So when I was driving around the other day. I notice a BMW SUV, can't recall the specific model, had HID fog lights. I'm certain they were factory built, but I may be wrong.

I was just wondering if it would be legal for me to swap in HID fogs on my EM2.

Just a question I needed to ask, Thanks.

Oh and btw. I did google and I haven't found if it were legal in California.

 

You should be fine, but look into the laws on colors of lights/bulbs that are permitted.

I know here in Florida some cops have hard on's for yellow fogs.

 

Haha. Thanks for the input bro. Yeah, I read o florida that it's legal to have HID fogs (blue/white), but was just wondering about cali. Thanks and i'll look onto the law of colors lightbulbs.

 

I would say it is technically illegal just to be on the safe side. It did not come as an option on Civic's.

Nonetheless, I have a friend w/ an EM2 w/ yellow HID's an they look pretty damn good

 

Fitting an HID capsule in any lamp originally fitted with halogen bulbs is illegal in the US, not just California.

So, yes, stuffing an HID capsule into a fog lamp would be illegal.

Now, as long as you have a real fog lamp, and not a driving lamp (which are not legal to use without the highbeams, which aren't legal to use in traffic), you can probably get away with it anyway.

 

Thanks for the input. Anyone actually installed them onto a Honda/Acura and gotten away with them ? Seen them on different cars, but never on Acuras/Hondas/

 

Are you talking about replacing the bulbs in your current foglights with HID bulbs?

Or are you talking about getting some real HID foglights like this Hella kit?

http://www.tirerack.com/lighting/det...=Lighting+Kits

Actually it turns out these are driving lights.

 

A rather common mistake to make. Many people seem to think that driving lamps are for street use, or confuse them with fog lamps.

 

I don't think that people are to blame. I think that the places that sell them don't really tell anybody they are illegal. You have to read the fine print to find out.

 

Hum. Mixed thoughts there.

I don't think it is the store's responsibility to know the legality of everything they sell. It would be nice if they did, and could inform all customers, but lets be honest here, the idiot working the register at Pep Boys doesn't know anything other than "scan the part, place in the bag".

I do think it should be the buyers responsibility to know what they are installing on the car. And the consumer really should read all the fine print on everything they purchase (I do, but I'm not exactly a typical consumer). And while the consumer should do this, it isn't exactly reasonable to expect it, with the legalese way most of them are written.

The primary issue (as I see it) is that the name "driving lamp" or "driving light" is rather misleading to the consumer. They also look similar, if not identical, to fog lamps. Most people simply don't know that driving lamps are not meant to be used "while driving", they're meant to be used to supplement the highbeams.

<rant> Eh, I've just been blinded by way too many lowered Civics, Corollas, and Neons running driving lamps around LA. I've also been blinded by way too many retards with trucks and SUVs with HID kits in the factory reflectors (and usually blue turn signals). Its LA, the headlamps themselves are almost unnecessary, much less owl hunting, traffic blinding, HIDs. </rant>

OP, apologies if we derailed your thread. Honestly, I don't think the popo will give you much grief for HIDs in fogs, as long as the fog has a reasonable cutoff and doesn't glare traffic. And while no one ever gets a ticket for it, in many places it is illegal to use the fog lamps if it isn't foggy.