H3 Fog Light Bulbs Options

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Tinkerer

Tinkerer

Joined
Jan 9, 2006
Threads
43
Messages
566
Location
North Alabama
Can anyone recommend a good higher-output (but street-legal) H3 halogen type bulb for LX470 fog lights?

From what I can tell, I have only a couple of options to bump up the stock 55W output, using halogen:

1. SilverStar 65W H3 ST bulb, rated 100 hour life, ~$20
2. Various 100W H3 bulbs, rated 100 hr, not street-legal

Don't really want to spend $40+ to get slightly-higher output SilverStars that last half as long as stock bulbs.

Don't want to go overboard with 100W bulbs that are not street-legal (and also probably last half as long as stock).

I'd like to find something with somewhat higher output (like SilverStars), say, 65 to 70W, but without the 4x price tag and 1/2x lifespan of SilverStars.

Suggestions appreciated.
 
Tinkerer said:
Yes, 4300k HIDs installed on Christmas Day. :)

Hence, the fog light question - brighter/whiter fog lights would better match the HID low beams.
Click to expand...

Thats what i was thinking, so you want to "match" the fogs in color to the lowbeams? You really cant go much brighter with halogen in the foglights, you would have to get a matching H3 HID kit to significantly increase light output. I suggest you experiment with different aftermarket "coated" bulbs if you are just looking to match.
 
Actually...I don't want to attract unwanted attention by having fog lights that are noticeably dimmer and less white than the lowbeams.

Hardly ever use the fog lights, but when I do, I don't want to stand out too much.

;)
 
if you dont want to stand out, keep the normal stock foglight bulbs in as most cars on the road with HIDs(save some LexGS's) have plain white halogen foglights.
 
As someone who drives with my fog lights on almost all the time., I'm more concerned about the functional use - try to find a longer life bulb, or one that has a functional use in fog, such as a yellow/amber bulb - bright white light reflects off the fog worse than yellow/amber light does.

If you just want it to look right, find an H3 HID kit.

-Z
 
zmw100 said:
As someone who drives with my fog lights on almost all the time., I'm more concerned about the functional use - try to find a longer life bulb, or one that has a functional use in fog, such as a yellow/amber bulb - bright white light reflects off the fog worse than yellow/amber light does.

If you just want it to look right, find an H3 HID kit.

-Z
Click to expand...

Does yellow/amber really provide better visibility in fog?

I wonder why Toyota (and other OEMs) don't put yellow/amber bulbs/lenses in their OEM foglights, if it gives better visibility? (Certainly, there are lots of yellow/amber aftermarket fog lights & bulbs...)

No, I've pretty much given up on doing anything to my fog lights. I bought some 100W H3 bulbs, but I'm going to return them - they are rated for only 50 hr life (as opposed to 225 hr life of stock 55W H3 Sylvanias), and they are not street-legal. (Unlike the lowbeam projectors, the fog projectors may not do such a good job of limiting glare for oncoming traffic, so putting 100W bulbs in the fog lights might be inadvisable.)

The HID lowbeams are so good in forward lighting for me (the driver) that the only reason I can see for using the fogs at all on the road is so that other drivers can see me a little better in fog. But since I must drive with the assumption that other drivers can't see me in any conditions (because that's the way they drive), then even that is not enough reason to "improve" the fog lights - at least, not for road use.

:)

For offroad use (as far as I take it), I think the stock fog lights are OK. (I'm not rally racing...)
 
Tinkerer said:
I wonder why Toyota (and other OEMs) don't put yellow/amber bulbs/lenses in their OEM foglights...
Click to expand...

They do so in some of their vehicles in other markets, at least in Japan they do.

I personally think a nice amber light would compliment your HID's white color.

I would probably just turn on the yellow fogs under extreme weather/condition and turn off the low beams, whether on-coming vehicles can see me or not, so I can see where I'm going.

ANYWAY, good luck!
 
mot said:
They do so in some of their vehicles in other markets, at least in Japan they do.

I personally think a nice amber light would compliment your HID's white color.

I would probably just turn on the yellow fogs under extreme weather/condition and turn off the low beams, whether on-coming vehicles can see me or not, so I can see where I'm going.

ANYWAY, good luck!
Click to expand...

The 99 LX470 fog lights only operate when the low beams are on. They will not operate without low beams being on also. (At least, on this vehicle that's the way it works.)

I've never been in such thick fog at night that foglights-only (no low beams) are more helpful to see than low beams. I guess if that situation calls for fog lights only, then the fog lights on the 99 LX470 are not "true" fog lights. :)

Thanks for the info!
 
FWIW, the OEM amber fogs next to the headlights for the Japanese (and some other) market(s) turn on when your marker/parking lights are on.

Yeah, driving in thick fog/snow is not that fun. I think the best thing you can do is to slow the way down and take it easy.;)
 
Tink,
Having the same issue you had with trying to match the fogs to the low beams, I went with an yellow/amber H3 fog lamp on my ARB bumper. It looks really good. Don't know about performance in bad weather, but they have to be a bit better than an all white set up.

Hope that helps.
 
I am pretty sure my Toyota lights on the ARB used the H3 bulb, I swaped it out with a yellow bulb from Danial Stern, works great

see
55W Tungsram Gold (produces selective-yellow light): $15.50/ea
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

good info
Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply



and yes toyota makes yellow fog lights and even yellow E code headlights

these H4 e-code OEM toyota lights came from I think a french 40 or 60, now in my 82 fj40, I LOVE them
109673582.jpg


these are OEM optional for 4X series Cruisers
83726544.jpg


also these(from Mot)
91676657.jpg


same light with clear lens and yellow bulb on my 100's
110855730.jpg


Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply


yes yellow bulbs help in the fog and in the rain....but to me the reason I really like them is people SEE them and anything that makes the idoits on the road see YOU better is a good thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom