Hi

 

Does anyone know of any UK road legal LED front fog lights for the Karoq? 

Preferably, ones that don't give an error warning?  I can't be the only person wanting to do this? 

My 2018 1.5 SEL manual has fog lights as standard, have Skoda now downgraded the specification?

55 minutes ago, Karock said:

My 2018 1.5 SEL manual has fog lights as standard, have Skoda now downgraded the specification?

Good point Karock - I didn't notice chills vehicle is a 2024 SEL - standard fit on this model?

10 hours ago, Berisford said:

Good point Karock - I didn't notice chills vehicle is a 2024 SEL - standard fit on this model?

The fog lights are standard on the Karoq (all models?), but they appear to be tungsten bulbs (unlike the headlight cluster above). I was looking for LED replacement bulbs.

 

The manual explains how to replace the fog lights (but only the fog lights!?!), with some comments on safety with tungsten blubs. However, there are no specs for the lights, any lights, in the manual

 

There are many H8 LED fog lights available, but the small print for a lot of them says they are not road legal😞  They also seem to have different shapes and sizes etc.

 

 

48 minutes ago, chills said:

The fog lights are standard on the Karoq (all models?), but they appear to be tungsten bulbs (unlike the headlight cluster above). I was looking for LED replacement bulbs.

Ah, I see. A genuine surprise for me, had just assumed they were all LEDs, what a bunch of cheapskates Škoda turn out to be…….

I wonder if the Sportline has LEDs?

Certainly they are on the Superb.

7 minutes ago, Berisford said:

Ah, I see. A genuine surprise for me, had just assumed they were all LEDs, what a bunch of cheapskates Škoda turn out to be…….

I wonder if the Sportline has LEDs?

Certainly they are on the Superb.

 

As I have only had the car a couple of weeks, since it has been cold and wet and being almost 70, I haven't got into the front wheel arch to confirm if they are LED or Tungsten, they are a yellow-white like the Tungsten bulbs.  The thing is, I don't know if that is because they are fog lights, and it is a yellow-white LED or if it is a tungsten bulb.  The H8 LED lights come in a range from yellow white to blue white.  

 

The problem is due to some strange EU rules (and the UK hasn't changed the rules from when we were in the EU and isn't likely to.)  some cars have approved LED lights but on a technicality you can't replace Tungsten with LED unless it is an approved one for that car.  IE the sport line?   Hence, most of the replacement LED lights having in the small print "for off-road use only"   or "not approved".   The other problem is the LED bulbs take a lot less current and therefore on the OBD/ECU show up as a lamp error if the car is expecting Tungsten bulb!. 

 

So as I would prefer a more powerful whiter LED fog lamp, I am looking for a UK legal LED H8 that won't give a permanent error on the dash. (don't want much, do I ? 🙂)

We rarely get fog in the midlands (UK) and a more powerful white light would be more use.

Yes, when viewed from the from the front, with all lamps illuminated, the fogs are definitely the poor relation in terms of colour.

I've not been under to see how easy(?) they might be to change but as long as a bulb without canbus error messages can be found I'm in - road legal or not!

Keep us posted if you find anything.

I have a tech support query in with Osram for a UK road legal H8 LED fog lamp for a Karaq that doesn't give a CAN bus error.

I will post their, hopefully positive, response here.

 

In the meantime look here https://www.ledperf.co.uk/pack-xenon-effects-headlight-bulbs-for-skoda-karoq-p-39549.html

BUT read the small print on "off-road use only"  and can bus errors.  It is a bit of a nightmare also this supplier is in the EU (France).  

Edited 17 December, 20241 yr by chills

The UK MOT inspection manual https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-5-4

 

does not say that conversion of Fog lamps to LED is illegal. The section on headlamps specifically states that conversion of these to LED will result in a failure but the Fog lamp section has no such restriction.

27 minutes ago, NottsIan said:

The section on headlamps specifically states that conversion of these to LED will result in a failure but the Fog lamp section has no such restriction.

That may be where the confusion is....  Between headlights and fog lights.    I will see what OSRAM come back with.

 

The other interesting thing is for the UK you must carry a warning triangle, high vis jacket, fire extinguisher, first aid kit and a spare headlamp bulb.....

As most modern cars have LED headlight clusters, that is a workshop job to replace, or at least not something you can do beside the road in the dark, how the hell do they expect you to carry a spare headlight?

A friend of mine has an AA Universal bulb kit to show the police but admits 3/4 of the bulbs won't fit his car (including the headlights)

I assume (silly, I know) that the fog lights are bright enough and in the right position (height etc)  to act as headlights in this case?

Edited 17 December, 20241 yr by chills

Quote

The other interesting thing is for the UK you must carry a warning triangle, high vis jacket, fire extinguisher, first aid kit and a spare headlamp bulb....

 

Really ? that's a new one on me. I knew most of those , except for fire extinguisher, were a requirement in the EU but didn't think it applied to the UK.

