Retrofitting hid bulbs into fog lamps...

[Halo9809]

Okay so I am wondering that if I buy some decent projectors and retrofit them into the fog lights, could I simply leave the headlights alone or possibly disconnect them and aim the foglight projectors properly and use them as headlights with HID's in them?

[jolt]

The short answer is no.

Here is some reading on the subject: http://forums.officer.com/t41131/

It also depends on the state you drive in as below....
"In order for aftermarket HID lighting to be legal, the entire housing would have to be replaced. Texas Transportation Code § 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Drivers are required to meet federal standards in 49 CFR Sec 571.108. This makes current HID retrofits in Halogen housings NOT meet the beam pattern requirements for replacement lamps.

The following means a police officer can make you park your vehicle until daytime.

§ 547.004. GENERAL OFFENSES. (a) A person commits an offense that is a misdemeanor if the person operates or moves or, as an owner, knowingly permits another to operate or move, a vehicle that:
(1) is unsafe so as to endanger a person;
(2) is not equipped in a manner that complies with the
vehicle equipment standards and requirements established by this
chapter; or
(3) is equipped in a manner prohibited by this chapter.

The following basically says it is illegal to modify the lighting system on a vehicle.

§ 547.3215. USE OF FEDERAL STANDARD. Unless specifically prohibited by this chapter, lighting, reflective devices, and associated equipment on a vehicle or motor vehicle must comply with:
(1) the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.108; or
(2) the federal standards in that section in effect, if any, at the time the vehicle or motor vehicle was manufactured.

Fog lights do not meet the beam pattern for headlights. When it comes down to it, most HID conversions do not meet Federal law and can damage your OEM electrical system. The HID light is sold as "Off Road use only" or show use only. You can also check out http://www.hidplanet.com for more info and ask there, but keep in mind what your state laws are.

[KITT222]

Retrofitting fog lamps to work as headlights won't work. They're too low to be effective. Proper HID/projector retrofits (like what I did) are well worth the price paid, and since I've had mine I can't ever own a non-projector/non-retrofitted car again. They're amazing.

[Halo9809]

But in a projector wouldn't the beam pattern be better than stock, not to worried here about the law, can always leave regular lights alone and just fiddle with fogs, but I don't plan on leaving the stock fog light housing in place, I would replace them both with projectors and aim them correctly, I honestly don't see how they can be too low to work as its how the hids are setup in the newer model jeep grand Cherokees.

[jolt]

The beam pattern is determined by the reflector and the lens, not the projector. The placement of the projector in the reflector is critical for proper beam pattern. Fog lamps will never work for headlights because of the reflector and lens are totally wrong to produce the proper beam pattern.

Did you go to http://www.hidplanet.com and do some reading as I suggested before?

[KITT222]

The beam pattern is determined by the reflector and the lens, not the projector. The placement of the projector in the reflector is critical for proper beam pattern. Fog lamps will never work for headlights because of the reflector and lens are totally wrong to produce the proper beam pattern.

Not really. The beam pattern in my headlights is totally free of the reflector lens' influence. Hence why many paint their reflector buckets after going to projectors.

Fog lamps wont work as headlights because of height from the ground. Being at most a foot off the ground doesn't leave much space for it to be properly aimed. You COULD aim them (projector-swapped fogs) up so the cutoff matches where it would be on a car w/ projector headlights, but then you'd blind everyone beyond a certain distance, and actually would lose light being aimed at the ground.

But in a projector wouldn't the beam pattern be better than stock, not to worried here about the law, can always leave regular lights alone and just fiddle with fogs, but I don't plan on leaving the stock fog light housing in place, I would replace them both with projectors and aim them correctly, I honestly don't see how they can be too low to work as its how the hids are setup in the newer model jeep grand Cherokees.

If you mean the Cherokee, then I understand where you're coming from. But the Cherokee is a lot different than the Vibe. The headlights, despite being in that lower position, are still higher than our headlights. Headlight height is dictated by rules and regulations. Hence why some automakers of low-slung cars used to have lights mounted on a bracket at the proper height (I swear this was a case in the 90s with some sportscar).

If you wanted to maker some projector fog lights and use them to enhance your visibility, by all means. I was thinking of doing something similar (since my fogs are almost useless with how good my projector headlights are). But keep them aimed properly and as-designed, and you'll get a good flood pattern. It may not go as far as headlight projectors, but for less work you could get the flood of light. HIDPlanet is a great resource, and I encourage you to utilize it, as I used it to help with my own retrofit.

[Halo9809]

Alright thanks guys, I understand it a bit better now, the reason I want to do this in the first place is that my BMW I have, I was able to simply buy the headlight assembly and install hids in the projector assembly and now I do everything in my power not to drive the vibe at night as quite frankly I don't feel the sense of safety I get with the hids I'm my BMW. Can't see anything to the sides with high beams, and I can't stand the yellow color or dimness either. Thank you guys for the help.

[KITT222]

No problem, happy to help. There's places out there that can help you retrofit projectors to the stock headlights. I did so, and have a small writeup on my garage page (click the sig pic). I totally get the feeling of projectors vs not. I love mine, and they will be mandatory on all my cars from here on out. It isn't too hard, and I endeavored to take it on myself. Quite daunting at first, but once they're together and on the car, it's pretty special.