FOG LAMPS

I asked my dealer if I could get oem foglamps for my 05 xterra s, and he said that it is not offered yet. How is this when you can get a se or off road with them installed? He offered me some aftermarket ones but I wanted to get somemore feedback before I went with them. ANY INFO OUT THERE?

They are factory installed.

Anything can be added, if you have the proper materials and know-how. I am sure you can retrofit (with some cutting of plastic and creative brackets) the bumper to receive OEM foglights. The switching will need to be somewhere other than the stock SE/OR location, such as the dash.

Give it some time and someone will post pix of having done this. I helped someone in our local club do this to a 2000 XE with my OEM fogs a while ago.

I started a new thread about anyone actually doing this but it got canned (sorry, closed). I called a Nissan dealer and found that the light and mounting hardware is $90 per side ($180 per X). That would preclude using the stalk to turn on and off the fogs so you'd have to wire them to their own relay, make sure you comply with state laws, if any, that say only on with low beams, and put a toggle of some sort in one of the blanks on the dash board.

Now the big problem comes in to play, the way Nissan designed the bumper and wheel well precludes any type of easy access like in the 04's and earlier. I'm going to pay my dealer to install the lights and pull wires to the engine compartment, replace the wheel wells and I'll do the rest (they won't install the relays or switches since that's custom work).

I looked into using PIAA 510's (the opening is about 4" across so that the PIAA that fits) but they're over $200 for the set with no mounting hardware so you'd have to have that custom made and that that additional cost they'd have to be hugely better than the OEM lights to justify the cost. I'll know more when I make my final decision on getting an 05 or waiting for 06...

I closed the other 2 threads because we have similar topics where we could take care of them all in one. My appologies if it didn't sit well with you.

If the dealer mounts the lights and leaves the rest to you, you probably only have 1 hour left worth of install. A relay, wiring, zip ties, a modular switch that allows you to turn on the fogs at any time and you're done. The firewall opening is extremely convenient.

Get the lights you really want. Make sure they float your boat since you are getting a custom install. Note, the lamps and their ratings usually make a big difference. If you go above 55W, then you will only be able to use them offroad. At that point, make sure you have glass covers or you run the risk of melting them.

If you need more help with the electrical schematics I am sure you can find them here on XOC. The relay approach is the only way to go, and once you figure out the 87, 88, etc. meanings they are simple.

Additional fog comments should continue in this thread, otherwise when people search "fog lights" they are going to get a plethora of hits. Not a good thing.

Sorry I was so rude, my appologies. I agree, the rest should be simple enough to do. I like the look of the PIAA's but if I can get Nissan's for $180 (I'm trying to get my dealer to sell them to me at cost when I buy the car and then just charge me labour to install them) plus install with OEM mounts, I think it'll be much less than the PIAA's with custom brackets. Gotta also believe I'm more likely to get my $ back out of them when I trade/sell it than going with the PIAA's and I have to have on-road fogs for where I live.

Thanks...

I'm going to get the 510's this weekend. $200 is pricey but you will much happier than buying the factory crap. ..... The place that I am picking them up from wants $75 to install them. I will be doing it myself. The installation shouldn't be too bad.....I have installed other PIAA lamps already so I know the drill. I'll post some pics and info on how it went!!

Good News! I took the front end apart this weekend and found the fog lights are pre-wired. So I have an S model and the wires are taped up just above the fog light holes.

The problem is there are holes for the L and R brackets but no brakets to mount lights. I didn't even see where I count mount lights without fabricating a bracket about 5 inches long.

Even if they are pre-wired... what did you conclude on the switching? It may be too much hassle to use the pre-wiring and just do your own. The key, IMHO, would be attachment conditions... is there a place to physically attach the fog light?

Also, the notion of something in the way preventing you from getting to the bumper... its a simple plastic skirt. Remove it and you should be able to get to it. This is a nice skirt, one that 1st gens didn't have - bonus because it will keep snow/mud/dirt from getting on your fog lights.

