[schnellwagen]

Hello everyone,
I have been doing some research on enabling the rear foglight on my NA spec F30 that BMW decided to disable (because apparently Americans and Canadians are too stupid to know how to use the rear foglight?), and I just wanted to check in with the experts to make sure I won't ruin my car by doing this.

For the physical part, I plan to pop the button out with a butter knife and use a boxcutter to get rid of the three stoppers keeping it in place. Then, I plan to pop it back in. Most tutorials I have seen involve removing the vent and removing the entire light control panel to pop out the button, but a few people say that is not necessary and that the button can be removed without taking out the whole panel.

As for the coding, I have done some coding before so I am familiar with the process. I found the coding info and wrote it down step by step on an index card. That should not be an issue for me. On top of that, I can speak enough German to understand expert mode on Bimmercode

All that really concerns me is the possibility for some sort of unexpected failure. Assuming I go forward with the physical solution I mentioned above and I code the car using coding data obtained from other owners who have coded it, is there really anything that I have to watch out for? Any "gotchas" that I should be aware of before I do this mod?
Thank you for your advice.

[AMG KLR]

Originally Posted by schnellwagen

Hello everyone,
I have been doing some research on enabling the rear foglight on my NA spec F30 that BMW decided to disable (because apparently Americans and Canadians are too stupid to know how to use the rear foglight?), and I just wanted to check in with the experts to make sure I won't ruin my car by doing this.

For the physical part, I plan to pop the button out with a butter knife and use a boxcutter to get rid of the three stoppers keeping it in place. Then, I plan to pop it back in. Most tutorials I have seen involve removing the vent and removing the entire light control panel to pop out the button, but a few people say that is not necessary and that the button can be removed without taking out the whole panel.

As for the coding, I have done some coding before so I am familiar with the process. I found the coding info and wrote it down step by step on an index card. That should not be an issue for me. On top of that, I can speak enough German to understand expert mode on Bimmercode

All that really concerns me is the possibility for some sort of unexpected failure. Assuming I go forward with the physical solution I mentioned above and I code the car using coding data obtained from other owners who have coded it, is there really anything that I have to watch out for? Any "gotchas" that I should be aware of before I do this mod?
Thank you for your advice.

None. I found the light switch to be a pain in the ass when removing.

As far as not needing to remove I have no comment on that as I have never heard this.

When coding don't forget you need to code FEM_BODY and REM. The box cutter for the 3 tabs should be fine, I ended up using a dremel since a box cutter was tedious for mine but again all should be fine. Just don't damage your trim which is unlikely to happen in the first place

[Billfitz]

There is a thread detailing exactly how to enable the rear fog light on US cars. Some searching should turn it up. I bet there's a youtube video as well. Anything that can be put on youtube usually is.

[chowser51]

It's easy to pop the vent out to get to the switch. And it pops right back in. I did the mod on my E90 and it worked great for years. I did it on my F33 and after a month, I got sick of the blank button so I imported a eurospec switch so the rear fog light switch would light up.

[auburnf30x]

What an interesting feature I’d never heard of...

For those in the dark, as Billfitz mentioned, this YouTube video was helpful.

For those unfamiliar with the feature (like me 30 minutes ago), here’s what it does. Photos processed with the same settings.

Off:



On:



Close:



And the new dash light you get:



Pop the panels, shave three tabs, code, and done. Interesting feature. I can definitely see it being useful in fog or heavy rain.

[chowser51]

I coded mine incorrectly. lol



euro switch

[joesid]

It's a very straightforward process. I think I did mine the same day I bought my car haha. The tabs on the button are a very soft plastic, so I was able to use a razor blade to slice them off.

[BimR]

Originally Posted by auburnf30x

What an interesting feature I’d never heard of...

For those in the dark, as Billfitz mentioned, this YouTube video was helpful.

For those unfamiliar with the feature (like me 30 minutes ago), here’s what it does. Photos processed with the same settings.

Off:



On:



Close:



And the new dash light you get:



Pop the panels, shave three tabs, code, and done. Interesting feature. I can definitely see it being useful in fog or heavy rain.

Thank you! I had some version of these on my Saab (I think) but never heard on BMW. This is great info.

