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Old 11-08-2000, 09:24 AM   #1
Alex RS
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Question Driving lights???

OK, for all you smart a$$'s out there, i did do a search. First question is, what is the real differance between fog lights and driving lights? Second,what companies make driving lights that will fit our cars. I read that people have to turn off their driving lights when other cars are around. No, I what to be able to leave them on whenever my headlights are on. If anyone has pictures of them or a picture of how much they light up the road, that would be great!
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Old 11-08-2000, 09:32 AM   #2
JGard
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driving lights are lights made for just that. driving. fog lights are for bad weather. now, the technical difference, fog lights have a very wide beam, and they are generally aimed rather low. driving lights have a much more projectd beam, which means you won't blind all other cars on the road. hope this helped.
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Old 11-08-2000, 09:40 AM   #3
Subie Gal
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and funny thing is.. the Hella Black Magics are considered a driving light but it's not nice to drive with them on... hehehehehe

<IMG SRC=http://www.subiegal.com/images/My%20Car/Subie%20Westport%20_2.jpg>

j.
www.subiegal.com
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Old 11-08-2000, 09:40 AM   #4
Peaty
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Also most places it's only legal to have the fogs come on w/ low beams and driving lights and pencil beams to come on w/high beams.

Here is a good URL with some specific info on pattern differences:

http://www.overlander.com/pages_faq/...56513958350334

Peaty

[This message has been edited by Peaty (edited November 08, 2000).]
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Old 11-09-2000, 05:39 AM   #5
new2roo
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Subiegal,
HOT light setup! I'm drooling.
Gotta have it. Can you supply details?
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Old 11-09-2000, 08:28 AM   #6
Subie Gal
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Wink

hehehe
Thanks!! I PM'd you.

In WA we can have up to 4 lights on at a time... so technically I can run my headlights with 1 set of the Hella's on and it's legal... it's just not nice
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Old 11-09-2000, 10:43 AM   #7
ImprezedRS
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Well heres mine

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Old 11-09-2000, 04:21 PM   #8
Matthew Nelson
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The common school of thought is that the stock RS fog lamps suck. In the past, there has been a lot of debate as to whether the stock fog lamps are bright enough, etc.

When I purchased my Impreza RS, the first modification I tried was to re-aim my fog lamps. By manipulating the screws just behind the fog lamps and readjusting my headlights, I was able to find a really good light pattern.

In fact, I've been meaning to readjust my headlights and fog lamps lately because I keep getting high-beamed at night. In the city it isn't so bad, but on a dark highway, I think I'm blinding people.

In summary, I don't think you need to run out and purchase several hundred dollars in aftermarket foglamps. Just make better use of what you've got.

BTW - I'm in no way admonishing other members of the club (i.e.: SubieGal) for their extra fog lamp setup. They've done a tasteful job on the install and they used quality parts. Nice rides, peeps!
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Old 11-10-2000, 08:51 AM   #9
ttoversteer
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I'm also having the problem of being "brighted" at night when I run with my fogs on or not, but usually with them on. However, I think it has more to do with the size of the lamps and brightness than with the aim.
Just two nights ago after being brighted, I did a check on the aim of all my lights, and they are definitely aimed low(My fogs are aimed a bit lower than my mains, creating a really full light pattern.)
I think the stock lights are brighter on our cars(Never bright enough, eh Chuck??? ) than they are on other vehicles; or mebby that's just a result of beam pattern. I have a couple other friends who drive scoobs, and they too get brighted often.
I am leaving my lights at the current settings; otherwise they don't project far enough ahead for me; always on the lookout for vennison!

EDIT: Oh yeah. I am planning on installing driving lights for even better and further reaching illumination on dark, empty roads. (IE-Vermont/Canada at night.)

Drive smooth,

-Tom

[This message has been edited by ttoversteer (edited November 10, 2000).]
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Old 11-10-2000, 09:43 AM   #10
Matthew Nelson
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I'm not sure, and to be honest, I don't really care whether other drivers think my headlights/fog lamps are too bright. I mean, when I see someone approaching me with really bright head lights, I don't automatically stare at the front of their car. I look off to the side of the road until the pass.

