Not written a car off in the dark whilst cornering so far, so damned if I'm suddenly going to start needing them now.

No point wearing your seatbelt then, might as well whip out those airbags too as they are only adding unnecessary weight.

I'm even more confused about how both coming on in reverse would be handy though - surely that's even more gimmicky?

When reversing you need to be more attentive around all aspects of the cars exterior, especially in the dark, even more so in unfamiliar surroundings.

Also when reversing the front end of the car swings out, usually when most of your attention is focused on the back of the car. The more low slung light close to the corner of the car helps to illuminate low walls, bollards, kerbs etc. for those quick forward glances where without the extra light you might be more inclined to miss them.

Visiting friends over Christmas I really noticed their benefit. They live in a row of terraced houses, those with a back alley for access into the rear garden. I had to reverse up the alley in the dark to load up the car, somewhere I've never even seen in the day light never mind at night so completely unfamiliar surroundings with no street lights.

On the corner of one of the garages I was reversing past the owner had built up a mound of concrete, almost like a bollard but set into the brick work (most likely in an effort to protect his garage from being hit). As it was a tight manoeuvre every inch counted and the front fogs gave me a few extra feet of visibility before the headlight aim reached them.

A gimmick that potentially just saved me from a £300 bumper scuff and a spoilt Christmas!

More pointless gimmicky twoddle imo, and will just be something else to fail the mot if not working in years to come.

Not written a car off in the dark whilst cornering so far, so damned if I'm suddenly going to start needing them now.

shows how much attention you pay to the MOT. Fog lights are not part of it

and with an attitude like that you dont need sealbelts, airbags, traction control, abs, etc etc?

You really seem to be missing the point. They are a feature to give you might light on the road when making tight cornering manouvers and cornering slowly.

Just because people have survived without them doesnt mean they wont be of any benefit, if everyone had that attitude we'd all still be living in caves

There is a new game while waiting at supermarkets, out of town shopping centres etc..

How many VW's will arrive with just Fog Lights on,

then how many times will there be only one 'Fog/Ancillary light on as they try to reverse into a space.

Worst i have seen is 8 times a single fog then they drove off without being able to park into quite a wide space.

george

PS Skodas still pretty rare for this game.

The only way a VW would be reversing with only one fog light illuminated would be if they had cornering foglights activated and one bulb had blown, or they had manually turned on their front foglights and again a bulb had blown.

In both scenario's the car would have dipped headlights on too.

If you had mistaken the DRL's as fogs then again the only way only one would illuminate is if a bulb had blown.

Sounds like there are quite a few cars up in your neck of the woods George with defective lights.

You say that in thread after thread.

Who really cares if they are fogs or DRL's or sidelights, they are on in daylight and as you reverse one or other goes out.

*I am now of the opinion that they have some use, amusement, & some warning that the driver intends doing something, because the lack of indicators being used seems to go with the type that have these lights.*

Many are driving around with Sidelights & Fog lights on in perfectly clear days and then the Fog/Ancillaries are going on off.

Going forward and in reverse.

Forfar, Dundee, Perth, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh. So that covers a bit of Scotland.

I do not have a neck of the woods, i get out and about and observe.

george

You say that in thread after thread.

Who really cares if they are fogs or DRL's or sidelights, they are on in daylight and as you reverse one or other goes out.

*I am now of the opinion that they have some use, amusement, & some warning that the driver intends doing something, because the lack of indicators being used seems to go with the type that have these lights.*

Many are driving around with Sidelights & Fog lights on in perfectly clear days and then the Fog/Ancillaries are going on off.

Going forward and in reverse.

Forfar, Dundee, Perth, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh. So that covers a bit of Scotland.

I do not have a neck of the woods, i get out and about and observe.

george

George, the reason I keep mentioning it is because you keep incorrectly stating that the front fog lights "go out" when a car reverses.

They don't.

Then in this post you claim that the front fogs/DRL's are "going on/off" when a car reverses when it has sidelights on.

They don't.

If sidelights are on cornering fog lights are off and DRL's are off.

You are either mistaken or are having trouble explaining (again) what exactly it is you are witnessing.

Exactly what is standard and what is activatable by VCDS (if that is a word) here? Should my fogs be coming on on reverse, or does that need coding? (Pre FL Octy)

Thanks

Adam

I will make it clear.

There are various things to be seen.

