[JimCash]

Has anyone found a coding option to allow the foglights to be on "without" having to have the headlights (low beam) to be on as well?

The user manuals for the 5 & 7 series say the fogs can be on with only the side markers (parking) - but the 3 series manual says they can only be on with the headlights - and indeed it is that way on my 2014 F31

Sort of NOT the best for dense fog operation.


Any input appreciated.

Cheers
Jim Cash

[mrdirosa]

+1

-Michael

[YMB-M3-J2]

You can do this without coding...if you manually select the "parking lights" on the selector you should be able to turn on the fogs without the headlights. You cant leave it in "auto" mode.

[JimCash]

Well it "should" work the way you describe with only the parking lights - BUT - it does not.

With the light switch in manual mode (parking lamps on) hitting the fog lamp switch does nothing. If I manually turn on the healights then I can activate the fog lights. But as soon as I turn the headlight switch back to parking only the fogs go off.

Thanks for your response - I guess it is time for another feedback to BMW - in this case I don't think this is a safe design.

Cheers
Jim Cash

[hsk1610]

Just checked my car and I can turn on the fogs with just the parking lights, to my surprise. Though my car is coded for the rear fogs as well and my headlight switch is the European switch with the rear fog light switch below the front fog switch.

[JimCash]

Thanks for that info - now I am wondering if it is just in NA that you have to have the headlights on with the fogs - but that would make no sence because you can have the fogs without the headlights in the 5 & 7 series (at least according to the users manuals.

Anyone in UK or Europe able to help with this one?

Cheers
Jim Cash

[x5mad]

There must be some way to code this as I too can have it on parking lights with fogs on.

I have coded my rings to be on 100% brightness on the parking light setting, it usually dims to about 8%.

[skw]

Is this the same Jim Cash from the old Roadfly e39 days circa '01/'02? If so, your posts were invaluable over there. It's a pleasure crossing paths again. I too would like to be able to run the fogs w/o the low beams. Was told by a product specialists at the Performance Center this is not possible. However, just today as I pulled out of my street, a black 4 series coupe going in the opposite direction had on fogs w/ just the parking lights.

[ktula]

I found and tested the code to enable fog lights while the light switch is at the parking lights position.

It's in the FEM_BODY module.
NSW_EIN_AUF_LDS_STL
Default is nicht_aktiv for the US. Just change it to aktiv and you're good to go!

The description for this, as translated by Google Translate:

specifies whether the NSW must be turned on when LDS switch in position "1"

nicht_aktiv = 0 (activation not possible, for example, in U.S. for approval)
active = 1 (activation possible)

[JimCash]

Thanks for the info that it available in other markets (Australia) and also for the coding info to enable it. Now I just have to find a local coder to do this (don't want to have to travel distances to keep codes working) or bite the bullet and get the coding stuff myself.

In answer to SKW - yes the same guy from the E39 board. And yes - I still have the 97 540. Only 168,000 kms on it and it is still looking and running like new - in fact I now find it very amusing when (non BMW) people ask me if it is a new car.

The irony of this issue about the fogs is that I used to be the guy that figured out all the electrical mods (rear fogs, etc) for the E39 - and now with coding I find it very frustrating to not be able to make my own mods. Now I simply send feedback to BMW saying how I think they should have done it :-)

Thanks again
Cheers
Jim Cash

[ktula]

You should just bite the bullet and do all the coding yourself. Having your own tools allows you to make changes whenever you feel like it.

[ipilcher]

Originally Posted by ktula

You should just bite the bullet and do all the coding yourself. Having your own tools allows you to make changes whenever you feel like it.

The big problem with that is that it involves pirating BMW's software.

[mrdirosa]

Just coded this and can verify it works perfectly!

BTW - after you've updated the CAFD, don't hit code, hit code FDL instead. Ended up having to recode all of my settings in FEM_BODY, plus the fogs (again). Even more of a pain when you have to recode the adaptive high beams. 5 minutes turned into an hour. Ugh...

-Michael

[ktula]

Originally Posted by mrdirosa

BTW - after you've updated the CAFD, don't hit code, hit code FDL instead. Ended up having to recode all of my settings in FEM_BODY, plus the fogs (again). Even more of a pain when you have to recode the adaptive high beams. 5 minutes turned into an hour. Ugh...

