ZL1 fog lights--not DRL's - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

My 5th · 12-23-2015, 10:45 PM

I've searched this forum until I'm blue in the face. I just had a ZL1 front end put on my 2010 SS and I want brighter, whiter bulbs for the fog lights--not the DRL's.

Using search for "Fog Lights" gives me hundreds of threads where they are discussing what they call fog lights, but they're actually the DRL's. I understand the non RS option calls the DRL's fog lights. That's not what I'm looking for.

I want an LED or HID bulb for the lower, smallest light in the ZL1 fascia. Where can I find one? I understand the reason for the apparent dimmness of the stock ZL1 bulb is a deflector that doesn't let all the light through the lens. To remove this you have to cut the housings apart and you run a risk of breaking the lens.

Does anyone make and sell complete ZL1 foglight assemblies, without the deflector, with either LED or HID bulbs?

Does the stock ZL1 fog light lens focus or spread the light in a distinct pattern, or it it just diffuse? The perfect solution for me would be to find complete assemblies that project a low fan-shaped beam like real fog lights. I don't think the stock fogs do that.

I appreciate any help you can give me.

cabbe · 12-24-2015, 02:15 AM

Does it take an H11 bulb?

I just bought a HID kit from another member here and he said that he has them on his zl1.

But I'm not sure if its for the bigger or smaller light.

Snoman · 12-24-2015, 06:31 AM

H11's

My 5th · 12-24-2015, 12:21 PM

Thanks for the H11 tip.

Here's what I think I need:

HID 35W H11 5000K bulbs with ballasts.

Now the hard part. Should I choose a $30.00 kit from DDMTuning.com or a $150 Morimoto Elite kit from Theretrofitsource.com? The Morimoto kit is actually 5500K, but there's probably not much difference in the appearance compared to 5000K.

The price of the ddmtuning kit wins out, but what does the $150 kit have to justify 5X the price? I would expect better quality in the more expensive kit, but if the $30 kit looks as good and lasts as long why spend the extra $$?

In either case I think I should get the ballast mounting brackets so I don't have to jury righ anything.

BRZN · 12-25-2015, 06:55 AM

Are you planning on using the fog lights as a show piece or as actual fog lights? The k after the number is for the Kelvin scale and the number is the degrees Kelvin a block of carbon is burnt at. So the 5000, or 5500 is the color a block of carbon emits when burnt at that temperature Kelvin. Those will be almost pure white, and not real good for cutting through fog/rain/snow any better than your low beams. They will, however match your low's and high's in light output appearance.

I installed a set of 35 watt 3000k HID's in the stock fog light assemblies of my 2006 Pontiac GTO, and the few times I've had it out in fog, they cut through the elements really well. When turned on they appear a greenish/yellow, however viewed from the front they still look white.

My 5th · 12-26-2015, 02:06 AM

My experience has been that the yellow light wasn't nearly as helpful as candle power and a properly focused beam. The beam should be low and fan shaped to illuminate the sides of the road. In addition, the beam should be short vertically, such that when projected against a wall it is visibly distinct and below the low-beam headlights.

Years ago I had some Carello fog lights mounted to my '73 Corvette. They were rectangular approx. 3" X 6", and illegal for road use because they were so bright. But boy did they work. I could see nearly 100 yards on either side of the road, which helped to avoid surprises from deer wanting to cross the road.

Does anyone know if the ZL1 fog lens focuses the light in any particular pattern? I would rate that the number 1 factor, but since I already have the lenses then brightness is my top consideration, followed by light color. I believe the stock fog light is a halogen in the 3300K range, but IMHO it looks very wimpy, but I don't know how many watts it is.

Any thoughts?

mando · 12-26-2015, 03:48 AM

Ddm is really good. My friends trucks fog lights are filled with water close to halfways and the hid still works. Hes had them for 3 years.

GSTRYDR · 12-26-2015, 05:41 PM

I have the exact DDM HID lights in 5000K in the fog lights on my 2014 ZL1. I love the look as they match the headlights perfectly and are super bright. They have been in there almost a year now without a single issue. I run the DDM lights in all my cars and have yet to have an issue. I think you would be crazy not to buy them over the retrofit source ones just on pricing alone. Don't get me wrong, the retrofit source makes some really killer stuff. I have their halos that I am installing in my DRLs now. Good luck either way.

cabbe · 12-26-2015, 05:49 PM

I also have the DDM, works great!

My 5th · 12-26-2015, 09:45 PM

Placed an order with DDM. Thanks!

ElManny · 02-03-2019, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My 5th

Placed an order with DDM. Thanks!

