Install: Diode Dynamics - LED Fog Lamps - Yellow - 2016 BRZ

[Peaty]

This is a pretty simple mod that is basically plug and play. I've ordered a number of parts from Diode Dynamics and I find they have good quality products. They also tend to stand behind them as well with good customer service. This is what I ordered:

Color Yellow Bulb Model XML2 (1420 lumens)

What you will need:

Flat head screw driver - To pop the lower two fasteners out

Phillips head screw driver - To remove the three side wheel well fasteners

Wire Ties - Two (2) to secure harness (not supplied in kit)

I did mine with the car on the ground and wheels pointed straight. I don't think it will help to put the car in the air but turning the wheels away from the side you are working on would not hurt. My hands got too dirty to touch the interior so I just dealt with it.

Start by removing the two lower button fasteners. Just pop the center up with a flat blade screwdriver and tug them out. (see photo)

Next remove the three fasteners in the wheel well (see photo)

Pull back the wheel liner to expose the back of the fog lamp.
Remove the bulb by pinching the wings and pulling straight back. The bulb will be in the harness still, to remove the bulb from the harness push on the single tab and it will slide out

Next insert the led in the housing by pushing it straight in till it locks.

Plug the pigtail on the housing into the harness. It's keyed to only go in one way. Be sure to push it home to lock it in place. Give a tug to be sure it's secure.

I did not like how much excess harness was behind the lamp housing. Luckily there is a hole above on both sides you can use to secure the harness with a Zip-Tie. I highly recommend it. (see photo)

Put everything back together and you are good to go. The wheel well liner goes back in a specific way. If you get confused how it goes exactly, look at the other side for reference.

I haven't driven in the fog yet to test the bulbs but they look very nice and are extremely bright. The beam pattern is determined by the reflector and still has a nice wide but sharply cut off pattern.

I haven't had a chance to drive around with them yet but will report back and hopefully take some pics.

[Mazikowski]

Awesome DIY!

Any chance you took comparison photos?

[brz11b]

Awesome I just ordered a bunch of Diode dynamics led for my brz. Pretty much replacing everything light with them.

[Peaty]

I have a number of Diode Dynamics stuff too. I'm slowly changing things out. I haven't been able to get photos yet. As a photographer I question the ability to accurately capture these sort of upgrades. I'll give it a shot though (no pun intended) I just haven't driven at night yet. I'd really like to capture a pic in the fog.

FWIW I also have the mod on our ScoobyMods page here:

http://www.scoobymods.com/showthread...382#post118382

I left this out of the description above but it's on scoobymods:

Let me say that I picked yellow fogs strictly for the aesthetic. I know that fogs in white or yellow have the same effectiveness in foggy weather. It's the beam pattern that makes a fog lamp a fog lamp not the colour. I've done a lot of research and can find no scientific evidence that yellow is better than white in the fog. Having said that, I think yellow looks cool. That's why I picked it. The BRZ (IMHO) is a pretty sexy car nothing wrong with some tasteful aesthetic mods.

I've always thought that yellow was better in fog but when I researched it, I could not find anything really proving it's measurably better. If anyone comes across something saying otherwise I'd love to see it. I've saved articles and papers on the subject but nothing definitive yet.

[brz11b]

Originally Posted by Peaty

I have a number of Diode Dynamics stuff too. I'm slowly changing things out. I haven't been able to get photos yet. As a photographer I question the ability to accurately capture these sort of upgrades. I'll give it a shot though (no pun intended) I just haven't driven at night yet. I'd really like to capture a pic in the fog.

FWIW I also have the mod on our ScoobyMods page here:

http://www.scoobymods.com/showthread...382#post118382

I left this out of the description above but it's on scoobymods:



I've always thought that yellow was better in fog but when I researched it, I could not find anything really proving it's measurably better. If anyone comes across something saying otherwise I'd love to see it. I've saved articles and papers on the subject but nothing definitive yet.

I get the multicolor led fog conversion. I'd liked having the ability to change colors but I'll be sticking almost to sticky to yellow as well but all for looks more then worry about fog.

