New Fog Lights-They Don't work

[NewfieMZ3]

I recently installed a set of new fog lamps on my 1988 318i, simply plug in under front bumper, but they are not working. The car originally did not have any, is it that I also need to fix a fuse or relay. My owners manual is in German, so I do not know which fuse / relay is for the fogs lamps. Any suggestions?

[BadDave]

You'll need relay K8 and 2 7.5a fuses that go in slots 29 and 30

You'll also need a bouble foglight switch and the bulb for the dash cluster

HTH

[NewfieMZ3]

Thanks, that should get me there. Oddly enough, there is a factory switch in the car and there is also a light in the cluster which does work when I switch it on. I'll try the relay and fuses to see what happens....thanks again

[frogman]

is it possible that the car originally had foglamps and they were swapped at some stage for blanking plates?

[Cook318IS]

check the conections on the foglights to the car wiring. i had this problem and it was just a slightly dirty connecter

[Brianmoooore]

The warning light in the cluster is connected directly to the wire that feeds the LH foglamp, so it shouldn't light unless the switch, relay, and at least fuse 29 in place.
Canadian spec. E30 fog light wiring may be different to the UK version, (to suit local regulations), but I would doubt that that part is different.

[NewfieMZ3]

It is a eurospec e30..........I put in the K8 relay and fuses in slots 29 and 30, the lamps now work but are on and off with the main headlight switch, which is not a real big deal, but it puzzles me that I can turn off the switch and they remain on. I even removed the switch from the dash, unplugged it from the wiring harness connector, and they stayed on ......could be a fault in the wiring harness connector to the switch???........or something totally different.....

[NewfieMZ3]

Is it possible the switch I have is for something else........it appears I have two lights in the cluster, that to me look like fog lamp indicators. One with horizontal wavey lines and the other have the wavey lines tilted slightly downward..........one of these does light up with the switch..........nevertheless the fog lamps are working, I just can't turn them off at night

[Brianmoooore]

Cars have foglights at the back as well! One indicator is for the rear foglights and one is for the front. Your foglight switch should be similar in appearance to a window switch, with two buttons,but different inside. If your switch is only a single button, then it's the switch for the rear lights only.
Check if the bulbs are fitted in the rear clusters.
There are different versions of relay K8 for different markets. Check, (VIN into ETK), that you have the correct one.

[NewfieMZ3]

That's very interesting, I have never heard tell of rear fog lights. It IS a single switch.......and that may explain the mystery of the empty socket in the rear right cluster with a blanking plate in the lense, while the left cluster has all bulbs affixed and no blanking plate.

But how does that explain the front foglights working without a seperate switch.........they come on and off with the headlight switch.........is that normal?

[Alyman]

I think rear (and front) foglights only work with the headlights on, so there must be some kind of a connection there to let the fogs know when the headlights are on. This has probably gotten a bit confused now that there are two sets of foglghts connected to a foglight switch which should only operate the rears.

With the double switch in place, you should find that the light on the dash for rear foglights is red and the light for the fronts is green.

[NewfieMZ3]

I apologize for the confusion, Let me clarify..........the front foglights come on with the headlight switch exclusively, there is no other switch controlling them apparently, they go off and on with the main headlight switch only. Normally , as you stated, you would have a seperate switch for the foglamps which could trun them on and off only when the headlights are on, this is not the case with this car.........strange......it is a eurospec car imported from Germany two years ago

The switch I do have, appears to be for the aforementioned rear lights.......which I will check this evening when I get home.........never thought about looking at the ass of the car for foglamps....

Thanks again guys for all input.......very valuable site, especially for a eurospec car in Canada. Dealers/Garages haven't got a f"n clue how to deal with it because the "spec is not on there system", heaven forbid they try and go out of there way for customer service.......after waiting several weeks for them to try and source parts, I finally got onto Eorucarparts, and had everything I needed in two days, even with air freight to Canada it was cheaper than most quotes I recieved domestically

[Lugz]

delighted i found this post, ive the same issues i fear to tackle with my e30 320i

fog lights connected etc, only have single switch on dash for rear fogs/motorway lights,

can i do same as the whole procedure above with my 320i, 90 reg.. thanx so much, i been hunting this info down for a few days, great to see it up here in front of me, so any help is appreciated,
a k8 is needed for my fuse box, but do i use the same fuses 29 & 30?

[Brianmoooore]

Fuses for the front fogs are 29 and 30, both 7.5A.
Fuse for the rear foglights is 15, also 7.5A
Relay K8 will be needed, but there are differences in fog light wiring for different countries because of differing local regulations, and, I think differences in the specification of the relay.

[NewfieMZ3]

I used the set-up above with the single switch and the fog lights work solely with the headlight switch.....going to install the double switch ASAP

[Lugz]

ok, i realy appreciate this help, i want to do same Newfie, seperate independent switch, now, did u just put a standard relay into the K8 socket? i heading to get one soon, & did the lights come on with the parking dips or the low beams..? Online now if u can get bak to me... big thanx to all tho, im lost at this & want it done right..

[Brianmoooore]

UK spec K8 relay is a double pole 5 pin type (not change over). US spec K8 is a single pole four pin relay, but with a diode connected in series with the coil.

[Lugz]

just writing that down, i will contine to car & see how this works out, ill be back in around an hour or so, ill post up hopefully good news, thanx for this pple, i really appreciate it..

[NewfieMZ3]

Mine is a German / UK spec and I used and standard 5 pin from the automotive store, what I believe to be a single pole, but Brianmooore is correct I think in using a double pole, and this , i think, will be needed to allow the two-way switch?, nevertheless mine are working but with the low beam engaged......not just the parking lights

[Lugz]

ok, took the details from above, it was like the car new i had the right info with me haha worked perfect, ty so much, brian , newfie & bad dave, it turned out the fuses wer already n the fusebox inputs 29 & 30., 10a, last question, shud i leave the 10a or replace them with the 7.5a mentioned above..?

lights come on on low beams, but i will eventually install a double switch, for now, im delighted, i spent days trawling the forums for sound information, and i got it here, again, my sincerest thanx...

[BadDave]

I'd say replace the fuses and fit the proper 7.5 amp ones

[Lugz]

dave, ive that ready to do, i didn take the car out, i just admired the lights, i have the 7.5A so ill take ur advice & drop them in, thank u again. i prob will plague u for the proper way to put in a double switch when the time comes, but for now, my e30 thanx ya... (so do i) ty...

[Brianmoooore]

. i prob will plague u for the proper way to put in a double switch when the time comes

Pull out old switch. Pull off connector. Push connector onto new switch. Push in new switch.