Can you list the parts you bought? I am trying to get this going with my zl1 conversion

ghost_l2yder · 02-14-2019, 02:57 PM

What you want is the morimoto fog lamp housing replacement 20x better than any led bulb replacement . I made an install how to on my YouTube channel under gen5concepts

bigwormgraphix · 02-25-2019, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElManny

Can you list the parts you bought? I am trying to get this going with my zl1 conversion

Click on the link below, you will need the mounting rings:
https://www.bigwormgraphix.com/2012-...og-lights.html

12-23-2015, 10:45 PM	#1
My 5th Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Black on Black Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Global Citizen Posts: 1,243	ZL1 fog lights--not DRL's I've searched this forum until I'm blue in the face. I just had a ZL1 front end put on my 2010 SS and I want brighter, whiter bulbs for the fog lights--not the DRL's. Using search for "Fog Lights" gives me hundreds of threads where they are discussing what they call fog lights, but they're actually the DRL's. I understand the non RS option calls the DRL's fog lights. That's not what I'm looking for. I want an LED or HID bulb for the lower, smallest light in the ZL1 fascia. Where can I find one? I understand the reason for the apparent dimmness of the stock ZL1 bulb is a deflector that doesn't let all the light through the lens. To remove this you have to cut the housings apart and you run a risk of breaking the lens. Does anyone make and sell complete ZL1 foglight assemblies, without the deflector, with either LED or HID bulbs? Does the stock ZL1 fog light lens focus or spread the light in a distinct pattern, or it it just diffuse? The perfect solution for me would be to find complete assemblies that project a low fan-shaped beam like real fog lights. I don't think the stock fogs do that. I appreciate any help you can give me. __________________ Meh

12-24-2015, 12:21 PM	#4
My 5th Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Black on Black Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Global Citizen Posts: 1,243	Thanks for the H11 tip. Here's what I think I need: HID 35W H11 5000K bulbs with ballasts. Now the hard part. Should I choose a $30.00 kit from DDMTuning.com or a $150 Morimoto Elite kit from Theretrofitsource.com? The Morimoto kit is actually 5500K, but there's probably not much difference in the appearance compared to 5000K. The price of the ddmtuning kit wins out, but what does the $150 kit have to justify 5X the price? I would expect better quality in the more expensive kit, but if the $30 kit looks as good and lasts as long why spend the extra $$? In either case I think I should get the ballast mounting brackets so I don't have to jury righ anything. __________________ Meh

12-25-2015, 06:55 AM	#5
BRZN Drives: 2012 1LT Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Denver, PA Posts: 450	Are you planning on using the fog lights as a show piece or as actual fog lights? The k after the number is for the Kelvin scale and the number is the degrees Kelvin a block of carbon is burnt at. So the 5000, or 5500 is the color a block of carbon emits when burnt at that temperature Kelvin. Those will be almost pure white, and not real good for cutting through fog/rain/snow any better than your low beams. They will, however match your low's and high's in light output appearance. I installed a set of 35 watt 3000k HID's in the stock fog light assemblies of my 2006 Pontiac GTO, and the few times I've had it out in fog, they cut through the elements really well. When turned on they appear a greenish/yellow, however viewed from the front they still look white. __________________

12-26-2015, 02:06 AM	#6
My 5th Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Black on Black Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Global Citizen Posts: 1,243	My experience has been that the yellow light wasn't nearly as helpful as candle power and a properly focused beam. The beam should be low and fan shaped to illuminate the sides of the road. In addition, the beam should be short vertically, such that when projected against a wall it is visibly distinct and below the low-beam headlights. Years ago I had some Carello fog lights mounted to my '73 Corvette. They were rectangular approx. 3" X 6", and illegal for road use because they were so bright. But boy did they work. I could see nearly 100 yards on either side of the road, which helped to avoid surprises from deer wanting to cross the road. Does anyone know if the ZL1 fog lens focuses the light in any particular pattern? I would rate that the number 1 factor, but since I already have the lenses then brightness is my top consideration, followed by light color. I believe the stock fog light is a halogen in the 3300K range, but IMHO it looks very wimpy, but I don't know how many watts it is. Any thoughts? __________________ Meh

12-26-2015, 09:45 PM	#10
My 5th Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Black on Black Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Global Citizen Posts: 1,243	Placed an order with DDM. Thanks! __________________ Meh

12-24-2015, 02:15 AM	#2
cabbe Drives: 2014 2ss 1le Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: los angeles Posts: 1,074	Does it take an H11 bulb? I just bought a HID kit from another member here and he said that he has them on his zl1. But I'm not sure if its for the bigger or smaller light.

12-24-2015, 06:31 AM	#3
Snoman H-Town Camaro Club Drives: 2013 Dusk Edition 2SS/M6/Sun/NPP Join Date: May 2014 Location: Houston Posts: 2,234 View My Garage	H11's

12-26-2015, 03:48 AM	#7
mando Drives: camaro Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: United States Posts: 10	Ddm is really good. My friends trucks fog lights are filled with water close to halfways and the hid still works. Hes had them for 3 years.

12-26-2015, 05:41 PM	#8
GSTRYDR Ghost Ryder Z Drives: 2018 Nightfall Gray ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Blenheim, SC Posts: 134	I have the exact DDM HID lights in 5000K in the fog lights on my 2014 ZL1. I love the look as they match the headlights perfectly and are super bright. They have been in there almost a year now without a single issue. I run the DDM lights in all my cars and have yet to have an issue. I think you would be crazy not to buy them over the retrofit source ones just on pricing alone. Don't get me wrong, the retrofit source makes some really killer stuff. I have their halos that I am installing in my DRLs now. Good luck either way.

12-26-2015, 05:49 PM	#9
cabbe Drives: 2014 2ss 1le Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: los angeles Posts: 1,074	I also have the DDM, works great!

02-14-2019, 02:57 PM	#12
ghost_l2yder Drives: 2013 camaro zl1 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: United States Posts: 53	What you want is the morimoto fog lamp housing replacement 20x better than any led bulb replacement . I made an install how to on my YouTube channel under gen5concepts