[FX86]

i've changed my turn signals and fog lights so much down there all my fasteners are worn out lol

[Peaty]

Originally Posted by FX86

i've changed my turn signals and fog lights so much down there all my fasteners are worn out lol

I'm on Subaru #13, currently have 4 (wife and kids cars) so I went and got these:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Subaru-Engine-Cover-Fender-90913-0067/dp/B00AZOJB2O?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui _search_detailpage"]Amazon.com: 15 Subaru Engine Cover and Fender Liner Clips 90913-0067: Automotive[/ame]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Clipsandfasteners-Inc-Subaru-Bumper-Engine/dp/B00588T81Q?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui _search_detailpage"]Amazon.com: Clipsandfasteners Inc 15 Subaru Bumper Engine Cover Fender And Grille Clips: Automotive[/ame]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Subaru-Front-Bumper-Quarter-Push-Type/dp/B005IC2SNW?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui _search_detailpage"]Amazon.com: 15 Subaru Front Bumper & Quarter Panel Push-Type Clips: Automotive[/ame]

-
Worth having extras, my BRZ has only has a few miles but I know after the dirt gets in there they become impossible to remove w/o at least 5 cursing sessions.

Problem is if you try and pry the ones that have so much dirt packed in on the opposite side they won't close properly, you end up widening the hole the fastener goes in. Then even if you get a new fastener it won't hold tight enough and just sort of rattles around in there.

[mav1178]

Glad they changed the housing design.

Mine was originally purchased in 2013. The LED housing separated from the base and the rubber ring was too tight of a fit.

After 2 exchanges and the replacement unit came apart less than 2 years after install, I just threw them in the trash.

-alex

[XanRules]

Originally Posted by Peaty

I have a number of Diode Dynamics stuff too. I'm slowly changing things out. I haven't been able to get photos yet. As a photographer I question the ability to accurately capture these sort of upgrades. I'll give it a shot though (no pun intended) I just haven't driven at night yet. I'd really like to capture a pic in the fog.

FWIW I also have the mod on our ScoobyMods page here:

http://www.scoobymods.com/showthread...382#post118382

I left this out of the description above but it's on scoobymods:



I've always thought that yellow was better in fog but when I researched it, I could not find anything really proving it's measurably better. If anyone comes across something saying otherwise I'd love to see it. I've saved articles and papers on the subject but nothing definitive yet.

yellow CAN be, but I had a pretty in-depth discussion on this with Daniel Stern a few years back - the design of most modern cars' fog lights is strictly cosmetic anyway so it honestly doesn't matter. The beam pattern isn't enough to make a noticeable difference in inclement weather regardless of the color of light used.

Both the DD and the Morimoto LED fogs intrigue me. DD says they're identical, just branded differently, and I have no reason not to believe them. Price is the same, too. Anyway... at some point I intend to pick up some of the Morimoto fogs, which apparently give off a god-awful amount of light in the best way, and paint them selective yellow. Probably before the rainy season REALLY hits (it's always rainy season up here, but you know).

By the way, as luck would have it, this paint happens to also have all the properties of a selective yellow filter, and is what I'll be using: https://www.amazon.com/Dupli-Color-M...tag=2402507-20

For those of you scoring at home, here are Stern's articles about them.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...ght_color.html

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...fog_lamps.html

[Peaty]

I've talked to stern quite a few times over the years too. I've also read the articles years ago. However, I've searched and there is only one paper I can find with scientific data to back it up. In the end it says Yellow could possibly help but nothing radically better.


http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...fog_lamps.html

Good (and legal) fog lamps may produce white or Selective Yellow light—it is the beam pattern, not the light colour, that defines a fog lamp—

[XanRules]

Originally Posted by Peaty

I've talked to stern quite a few times over the years too. I've also read the articles years ago. However, I've searched and there is only one paper I can find with scientific data to back it up. In the end it says Yellow could possibly help but nothing radically better.


http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...fog_lamps.html

I figured you had, but some of these guys who haven't been wrenching on Subarus as long as you may not have.