fog lights wont work

[lonestar22]

i bought this car a few weeks ago and figured my foglights were blown but i found out they only come on when i turn on the high beams. how could this happen ? all the wiring looks normal. bad switch?

[lonestar22]

any advice? anyone????? pleasssseeee

[619E30]

Bad wiring possibly

[ahriley91]

The fogs on the e30 are not independent. You have to have the other lights on to have them on. Look up how to make them independent. I know there are a few write ups on here.

[lonestar22]

the independent mod makes them come on only with the low beams

[stumble_t]

first try the relay.

[ahriley91]

the independent mod makes them come on only with the low beams

I'm relatively certain it does not. http://e30.bmwdiy.info/indy-fogs/index.html

[stumble_t]

^^please don't use that mod unless you're looking to smoke your fuse box

[ahriley91]

I'm not using it. Just something I stumbled on.

[330SMG]

any advice? anyone????? pleasssseeee

so you check the two fuses in the back of the fuse box by the drivers fender.
Have you checked the bulbs? If the tips are broke they will look good but not work.
Next put a test light to the connections inside the foglights with the headlights on. Ground on the front subframe.
The solid piece is the ground and where the light plugs in is positive.
They will corrode, if corroded clean with electrical cleaner and put dielectric grease on connections.
Check the connection going into the fog lamp with a test light, do same as above.
There is a relay that also can go bad.
Get electrical manual here http://www.wedophones.com/BMWManualsLead.htm

[lonestar22]

hmm the fog lights work just not at the right times. i found out what it may be. at one point there were mice in my car. so who knows now. im just going to wire them independent