Re: 90 80Q high's/fog lights

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <3.0.3.32.19990809101822.02eb5964@inetone.net> Robert Myers writes:

> We've been through all this opinion on both sides of this question several
> times in the past.  Some see no need ever to have both fogs and high beams
> on simultaneously.  I suspect most of these are city residents who travel
> well lighted roads during most of their travels.  Others see an advantage
> in being able to operate both sets of lights simultaneously.  I suspect
> that this group frequently drives on dark, winding, narrow roads and feel
> they need all possible advantage when it comes to spotting Bambi or Pepi
> LePew on the shoulder just as he is ready to cross in front of you.
>
> I fall into the latter group.  You, evidently, fall into the prior group.
> That's OK.  I'll forgive you.  :-)

The lights are designed for completely different purposes.

Foglights are generally used when visibility is poor (it's an offence to
have them switched on if you can see more than 200yds in the UK) and are
mounted _MUCH_ lower than headlights so that light scatter into the driver's
vision line is much less.  Because they're lower, they're angled higher
- i.e., the beam intersects the road surface at a shallower angle.
Although they're mounted lower than headlights, the proportion of the
beam that actually gets up higher towards oncoming drivers is actually
higher and they have a much greater long distance dazzle effect.

Over here, foglights in clear weather is an almost concrete indicator
of a young driver from one of our distinct social groups in a lowered
BMW.

My advice is to sort your lights out so that each does the job it's
designed for.

--
 Phil Payne
 UK Audi quattro Owners Club
 Phone: 0385 302803   Fax: 0870 0883933