Keep investigating!!!

http://www.xterraparts.com/Merchant2/mer...ode=999F1-WD222
found this kit for prewired 02-03 xterra's. hopefully in the near future xterra parts will have a "prewired kit" for 05 X's

mjunda,

Did you have any luck tracing the wiring behind the front bumper back to its original source? I'm also considering installing foglamps on my S, but I'd rather not have to run and tie everything in from scratch.

Hopefully the 05 X factory service manual will be up soon. May want to wait for that to find wiring diagrams/color codes.

Hey all! I just installed my PIAA 510's in my x. Took some time getting all the materials and such, will post the pictures and some how to's in a few days. The shop wanted $75 an hour with a 3 hour minimum and fabricating brackets!!

SO did you pay the 3 hours for them to fabricate mounts or did you come up with something yourself?

The problem I saw was that the mount has to extend 4 inches to properly mount a light. This could also impact stablity on the light.

I hope to see your setup ASAP.

Thanks

No way!! I took it on all by my lonesome....ok I had a friend cut me some 4" angle iron for brackets. They work great. Had to dremmel out quite a bit to make them fit with their grills included, sorry will get the pictures tomorrow.

I'd love to see how you set that up....can you also include pics of the setup you have for the switch on the dash?

Okay, I know there have been a lot of posts regarding fog lights on the 2005 Xterra S since the Off Road & SE models come with them standard. I currently have a 2005 Xterra S 4x2 and I spoke with my buddy at the Nissan dealership. This is the latest, Nissan does not have the "Fog Light Kit" out for the 2005 model yet, however, you can order the 2 fog light assemblies, relay and stalk switch (which mounts to the steering) seperately. Hope this helps all those like me waiting for the "fog light kit".

Finally...... I got the 05 fog light set and installed it on my 05 Xterra S 4x2. If anyone is interested in part numbers, e-mail me & I will send you the info.

Why not just post them here? Why do they need to contact you privately?

Okay then.... here is the scoop to get fog lights on the S model. The fog light assy. P/N is 26150-EA025, you need 2 @ $105/ea, the turn signal/switch assy. is 25540-EA005 @ $91/ea. The relay is not needed for the 05 model, they already have them installed in the relay box. Total out the door for me with tax was $321. Labor was free (I installed it myself).

Hope this info helps.

To each their own... but ouch! That's quite the pretty penny to spend.

May I challenge someone to do it using a rocker switch (there are 3 empty slots available on an OR), and a set of hi-performance lights (ie PIAA) for less... $320 is a tad toooo much. On the brighter side, it looks stock!

For those of you with factory fog lights, here's a question. I have the 05 OR with fog lights, and was a little disappointed to find that i couldn't turn on JUST the fog lights. Has anyone done any re-wiring to run the fog lights without the headlights being on?

Evan

On all Xs, from 2000 to now the fog lights only come on when you have the headlights on. There was a way to disassemble your plastic steering column wrap and tap into 2 or 3 wires and by-pass that requirement.

If you are comfortable doing this, which I am not (and mind you I have done many of electrical mods) then you probably need the schematics and a steedy hand.

Sorry guys, newbie question: do the fogs help that much on-road? Most of my driving will be day-to-day on-road driving, with just a little off-road now and then. Do you think it would really be worth adding them?

XMS3200, so with the stock fog light assemblies, did those come w/brackets that attached in the bumper, or did you have to fabricate some? Also, for the replacement turn signal stalk, was that pretty easy to replace and wire up? I am looking into adding lights, and like a professional/stock/clean look without looking like I've hacked up my interior. If you could whip together a step by step that would be great, I'm not too experienced hooking up lights, but I've done some other basic things to my Jeep and X. THANKS!

I was quite disappointed that I can't run just the fog lights also...But my hubby/mechanic hasn't taken the time to re-wire them yet! So hopefully that will be done soon!

