ss3 foglight/ Mirimoto 4banger fog lights brightness

Hey all.
so I usually like to drive with my fog lights on all the time just because it looks cool (I know I'm not the only one lol) My Queston is I want to get ss3 or 4banger in white (but the 3light version since it design matches my Morimoto headlights) but have some concerns at night, I heard a few people mention they only turn them on when they need them because they are so bright and they get flashed by oncoming cars. has this been anyone's experience with these?

 

Aftermarket fog light if quality units, will be much brighter. Because of this, they need to be properly aimed as well. I also got flashed even during the day with my Heretic fogs until I aimed them.

 

I have the 4banger yellow combo pattern in the stock foglight position. I have not been flashed yet. The mounts limit how much you can point them up, so they are great at seeing the road lines when its wet and dark. That said I am going to move to white wide lens, so I can see black ice a bit better as the yellow muddles the reflective shine of black ice. I'll grab a shot during next week's night session.

 

I'm thinking the yellow might be toned down verse the white. Can you post up the white wide lenses whenever you get it because that was the one I was going for too

 

Will do.

 

Currently have them adjusted as high as they will go. They don't go over the headlights at all but I think I need to point them down a hair. Didn't get flashed but not much traffic last night coming down the ski hill.

 

god damn thats bright! are these the 3 or 4 pod?also is this the street or max performance lighting?
Thanks for getting the pics to!

 

I have Morimoto headlights and Morimoto HXB fogs. Both were properly aimed against a wall using the common 25'x2" drop method.

Standing in front of my own vehicle, there is essentially zero glare. I've never been flashed by oncoming traffic.

 

Morimoto 4bangers (3 lights) NCS SAE wide.

 

I have a set of Selective Yellow Diode Dynamics SS3 Max fogs (upgraded from the Pro model) in the fog positions on my T4R and my son has a set of Morimoto 4banger HXB Wide / Yellow pods in the fog positions on his Scion tC. So, I sort of have both of the lights you mentioned. I also have a ton of experience with lighting upgraders going way back. That said, let me see if I can answer your questions. BTW, both the Pro and Max DD products are awesome. The Morimotos are very good.

First, if all you're looking for are lights that "look cool," then higher quality lighting may not be needed. Both of the manufacturers and models you mentioned would generally qualify as higher quality. Said another way, you can buy just about any cheap eBay / Amazon light is all you're worried about is looking cool.

Second, beam pattern makes a big difference in how any light performs. "Fog" pattern lights utilize a wide / flat pattern that is designed more to illuminate the sides of the road than to give long distance illumination. Spot pattern lights utilize a fairly narrow beam pattern designed mainly for distance illumination. Driving pattern lights are sort of a compromise, but more for distance illumination. (Those descriptions are gloriously over-simplified BTW.) People who know and understand lighting pick the proper beam pattern first, then look at manufacturers second. And there are huge differences in performance between the best and worst lights in each category.

Third, with any lighting product, aiming is critical so as to maximize light output where you need it and minimize glare for oncoming drivers. Poor quality lights, poor aiming and / or improper beam pattern can really tick off oncoming drivers. About the only beam pattern that will (when properly aimed) not tick off oncoming drivers is a Fog pattern. Even so, higher powered fogs (like the DD Pro and Max) will occasionally tick off oncoming drivers even when properly aimed. (Ask me how I know that.) Flood, Driving and Combo pattern lights are just about guaranteed to tick off oncoming drivers, even when properly aimed.

Finally, color (temperature) also comes into play when talking about ticking off oncoming drivers. Generally speaking, within a given model and beam pattern of light, clear / white will have a greater output than Amber / Yellow / Selective Yellow. So, where a Selective Yellow light might not bother anyone, an identically aimed white light might. Then again, in clear weather, you'd also have more usable light where you need it with that color.

There are lots of variables in automotive lighting as you can see. My recommendation is to pick the beam pattern you want, then the color temperature, then the manufacturer and power level. Then aim them properly.

 

Hey you said you can exchange the lense color right? So I can swap between yellow and white

 

My understanding is yes due to this product https://www.morimotohid.com/4Banger-Replacement-Lenses?quantity=1

That said I have 6 total 4banger fogs due to a previous install on a Bronco. I haven't tried to swap lens personally. Its just 4 small bolts, I used torx+ driver but forget the size right now, could get later if necessary. For the 4runner brackets you do have to remove 2 of said bolts for a bracket piece that gets replaced with a slightly longer screw. Also should mention the Morimoto 4runner fog light bracket comes with the pig tail adapters so its plug and play.

 

got it, I think I was getting these confusd with the baja lights. I light the fact you can switch them out vs the ss3, thanks for all your help