OK, I've been reading the threads about upgrading the stock fog lights to aftermarket driving lights on the 00+ cars. Some swear by Hella, some Cyberwhites.

I can see that they would be a big help in light output. Being that low to the ground though, the light output may not reach very far down the road.

How about putting small projector style driving lights up in the grille openings? Being higher up on the car, it seems like the light would reach farther down the road.

But, how does the light output of the projectors compare to the larger Hella or Cyberwhites? It seems to me that the projectors would put out less light because they're so much smaller!?

Has anyone had any real world experience with comparing Hella or Cyberwhites to projector driving lights as far as actual light output/brightness?

Would the projectors in the grille openings work better because they're higher up on the car even if they put out less light compared to larger lights lower on the car?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Dave

projectors are nice because they can be super bright, and still not blind other drivers because of the cutoff they provide....

Projectors will also be a A LOT harder to break, it'* a much smaller and curvier surface then the the wider and flatter conventional reflector fogs.

I can't imagine projectors looking good stuck in the grille, but I'd vote for them in general over reflector types.

it all depends what type of beam you would prefer.

For a driving light, acting as a longer wider beam (almost like better high beams) cyber whites or hella are definately the way to go.

For lower light better in bad weather and such, projectors are what you want.

The Optilux (angel eyes, hellas) are really spotlight/pencil beam types. I wouldn't drive with them alone at night because there'* no coverage to the sides really.

Cyberwhite are known for their reflector design. They produce a wide beam that doesn't affect oncoming cars, without loss of light. They can be run with either 55w or 100w H3 lamps.

Coupled with tricking your fogs to stay on with high beams produces an amazing field of visibility at night.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

If I put them in the grille, I'd try to mount them behind the grilles so they wouldn't be as noticeable.

I wouldn't use them alone, I'd use them with the high beams.

I agree! But, if you're going to put Hella or Cyberwhites into the stock fog light openings, there'* no other place to put aftermarket fogs. :( Unless you go with projector fogs behind the grilles. Then I think that would be too high for fog lights, you want fog lights to be low on the car to keep the light pattern below your line of sight to prevent light reflecting back into your eyes.

If I put good aftermarket fogs into the stock openings, there'* no other place to put aftermarket drivers, unless I put projectors into/behind the grilles.

That'* where the question comes into play as to whether the projectors put out as much light as the Hella/Cyberwhite style. I want as much light as I can get.

On my '95 SE, I had Cibie fog AND driving lights mounted under the front bumper. With the high beams, drivers and fogs all on at the same time, I had a LOT of light down the road and off to the sides too.

With the lights being mounted that low, the were too easy to get broken. And with the amount of snow that we get here in central New York, they were always getting knocked out of place too.

Now, with my '03 SSEi, there'* no good place to mount aftermarket lights except into the stock fog openings, and maybe behind the grilles. If I go behind the grilles, it looks like there'* only enough room for projectors, not round or rectangular drivers.

That is a tough choice, however, if your looking for more light I would go with driving lights. You will probably use them a lot more then fog lights. Also, putting them behind the grill will lower the light output and could affect how much air is hitting the radiator. In looking there is no better place to mount them. I know this is crazy just for lights, but the only alternative that would look good is to get an SE bumper and mount them like this....


Cutting the part that goes across the open sections and mounting them there.
Not worth price/hassle, just an idea.

Thanks for the idea John. The SE bumper would be too much of a hassle though. Driving lights probably are a better choice if I have to choose just one set of lights.

I was looking at my car today and noticed that the galvanized bumper beam could have some lights mounted to the bottom if it with some homemade brackets to get the lights below the rubber bumper cover. Only thing is that the lights would be pretty close to the ground.

A set of lights there, and a good set of aftermarket lights in the stock fog light locations, and I'd be in business.