Besides, with all the rumors of gang violence and road rage (you flash your high-beams at someone and they're gonna hunt you down like some kind of animal), I just don't let it bother me. If other drivers want to flicker their brights, I let 'em and don't respond.
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Old 11-11-2000, 12:29 AM   #11
FatChanceTi
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These are XT Pro 80s, Pencil Beams, 120W.
not street legal. If you aim them carefully they're very effective. But mounted where mine are they are of NO help at all in fog.....



RP
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Old 11-11-2000, 11:19 AM   #12
Reiflex
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Ryan, ... It's called soap & water :P

I'm with Matt. If someone flashes me I check to see if my brights are on. If not, whatever. By the time they flash me, 2 seconds later they're past me, out-of-sight ,out-of-mind...Next please.

I live is an urban area (Seattle), were there are plenty of well lit streets. I've done the Fog/Driving lamp mod and aimed them high. Majority of the time I just drive with the Fog lamps on and see just fine. I pass a few cops daily and have never been pullover once because of it , (guess they're big and bright enought that they think they're just low headlights). But I know of a couple people who have been pulled over and giving warnings for beign too bright when driving with their head & fog lights on.

-Reiflex
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Old 11-11-2000, 08:48 PM   #13
GREEN HORNET
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Ryan that looks pretty good. How did you mount those? Did you just drill through the bumpercover and all or what? Anyway, it looks awesome and who cares if it doesnt help in the fog. If it isn't foggy once you turn those on it will be daylight once again. Very sweet.
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Old 11-13-2000, 05:17 AM   #14
FatChanceTi
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1. yup it's dirty. I have to travel two different dirt roads to get to ANYWHERE from my house.

2. It was damn tricky mounting them there., first I had to drill the bumper, then remove enough foam from behind the bumper to mount VERY large washers under the fibreglass supporting/distributing the load of the light. The bumper is not the best mounting platform for something like this, so you have to reinforce it. When I get off my lazy butt I'm gonna work up something more rigid......

I still get some beam dance due to the inherent flexi-ness of the bumper, but it's not awful. It's also held up ok for over two years and two winters, but I wash my car by hand and don't use those auto-car washes either.....

RP
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Old 11-13-2000, 08:24 AM   #15
Jude DeMeis
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Lightbulb

Ryan,

Don't waste your time trying to reinforce the mounts to eliminate "beam dance"- that's probably not the problem. The lights are simply too tall and flexible. What you should do to solve the problem (see any rally car) is to fasten the top of each lamp to the car with a thin metal strut. This does a much better job keeping the lamp from jiggling.
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Old 11-13-2000, 05:34 PM   #16
Fido
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I'm looking into getting a pair of extra driving lights, too...Besides, I think it looks cool Not that my headlights and fogs aren't bright enough (never enough light!), but at times it's just inadequate.
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Old 11-14-2000, 05:27 AM   #17
Rickd
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I will try linking to a pic of my car on the members section. I'm not very good at this so if it doesn't work, go look for me in the Manitoba, Canada section.



I'm an idiot, can't get it to work.



[This message has been edited by Rickd (edited November 15, 2000).]
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Old 11-15-2000, 07:38 PM   #18
Dolphin Overton
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Thumbs up

Mr. Nelson is right. Just re-aim your stock fog lights first and then deside if you need auxillary lighting. The stock lights work great with low beams but with many deer around on dark country roads I will probably get the PIAA kit from SUBARUPARTS.com. 120 watt pencil beam and will mount in factory position.
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Old 11-16-2000, 02:24 AM   #19
Fitz
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I swapped out my fog lights for Hella 500's. The price was right and they have a better beam pattern than the stock fog lights. They also come with plastic shields for all those days you feel like bombing down a dirt road or two.

