Well you're wondering about Bimmers and Jags...a couple of weeks ago I was driving in heavy rain and I saw these two insanely bright red lights up ahead of me. I was wondering what kinda car it was (couldn't really see because of the rain), so I sped up close to it and it was an Oldmobile Alero! There were two lights on the bumper, detached from the regular tail lights. What's up with that? Must not be illegal, or at least anymore, if domestic cars have them.

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'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

I've noticed them on the Olds Aurora. I think it's only the last model run, as I haven't seen them on the older Oldmo's. It really ruins the clean look, for what isn't a bad looking American car.

Ok, maybe it was an Aurora. Alero, Aurora, what's the difference

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'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

Sixto.

I would imagine the rules are the same as here in the UK, driving with fog lamps on when it isnt foggy is illegal, as the lights dazzle drivers behind, and like you say, it is very irritating...thats one good thing about Merc healight switches, the fog lamps auto cancel when the lights are switched off.

However, i presume that fog lights arent fitted to US spec cars as standard because it never gets foggy there?

Here in the UK, especially in winter, fog is a serious problem, hence the standard fitment of these lights.

If you ever come to the Uk and happen to see any US cars driving about (these are usually white or black stretch Lincolns, used as hired limo's) they have a terrible after market fog light fixed to the rear bumper...just so they pass the British MOT Test. However they do look pretty naff and totally out of place!!

at least in California they are legal.

Section 24602 (a), under Division 12 of the California Vehicle Code states:

"Any vehicle may be wquipped with not more than two red fog taillamps mounted on the rear which may be lighted, in addition to the required taillamps, only when atmospheric condition, such as fog, rain, snow, smoke, or dust, reduce the daytime or nighttime visibility of other vehicles to less than 500 feet."

The section goes on to state that if only one lamp is mounted it shall be as close as practical to the left side, and no closer than four inches from the edge of the lens of any stoplamp. Also states that the lamps must be wired in a manner that allows them to be on only when the haedlamps are on and that a non-flashing amber pilot light be mounted in a location readily visible to the driver.

Hope this help clear the water (at least in CA)

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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.