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change your rusty faded broken fogs DIY!

https://www.bmwe36blog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=31

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change your rusty faded broken fogs DIY!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:39 am
by Javier
Okay, I finally received my new fogs, and proceeded to install them. I 'document' the process so you guys know how easy it is, and hopefully avoid the mistakes I made :lol:

Tada!
[attachment=2]DIY - change fogs - 0 - before.JPG


As per [url]http://www.bmwe36blog.com/2007/08/27/bmw-e36-fog-lights-removal-diy/[/url] I removed the passenger foglight. Ooops! WTF?!? Broken frame, poorly glued so it would seem 'ok'.
[attachment=1]DIY - change fogs - 2 - old fog assembly right side.JPG

[attachment=0]DIY - change fogs - 3 - old assembly was broken.JPG

Do you know what's funny? I managed to do the same damage to my NEW FRAME!!!! :oops:
This is as strong as butter it seems :cry:

Now we need to repair the broken new frame. I have an idea, but let's try with the old frame first, hehe :twisted:

change your rusty faded broken fogs DIY! (part 2)

PostPosted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:52 am
by Javier
[attachment=2]DIY - change fogs - 4 - old assembly what to repair.JPG

I re-attached the tab by screwing it together with the frame. It went OK so I will show you the same thing on the new frame.

I used a tiny nail, and heated it so it would burn a hole for the screw to get in.
[attachment=1]DIY - change fogs - 6 - nail and fire.JPG


[attachment=0]DIY - change fogs - 7 - burning a hole on tab.JPG
Be patient, and repeat the procedure as needed. The hole needs to be a little thinner than the screw you are going to use.

I found out DEPO plastic is considerably weaker than Hella's (my old fogs are Hellas)... it melts way faster.

(to be continued)

change your rusty faded broken fogs DIY! (part 3)

PostPosted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:57 am
by Javier
[attachment=2]DIY - change fogs - 8 - hole on tab and screw in.JPG


Now the frame:
[attachment=1]DIY - change fogs - 9 - hole on frame and screw in.JPG


When you are done with both, it is time to test:
[attachment=0]DIY - change fogs - A - frame repaired.JPG

(to be cont.)

change your rusty faded broken fogs DIY! (final)

PostPosted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 4:13 am
by Javier
Let's put our repaired frame in place.

[attachment=2]DIY - change fogs - B - frame tab in place.JPG


Now we place the fog light. Much better than before.
[attachment=1]DIY - change fogs - E - now the left one.JPG


We do the same with the driver's side, and voilá:
[attachment=0]DIY - change fogs - G - final results.JPG
I used PIAA Extreme Whites... still no match for my 6000k LEDs :(
Maybe I should not try to match them at all, and yellow my fogs... what do you think about it? Yellow lamin-x? Hm... maybe they won't look good with my amber turnlights.

Re: change your rusty faded broken fogs DIY!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:31 am
by tonysticks
Wow! thanks Javier for the great writeup. I really enjoyed it.

About the Yellow lamin, I think it may look nice, but I'm not sure about the gray bumper. If it was the same color as the rest of the car, it would definitely look great. Take a look at this:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v222/joenationwide/m3_homiezcompressed2.jpg[/img]

Re: change your rusty faded broken fogs DIY!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:30 pm
by Javier
Well, since you just set up this nice forum, now I had no excuse :D

Hm... hellrot bumper/sideskirts... I did think about it. It will look great, I am sure about it.

I keep them stock just because all the other e36s I see 'round here have them color-matched with the rest of the car. So mine 'stands out' hehe... and for a sedan it is not ugly the way it is. Gives the car a 'thinner' look... I like my cars thin, like the venerable e30 (that is another car I really like).

And all this leads to bitching about the new e9Xs... Where are you going BMW, where? Stop the madness!

But getting back on topic: nice picture! makes me want to try yellow lamin-x. Let's place an order and start waiting for them to arrive :|

Re: change your rusty faded broken fogs DIY!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:53 pm
by tonysticks
You can always try the yellow lamin first, then you can decide whether you want to color-match your bumper or not. I guess this would be a better way and you can see it in real which helps you decide better, right?

Re: change your rusty faded broken fogs DIY!

PostPosted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:52 pm
by Javier
Yup, I guess I can try those yellow lamins. In that picture they look superb. As an added benefit, they will add a little protection, so it can't be bad.

I can't get those where I live (or if I can, they are very expensive). I need to think about my purchases very carefully, and having taken an option, wait a very long of time for them to get to my door...

I'll let you know like... 15 days from now, when the product arrives :)

Re: change your rusty faded broken fogs DIY!

PostPosted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:14 am
by tonysticks
Cool.. we'll be waiting :-)

Re: change your rusty faded broken fogs DIY!

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:42 pm
by jarozila
That was really clever to put in a small screw to hold that bit in place.

I know when I changed my front fog lights the brackets were also brocken. I ended up taking the old ones out and putting in new ones - and wasn't that fun to do. NOT!!!
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