D ROCK, Actually installing the fog lights is pretty straight forward. For the switch, remove the plastic steering cover (3 screws) and the two tabs that hold the switch. Remove the electrical connector, plug the same connector to the new foglight/turn signal switch, put the tabs in place, you are done. For the fog lights itself, it comes with one clip, nut plate & bolt for each light. Absolutely no fabrication/jerry rigging/cursing is reqd. Nissan does an excellent job with accessories. Hope this helps.

I'm guessing that some of you are debating whether or not to spend the money on the Nissan fog lights.

IMO it's worth the money, especially for off-roading. I drove a lot of dirt roads this summer after dark, and I felt the fog lights made a big difference.

They're in a perfect position to illuminate hazards directly ahead and down-low on the road -- more than once I avoided hitting a deer, jackrabbit, or other critter because of how much better I could see the road right in front of me. They were also great for navigating sections of slickrock at dusk.

To compare, the stock fog lights on my wife's Wrangler just create a sort of hazy glare in the distance, no matter how I adjust them.

I'm waiting for Nissan to offer a fog light package. I know a buddy of mine got some for his Titan for like $150. It came with 2 lights, the stalk and mounting hardware. $300 seems rather steep to me.

I would disagree with this... the fogs do not provide enough light to be worth anything over $100 for OFFROAD purposes. There are much better lights available if that is your need. For offroad, get 100w lights (preferably floods rather than pencilbeams) and wire them for easy removal. Also, if you do intend on upgrading the front bumper (winch in mind) then the fogs are a total loss. Just my thoughts... however... the fogs do look cool, thats for sure!

I really love these forums because they've been so helpful, I am a Jeep Wrangler YJ owner as well, and I didn't think there were as many hardcore fans of Xterras as well, So thanks for everyone's input on all subjects here. I'm still looking into the fog light situation for my X, if there IS anyone who is upgrading their OR or SE's front bumper and don't need their fog light units, shoot me an email or post, I'd be happy to help you relieve yourself of them for slightly less than dealer cost, I want a stock look, but the price is a bit steep, I'm looking into getting the factory stalk switch and figuring a way to rig up the wiring from an aftermarket set of lights with the preinstalled wiring. My big concern is fit, and what goes into the bumpers and mounts up without hacking away at the bumper. ANyone have suggestions as to what fits cleanly?

fastdrmr said: The wiring with a relay is pretty simple stuff. I just added backup lights and posted the wiring diagram here clicky . I included a Radio Shack part number for the relay that a lot of folks have used too. It's an easy substitution for other lights instead of backup lights. And the trigger source can also be any +12V connection as well. So with all this in mind, the diagram is pretty generic. Hope this helps anyone interested. Shoot me an email if you need more. Always glad to help a fellow X'er if I can.

-G-

5 trucks for you!!!

The bottom line is that the OEM fogs are underpowered, and comperably DIM. U can do much better after market, and u SHOULD already have the endings for the fogs attached to ur X. they come off of the same line so the harness should be the same, just minus the lights. Look in aftermarket lighting. U can do better than OEM

So has anyone actually installed aftermarket lamps into the stock holes on the S? I really want to put something in there, but I'm hoping to have a look at some pictures so I can plan out the install and make sure I have everything I need to do it in one weekend. I'm primarily concerned about brackets for mounting the lights and wiring of the switch.

If you think the OEM lights are not too bright, get some PIAA Xtreme white bulbs, H11 series. You will be amazingly surprised how white & bright they are. That is what I have on my X

That's what I did, installed factory fog lamp units into my S, got the replacement turn signal stalk and then swapped out the bulbs. I got 100w white bulbs, but for whatever reason, they didn't fit the light harness the way the factory bulbs did (they had an internal tab mounted opposite the factory so they were backwards). I had to shave off the internal tab then install the bulbs, but they are standard H11's and work pretty good. I also put replacement bulbs into my headlights and then got the silverstar silver replacement turn signal bulbs, makes the front end look a little different and the light is much whiter than standard halogen bulbs.