All-weather lights instead of front fog lights

[sijomi]

2012 A6 S-line Avant ex-demonstrator . I commented to the dealer that there did not appear to be any front fog lights in the lower side front grilles like there were on other cars in the showroom. After some consultation he returned and said they were integrated within the Bi-Xenon front light cluster. Sure enough something lit up when I tried the upper left button on the light switch cluster but it wasn't dark, or foggy, at the time! In the dark I now find they provide lighting to the side at the front of the car and reading the manual they appear to be called All-weather Lights. What are these lights for? Do they serve as fog lights or do they have a different purpose?

[robbyg]

As far as i can tell all weather light is the same as fog light. It cuts the top of the dipped beam off lower to minimise glare reflected back into your face in fog or snow and widens/intensifies the beam closer to you.

A far as i can tell on mine, its the same effect as putting traditional fog lights on, but better because the dipped beam should glare less. Havent tried them in real bad weather but suspect they could be a real help.

On a tangent:

In the 12 years i have had cars with front fog lights i have only actually found them of use twice, once in fog and once in snow, both so bad i was forced into travelling under 20mph and turned the dipped beam off using just the fogs to cut glare. Why people use them on the motorway or A roads i will never understand. They light up 15 feet in front of you when you should be looking 300 feet in front. rant over.

[fernar]

Few reasons that people use them (apart from when they are really needed) - not that I agree with improper use as it only servers to blind other drivers

1) Because they think it's cool to have a brace of lights showing in front of their car
2) Because one or (both) of their headlights are not functioning and use fog lights (vs fixing the headlights)
3) Because they think that even a slight bit of drizzle is 'bad weather' and switch on both front and back fog lights

My previous car (Jaguar XF) didnt have fog lights - I dont think even the current model has fog lights and I am starting to see more and more cars not having fog lights - especially when they have Xenons that are expected to be ordered 90% of the time - I was told that with Xenon lights one didnt really need fog lights as the Xenons on dip were better than Halogen + fogs - but got to say I didnt get a chance to drive the XF in very bad fog, but it seemed to be fine in light fog

[Timothy Nathan]

Again, at a slight tangent, the reason that ACC must be combined with Xenon or LED headlights is that the radar sensors are in the holes vacated by the fog lamps.

[DR_A6]

We tried the all weather lights when we returned to the uk last sunday night in folkestone. it wasn't foggy but there was really torrential rain so visibility was pretty grim.

I have adaptive xenons with these all weather lights, and i must admit they were great. the adaptive lights gave great perspective an lighting up the road, and then the all weather lights really illuminated the surface of the road in front of the car which is ideal when there is standing water on the motorway.

much better than my previous a6!

[MFGF]

I have enabled mine as kerb lighting when turning sharp corners at low speeds - I find it really helps on occasion. I haven't used them as fog lights yet though.

MF.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[foxy367]

Without meaning to thread jack Why do Xenon equipped cars have to have headlight washers? This is apparently law!

The all weather lights are particularly good at night on country lanes when you have main beam on you get the short spread too. The lanes are use are pretty quiet so I don't have the issue of blinding people. I don't agree with using fogs unless the weather is bad usually but the beam spread I think is particularly useful on unlit roads

[redadair777]

Without meaning to thread jack Why do Xenon equipped cars have to have headlight washers? This is apparently law!

Apparently the dirt refracts the Xenon beam / field in such a manner that it fragments / distorts causing glare / temporarily blindness to oncoming road users.

Whether this is true or not is another matter but all Xenons do come with headlight washers (that pop off in the winter!) Red!

[Timothy Nathan]

(that pop off in the winter!) Red!

Could you explain what you mean by at last bit?

[redadair777]

Hi Timothy, When you have Xenons on your car and when your lights are turned on either side lights, dipped or full beam your headlights are washed when you wash your windscreen with your jetwash.

Consider this example:
It is winter and the roads are full of grit / salt.
It is pitch dark when you commute to work so you need your lights on
After defrosting your car for a few minutes all windows are clear and you drive to work.
within 1 minute of you driving to work your windscreen if filthy, you need to clean the windscreen with your jet wash.

The trouble is your headlight washers are not fully defrosted, but the jet was nozzles are due to the engine heat or heated jet wash nozzles).

However, in most cases you will not have any heated facility at your lights wash in the bumper. You keep washing your dirty window and it can't pop out because it is frozen shut. The part usually breaks with extreme wear and tear or the pressure build up makes the unit pop off because of the pressure against the plastic.

I hope that (long winded story!) helps.... It's fairly common. A lot of BMWs used to suffer from it :-) Red.