[SlickShift]

I modified the switch and coded the rear fogs on my 2018 FCI F32 and I'm getting the rear fog indicator in the dash, but not the actual fog lights. I coded this on my previous 2016 F32 without any issue. Not sure what I did wrong. I went back and double checked all the coding too. Anyone else have issues coding an LCI?

[learntocode]

Modifying the switch is the easy part.. However, I couldn't get it to work, coding with Esys and using ODBII connection to laptop for F32 LCI.. done successfully on previous car F30 non-LCI.

YT video describes coding using apps on smartphone but couldn't find anything with Esys & computer coding rear fogs for F32/F30 LCI.

[sgovind]

▀▄ eas | DIY: Rear Foglamp Mod https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1023817

[auburnf30x]

Originally Posted by learntocode

Modifying the switch is the easy part.. However, I couldn't get it to work, coding with Esys and using ODBII connection to laptop for F32 LCI.. done successfully on previous car F30 non-LCI.

YT video describes coding using apps on smartphone but couldn't find anything with Esys & computer coding rear fogs for F32/F30 LCI.

BimmerCode provides so much to this car in easy, DIY mods that the car is completely capable of from the factory, but is limited only by software.

If you plan on enabling blocked features, or personalizing the ones that are already available, it’s well worth the cost for ease and convenience.

[SlickShift]

Originally Posted by learntocode

Modifying the switch is the easy part.. However, I couldn't get it to work, coding with Esys and using ODBII connection to laptop for F32 LCI.. done successfully on previous car F30 non-LCI.

YT video describes coding using apps on smartphone but couldn't find anything with Esys & computer coding rear fogs for F32/F30 LCI.

I just went through one of the other rear fog light threads and it seems the F32 LCI taillights might lack the hardware for the rear fog.

Anyone in Europe able to comment whether their F32 LCI has rear fog lights from the factory? If so, different coding might be needed for our taillights.

[Gendis]

In europe it will definitly have fog lights. They're mandatory over here.
It's possible they make different tail lights for the US market

[TouringM3]

Originally Posted by chowser51

euro switch

The extra button is cool, but, ummmm, tell me more about this secondary rheostat dial, does that actually change the intensity of the fogs, and if so, is that for front, or rear, or both?

[chuckles01]

Originally Posted by TouringM3

The extra button is cool, but, ummmm, tell me more about this secondary rheostat dial, does that actually change the intensity of the fogs, and if so, is that for front, or rear, or both?

That extra dial to the left of the dash illumination dial is to adjust the headlight beam height, basically raising or lowering the beam. Pretty nifty feature, but not available on US models. I believe it's because our headlights adjust beam level automatically on startup based on the level of the car, and that switch is on cars that don't have the auto leveling. But, don't quote me on that.

[overkill1125]

Originally Posted by SlickShift

I just went through one of the other rear fog light threads and it seems the F32 LCI taillights might lack the hardware for the rear fog.

Anyone in Europe able to comment whether their F32 LCI has rear fog lights from the factory? If so, different coding might be needed for our taillights.

I just coded mine yesterday a 2019 440 using bimmercode. Change some values in expert mode and done. Here's the link!

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1410454

[SlickShift]

Originally Posted by overkill1125

I just coded mine yesterday a 2019 440 using bimmercode. Change some values in expert mode and done. Here's the link!

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1410454

Thanks for sharing! I'm going to try it this weekend.

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by SlickShift

I just went through one of the other rear fog light threads and it seems the F32 LCI taillights might lack the hardware for the rear fog.

Anyone in Europe able to comment whether their F32 LCI has rear fog lights from the factory? If so, different coding might be needed for our taillights.

The US spec (All red) DOES NOT HAVE the LEDs for the rear fog lamps.

[Livetodrive]

I modified the switch and coded my F30 today using E-Sys. It worked like a charm.

[Wires]

Originally Posted by SlickShift

Thanks for sharing! I'm going to try it this weekend.

You can also code in the "Scandinavian" DRL's. It causes the rear taillights to come on with the front DRL's (personally they should also do that from the factory).

Address the NA issue of what do you do in the fog/twilight when the auto-headlights don't kick in.

[paul e]

Originally Posted by amancuso

The US spec (All red) DOES NOT HAVE the LEDs for the rear fog lamps.

So the 440 (f32) does not have the capability but the 340 (f30) does?