Surprise! No fog lights.

[2012_135i]

I've been getting acquainted with my new 135i over the past few weeks. Actually reading the manual and everything.
So I'm going through the various functions of the light control switch in the manual and checking out what they do in the car. Hmmm. Can't seem to find the fog light control. Let's see...the manual shows it to be right.. here. But it ain't. Just a plastic cover where the push button switch is supposed to be. Damn, what's up? I go around to the front of the car and look more closely for the fog lights. Damn, as far as I can see, they're not there. So I do a google search and check this forum and it turns out the 135i is not shipped with fog lights because their location would interfere with cooling. Well, cooling is a lot more important than fog lights, especially in Hawaii where fog is not an issue anyway. But I always liked fog lights just for the cool factor. No, I'm not one of those guys who drive around with their fog lights on all the time, but I do like to light them up once in a while. I've seen threads on doing after market refits, the options, pros and cons, etc., but I'm not really interested in that. And maybe they would mess up the clean look of the 135i's front end anyway. But I thought it interesting the manual would go into detail on their location and use and not mention that it was for the 128i only. What do other 135i drivers think? Do you miss not having fog lights or wish you had them? Were you surprised the car came without them? I never really thought about it. I just assumed they came with the car, and yes, I know what happens when you "assume".

[KingOfJericho]

You can probably retrofit the kit from a 128i M Sport if you're not so concerned about the cooling. It *does* still vent to the brakes. I LOVE the look of the front bumper with the fogs:

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

You can probably retrofit the kit from a 128i M Sport if you're not so concerned about the cooling. It *does* still vent to the brakes. I LOVE the look of the front bumper with the fogs:...

Yes. Very nice. Thanks for the pic.

[dko3tgk]

I for one live in an area where fog lights are almost required. San Francisco. And I'm still desperate for an electrical solution to wiring aftermarket fog lights to the euro switch with the fog light buttons. But no one seems to have figured it out.

If you want lights down there just for looks. Check out the LED strips like in the new Audi's and Mercedes. ECS Tuning and a number of other online shops sell kits to install those strips. Even good Hella products. And those narrow strips won't block much air intake at all.

Or if its all about aesthetics, i think the thread about cutting out that grill in the corners looks pretty cool.
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=515586

[Mister RK]

One of the main reasons I chose a 128i over the 135i was because of the fog lights. Don't know why, but it's a must have for me.

[KingOfJericho]

No offense but that's how my mom would pick a car...

[Sylon]

Not to be mean, but at no point when you were purchasing the car did you happen to look at the front of it? Kinda hard not to notice the empty spaces down in the bumper.

[1SerieStud]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

No offense but that's how my mom would pick a car...

sorry but this made me laugh!

[Impervious]

Originally Posted by Mister RK

One of the main reasons I chose a 128i over the 135i was because of the fog lights. Don't know why, but it's a must have for me.

[zamboni]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

You can probably retrofit the kit from a 128i M Sport if you're not so concerned about the cooling. It *does* still vent to the brakes. I LOVE the look of the front bumper with the fogs:

Good looking.

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by Sylon

Not to be mean, but at no point when you were purchasing the car did you happen to look at the front of it? Kinda hard not to notice the empty spaces down in the bumper.

I know what you mean so no offense taken and I do feel a bit sheepish about it in retrospect. Fog lights aren't something I specifically look for so just didn't notice one way or the other at the time. The manual is what got me wondering about it.

[Xios135]

Originally Posted by Mister RK

One of the main reasons I chose a 128i over the 135i was because of the fog lights. Don't know why, but it's a must have for me.

Are you serious????

[dko3tgk]

Originally Posted by Mister RK

One of the main reasons I chose a 128i over the 135i was because of the fog lights. Don't know why, but it's a must have for me.

I went for engine before fog lights. But I've never felt the need for fog lights growing up in the northeast US, except during heavy snowstorms. I'm sure most of the detractors don't live in heavy fog areas.
Now that I'm in foggy SF, I'm looking for a way to add fog lights. I considered a 128 for fogs, but I couldn't pass up the DCT and large engine of the 135.

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by dko3tgk

I went for engine before fog lights. But I've never felt the need for fog lights growing up in the northeast US, except during heavy snowstorms. I'm sure most of the detractors don't live in heavy fog areas.
Now that I'm in foggy SF, I'm looking for a way to add fog lights. I considered a 128 for fogs, but I couldn't pass up the DCT and large engine of the 135.

I was looking for the performance aspect of the 135i over the 128i as well and that's what drove my decision over everything else. Wasn't really paying any attention about fog lights and if I had been and been fully cognizant that the 135i didn't have them it wouldn't have made any difference for me anyway. That being said, if I lived in SF or a similarly fog plagued area I'd either have chosen the 128i or figured out an after market refit. I used to live in the northeast as well (Philly and Hartford) and the occasional bad fogs we would get made me wish I had fog lights.

[Pangloss]

If you need them, it's understandable. But fog lights as a point of style make about as much sense today as tail fins. Welcome to the 21st century.

[fusion01]

Excuse my rant but I am a livid hater of fog lights. Not sure how much of an issue it is where you reside, but here in my neck of the woods many tend to drive during both the day and night for the show-off factor and I think it just lame. At night it's especially dangerous as it will throw many off whom have poor eyesight when faced with 4 bright lights, vs 2. When it's raining it's even more intense, with fogs reflecting light off the road. I see most of the fog light use coming from those in big Toyota's etc (people carriers from and goods in the rear). It's a small dick syndrome to me, unless the owner is completely unaware in which case READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL. Oh yeah, and it's illegal to run your fogs during the day here. You go through more bulbs, spend more money on replacements and your old ones end up in landfill adding toxins to the environment! Have I provided all the fog haters with enough ammo? I reckon

And to add lastly, I truly do not believe the 135i needs fogs due to the effectiveness of Xenons. I've been through extremely heavy fog and made it through without a scratch. If they were a pre-requisite for safety (Xenons ineffective), BMW would have had to have added them, or surely face huge lawsuits.

[chrisN]

I've never been blinded or thrown off by a oncoming car with fog lights on in my life.

[Carolinagirl]

Originally Posted by chrisN

I've never been blinded or thrown off by a oncoming car with fog lights on in my life.

+1

[P1]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

You can probably retrofit the kit from a 128i M Sport if you're not so concerned about the cooling. It *does* still vent to the brakes. I LOVE the look of the front bumper with the fogs:

Damn, that looks amazing.

[fullboost]

Originally Posted by chrisN

I've never been blinded or thrown off by a oncoming car with fog lights on in my life.

Same here.

Also, I live in a foggy area and have owned a few different cars with fog lights. They seem to be next to useless to me. I didn't realize that my car didn't have foglights until like the 3rd or 4th day I owned it.

[2012_135i]

Originally Posted by chrisN

I've never been blinded or thrown off by a oncoming car with fog lights on in my life.

Ditto. Other driver's fogs have never been an issue for me. Inconsiderate use of high beams, now that's another thing.

[KingOfJericho]

Unless they're aimed improperly or you're albino, fog lights should not be blinding at all.