Something Other Than Foglights In The Air Dam?

[jyl]

I bought a 535is air dam for my 535i. No mounting hardware, rough shape, but it was extremely cheap. Before I start restoring and painting the air dam for installation I would like to figure out what will go in the fog light openings and maybe modifying the opening as needed.

I have never had any use for foglights, including the ones currently hanging below my bumper, but I wouldn't mind some rectangular driving lights.

Has anyone installed anything other than the standard foglights in the air dam?

Pros, cons, would you do it again?

[Blue Shadow]

Does the dam have the 4 mounting blocks for the fog lights? Those are not rectangular and unique, each different to fit the dam and leave a flat mount for the fogs. Riveted on, I think.

Put in some cooling ducts to the brakes.

[Mike W.]

I'm fairly sure the mounting blocks are just glued on. Regardless, there's creative ways to do things that don't require them.

But on driving lights, while definitions may vary, I think of them as more like a pencil beam, for long distances to augment high beams, not used with low beams, and as such they need some elevation and not be close to the ground. And aim would have to be super critical to get any throw at all, yet not blind people in the next county.

I like the idea, but I'm not sure where you would go with it, other than perhaps brake cooling duct as BS suggested. Might not be needed realistically, but a bit of gingerbread cosmetics isn't all bad.

[Blue Shadow]

perhaps brake cooling duct as BS suggested. Might not be needed realistically, but a bit of gingerbread cosmetics isn't all bad.

I would love to have brake cooling ducts on the H7s. Enough power and no brake upgrades means brake fade after about 7 miles of some known twisties around here. With the hills of NorCal, one of those crossroads from Napa valley to 101 would have me parked on the side of the road waiting for the brakes to cool. but that's the 7, the 5 has bigger brakes.

[Mike W.]

perhaps brake cooling duct as BS suggested. Might not be needed realistically, but a bit of gingerbread cosmetics isn't all bad.

I would love to have brake cooling ducts on the H7s. Enough power and no brake upgrades means brake fade after about 7 miles of some known twisties around here. With the hills of NorCal, one of those crossroads from Napa valley to 101 would have me parked on the side of the road waiting for the brakes to cool. but that's the 7, the 5 has bigger brakes.

Er, you're talking about my neighborhood here, Cloverdale. Exactly. Back when Dave used to have regular wrenchfests over in Napa that's exactly what I'd do, over 128. And don't tell me, I saw a H7 here in the little burg I live in one time, I forget what state plates, went back to take a second look and it was gone. I'm babbling to myself, there's an H7. Like how many people are going to know what it is. Probably 10 years ago though.

[Blue Shadow]

Er, you're talking about my neighborhood here, Cloverdale.

I saw a H7 here in the little burg I live in one time,

Was it Dave's Arctic blue one?

Yes, I picked your area cause I know the area. Lived in Pittsburg, owned my E28 but didn't have internet. One of those roads was my intro to the Avon CR28 tires replacing the TRXes and it was an E-ticket ride.

[Mike W.]

Er, you're talking about my neighborhood here, Cloverdale.

I saw a H7 here in the little burg I live in one time,

Was it Dave's Arctic blue one?

Yes, I picked your area cause I know the area. Lived in Pittsburg, owned my E28 but didn't have internet. One of those roads was my intro to the Avon CR28 tires replacing the TRXes and it was an E-ticket ride.

I have no idea. I saw it once in the dark, went by a few minutes later to take another look and it was gone.

[jyl]

I’ve thought a bit about what would be useful for me.

Driving lights: in truth, my high beams give me plenty of light at distance. I installed Koito headlights from Daniel Stern, so I have H4 outers and H1 inners. I’ll be installing relays and then higher wattage bulbs in those. So driving lights wouldn’t, in truth, add much for my usage. I don’t rally this car, after all.

Fog lights: what I lack is enough light for city driving. Where I live, it is frequently very dark, poorly lit, pouring rain, narrow streets, and dark-garbed self-absorbed oblivious pedestrians who blithely walk into the pitch-black street, not even looking for cars and confident that drivers can see them. Plus not a few unlit cyclists with the same unwarranted confidence. My low beams are bright, but the beam is cut-off quite close to the car’s nose, and I can’t adjust them for a longer throw without sending their high beams skyward. So . . . if I could get fog lights to act as supplemental low beams, that would be helpful. The stock fogs don’t do it. Perhaps some Hella 550 fogs with relays and high wattage bulbs might help.

Cornering lights: the worst situation is when turning right at a dark tight intersection. Off the passenger-side front fender is essentially a black hole, with no light to help me see the stoned ninja, head buried in his black hoodie, stepping head-down off the curb and walking directly toward my fender. What I’d really love is a light aimed to the side that comes on with the turn signal. Maybe I can mount some small LED lights on or in the corners or sides of the air dam.