Rear Foglight

[Mark Yamauchi]

I just got a 91 US Spec M5 and would like to activate the left rear tailight segment for the foglight. I have the Euro foglight switch. Any suggestions as to how to do this? I believe the factory setup goes through the light control module. I don't want to screw around with that piece of it.

Does anyone know if the in-dash indicator film needs to be changed for the second icon or is it already there?

By the way I did this to our 87 E28 535is and it is really trick on that car!

[Ben]

I was wondering about this myself. I don't really have an answer, but if you come up something please keep us updated.

[Ronin]

To do this, you need to replace the tail lamp housing assemblies on the trunk lid (left and right), and then add the appropriate wiring harness, as well as the swtitch. And don't forget to add the bulb to the dash so it illuninates when the lights are turned on. The US spec M5's do NOT have the factory wiring harness necessary for this installation. The remains of what should have been this harness may be located, snipped and taped, at the rear circuit breaker housing beneath the driver's side rear passenger seat.

[Mark Yamauchi]

I plan on energizing only the left tailight foglamp space, as I once heard (or read in some early 80s BMW literature) that the rear foglight is the only one activated when there are front foglamps; both tailights are activated if there are no front foglamps. Can anyone in Europe substantiate this?

[GeorgeK]

Mark,
On my 1995 M5, the lights are as follows:
-You can use the fogs only with the main light switch at least on the first step.
-The fog switch's first step put the front fogs on
- The second step puts the rear lights on, both sides, with the front ones on.
-You can't have only the rear fogs on.
-You can have the driving lights and all the fogs on at the same time.
-On the dashboard, the marker for the front fogs is blue, with a light and downward sloping waves.The marker for the rear ones is orange with horizontal waves.
Hope this helps, George

[GeorgeK]

Mark,
I went to my 1995 M5 and here is what I found:
There are two rear foglights, one on each side of the trunk mounted lighte, under the reversing lights.
To activate the foglights, you must have at least the "position lights" on, i.e. the first step of the light switch.
The fog light switch puts the two front fog lights on at the first step, and the two front AND the two rear fog lights at the second step.
You can have both the front driving lights and the front fog lights on, although it doesn't make much sense.
On the dashboard, there is a light for the front fogs ( a light with waves going downwards) and a light for the rear lights (a light with the waves level). The fron is green, the rear is orange.
Hopr this helps, George.
P.S. I looked under my front bumper strips, no signature... But it seems the front bumper was repainted at some time.

[Mark Yamauchi]

I did a little investigation last night and found out the easiest thing for me to do is to get European Tailight assemblies (just the segments that mount on the trunk lid) to install the rear foglamps. So....

Anyone out there (outside of the US) replace their tailights (perhaps with the Hella black units) and want to sell me their trunk mounted tailight assemblies?

Or.... does anyone know of a source for parts such as these (including wiring harness from wrecked BMWs?

As always, thanks in advance for all comments.