Ouch! Glad you got it working though.

[shawnsheridan]

Originally Posted by mrdirosa

Just coded this and can verify it works perfectly!

BTW - after you've updated the CAFD, don't hit code, hit code FDL instead. Ended up having to recode all of my settings in FEM_BODY, plus the fogs (again). Even more of a pain when you have to recode the adaptive high beams. 5 minutes turned into an hour. Ugh...

-Michael

Haha..FDL Code vs. VO Code...big difference.

Just be glad you did not mistakenly hit Code Default Values, or you would have had major problems.

[skw]

Originally Posted by JimCash

Thanks for the info that it available in other markets (Australia) and also for the coding info to enable it. Now I just have to find a local coder to do this (don't want to have to travel distances to keep codes working) or bite the bullet and get the coding stuff myself.

In answer to SKW - yes the same guy from the E39 board. And yes - I still have the 97 540. Only 168,000 kms on it and it is still looking and running like new - in fact I now find it very amusing when (non BMW) people ask me if it is a new car.

The irony of this issue about the fogs is that I used to be the guy that figured out all the electrical mods (rear fogs, etc) for the E39 - and now with coding I find it very frustrating to not be able to make my own mods. Now I simply send feedback to BMW saying how I think they should have done it :-)

Thanks again
Cheers
Jim Cash

Definately a pleasure to run into you again. Your words and advice on the e39's were/are solid gold. My e39 528i has been gone since 12/2008. Not just the electrical mods but almost everything in general on the vehicles of that timeframe (e39, e46, e38, e53) was more of a mechanical nature. All of our mods involved nuts, bolts, hardware/modules, running wires, etc. Fast forward to today w/ the F3x vehicles, besides wheels & body kits, all other "mods" are software changes/coding.

[CHCCubs]

What year is your car? Reason I ask is that I am able to run my fogs with the parking lights on my 2013. I actually discovered this worked on my car by fluke as I once had my parking lights on and then turned on the fogs when it started to drizzle as I forgot my lights weren't in the auto position. When I pulled up behind a stopped car I realized just the fogs and parking lights were on.

[mrdirosa]

Originally Posted by CHCCubs

What year is your car? Reason I ask is that I am able to run my fogs with the parking lights on my 2013. I actually discovered this worked on my car by fluke as I once had my parking lights on and then turned on the fogs when it started to drizzle as I forgot my lights weren't in the auto position. When I pulled up behind a stopped car I realized just the fogs and parking lights were on.

I think it is just a 2014 thing, and maybe just a US 2014 thing.

Either way, fixed now

[JimCash]

The car on which it is not working is the new F31 328ixT Canadian version - 2014 model year (Nov 18 2013 build)

Perhaps it is a year and or country issue. The user's manual definately does state the the fogs will only be on with the headlights but not with the high beams. IF the light swith is set to auto then turning on the fogs brings on the headlghts as well.

HOWEVER - if it were a country issue only then it sould also apply to the 5 & 7 series - but for those the manual says the fogs can be on with only the side marking (parking) lamps.
So it is a mystery - time to go back and officially ask BMW what is going on.

Cheers
Jim Cash

[Tim@codemybimmer]

Originally Posted by CHCCubs

What year is your car? Reason I ask is that I am able to run my fogs with the parking lights on my 2013. I actually discovered this worked on my car by fluke as I once had my parking lights on and then turned on the fogs when it started to drizzle as I forgot my lights weren't in the auto position. When I pulled up behind a stopped car I realized just the fogs and parking lights were on.

Given the interest in this topic, I tried it on my Canadian 2013 3er and it works too with just the parking lamps.

[skw]

Originally Posted by Timbits93

Given the interest in this topic, I tried it on my Canadian 2013 3er and it works too with just the parking lamps.

Interesting, my vehicle is a US 2014 MY14, build date 3/14 in Germany. I'm curious to see how it works on a MY15 vehicle. Is it a fluke w/ the '14's or did BMW make a change ffor the vehicles 2014 on? Germany vs S.A. build? Either way, we know it can be fixed by coding.