High Beam On, Fog Lights Off?

[OneZambia]

Just noticed when driving home today that when I put my high beams on, my fog lights turn off automatically. When I put the high beams off, the fog lights come back on. (I noticed this when admiring my car in the reflection of a car in front of me)

Why is this happening? I had my bumper and fogs wired at a shop months ago, so I have no idea what the wiring looks like, but if I were to start looking, where should I begin?

Help!

Thanks!

Edit: I had an Umnitza M5 bumper installed

[RXWLLMSS]

Normal. Everyone's does that.

[OneZambia]

Really? Then I feel silly asking the question. You're not pulling my leg are you?

[RXWLLMSS]

No sir.

[OneZambia]

Wow. I had no idea that happened. Cheers!

[Cyrix2k]

Yeah, every vehicle does that :)

[Gumbi4u]

Mine doesnt. RXWLLMSS is indeed pulling your leg.

[RXWLLMSS]

I helped someone! Omgomgomg! This is my first time! What do i get!? Free eurodyne bumpers and bfc tshirt?

[OneZambia]

OK so does it happen or not? Looking for a straight answer here...

[RXWLLMSS]

Mine doesnt. RXWLLMSS is indeed pulling your leg.
LIAR don't ruin my moment :(

[OneZambia]

RXWLLMSS (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/member.php?u=106059) just noticed you had 528 posts one post ago! Screen shot!

[Gumbi4u]

OK so does it happen or not? Looking for a straight answer here...


LIAR don't ruin my moment :(

Lol.......I dont know guys. Someone is confused.


All jokes aside , its NORMAL!! <--------Straight answer

[OneZambia]

Any idea why that happens? i.e. what's the reasoning behind BMW doing that?

[Gumbi4u]

Any idea why that happens? i.e. what's the reasoning behind BMW doing that?


Too much lighting makes on coming traffic say bad names that might hurt your feelings. Thats pretty much the thinking behind it. that and it also burns most people retina's.

[Cyrix2k]

Any idea why that happens? i.e. what's the reasoning behind BMW doing that?
I believe you can only have four forward facing lights on for legal reasons.

[OneZambia]

Trust the Germans to think of that. Impressive! I feel more love for my machine.

Cyrix2k now that response is even more intriguing!

[upallnight]

Any idea why that happens? i.e. what's the reasoning behind BMW doing that?


Fog lights are use when you are driving in fog and to see in the fog, the light needs to be low on the road. If the light was aim high, the fog will reflect the light back into you sight. Try it next time you encounter foggy condition, turn on the high beam and turn them off which is better for you to drive in?

[RXWLLMSS]

HAHA ok for the fun of it and Gumbi4u can save my car as his desktop background :p

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/rexwilliams/IMG00099.jpg
fogs on with AE's and Headlights

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/rexwilliams/IMG00100.jpg
Highbeams, AE's, and Headlights.

[jagerhund]

Any idea why that happens? i.e. what's the reasoning behind BMW doing that?

Not just BMW, pretty standard for cars with factory foglights. Switching to highbeams will shut off foglights. Foglights are aimed/dispersed low and meant to illuminate the road during foggy conditions. High beams tend to reflect of fog and reduce visibility. Essentially if you need the foglights you don't need/want the highbeams and vice versa.

[nike001]

its illegal for you to have the low-beams, high-beams and the fog lights on at the same time. Every single car does it..i found in dodges that you can pull the high beam stick back and hold it there and they will all be on..but that is for signaling to people...not keeping you're high beams on, because then you'd have to keep your hand pulled backwards

[FurryOne]

While I haven't found any reference that says "fog lights must be disabled when high beams are on", both my '85 325e and '01 530i do it. I remember seeing posts in the E30 blogs about rewiring to make the fog lights independent, but they didn't have an LCM doing the thinking.

While I was searching, I came across this tidbit from Oregon DOT dated March, 2008: "According to Oregon law, auxiliary and/or fog lights must be used like the high beam headlight system of your car. They must be dimmed or turned off within 500 feet of approaching an oncoming vehicle and 350 feet when following another vehicle. The color of auxiliary and/or fog lights is also regulated. Fog lights may be either white or amber (yellow). Rules prohibit other colors such as blue."

[PixMan]

My '02 530i (equipped with factory xenons) also turns off the fogs when the high beams are on, just as my 2004 GTO did.

[Idaho BMW Man]

My 2000 528I the fogs turn off when I turn my highs on. The only way for them to not do it would be some rewiring:eyecrazy

[E39K3V]

mine does the same. factory settings

[schnitzerkev]

You are ALL asshats. Just kidding. Hope to see most of you all in San Gabriel tonight.

[cal45fan]

Any idea why that happens? i.e. what's the reasoning behind BMW doing that?

ALL cars are like that because having your high beams on is dangerous to oncoming traffic. Imagine adding foglights to your high beams=blinding.

[August West]

If you are traveling more than 20 miles an hour you are out driving your fog lights and there is no practical reason to have them on, unless it is foggy, or unless vanity is practical.

[OneZambia]

Vanity FTW!

[BaDVwG60]

Every vehicle I've owned, going back to my 81 Jeep CJ7 with factory driving lights, once you turn on the highbeams, the driving lights turned off. If you really don't like it, there's a relay you could rewire to change it!

[alsteel]

Guys, all cars do it and it's a law. At least in the US it's illegal for your car to have high beams and fogs on at the same time. In states where there is a DMV safety inspection your car will fail if the fogs and high beams stay on.

I would actually forward or quote a link to the VA DMV for reference but I don't have time. Trust me, it's a law. Rig your car to do otherwise at your own risk of a potential ticket if Johnny Law see you running with all your lights a blazin'.

Cheers...