Coolstrategist...I have seen them on trucks...they can look cool indeed. No doubt they are an added safety feature too.

I was on the fence about them, and asked around as the company that makes them says they are DOT and NHSTA approved.

It turns about the DOT and NHSTA approval does not make an item legal. According to those I asked, they are "ornamental lighting", much like neon kits. Police can write tickets for these. They may pass inspection depending on the tech...but you could still get written for them. And, I'd agree that it stinks as they are a good saferty measure.

 

matt, yeah sort of like window tint. it passes inspection, but you can get a ticket for it. TAKE IT FROM EXPIERENCE. kind of sucks when you really cant have anything too nice. even if you are adding something like more brake lights. makes you wonder..

 

do you have any pics? where would i find these? been looking for something like that!

 

I will take a picture of my Ex sometime this weekend and post. But I will tell you that my lights look exactly like the link below. Bright and highly visible. And when installed they look factory. They fit flush in the less than 1 inch space under the rear swing doors. If I had to guess I would say the actual row of lights is less that 1/8 of an inch thick. They are virtually invisible during the day when the lights are OFF. But I do use them as running lights too.

The only way I could see getting a ticket is if police officers know every type of brake lighting out there...and they do not. These lights DO NOT look like add ons considering led brake lights are standard on many SUVs.

http://www.purchaseexpress.com/dcbo_cart1.asp?bo_websiteconfig_id=52&bo_products_ id=760&rid=#

http://www.premiermotoring.net/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=1130

 

Coolstrategist...The line of fire do look cool, and no doubt are a good safety upgrade. I seriously considered them until I talked to some Police and inspection techs.

They will pass inspection. So will neon kits under certain circumstances. Problem is, passing inspection and being legal are not always the same. I was told that at least in our area, most police will write for these things. My friend said that he probably would not write for those alone...but if you are pulled over for something else..well, you get the idea. They are considered ornamental lighting.

I am only writing this as info to others. I looked into the legality and decided against them for that reason. What I am writing is not my opinion or my "hopes", it's what I was told by law enforcement personnel. If you like them, and they're worth the chance to you..go for it.

As far as the police knowing all the "ins and outs" of every car...you can bet they have seen the LED strips on other vehicles...and again, as much as I like them too....they just don't look stock.

 

Well sorry to hear that the police are that way in your area. Fortunately for me I have been driving in front of many police officers and state troopers (Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, etc etc.) on back roads and major highways with these lights in full effect and they really do not care.

Also fortunately for me we do not have a "vehicle inspection" where I live unless your car is over 5 years old. And even then the "inspection" is for emissions only. I have had it done on my Avalon and trust me even the emissions is barely checked.

It's too bad that in some areas police tell you they will write you a ticket for this but understand that is in YOUR area with strict inspections and regs. But good advice anyway so at least others can ask.

 

Cool, matt is correct. i live in the same area and the cops usually have nothing else better to do than harass the people who have nice things. make you think that they are jealous sometimes..kind of sucks..

 

RacerX - can you post a closeup pic of your HIDs? I have a pair of NAPA TruView 9005s in my fogs, and they have worked flawlessly for a year now. They're pretty bright - I get flashed by oncoming traffic on low-light roads, but I also have ~100W APC 9007s in my headlight housings, so when I return with my high beams it's really clear to oncoming drivers that they were NOT on before.

I'd like to see your HID's; share the brand and model info, too, if you don't mind. Thx!

 

bigblackEX, i'll try to get some pics tonight. as far as the brand, CATZ. although i'm not sure that they are still in buisness. i also haven't found any other brand that uses a dual filiment HID, that is one that still allows you to keep a high beam. i'm not sure, but the kit that i have came with a high/low controller. somehow, it changes the voltage going to the ballast and bulb, therefor changing the arc position inside the bulb, giving you a high beam. its not actually brighter, but the beam is aimed higher, simulated highbeam.....

 

Does anyone know how to "fix" the fog lights so they stay on when the high beams are switched on?

 

dont know, I have an 01 X, and my fogs don't even work with the parking lights on. they only work when i have the low beams on. anyone have an out for this one??? i'm sure it has to do with jumping out a relay or something???????

 

I installed mine so it may be different, but mine work also with the park lights.

I know on a friend's SD, you have to pull the switch out to put the fogs on.

I'd have to look into it futher, but at least in the Cobra, there is a relay that controls the "off" part of the fogs that makes them switch off with the hi-beams. In that case, you merely unplug the relay, bend one tab...and re-install. Possibly the same thing is available for the Ex?

 

Matt, Yeah The Headlight Switch Pulls Out Only With The Headlight Switch In The Headlight On Position. There Has To Be As Easier Way. I Just Want The Fogs To Work With My Park Lights...

 

While there is a technical solution for this, beware that it is illegal in many states.

 

I'm a big fan of extra lighting, and have put various combinations of aftermarket lights on several 4x4's. I use the lights when I need them and am not concerned with cosmetics, function before fashion I say, but to each their own. My driving is typically 'middle of nowhere' so while I'm sure my lights are illegal, this and the fact that I don't use them with oncoming traffic means no legal trouble in the last few decades.

Here's what I've concluded and has worked for me (emphasis on 'for me').

1.) All lights need to be on their own relays. This allows me to associate whatever light with whatever circuit without overloading said circuit. I use at least 16 guage wire on the light circuit itself, put a slightly undersized fuse right next to the power source, and get power from an auxilary power block that runs straight to the battery.

2.) The high dollar lights aren't usually worth it. My $30 cheapo fog lights are a copy of my $250 Catz, and with 100 watt H3 bulbs they put out just as much light, if not in quite as precise a pattern, as the Catz at a little more than 1/10 the price. I do find the lighting pattern of the long range pencil beams to be better with the more expensive light.

3.) Mounting position and aiming is more important than what brand of light you use. Fog lights, to be effective in heavy fog or blizzard conditions, need to be mounted low. I've never had a set I mounted too low as far as the light was concerned, but they can get busted up if they aren't protected, and even then if you're busting through mud, brush or snowdrifts (another selling point for the cheapos).

4.) Driving lights need to be mounted as high as possible. Big legality issues in certain jurisdictions here, but I find little need for them when there is any oncoming traffic.

Here's what I'm currently running on my '98 150:

Fog lights - cheapo ovals mounted in the stock light cavity with 100 watt bulbs, wired into the parking light circuit. I've found that in really thick fog or snow, running just fogs provides better view of the raod than fogs and lo beams - too much glare from the lo beams off the fog or snow. Almost low enough, fairly well protected, they toss lots of light onto the road and the shoulders.

Pencil beams - Catz mounted behind the grill and wired into my high beam circuit ... easy to kill if oncoming traffic appears. Almost high enough and fairly discrete, $$, they toss lots of light way down the road. Next time I'll look for a good lens design in a cheapo light.

Silverstars in the stock headlights - clearly an improvement over stock, and they haven't burned up yet (almost a year).

I'd like to add a flood-type light wired into the parking lights (so they can be used with hi or lo beams) but am not sure where to mount 'em yet. They'd be used for low speed backroad night driving.

On an earlier pickup (a Nissan if you must know) the aux lights allowed me to continue home after mulies suicided and wiped out my stock headlights - I had one pencil beam left and both fogs - this was between John Day and Prineville for you NW boys.

my 2 clams