None are some mistake, they are clear to see.

'Let there be light!'

No 1. Just down low lights that maybe DRL's that go on and off. One at a time in slow parking movements of the steering wheel.

No 2.

People with Sidelights on and Fog or additional lights on,

these are not DRL' because they would be out when Sidelights are on.

Same thing, on off one at a time, as the steering wheel is turned

no3.

Head lights on at Dipped Beam, which means Sidelights are on and DRL's are off

& FOG/Additional low lights on & as they maneuver one lower light goes on and off.

1 and 2 might be fair enough, & the Dipped Beam and sidelight is fair enough if visability is reduced or the driver chooses to have them on.

But Fog LIghts or Cornering lights in Day time with no Fog.

Just very much like the Boy Racers with just Fogs on all the time for the past however many years.

george

That is clearer, thanks George.

1) DRL's only go on or off by either turning on sidelights / dipped headlights or turning on/off the ignition.

2) This is inconsiderate / driver error. Some manufacturers allow front fog lights to be turned on with sidelights. Common with some drivers who think it looks cool. Some instrument displays don't do a very good job of indicating to the driver that their front fogs are turned on. Some older cars do not automatically reset the front fog light switch when the headlights are turned off. All of these combinations can result in your second scenario.

3) Is a clear definition of the correct operation of cornering fog lights.

But Fog LIghts or Cornering lights in Day time with no Fog. Just very much like the Boy Racers with just Fogs on all the time for the past however many years.

The only way normal foglight operation or cornering fog lights will be active during daylight hours is if the driver has turned on their sidelights or dipped headlights.

This therefore is down to the driver making the deliberate choice to drive during the day with their lights on and in my eyes at least is not a valid reason to blame the conering fog light function as it is only of benefit at night.

The purpose of DRL's is to negate the need to drive during the day with normal dipped headlights on, which would in itself prevent the use of the cornering foglight function during daylight hours and stop confusing people.

DRL's still confuse people today, some think they are foglights. As cornering foglights become the norm motorists will soon get used to them.

Exactly what is standard and what is activatable by VCDS (if that is a word) here? Should my fogs be coming on on reverse, or does that need coding? (Pre FL Octy)

Thanks

Adam

Hi Adam,

I had a friendly member activate my cornering foglights on my 2007 (57) pre-facelift Octavia vRS using VCDS.

They do operate as expected but they don't both come on in reverse.

I think this particular element of the cornering foglight feature was added at a later date.

You are right, another 'gimmick' employed by the same manufacturer that introduced airbags and a whole host of other safety related innovation to their cars over the last two decades.

The same gimmick now being adopted by a number of other mainstream manufacturers (Skoda, VW, Audi, Seat, Fiat, Ford, Renault, Mercedes, Peugeot and many more).

I can't wait to post the YouTube video on GM's new LED adaptive lighting system, but I don't want to increase your blood pressure during what is already a tough time of year for the old ticker.

We had the same 'haters' when the rear fog light was made mandatory.

We had the same 'haters' when xenon and bi-xenon headlights were intoduced.

We had the same 'haters' when DRL's were introduced.

All gimmicks back then, but gimmicks that have, in time, been proved to increase safety on the roads.

Many of the 'cornering fog light' haters on here on another recent thread hadn't even tried them, they'd only witnessed them by seeing them on other cars.

I can only assume that as your not used to seeing them their novelty defaults to being a gimmick in your eyes.

They are legal, approved for use in Europe offer a noticable benefit and are here to stay.

Luckily it is possible to not add them as an option or deactivate them as required so as with most things in life, if you want them turn them on, of you don't turn them off.

Get a grip. I merely pointed out that the benefit of cornering fogs which you referenced in your picture and video were 100% attributable to the adaptive xenons, and that in limited situations (such as with hedgerows or buildings alongside) cornering fogs could be handy but other than that I can't see much point to them. Certainly front* fogs don't help me reversing, although in the interests of humouring you i'll try it tonight to prove it to myself.

You then go on a huge rant about 'haters' just because someone doesn't fawn over something pretty minor like cornering fogs - if anyone needs to keep their blood pressure in chek here I think you'll find it's you........

* Edit: I've been assuming (as led to believe from other threads) that its the front fogs which come on whilst reversing, which is why I can't see the point of it. If its the rears, then I can see a benefit.

