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Factory fog light kit or LED cubes?

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Old Oct 17, 2017 | 08:37 PM
  #1  
Haulinbass02's Avatar
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Factory fog light kit or LED cubes?

Guys, I'm wanting a little more light on the Ex and am trying to decide whether or not to buy a factory fog kit or custom install some LED cubes or a light bar instead? I always like to keep it "factory" clean if possible but not sure how much the factory fog lights actually do for me?
Does anyone know where a full kit can be had anymore? All the part numbers I can find are obsolete. I can piece together a light bracket and lights, as well as the harness but after that I am finding parts on my own. What else is needed besides the headlight switch assy to make it all work?
 
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Old Oct 17, 2017 | 09:07 PM
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I used the Ford kit when my '05 was new. The actual fog lamps/brackets are different for an '05 so I had to use another set of lights.

All that being said, I would buy the appropriate factory lights and wire them up with a relay and switch.

I put 9005 bulbs in my foglights and they work well...a big improvement over the factory suggested bulbs....
 
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Old Oct 18, 2017 | 10:54 AM
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I just did the mechanical install of cube LED's on my X yesterday. I'll snap some pics later, I think they look pretty nice. Hid them in the grille so they aren't so "brosawesome" like some people do with lights

still waiting on my Carling rockers to arrive so I can install
 
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Old Oct 18, 2017 | 04:32 PM
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I did a retrofit of the stock driving lights into my 2000...meh.

Removed them to install a pair of Rigid 2x2 lights I received for Christmas...placed them where the stock driving lights go, aimed them down (or you'll get flashed every 2 seconds)...AMAZING how well they light up reflectors in the distance!!!

The more white the light, the better you see reflectors but the worse you see non-reflective things...the more yellow the light the more you see objects, so keep that in mind. Something about how the eye picks up certain colors.

I wired mine into the F650 panel w/9 Carling Rockers from RiffRaff. Need to re-do my high beam cutoff when I install the new headlights that came in a few days ago.

Having done both, I can't recommend the LED 2x2s enough - but I can only speak to the quality of the Rigid brand.
 
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Old Oct 18, 2017 | 05:53 PM
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I hate that some places in some states don't place their roadside traffic signs at a slight angle so the headlights don't reflect back at me.
Western states (az,nm,nv,co) seem the worse at this.

Do the 9005 bulbs require re-aiming??
 
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Old Oct 18, 2017 | 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by robert_l_ross
I did a retrofit of the stock driving lights into my 2000...meh.

Removed them to install a pair of Rigid 2x2 lights I received for Christmas...placed them where the stock driving lights go, aimed them down (or you'll get flashed every 2 seconds)...AMAZING how well they light up reflectors in the distance!!!

The more white the light, the better you see reflectors but the worse you see non-reflective things...the more yellow the light the more you see objects, so keep that in mind. Something about how the eye picks up certain colors.

I wired mine into the F650 panel w/9 Carling Rockers from RiffRaff. Need to re-do my high beam cutoff when I install the new headlights that came in a few days ago.

Having done both, I can't recommend the LED 2x2s enough - but I can only speak to the quality of the Rigid brand.
i looked at doing the Rigid cubes but from what I can tell you have to have factory fog light brackets in place already.....so I’m looking at factory options for the meantime.
It I use 9005 bulbs in factory lights is the wiring stout enough to handle the extra power of the bulbs?
 
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Old Oct 18, 2017 | 08:15 PM
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You should put in the lights YOU like want regardless of what anyone else thinks or says, you have to live with them afterall.

Both have their plus and minuses.
 
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Old Oct 18, 2017 | 09:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Tylus
Hid them in the grille
Looking forward to a write up as I'd like to go that route too.
 
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Old Oct 18, 2017 | 10:21 PM
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Stock fogs stunk, upgraded bulbs, made a difference. Replacing headlights with hid's and I'm replacing the fogs with 4" led's while I'm at it.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2017 | 12:55 AM
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They are making all different size LED light bars now that look stock.. They have one that sits in that little space (air damn?) that looks real nice...
 
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Old Oct 19, 2017 | 06:38 AM
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For me, the 9005s made all the difference. They use a bit more power than the factory bulbs, but it has yet to be a problem in 12 years.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2017 | 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by martee31
They are making all different size LED light bars now that look stock.. They have one that sits in that little space (air damn?) that looks real nice...
Just FYI, that's nothing new.

It's fairly common knowledge nowadays as they have been making them for many years, and brackets can be had to replace the factory fogs that are usually found in those spots.

Stewart
 
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Old Oct 19, 2017 | 01:07 PM
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I personally don't think the stock fogs are that great. In fact I use mine for night driving every time I use my headlights and I still think the lighting sucks. My housings are relatively new with no fogging. That's my opinion. I'd like more and better lighting to.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2017 | 07:23 PM
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installed these eBay specials. Once I get the Carling switches I ordered, I'll wire them in. I put them higher up to get a better close-in pattern by bumper. If the quality is decent, I will put another pair where the factory fogs go as well. I do like how these are not immediately apparent

edit: they have been installed a few days. Just realized there is a police look to them. Kinda explains why people have been acting weird and slow around me in traffic. especially when I'm in uniform



 
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Old Oct 19, 2017 | 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by martee31
They are making all different size LED light bars now that look stock.. They have one that sits in that little space (air damn?) that looks real nice...
I’ve thought about this route but the LP bracket goes right into the lower portion of that cutout and I can’t take it off because of Texas laws.
I think I’m going to try factory dogs with different bulbs and see how it goes.
 
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