Agreed on the stupidity of the bulb requirement when you can't change them.

One of my previous cars , an Audi, the manual section on bulb changing had just one sentence ' take to your Audi dealer' ! and that was when it still had real bulbs...

 

Edited 17 December, 20241 yr by NottsIan

17 minutes ago, chills said:

The other interesting thing is for the UK you must carry a warning triangle, high vis jacket, fire extinguisher, first aid kit and a spare headlamp bulb.....

 

Don't know where you are getting that idea from but wherever it is it's a load of tosh and rubbish - there is no such legal requirement!

 

It may be 'recommended' by various motoring organisations but is not a requirement and these days with LED lighting it's pointless anyway.

 

As for LED bulbs in fog lights - please don't and please don't use them as additional lighting unless it is indeed foggy - to do so WOULD be bad, cause glare to other road users and would be against the highway code as they should only be used when visibility is restricted and below 100m.

Are the OEM Fog light / Bulbs not actually any use in Fog when Fog lights are required for being seen and maybe being able to see the side of roads? 

& Not causing you to be less able to see by lighting up the fog.

 

(Outdated but the 21 watt max for the fog lights still applies does it not?)

Edited 17 December, 20241 yr by Ootohere

4 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

(Outdated but the 21 watt max for the fog lights still applies does it not?)

 

That would be for a rear incandescent fog light IIRC...

33 minutes ago, skomaz said:

Don't know where you are getting that idea from but wherever it is it's a load of tosh and rubbish - there is no such legal requirement!

In The RAC website, though, I may have picked up the EU requirements and UK recommendations.

However, as noted by @Ootohere fog lamps can indeed stand in for headlights

 

In Fog if that is what you need to see and not blind yourself.

 

There are muppets that think side / position lights and fog lights is what to use in Fog and have posted such on this forum.

Well circumstances, and location and needs must. 

The lighting can be tried to see when best you can see.

 

Stylee and Fog Lights to match the Headlights or Sidelight colour is just for dafties IMO. 

 Yellow Fog Lights /lenses can work well, or have done.

 

The UK Highway code still has Sidelights on in 30 mph limits where there is street lighting as being OK.

There are tw-its around with just Front DRLs, on in lighting up times in towns, and out in poor visibility.

Often because they trust to Auto lights, or are just clueless. 

Edited 17 December, 20241 yr by Ootohere

26 minutes ago, chills said:

 

However, as noted by @Ootohere fog lamps can indeed stand in for headlights

 

 

ONLY at times of SERIOUSLY REDUCED visibility - ie below 100m...

Edited 17 December, 20241 yr by skomaz

Like someone who wants their front fogs to be LED rather than any other type of light source isn't going to want them on all the time to show everyone...

On 17/12/2024 at 14:17, Breezy_Pete said:

Like someone who wants their front fogs to be LED rather than any other type of light source isn't going to want them on all the time to show everyone...

Correct. I don't.
I rarely ever get fog, other than a couple of days of light mist this week, the last time was years ago.  What would be more use for me is driving lights for use on unlit rural roads.  SO a whiter more powerful beam would be useful.  Also, as all the other lights are LED I can't understand why the front fogs aren't as well even if they are the same pattern and colour. The yellow white is more useful in fog. 

 

However, having looked into it, I can see why you just can't swap conventional bulbs for LED or at least not easily to get a legal light that actually works correctly for both beam pattern and re car CAN bus/ODB errors. You can't just chuck in any old H8. It is the way the lamp light source(s) works with the reflector.

NOTE, any lamp you use must be E registered and UK road legal. The problem is just because it has "E"  on the box..... The Joke was (still is) that the CE marking meant "China Export"  and it had been nowhere near any testing 🙂   Especially if it came of EBay, Alibaba or even Amazon these days,
 

Škoda UK are ducking the question and saying ask your local Škoda Dealer. So I will have a chat with my local main dealer and OSRAM.  However, Christmas/New Year is not the time to get quick responses. 😞

Edited 30 December, 20241 yr by chills

Full beam is there to light Rural / 60 mph NSL roads.   UK.   Sweden / Finland etc something different. Light Bars.

Driving lights are different things from Spot Lights. 

 

Why would Skoda UK know anything about lights? 

These either,

21 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Why would Skoda UK know anything about lights? 

Local market Type Approval. They will know what is and isn't permissible in their market. Be it lights, wheels, tyres etc.
The design teams look in to all this, and the future road maps (sic)  and the information is, or should be, disseminated to the national offices.

 

Is this the Skoda Technical department that the Contractor for Skoda Customer Services refer to.  VW Group UK? 

 

Looking forward to hearing what assistance you get. 

5 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Looking forward to hearing what assistance you get. 

Don't hold your breath.  🙂 

I am expecting a better response from OSRAM than the VW Group.

Hopefully.