How to deal without foglights...

[ozman212]

Hey everyone,

One of the things that really got me down on the MKZ was that it didn't bring any foglights. I live in Florida where it rains any given day, and I really liked that feature on my last 2 vehicles. The LED's really are just for show or DRL's as they are called, so they don't really light up anything. Any thoughts on why lincoln would not include this feature or safety I would say?

[Myron D. Brown]

Do you find it difficult to see in rain/fog? I just noticed that the Owner's Manual actually has a "Front Fog Lamps" indicator on the page that displays all the instrument panel symbols. That's interesting...

[ozman212]

At night time driving on I-75 where there are no road lights it does seem a bit challenging driving without foglights, although the LED headlights do light up the road pretty well, fogs really do a good job of lighting up the marker strips on the road keeping you in your lane without any doubts.

[JoeBrown]

Since the advent of LEDs, most manufacturers have moved away from fog lights. They are now concentrating more and more on the ridiculous overuse of LEDs as a styling exercise. :cry: 

[ozman212]

Since the advent of LEDs, most manufacturers have moved away from fog lights. They are now concentrating more and more on the ridiculous overuse of LEDs as a styling exercise. :cry:

I have noticed that on other car manufacturers. It's like fogs are a thing of the past now. I guess this is where aftermarket manufacturers win big by producing little items like these that car companies lack, except that in our case, there isn't even any place to put aftermarket fogs on.

[Myron D. Brown]

I haven't researched headlight technology very much. But maybe it's possible that LEDs are better at cutting through fog than standard or HID headlights. And can LED lights vary their intensity/brightness? (Sorta like LED bulbs for light fixtures in your home can be dimmable). Does anyone know? Every car I've owned has just had standard headlights. But I've ordered a 2017 MKZ that I'm waiting to show up at my dealer. Mine will have the premium LED lights package, so I'm curious to know how they will function in fog. I'm especially curious since the Lincoln MKZ Owner's Manual (for every model since at least 2013) has a "Front Fog Lamps" indicator listed as something that could show up in the instrument panel. Maybe a dealer can answer our questions. But I'm curious to know if any of you have knowledge.

[drolds1]

I have noticed that on other car manufacturers. It's like fogs are a thing of the past now. I guess this is where aftermarket manufacturers win big by producing little items like these that car companies lack, except that in our case, there isn't even any place to put aftermarket fogs on.

I've had two LSes and two MKZs with "fog lamps."  They really didn't function as fog lamps.They were more driving lights than anything else.

 

 

I haven't researched headlight technology very much. But maybe it's possible that LEDs are better at cutting through fog than standard or HID headlights. And can LED lights vary their intensity/brightness? (Sorta like LED bulbs for light fixtures in your home can be dimmable). Does anyone know? Every car I've owned has just had standard headlights. But I've ordered a 2017 MKZ that I'm waiting to show up at my dealer. Mine will have the premium LED lights package, so I'm curious to know how they will function in fog. I'm especially curious since the Lincoln MKZ Owner's Manual (for every model since at least 2013) has a "Front Fog Lamps" indicator listed as something that could show up in the instrument panel. Maybe a dealer can answer our questions. But I'm curious to know if any of you have knowledge.

I'm not seeing a fog lamp indicator in my car. Can you be more specific as to what you're referring to?  There's a position on the switch for the parking lights and the green icon that lights on the IP when they're on.

 

Honestly, the LED headlamps are so bright, I haven't felt the need for the fog/auxiliary driving lights that my prior cars had.  It's interesting to note here that the IIHS rated the MKZ's head lamps as "marginal."  I think their testers need cataract surgery. Trust me, it makes a difference.  This MKZ has the brightest friggin' headlights I've ever experienced.

 

WRT varying the brightness, apparently so since the MKZ has one projector for low and high beams. I don't think there's a shutter or moving reflector like in bi-xenon setups.

 

And lastly.  Myron, is it really going to cost an additional $4G on a 2017 to get the LED head lamps that are currently standard equipment on the MKZ?

[Myron D. Brown]

I've had two LSes and two MKZs with "fog lamps."  They really didn't function as fog lamps.They were more driving lights than anything else.