Edited 28 December, 201213 yr by mr_awol

Ah ok thanks Silver, mine don't come on in reverse, so that explains it. Would have been handy as in my hopelessly lit street, the reverse lights are inadequate when parking in the stupidly tight spaces that my neighbours leave me!

Get a grip. I merely pointed out that the benefit of cornering fogs which you referenced in your picture and video were 100% attributable to the adaptive xenons.

But that's the point, it isn't "100% attributable" to the adaptive xenon's, otherwise why would Mercedes go to the effort of turning on the front foglights.

Watch the video again, it even shows which portion of the additional visibility can be aportioned to the headlights and which of it is down to the extra light provided by the front foglights, certainly not 100% either way.

I find it more polite to say that you've tried them and didn't see any benefit, or you've tried them and were worried about confusing other motorists.

To suggest those that do use them and those that do get a benefit from them are daft and need to get a grip is unecessary.

Search the other recent cornering light thread to see them referenced as "T W A T lights".

I've been assuming (as led to believe from other threads) that its the front fogs which come on whilst reversing, which is why I can't see the point of it. If its the rears, then I can see a benefit.

The reasoning behind having both front fog lights on while reversing is that it gives a broad spread of light at the front of the car that may light up something that your about to swing into. Whether or not anybody finds this useful is another matter...

* Edit: I've been assuming (as led to believe from other threads) that its the front fogs which come on whilst reversing, which is why I can't see the point of it. If its the rears, then I can see a benefit.

Just for clarity: How would you see a benefit to the rear fog-lights coming on when in reverse?

Also: the fronts coming on when in reverse is not an automatic function of having the cornering lights activated.....doesn't do it on mine.

I love the idea that people think these things are "gimmicks"

...just like replacing Tungsten bulbs with Halogen

...just like having AFS

...just like power-steering

...just like replacing Halogen with HID

...just like traction control

...just like replacing cross-ply with radial

...just like ABS

...just like replacing drums with discs

As Silver had said, the majority who think these things are gimmicks are those who've never used them.

George, the reason I keep mentioning it is because you keep incorrectly stating that the front fog lights "go out" when a car reverses.

They don't.

Then in this post you claim that the front fogs/DRL's are "going on/off" when a car reverses when it has sidelights on.

They don't.

If sidelights are on cornering fog lights are off and DRL's are off.

You are either mistaken or are having trouble explaining (again) what exactly it is you are witnessing.

Silver, old son, you're banging your head against a wall with George. It's his thing, to deliberately "confuse" how these things work. Several people have explained how they work, and still there is a lack of comprehension. In essence you have to remember you are talking to the man who is happy to "start a fight in an empty room".

What are people's thoughts on these?

Gimmick, handy or just annoying?

I ask as I was thinking of enabling them, but thought why? Just because seems a silly reason. I wish I could enable the fogs to come on with full beam though as they light the sides of the road so well. Maybe there is my reason, lol

Other people's thoughts would be great

In all honesty Zeff, as with most of these things, have them activated and see what you think of them. You can always have them switched off again

The idea of the fogs coming on with the main-beam is a good one, in my opinion. The last time it was discussed though, there was a huge lack of understanding. Apparently (according those with a lack of understanding) the fogs will blind everyone coming the other way. Personally I would have thought the main-beam would have done that much more effectively. ;) I have always thought the "everything on" approach going down unlit country roads would be quite effective.

But that's the point, it isn't "100% attributable" to the adaptive xenon's, otherwise why would Mercedes go to the effort of turning on the front foglights.

Watch the video again, it even shows which portion of the additional visibility can be aportioned to the headlights and which of it is down to the extra light provided by the front foglights, certainly not 100% either way.

I find it more polite to say that you've tried them and didn't see any benefit, or you've tried them and were worried about confusing other motorists.

To suggest those that do use them and those that do get a benefit from them are daft and need to get a grip is unecessary.

Search the other recent cornering light thread to see them referenced as "T W A T lights".

Oh for the love of......

You posted a picture showing pedestrians being clearly visible with active cornering but not visible without. You also referenced us to a part of the video which the pictures were taken from. However, as I said, the visibility of the pedestrians (and indeed all additional visibility in the picture you posted or the part of the video you pointed us to) was a result of the adaptive headlights and nothing at all to do with the cornering fogs.

