Author Topic: Installing factory fog lamps on my 91 318i (Read 6840 times)

G-Man · « **on:** January 02, 2007, 05:16:26 PM »

My 91 318i 4 door did not come with factory fog lamps. It has a plastic cover on the lower valance where the fog lamps should be. On the dash, there in no fog light switch. My 91 318i 4 door parts car has fog lamps which I would like to install on my running 318i. I snagged the dash fog light switch from my parts car Does anyone have any lessons learned from installing factory fogs in their E30? I'm wondering if my running 318already has the fog light wiring in the wiring harness and I just have to plug into it, I know that's wishful thinking. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Gordon
Santa Maria, CA
91 318i
91 318i parts car
86 325 (daughters car)
74 2002tii
73 Bavaria
70 2800
96 4Runner (parts hauler)

Tonyb · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2007, 08:32:30 PM »

Check out the electrical section on this site.(lots of info on fog lights) If you remove the panels behind the headlights and find a white plug tied to the harness with nothing in it, than you are pre-wired for fog lights! You have to look around real good for these because mine were hidden pretty well. If you find one look for the other.

johna · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2007, 11:53:25 PM »

You will also need the relays and the dash bulb and socket.

asubimmer · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2007, 10:15:16 AM »

yep I was prewired and I put in a relay and euro switch and put in some driving lights a few days ago. The cluster doesn't have the fog bulb I guess b/c it doesn't come on w/ the driving lights. I want to wire the rear fog soon...

D. Clay · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2007, 01:02:00 PM »

Quote from: G-Man;16659

I'm wondering if my running 318already has the fog light wiring in the wiring harness and I just have to plug into it, I know that's wishful thinking. Any guidance would be appreciated.

One of the things I have always loved about Japanese cars was a single harness for all models. I put a heated back glass in a Toyoto once and all it took was a relay, switch, and pulling the wires out from under the headliner. Something the American manufacturers came to quite late. I didn't know the Europeans did it that way so early! A good idea is always worth stealing.

jpod999 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2007, 09:18:21 PM »

I have this:

hanging behind my plastic fog light cover panel. Is that the fog light one?

Tonyb · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2007, 09:26:48 PM »

Thats what mine looks like. It looks like it's already hanging free from the harness, going by the photo

jpod999 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2007, 11:33:26 PM »

Yeah, it's just hanging down there. So it may be junked up from being exposed. I hope not.

Where can I get a relay? I already have the switch.

Tonyb · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2007, 07:50:02 PM »

Try bavarian autosport or BMP design. I bought my kit from bavauto and I know they sell the parts individually.

asubimmer · « **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2007, 08:40:52 AM »

I got my relay from a friends car that was a 87' 325is. He took out his fogs and didn't want it so he said I could take it. Woot!!

mgold · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2007, 04:58:00 PM »

I got all my pieces from the local Pick-Pull, the lamps, switch, fuses, relay and dash bulb. The only thing I had to buy was new mounting hardware from the stealer. I did have to refinish the lamps as they were pretty well sandblasted.

Here's before:

After refinishing and before install:

jajou318 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2007, 05:22:27 PM »

Don't know if you found the harness for the Fog light switch, but it is to the right of the front left speaker. Mine was wrapped in Electrical tape and was kinda hidden within those wires there.

As for the fog light connector, what you have in the pic is what you need.

jpod999 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2007, 05:35:37 PM »

Mgold, in that picture, what part is the relay and what part is the dashbulb?

jajou318 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2007, 07:37:53 PM »

the black cube is the relay, it goes in the fuse box area, iirc k8 relay? as for the dash bulb i'm not sure

mgold · « **Reply #14 on:** January 14, 2007, 02:02:16 PM »

Quote from: jpod999;17073

Mgold, in that picture, what part is the relay and what part is the dashbulb?

I had already installed the bulb when I took that picture (I also had the under side of the dash taken apart), sorry for any confusion. The bulb itself sits in a plastic base which plugs into the back of the cluster. It requires no special wiring, just plug it in and twist to lock it in place. The dash light gets power once the other components are in place. Because I have the fogs switched on all the time, the bulb is definitely worth installing as its a great reminder that the lights are still on