 

 

I'm not seeing a fog lamp indicator in my car. Can you be more specific as to what you're referring to?  There's a position on the switch for the parking lights and the green icon that lights on the IP when they're on.

 

Honestly, the LED headlamps are so bright, I haven't felt the need for the fog/auxiliary driving lights that my prior cars had.  It's interesting to note here that the IIHS rated the MKZ's head lamps as "marginal."  I think their testers need cataract surgery. Trust me, it makes a difference.  This MKZ has the brightest friggin' headlights I've ever experienced.

 

WRT varying the brightness, apparently so since the MKZ has one projector for low and high beams. I don't think there's a shutter or moving reflector like in bi-xenon setups.

 

And lastly.  Myron, is it really going to cost an additional $4G on a 2017 to get the LED head lamps that are currently standard equipment on the MKZ?

 

Hey, I guess what I'm referring to is not something that I've seen in the car, but just in the owner's manual. I went on the Lincoln website and looked the owner's manual for the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 MKZ. In all cases, you'll see the same thing on page 8. Here's a link: http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/Catalog/owner_information/2016-MKZ-Owners-Manual-version-1_om_EN-US-EN-CA_03_2015.pdf. And you'll see the symbol for "Front fog lamps" on page 8. Bu it's funny that "fog lamps" are mentioned nowhere else in the owner's manual. It does mention fog, and how fog affects the regular headlamps, cameras, and radar sensors...but nothing explicitly about fog lamps.

 

As for the 2017 MKZ, yes it is really going to cost an additional $4,400. The Premium LED Headlights and the 20-Speaker Revel Ultima Audio System come together in what Lincoln calls the "Luxury Package." So I don't know how much of that $4,400 is for the lights and what portion is for the sound. However, the one I ordered is a Black Label trim, so the "Luxury Package" comes standard on Black Label models.

Edited April 28, 2016 by Myron D. Brown

[drolds1]

Hey, I guess what I'm referring to is not something that I've seen in the car, but just in the owner's manual. I went on the Lincoln website and looked the owner's manual for the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 MKZ. In all cases, you'll see the same thing on page 8. Here's a link: http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/Catalog/owner_information/2016-MKZ-Owners-Manual-version-1_om_EN-US-EN-CA_03_2015.pdf. And you'll see the symbol for "Front fog lamps" on page 8. Bu it's funny that "fog lamps" are mentioned nowhere else in the owner's manual. It does mention fog, and how fog affects the regular headlamps, cameras, and radar sensors...but nothing explicitly about fog lamps.

 

As for the 2017 MKZ, yes it is really going to cost an additional $4,400. The Premium LED Headlights and the 20-Speaker Revel Ultima Audio System come together in what Lincoln calls the "Luxury Package." So I don't know how much of that $4,400 is for the lights and what portion is for the sound. However, the one I ordered is a Black Label trim, so the "Luxury Package" comes standard on Black Label models.

 

Thanks for the link.  I think this is probably one of those generic charts Ford inserts into OMs and service manuals to cover every possibility.  Notice they say you may see one of these symbols.  I've seen these kinds of things before.  This is a section in the service manual about changing the fluid in the manual transmission.  What MKZ has a MT?

 

WRT the head lamps in 2017.  WTF?  This really pisses me off!  They made a big deal about the MKZ having LED headlights when the 2013 was introduced.  Now you pay $4400 to get what was standard equipment? Ford has a habit of decontenting cars after several MYs.  Really aggravating. :rant2:  You might as well just order the BL package instead of paying that much for two items.

Edited April 29, 2016 by drolds1

[Myron D. Brown]

WRT the head lamps in 2017.  WTF?  This really pisses me off!  They made a big deal about the MKZ having LED headlights when the 2013 was introduced.  Now you pay $4400 to get what was standard equipment? Ford has a habit of decontenting cars after several MYs.  Really aggravating. :rant2:  You might as well just order the BL package instead of paying that much for two items.

 

Technically, LED headlamps still are standard equipment...sort of. Even with the 2013-2016 models, it was really only the DRLs that were LED (right?), but the headlights were HID. On the 2017 models, there are two arrangements for the headlights.