I did then point out a part of the video which included an aerial shot where you could see exactly where additional light was being thrown. This is effectively the area directly in front of the car and slightly to the side. I doubt the bit in front would help much as its probably in the drivers blind spot anyway.

So we are left with a tiny bit of light to the left of the car. There is a marginal advantage to having this area lit up, but mainly in limited situations where there is an object to spread the light (incidentally I sometimes turn my front fog lights on when in he narrow lanes near where I used to live for this very reason as it gives added visibility in the wide angle and doesn't need I be turned off when facing oncoming traffic).

If a tiny bit of extra light when turning which is of no use most of the time and limited use the rest of the time isn't gimmicky then I don't know what is.

Certainly I don't recall deriding those that like them (I even said I nearly had them activated myself) and in any event I cannot be held responsible for what someone else called then in another thread.........

Just for clarity: How would you see a benefit to the rear fog-lights coming on when in reverse?

Also: the fronts coming on when in reverse is not an automatic function of having the cornering lights activated.....doesn't do it on mine.

When reversing, I tend to look behind me. Additional light to the front is therefore of little or no use whereas I'd be willing believe that additional light to the rear might help, even if it did give everything a red tinge.

I love the idea that people think these things are "gimmicks"

...just like replacing Tungsten bulbs with Halogen

...just like having AFS

...just like power-steering

...just like replacing Halogen with HID

...just like traction control

...just like replacing cross-ply with radial

...just like ABS

...just like replacing drums with discs

As Silver had said, the majority who think these things are gimmicks are those who've never used them.

You list of comparatives is ridiculous. Most of those are safety features or advances in technology. That's hardly the same as turning on a fog light whilst going round a corner. A more accurate thing to compare it to night be the new fad of automatic high beam........

In all honesty Zeff, as with most of these things, have them activated and see what you think of them. You can always have them switched off again

The idea of the fogs coming on with the main-beam is a good one, in my opinion. The last time it was discussed though, there was a huge lack of understanding. Apparently (according those with a lack of understanding) the fogs will blind everyone coming the other way. Personally I would have thought the main-beam would have done that much more effectively. ;) I have always thought the "everything on" approach going down unlit country roads would be quite effective.

I'd have fogs on main beam activated too if it was an option - like you say, if you've got full beam on then the more light the merrier, and it's not like you'd have it on where there was oncoming traffic or a car in front anyway - plus I've never been convinced that (correctly aligned, factory fitted) fog lights dazzle oncoming traffic anyway

'T_W_A_T' lights cover a whole variety of them.

'This way and that' sometimes it is obvious by the lights going on and off that the driver has not a clue which way the wheels are turning as they turn the steering wheel.

My hope is that in the future for accidents the 'Investigator' can get a reading of when the lights were on or not,

or indicators were being used.

a sort of Tachograph showing the style of the driver.

Maybe also come up as a reading of the messing about with the cars lights system that some owners are or have been doing.

george

I'd have fogs on main beam activated too if it was an option - like you say, if you've got full beam on then the more light the merrier, and it's not like you'd have it on where there was oncoming traffic or a car in front anyway - plus I've never been convinced that (correctly aligned, factory fitted) fog lights dazzle oncoming traffic anyway

Given that they're supposed to be lighting up the road for a short distance in front of the car, if they are dazzling oncoming traffic they are most definitely mis-aligned.

The OP asked for opinions. So, for me they're just a gimmick.

In all honesty Zeff, as with most of these things, have them activated and see what you think of them. You can always have them switched off again

The idea of the fogs coming on with the main-beam is a good one, in my opinion. The last time it was discussed though, there was a huge lack of understanding. Apparently (according those with a lack of understanding) the fogs will blind everyone coming the other way. Personally I would have thought the main-beam would have done that much more effectively. ;) I have always thought the "everything on" approach going down unlit country roads would be quite effective.

Down some roads I drive having fogs on to light up the sides would be ideal rather than switching off both fogs and main beam when traffic comes the other way.

As for the corner fogs, not found it in the list, I fear it's called comfort turn signals so may give it a go and see if I like it or not

The OP asked for opinions. So, for me they're just a gimmick.

Agree and if car manufacturers were seriously interested in improving safety they would be fitting bi-xenons to all new cars. These are significantly better than normal headlights and therefore don't require gimmicky supplements such as cornering fogs. I've driven with fog lights on on the vRS enough times to know the difference is very marginal.