Fitz




[This message has been edited by Fitz (edited November 16, 2000).]
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Old 11-20-2000, 08:43 AM   #20
Matthew Nelson
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I just have to report this incident!

Last night, I'm driving home on a 30-mph residential street and I'm following a Ford compact pick-up (older Ranger, I think). We both pull up to an four-way stop light. The Ford pick-up winds up in the right lane (because the driver's going straight), and I end up beside it in the left lane (because I'm turning left). I noticed it, but I guess it didn't really concern me that the pick-up is sitting back from the intersection, as if they're another vehicle in front of it, only there wasn't.

Well, when my Impreza comes to a full stop, I hear a horn honking. I look to my right at the Ford pick-up and the driver (a woman in her mid-fifties) is waving at me to roll my window down.

Usually, I wouldn't do anything remotely this stupid. I guess I figured an older woman probably isn't going to car-jack me, or something.

When my window is down, the woman hollers at me. This is the tune of our dialog:

Woman: "Did you know that your racing lights are on?"

Matthew Nelson: "Well, yeah."

Woman: "Those things are awfully bright. You shouldn't have them on."

Matthew Nelson: "Oh yeah? They're legal, lady."

Woman: "You need to turn them off, because they're too bright."

Matthew Nelson: "Like I said, they're legal. Otherwise, I'd have police pulling me over all the time."

At this point, the traffic light turns green and I pull away from the intersection. The woman seemed to want to discuss this further, but since she didn't offer to buy me coffee, the discussion was over.

Now, what confuses me is that I just re-aimed my headlights and foglamps ealier last week. I thought that maybe they were projecting too much light in other drivers' eyes.

According to this woman, I guess I did a crappy job.
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Old 11-20-2000, 10:54 AM   #21
ttoversteer
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Don't worry about how your lights are aimed, if you know they are aimed correctly. I'm always getting brighted when I drive with my fogs, and they are pointed at the ground. I have a feeling that most people think they are too big, and should not be on when there is oncoming traffic. Well, I'd rather be able to see around a turn and see venison and pedestrians on the side of the road than not drive with my fogs on.
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Old 11-21-2000, 09:26 AM   #22
STORER
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Hey Matthew Nelson, a lot of use do TSD rallies at night and need extra lights. I don't care how well you aim your lights, it still isn't enough when your going 45 mph down a narrow winding road that has nothing on it but pot holes and huge ditches on either side. Ask Subie Gal and she will agree with me. Keep cool.

Steve
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Old 11-21-2000, 09:39 AM   #23
JGard
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i get people flashin me all the time, so i just flash em back!
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Old 11-21-2000, 10:15 AM   #24
CBLOCK
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Stock lights not re-aimed..
Stiff suspension..

I get flashed all the time, but more so after changing the suspension. Having a stiff suspension makes the lights seem like hi-beams when going over bumpy roads or highways.

Most cars on the highway pull off to the right to let me pass, so I like that. Although, sometimes they pull in behind me and hi-beam me...that gives me an excuse to either "fly" down the road...or nail the brakes and give the other driver a heart attack.

Either way, I go away with a big fat grin.

--Chris
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Old 11-21-2000, 10:26 AM   #25
Matthew Nelson
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STORER - I don't disagree with you. I have yet to rallycross my RS, but I know just from driving 70+ mph down a dimly lit back-country road at night that it seem like you're driving a whole hell of a lot faster than you really are simply because you cannot see as well and objects seem to come from out of nowhere.

My suggestion to simply adjust the headlights and fog lamps is to save people time and money. I've discovered that by re-aiming my lights, I can see a lot better at night. However, I notice other drivers seem to think my lighting is too bright, although this seemed to be the case before I adjusted my lights.

The next time some idiot pulls me over to inform me that my "racing lights are too bright" and that "it's rude of me to have them on while driving," I'm going to send them an autographed photo of Subi Gal's Legacy to let them know they couldn've fared far worse than just having my Impreza driving behind them.
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