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Thread: Separate switch for rear fogs / front fogs on 10/80 Euro E21?

  1. #1
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    Separate switch for rear fogs / front fogs on 10/80 Euro E21?

    Hey guys.

    I have a 1980 320 / 6, gray market UK car. It is wired for rear fogs and has bulbs in the holders.

    I am adding the OEM front fog lights.

    There is currently a switch that has one "pull" out and is marked with both the front and rear fog light "icons."

    Here's our question: does the one switch operate front and rear fogs? As in, when the fronts are on, so are the rears? Or do we need a different switch with two "pulls" for front and rear lighting?

    The car is used so sparingly I wouldn't care if the front and rears were on at the same time. Hell, I barely drive it at night. There's no other hole in the dash for an additional switch, so I'm just curious what the one that is there is supposed to activate (as the car did not have front fogs from the factory).

    Thanks,

    Jeff

  2. #2
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    my 323i has one switch for the front and rear fogs, if that helps. fyi, the rear fog is only on the driver side though

  3. #3
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    There are separate switches for front fogs and rear FOG. Only one on the rear. The rear fog is mounted under the rear bumper of the driver's side. So UK fogs are on the right, german on the left. They are not for illumination of road and terrain like the front fogs, but for safety so the car behind you can see your vehicle. Some drivers use the fronts as driving lights, so they can be turned on, while the rear is left off. This may have been changed in later models, only allowing both to be on like sbrocketts. I have a 79 320/6 with two different switches.

  4. #4
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    77-79 had twin switches, 80-83 had only one.
    Tom D

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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom D View Post
    77-79 had twin switches, 80-83 had only one.
    I pulled a wire harness along with the switch from a late model German 323i and I believe it has a single, Two Position or Two click switch.

    Bimmerod
    :

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bimmerod View Post
    I pulled a wire harness along with the switch from a late model German 323i and I believe it has a single, Two Position or Two click switch.

    Bimmerod
    :
    OK - this is helpful. However, it appears my switch only has one "stop" or "pull."

    This car is having the front fogs added now, so it wasn't ordered that way from the factory. Should we be hunting for a switch with a two-"click" operation, once for fronts and once for rears?

    If so, can anyone advise on a possible part number? I believe the current switch only has one "pull."

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by sgtfury40 View Post
    There are separate switches for front fogs and rear FOG. Only one on the rear. The rear fog is mounted under the rear bumper of the driver's side. So UK fogs are on the right, german on the left. They are not for illumination of road and terrain like the front fogs, but for safety so the car behind you can see your vehicle. Some drivers use the fronts as driving lights, so they can be turned on, while the rear is left off. This may have been changed in later models, only allowing both to be on like sbrocketts. I have a 79 320/6 with two different switches.
    as far as I know, the rear fog usually takes the form of a brighter bulb housed inside the tail light lens. at least from what I've observed

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by sbcrockett View Post
    as far as I know, the rear fog usually takes the form of a brighter bulb housed inside the tail light lens. at least from what I've observed
    Yes. Early cars had the fog mounted below the rear bumper. Late cars they were integrated into the tail lamp assembly.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by K20RI211 View Post
    ........ my switch only has one "stop" or "pull." .........with a two-"click" operation, .....switch only has one "pull."......
    the correct terminology for what you're trying to say is ... DPDT. DPDT means double pole - double throw, which in layman's terms means a two circuit - two position switch.

    the part number you're looking for is 61311356088, but it is no longer available. if i was you i would start a search on ebay germany, the USA would not have gotten this switch.
    Tom D

    77 e21 - m42
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  10. #10
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    something else about this switch, i have personally never used it so .....

    if the rear and the front fogs are powered from two different fuses from the factory then the switch will have 4 terminals, two for input and two for output. a switch like this can be a double pole-single throw (DPST) or a DPDT.

    if the rear and front fogs are powered by the same fuse then the switch will have at least 3 terminals, one for input and two outputs.

    some DPDT actually have 4 terminals although one of them does nothing. do not buy a 2 terminal switch, it would be the same that you already have.
    Tom D

    77 e21 - m42
    88 e30m3
    04 330 dinan3
    84 r1000rt
    02 r1150rs
    all of them gray
    14 f800gsa - red headed stepchild!

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom D View Post
    something else about this switch, i have personally never used it so .....

    if the rear and the front fogs are powered from two different fuses from the factory then the switch will have 4 terminals, two for input and two for output. a switch like this can be a double pole-single throw (DPST) or a DPDT.

    if the rear and front fogs are powered by the same fuse then the switch will have at least 3 terminals, one for input and two outputs.

    some DPDT actually have 4 terminals although one of them does nothing. do not buy a 2 terminal switch, it would be the same that you already have.
    Tom, I was just about to post this. I found two eBay listings for the part # you referenced but they seem to show only two terminals:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/332684077454

    Is there a chance the European models had the rear fogs activated if the fronts were on?

    - - - Updated - - -

    I think I may have figured it out. The other switch RealOEM references is part # 61311359083.

    Looks like a four terminal switch:

    Attachment 640469

  12. #12
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    nothing says you can't wire it so both the front and rear comes on at the same time using your existing switch, unless its not legal in the states.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by K20RI211 View Post
    I found two eBay listings for the part # you referenced but they seem to show only two terminals: https://www.ebay.com/itm/332684077454
    the switch shown in your link is a 3 terminal switch. this could mean several things, like maybe its 1 input (single fuse), 2 circuits, 2 throws. or it could be 1 input, 2 circuits, 1 throw, email him and ask.
    Tom D

    77 e21 - m42
    88 e30m3
    04 330 dinan3
    84 r1000rt
    02 r1150rs
    all of them gray
    14 f800gsa - red headed stepchild!

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom D View Post
    nothing says you can't wire it so both the front and rear comes on at the same time using your existing switch, unless its not legal in the states.

    - - - Updated - - -



    the switch shown in your link is a 3 terminal switch. this could mean several things, like maybe its 1 input (single fuse), 2 circuits, 2 throws. or it could be 1 input, 2 circuits, 1 throw, email him and ask.

    Got my answer. It is the 083 switch I posted above:

    the 088 switch is for vehicles with rear foglamp only (standard equipment)
    The 088 switch has only two positions, on & off, and only two electrical connectors.
    With the optional front foglamps added, the indicated switch is different, ending in 083

  14. #14
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    and there you have it .......
    Tom D

    77 e21 - m42
    88 e30m3
    04 330 dinan3
    84 r1000rt
    02 r1150rs
    all of them gray
    14 f800gsa - red headed stepchild!

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