and illuminate sufficiently below fog (approx 25 ft, or so, of the road ahead).
     
  16. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    The problem with that is you blind everyone else on the road. They don't have a cuttoff so they end up casting light way up in the air and in the eyes of oncoming traffic. I tried HIDs in the stock housings but decided to switch to a projector.
     
  17. Rickl55

    Rickl55 Junior Member

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    I have an '09 and was looking at kits on eBay. (not allowed to post links yet)
    Anyone have any experience with these? I would think installation is pretty straightforward. Thanks for any help.
    Rick
     
  18. 69shovlhed

    69shovlhed Surly tree hugger

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    not too difficult to do, but make sure you get exact fit oem quality fogs. DO NOT waste your money on universal or cheap unrated fogs. they suck, don't fit right, and flop around when you hit bumps. they should have SAE on the lens if not oem.
     
  19. DaveLadely

    DaveLadely Junior Member

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    I also want to add lights to my 2007 Prius, in place of the stock "fog" lights. Nowadays, it looks like led lights are better and more practical than HID or other types. More a matter of getting quality led lights that will work. "Fog lights", especially the yellow lens type, are bull, and have been since Lucas started making lights. In those days. Lucas, in England, lights were so bad, so dim, that they had a yellow look as tungsten type lights look like at low voltage. Many people thought this was by design - for the common English foggy roads. So the companies made their lights yellow for use in fog. FACT: All the yellow does is lower the lumens. And as far as reflecting in fog, lower lumens will reflect less. Duh, White lights with sharp cut offs work better in every way. And, for fog, the key is to mount them low on the car, along with the sharp cut off, which will "punch" through the fog while minimizing reflections from the fog. Higher mounting would turn them into "driving lights". So, I am interested in LED lights with very sharp cut off, of moderate lumens so as not to be overwhelming to other drivers no matter what. A lower temperature is easier on the eyes on oncoming drivers.
     
  20. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Morimoto sells nice exact-fit LED fogs with a nice sharp cutoff.

    Your history of selective yellow is very original.