​Here are the standard headlights:

 

And here's what you get with the $4,400 Luxury Package (included in Black Label Trim):

 

It looks like to me...the standard arrangement is an HID, the curved strip of LEDs, and then the LEDs in the lower bumper. (I believe those diagonal strips may also be LEDs, but I'm not sure, because I've never seen a picture of them lit up).

 

And then the $4,400 upgrade gets you 100% LEDs the whole way around. This, I'm sure of, because I've actually been to a dealer and sat inside a 2017 Black Label.

[drolds1]

Adaptive LED headlamps have been standard equipment on the MKZ since the 2013 MY.  Lincoln website.

 

Here's a random window sticker I pulled from my dealer's inventory.  Note the 'Exterior' features listed at the top left.

 

 

 

[Myron D. Brown]

Adaptive LED headlamps have been standard equipment on the MKZ since the 2013 MY.  Lincoln website.

 

Here's a random window sticker I pulled from my dealer's inventory.  Note the 'Exterior' features listed at the top left.

 

You're absolutely right. I guess I was mistaken. Those LEDs look an awful lot like some of the HID lights I see on cars.

[ozman212]

I don't know if its just me, but before this car, I had a Ford Escape with factory HIDs and fog lights and driving home through my dark roads, it seemed as if it were a whole lot brighter than with my MKZ. Maybe it was because of the ride height, but more light is always a plus in my book.

[drolds1]

You're absolutely right. I guess I was mistaken. Those LEDs look an awful lot like some of the HID lights I see on cars.

They've chosen to use projectors instead of reflectors for 2013-2016.  Apparently, they've changed their thinking for 2017.

 

BTW, LED headlamps will be standard on the 2017 Ford Fusion Sport, which starts at $6G less than a base MKZ. I'm actually considering the latter for when my current lease is up.  Everything you can get in an MKZ is available in the Fusion Sport with a few exceptions that don't matter to me, e.g., pano roof

[drolds1]

I don't know if its just me, but before this car, I had a Ford Escape with factory HIDs and fog lights and driving home through my dark roads, it seemed as if it were a whole lot brighter than with my MKZ. Maybe it was because of the ride height, but more light is always a plus in my book.

I find a noticeable difference when the headlamp lenses are clean.

[Myron D. Brown]

Adaptive LED headlamps have been standard equipment on the MKZ since the 2013 MY.  Lincoln website.

 

Here's a random window sticker I pulled from my dealer's inventory.  Note the 'Exterior' features listed at the top left.

 

Check this out. Lincoln updated their website today: http://www.lincoln.com/cars/mkz/options/exteriorfeatures/

 

Looks like I was right!! The standard lights are HID headlamps. Only that curvy, signature lighting is LED. The full LED headlamps and LED signature lighting are listed as "optional" on the Reserve trim level or higher.

[drolds1]

Check this out. Lincoln updated their website today: http://www.lincoln.com/cars/mkz/options/exteriorfeatures/

 

Looks like I was right!! The standard lights are HID headlamps. Only that curvy, signature lighting is LED. The full LED headlamps and LED signature lighting are listed as "optional" on the Reserve trim level or higher.

It was fairly clear back in Feb. that HIDs would be standard for 2017 and that LEDs would now be part of a $4400 option package. No more 3.7 engine either.  Thanks, Lincoln!

[Izzy3906]

I know this tread is been over a year but I got to say I have had fog lights on most of my cars either they come with it or I do the installment.

I see that my MKZ has to plastic covers in the lower part of the bumper, so I went and purchase a headlight switch that goes in the ford fusion that has the fog light button in it.  Now I'm just looking for some fog lights that would really fit in that place and that would look good in it.

[smokin5s]

I know this tread is been over a year but I got to say I have had fog lights on most of my cars either they come with it or I do the installment.

I see that my MKZ has to plastic covers in the lower part of the bumper, so I went and purchase a headlight switch that goes in the ford fusion that has the fog light button in it.  Now I'm just looking for some fog lights that would really fit in that place and that would look good in it.

Any luck installing fogs? Any pictures of your install?

[Izzy3906]

Any luck installing fogs? Any pictures of your install?

No, I haven't found any fog lights that would fit in the the empty space where the cover is.

Hopefully I can find some that will look good on it.

I did install the switch and the dim and power trunk works.