Euro spec rear fog lights question
 

It's irked me a bit that on the X3, the rear fog lights are actually only a single fitted lamp on the Drivers (RH) side. The passenger side is blanked off.

Anyhow, I have just retrofitted a set of 'blackline' rear lights (brand new off ebay for £40 from a BMW dealer :thumbup::D ) and in the supplied kit, both LH and RH tailgate lamps have the bulb fitted, but there is a pin and cable missing in the loom on my LH side lamp.

Question is, are the wattages of the fitted lamps critical because I am thinking of just pairing the LH fog onto the RH one to make it more symetrical? Don't want to fry the LCM because the fogs are drawing double the current.

Anyone retrofitted the 2nd fog successfully?

TIA.

I don't think there would be any problem regarding drawing additional wattage. The bulbs should be 12V on each side. You need to just buy the pigtail connector for the left side (Part 61 13 0 006 626 or 61 13 0 007 257) and find a way to attach it to the main cable that runs from the right side to the front of the car where the LCM is.

When I retrofitted the rear foglamps, getting the plastic panel off the bootlid was really annoying.

Thanks for the info. So did you wire up both sides when you did your retrofit?

I was just going to add an additional pin and cable into the spare 'hole' in the plug, and splice it onto the opposite side, either by stripping and soldering, and using some heat shrink to protect the splice, or possibly by using one of the 'Scotchlok' splice blocks (don't like those much though).

What are the pigtail connectors? Are these just the plugs that attach to the assembly? Do they have the wiring attached?

Didn't have too much problem getting it off - used the TIS to find out how many panel clips there were - I found the problem was getting it back on, and in the end had to resort to pulling the other trim pieces off around the glass, which made it easier to match up the holes. Lucky I had some spare panel clips as I busted two whacking it back on 1st time :yikes:

Have to say I really like the blackline/darkline rears as they seem to go better with the shadowline sport trim. I'd just like the side repeaters to match a bit better but I only ever fit OEM parts so wouldn't look at any of the 'bling' parts on ebay :D - don't think BMW made a blackline repeater lamp :dunno:

I wired up both sides when I did the retrofit. What you're describing is pretty much what I did. I'm not an engineer in anyway so I probably have all the wrong terminology. As you noted, just fill in that extra hole that's missing in the plug, and wire/connect that to the right side that's already installed.

Write up pics? I'm still looking for the LCM

I will ask an admin to post it under the Articles. It's not easy because there isn't a completely OEM solution. I have it written and with some pics in English, and when I get the time, I'll finish up the (lousy) German translation.

The LCM is located in the driver's footwell, next to the steering column. The kick panel under the steering column must be removed and even then, it's a tight, awkward squeeze, although in retrospect, this step can be avoided if wired via the right side of the vehicle.