Continuing the gloss black theme

StuBeeDoo · Post by **StuBeeDoo** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 8:34 pm

Something I've been meaning to do for a while........

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Last week, one of the foglights got attacked by a low-flying stone. Now, factory-fit front fogs aren't fit for purpose, IMHO. My car has adaptive xenons which are teamed with specific fog/cornering lights which are over three-times the price of standard fogs. Being tight, I resent paying for anything I don't use. So, I bought the cheaper foglight and wrapped them both - as they never get used.

I expect what I have done is going to be akin to Marmite............ But, let's face it - the "inner headlight" is just a black dummy.

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 9:03 pm

I’ve never found BMWs front fogs to be very good either, except cars fitted as standard with LED lamps. I really only use them just to give better warning to oncoming traffic in day or night. Oddly the i4 doesn’t have them as a separate units (or a switch for them). First car I’ve had since the 1980s without them.

jaynana · Post by **jaynana** » Sun Aug 13, 2023 9:17 pm

post some pics of the i4 pls

sapphireblack · Post by **sapphireblack** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 5:50 am

Assuming the replacement has the same lens therefore looks the same i wouldn't have covered them myself. Two 'black holes" look like aomething is missing. And as X5Sport says, they may not help you see but they would help you better be seen to other vehicles

jaynana · Post by **jaynana** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 6:50 am

Well the front fogs aren’t about being seen though, the headlights do that well. Not that I’d have done the ‘black hole’ treatment. It is indeed a marmite case I guess

StuBeeDoo · Post by **StuBeeDoo** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 6:53 am

sapphireblack wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 5:50 amAssuming the replacement has the same lens therefore looks the same i wouldn't have covered them myself.

The replacement doesn't look the same.

If it did, I might have thought twice about wrapping. In the fullness of time I may well throw caution to the wind and shell-out for a matching pair of the correct fogs for the car. ........But, as I posted above, although I'm not averse to spending I don't like having to buy stuff I don't/won't use - particularly when it's not legally required.

sapphireblack wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2023 5:50 amTwo 'black holes" look like something is missing

Dummy vents, anyone??

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 8:48 am

jaynana wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 9:17 pm post some pics of the i4 pls

Not too much gloss black - or ‘Piano Black’ as BMW call it. It’s OK against this body colour, but I’m not a fan, especially inside (this has a CF interior).

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jaynana · Post by **jaynana** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 9:20 am

Wow

, love it!

Would like to talk to you about the experiment sometime. How long have u had it?

Not a fan of the BMW single panel display btw, although this is unfortunately where the world is going.. find it being priority for tech beyond driver ergonomics.

Btw I’m on hols and had a horrible experience with an electric rental - first day it slowed charging at around 90% which I believe was normal. Second day it stopped charging at 50%! Third day also it wouldn’t go beyond 50%! Thankfully there was an Avis nearby and the guy decided to try for himself. It wouldn’t charge as it was already at 50%,Got a replacement petrol!

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 12:09 pm

Brand new 27 April.

Fortunately with this trim the externals are gloss black. The non ‘M’ version gets an odd grey exterior and doesn’t look right at all on it. CF is an option (silly money) but this black works. Many in the US are wrapping their grey with gloss black now.

You don’t get a choice with the display unit as all new BMWs other than true M cars will have it. It’s not bad, but I’m still a dials and needles fan. All the key data is also available in the HUD.

jaynana · Post by **jaynana** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 6:41 pm

The gloss black looks nice

you’re sticking to the red colour theme i see

. Personally I’d have gone for a beige or white interior (my 640i had ivory white and loved it). Car looks amazing

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 7:26 pm

Red? Red!! That’s BMW’s best Sunset Orange I’ll have you know. If you want M seats you can only have black or cognac. With a small person about, there’s no way I’m risking pale leather.

Red………..tsk! Goes off muttering……

jaynana · Post by **jaynana** » Mon Aug 14, 2023 7:31 pm

StuBeeDoo · Post by **StuBeeDoo** » Tue Sep 19, 2023 1:15 pm

Getting back on topic......

I didn't really mind the wrap on the mismatched fog/cornering lights, it served a purpose in disguising the mismatch. However, I decided that I'd go for matching pair of proper fog lights, rather than the factory-fitted dual-purpose lamps that came as part of the adaptive headlights package.

This morning, I've been to a local indy who has coded-out the stupid cornering light function. It's something I've wanted done since I first bought the car 5+ years ago. He relieved me of £90 for the privilege, but that and the cost of a pair of fog lights was still less than the cost of a single dual-purpose unit.

sapphireblack · Post by **sapphireblack** » Tue Sep 19, 2023 1:35 pm

So you've found some non OE fog lamps that fit the original apertures?

Thought about having my cornering fogs disabled, I'd prefer good LED DRLs

StuBeeDoo · Post by **StuBeeDoo** » Tue Sep 19, 2023 1:59 pm

sapphireblack wrote: ↑Tue Sep 19, 2023 1:35 pmSo you've found some non OE fog lamps that fit the original apertures?

Yes. BMW actually use the same lamps in the F15, 16, 25, 26 and 48. I got mine from my usual source.

Strangely, BMW fitted E70 fog lamps to other cars as well, but the E71 units are unique. My supplier doesn't list them.

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