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Enabling Rear Fog

10K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  YUL M5 
#1 ·
I have a 2006 US E60 M5 that I am trying to enable the rear fog light on. I have replaced the headlight switch (see attached), however, the left rear light does not appear to allow the inner brake/rear fog light to illuminate properly (additionally, the dash light does not indicate the rear fog light functionality is present).

The bulb carrier for the left rear light houses a single filament bulb, which illuminates with parking lights. Part numbers for the bulb carrier appear to be the same for both EU and US models.

I was under the impression the inner light functions both as a progressive brake light and as a rear fog light. Does anyone have advise on how to further enable the rear fog light? Is there a code that the dealer must set?
 

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#2 ·
While I can't help you specifically on the E60 application, I can share with you how I activated my rear fog lights on the E39. First of all, if all you did was replace the switch on the dashboard, it will not work. I am pretty sure you will need to run wires to the light control unit (from both the switch, and from the taillights to said light control unit), which in the case of the E39 is below the glovebox. So I had to run wires all the way from the trunk (from both rear tail light assemblies) to the front of the car, likely the most involved process. Also, you need to run a wire through the dash board that links the light control unit to the switch (not easy, trust me, I had to take out my Nav screen and use a hanger to do that).

Also, the tail lights in Europe are different (holds true for both e39 and E60 as their are different DOT requirements here in the US). Ditto for the front headlights (amber reflectors and LED side lights for the US ones). In case of the E39, there was not even a socket for the fog light bulbs, so many folks had to dremmel out a hole and attach the sockets. I ended up buying the European part number tail lights, so for me, it was plug and play (after the wiring and change of switch that is).

The process is well documented on bimmertips.com, maybe with luck someone has posted the procedure for the E60 fog light conversion. Only a few dollars in parts, but look at hours of labor. It is a DIY job if you have the patience.
 
#3 ·
I believe the lenses differ between EU and US models, but in researching the actual bulb carrier, I found the part numbers for the E60 are the same.

In looking at the wiring connections going to the bulb carrier, all wires are present in the connector, enabling all lights in the cluster (which is not the case in my E46 M3 and more than likely the same with a US E39).

Noting the inner lights (within the round section of the rear lenses) illuminate with parking lights only and do not illuminate with brake lights would make me question if programming is involved. I was under the impression US E60 models had progressive brake lights, which when triggered, would illuminate these inner lights, which also function as rear fog lights (either left or right, depending upon the steering configuration for the car).

The new headlight switch moves the HUD switch to a different position. Functionality for the HUD switch is enabled correctly.

Does anyone know if the wiring bus is intelligent enough to determine functionality based on the bulb wattage in the bulb carrier? (I believe the current bulb in the inner part of the rear lights is a 21W single filament bulb; the carrier does not support a dual filament bulb for a parking and brake setup.)
 
#4 ·
I checked the wiring diagram for the car against the switch in my car (US spec M6). Although the switch itself has no provision to control the rear fog light, the connector that connects to the switch is wired for the fog light. In other words when you installed the European switch, the connection from the switch to the light module is present, so at least you do not have to run wires per cosioboys post. My guess is that either the light module is US specific, you need somebody with a European ETK to give you the part number to compare with the US part, or that US spec cars are programmed differently for the light module.
OTOH, there is a thread on the E90 forum, where lots of US e90s were successfully modded by installing the European switch. The electrics on the E60 and E90 are very similar. Makes me wonder. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26545

Good luck
 
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