DIY-Independent Fogs with highs as well

[e30rida]

I'm trying to do the same thing. I want the foglights to come on whenever I hit the foglight button without having to pull the headlight switch. Any ideas?

[FreedS4]

^^^ thats what I am going to do, I will wire mine using the switch completely independent from any other lights. The only relay I will use will be hooked into the ignition so I can't leave them on by accident. Probably after Christmas I will have time to do this.

just look at that second wiring diagram and replace the headlight switch with an attachment to the ignition, more or less.

Ever get around to doing this?

[BimmerScreamer]

^^^ thats what I am going to do, I will wire mine using the switch completely independent from any other lights. The only relay I will use will be hooked into the ignition so I can't leave them on by accident. Probably after Christmas I will have time to do this.

just look at that second wiring diagram and replace the headlight switch with an attachment to the ignition, more or less.

[Atreus]

i want the fogs to turn on, whenever i hit the fog light switch...

[kenika65]

I am sorry but what exactly are you all trying to do?

Do you want the fog lights to stay on all the time or what?

Sorry I'm a little confused.

[nick_t]

so basically I'm connecting the 30 and 87 prongs on the low beam relay.
Would it be the same procedure on the high beam relay to have them stay on for the highs?

[Atreus]

haha, what the hell does all of that mean, and why does the layout look different in this pdf file i downloaded?

[Fidhle007]

Here's the later model diagram, I've been trying to come up with something but I'm pretty bad at this shit so far.

[Ferdinand]

Below is how I wired up the fog lights for my 1986 325e. The yellow stuff is what I added, with a three-way switch and a relay. I removed the stock fog light switch as I'm using that slot for something else.

Note: Even though the K8 fog light relay itself is the same, the fusebox connections are wired differently in 1988 and up models. Check your wiring diagrams first!

One of the differences in 1988 and up models, is that pin-30 of the K8 fog light relay is NOT wired directly to C100 and thus is NOT Hot At All Times. All of the other modifications shown below can be the same, with just one difference. Instead of connecting pin-30 of the new relay (in yellow) to pin-30 of the K8 fog light relay as shown, connect it instead anywhere along the Hot At All Times wire leading between C100 and pin-30 of the K3 High Beam relay. Then everything should work the same as shown below for 1987 and earlier models.

I used a three-position switch to give me more options.

OFF - is obvious.

ON - The fog lights are ON. In the ON position, the fog lights stay on regardless of any other lights, high beam, low beam, park lights, or even no other lights at all.

ON with High Beams - In this position the fog lights only come on together with the High Beams, actuated by the dimmer switch. This was required by our rally regulations that say all "accessory lighting" must be routed through the dimmer switch so everything can be shut down simultaneously to low beams using the dimmer switch.

In either case the fog lights will only come on with the ignition switch in the run position. This way I can never accidentally forget to turn them off.

FoglightWiring1986E30

[rodrigo]

i know with (some) Volvos you can get (or modify) a european for light relay and habe the fogs work independantly.

...no such luck for BMW huh?

[moatilliatta]

what about this 3 prong adapter?

[Rocla]

a 30-87 jump makes relay useless. you could just use jumper wire.

Unless the indicator lamps on dash require relay to be pulled.

[Cessna88]

I have an 89 325i and this is what I did:

I soldered pins 30 and 87 together on the low beam relay which allows me to leave my fog lights on with the car ignition off when the light switch is on.

I also soldered pins 30 and 87a together on the high beam relay which allows me to leave my fog lights on with the high beams on.



I still cant drive with just my fog lights on. Someone correct me if I am wrong on this but it looks like the fog light relay gets its power from the low beam relay. In order to run the fog lights with only the parking lights on the fogs would need to get their power from the parking light wiring and would not just flip the relay.

[banndit]

mine's an '89 (and '91). I'll get out the meter and play with these circuits later.
B

[DaveSmed]

this is great info. When did they change the wiring from the fog light switch proving a ground to the fog light switch powering the relay?

B

I'm not sure when the break in the production date is, but going by late model/early model bumpers and taillights is usually pretty close.

I described a early model, late models have a ground at the fog light button from the headlight switch in either park or head positions (Good news right?) but they get weird at the fuse box. The high beam relay has to be in the off position for power to go to the coil of the relay. (still so far, so good) but the power to the switch portion of the relay itself comes from the low beam headlights.