How to - reverse to foglight conversion

[djf67]

I thought it might be useful to write up the reverse light to foglight conversion once and for all.
This is to convert the right (in UK) reverse light to a fog light so the under bumper fogs can be junked.

 

In summary, the white/green wire on the left needs to feed the grey/brown wire on the right.

 

In more detail -

cut left side


join to right side


test reverse


test foglight


fit led bulb (halfrauds)


test led bulb

Edited March 6, 2014 by djf67

[Jonny Hart]

Thanks for the info, but it is possible to do this mod without cutting into the wiring harness.

 

The existing fog lamp feed wire (under the bumper) can be rerouted and run up through the drain hole in the RH tail lamp and the reverse lamp rewired inside the light cluster.

 

Step away from the wire cutters!

[djf67]

For sure.

 

Just to confirm mine passed its MoT this morning with this mod.

[nealfairfield]

Thank you to David for his idiot's guide to the foglight conversion.

 

Original aim was to do it without cutting the harness but lack of time and lack of any wire whatsoever from the original dangly fogs meant I swallowed a brave pill and...

 

...there she glows!

 

 

[djf67]

Brave pill well swallowed! Nice green, too

[ALEX P]

I just had a play around with this today. Why did you cut the loom on the engine side not the lamp side?

 

I just disconnected the wire to the reverse bulb and replaced it with the wire for the fog lamp on the LH side.

 

Also, anyone got a decent link to a good quality LED red bulb to use as a fog.

 

Actually, I wouldn't mind replacing all of my bulbs (especially front indicators) for really bright LEDs, the ones I have are cheap and old and don't put out enough light for my liking!

[Dr Rock]

For the indicators you'll need to change the relay.

[ALEX P]

For the indicators you'll need to change the relay.

 

Right.............

[Kenny Senior]

I have LEDs for all my rear lights. They are too bright in the indicators and make them look yellow. I'm going to swap them back to standard bulbs. My rear light/brake light bulbs are very good though with great definition between normal and a bright, almost dazzling brake light. It can only be a good thing without a high up third brake light.

 

As an aside, I have new indicator units at the front and they're plenty bright enough. They were plenty spendy too though.

[BenC]

Kenny - do you have a link to the rear LEDs please?

[tea boy]

I told one of my friends about the LED foglight mod as he was going to fit a horrible fog light to the rear valence.

 

He checked it out woth his MOT man and was told that an LED bulb in an incandescent bulb holder would be a test failure.

 

Has anyone heard of this before, and more to the point, is it correct?

[Dr Rock]

I've had LED foglights for about 6 years now- passes the MOT at Porsche no problem (as long as they know how to switch the foglights on...)

[Beaky]

For those in the know perhaps its worth creating a list of LED replacement for all our standard lamps.

 

People can then pick and choose which conversion they do and ensure they get the right bulbs.

[Lesworth]

I've also never had an issue with the MOT for this mod. I perhaps should not have posted this as its in for an MOT tomorrow...

[Beaky]

I'll start a list, not sure how accurate this is as its old but:

 

- Dash Gauge lights (white) UBA7W

- Dash gauge warning light (blue) U286B

- Dash gauge warning light (red) U286R

- Dash gauge warning light (green) 286GB

- Sidelight bulbs UBA9WHP2

- Indicators U38235A

- Brake light/ rear light U38020R

[Chris T]

Tea, correct or not if your mate's MOT man fails a car for having an LED bulb in an incandescent holder it's time to change the MOT man.

 

Actually I think this mod is illegal as the fog is too close to the rear/brake light, there is a rule about minimum distance away. However it hasn't stopped my car passing it's last 5 MOTs like this and it won't stop me changing the 3.2 either.

 

Chris.

[Kenny Senior]

Kenny - do you have a link to the rear LEDs please?

 

I think it was these;

 

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/380-Super-Bright-27-LED.html

 

However, they are showing out of stock. It was definitely from that website. I ordered replacements for all my exterior lighting from them. No failures yet. Like I said though, the rear indicators are too bright and I left the incandescent bulbs in my new front indicator housings.

 

I passed my MoT with the fog adaptation, using a red LED in place of my offside reverse bulb. My MoT man is pretty pragmatic though.

Edited March 29, 2016 by Kenny Senior

[BenC]

thank you

[Beaky]

I'll start a list, not sure how accurate this is as its old but:

 

- Dash Gauge lights (white) UBA7W

- Dash gauge warning light (blue) U286B

- Dash gauge warning light (red) U286R

- Dash gauge warning light (green) 286GB

- Sidelight bulbs UBA9WHP2

- Indicators U38235A

- Brake light/ rear light U38020R or 380 Twenty 20 27 LED 12v P21/5W Bayonet Blub

[SilverWT]

I told one of my friends about the LED foglight mod as he was going to fit a horrible fog light to the rear valence.

 

He checked it out woth his MOT man and was told that an LED bulb in an incandescent bulb holder would be a test failure.

 

Has anyone heard of this before, and more to the point, is it correct?

No mention of any of this in the MOT Inspection Manual (updated 24th March 2016)published on the gov.uk website https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-inspection-manual-for-class-3-4-5-and-7-vehicles#history.

 

Fog lamps page below.

 

Mark

[tea boy]

 

Actually I think this mod is illegal as the fog is too close to the rear/brake light, there is a rule about minimum distance away.

 

Chris.

 

I was aware of that one Chris, though I think you would be terribly unlucky to find a tester who knew about it.

 

 

 

No mention of any of this in the MOT Inspection Manual (updated 24th March 2016)published on the gov.uk website

Mark

 

I looked through the tester manual Mark, I couln't find anything either.

 

When I was a tester (last century), if anyone questioned anything I would show them the relevent section in the manual.

 

Perhaps I should tell my pal to get his tester to show him where it says he can't fit it.

 

[Lesworth]

Another pass today, even with the illegal fog mod

[Dr Rock]

Another pass today, even with the illegal fog mod

[carbon749]

Thanks for the info, but it is possible to do this mod without cutting into the wiring harness.

The existing fog lamp feed wire (under the bumper) can be rerouted and run up through the drain hole in the RH tail lamp and the reverse lamp rewired inside the light cluster.

Step away from the wire cutters!

 

Just finished this mod to mine today.

 

Followed your suggestion. Extend the feed wire for the existing fog lamp, routed through the back panel, feed the wire into the right tail lamp and fitted a female spade connector. Pull the reverse light feed and heat shrink some tube over it, push the new fog light feed on .... Job done.

 

No need to cut into the wiring loom anywhere, thanks for the tip.

[Henry]

What bulb did you use and is it nice and bright ? , the one I used from ebay flown in specially for me from Hongkong seems a bit crap and not very bright so might change . Thanks H