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Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:12 pm
by southwestie
I've had some unsightly front fog lights removed, thinking that I could easily pick up a pair of the bumper trim blanks, that must have been removed to fit the lights.
Have now discovered that the blanks were cut away from several points around the aperture, which seems fairly irreversible
I've noticed four lugs with holes in on the inside of the bumper around where the blanks were cut out. Can anyone tell me if these are threaded? I'm thinking of cutting my own blanks from acrylic sheet and using these four holes as fixing points, if they will take screws.
Has anyone else done this, or found an alternative way of blanking out the fog light bumper holes??
Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:29 pm
by Simon Jones
Yes, you can cut a blank of plastic sheet & use 4 self tapers to hold it in place. Can't recall the exact size of the screws, but start fairly small & you can always increase in size if they are not a snug fit.
Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:25 pm
by helen&tony
Hi
It might look nice with a bit of black mesh grille stuck in the aperture using the self tappers to hold it on to the 4 mounting lugs.
Cheers
Helen
Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:53 pm
by southwestie
Thanks for the replies.
Like the idea Helen, I hadn't thought of that. Could be an easier option, with good results.
p.s. I'll be visiting a mutual friend tomorrow and will make enquiries for you
Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:39 pm
by Simon Jones
One thing with mesh: the muck thrown up by the front wheels will pass thru it and make the bumper dirty. Maybe a dark plastic panel behind the mess will do the trick.
Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:52 pm
by southwestie
Thanks Simon,
You make a fair point to consider.
Now thinking of fabricating acrylic blanks, getting some sticky back vinyl from a sign writers (either the colour of the bodywork or the colour of the bumper) to cover the acrylic surface facing out, and sandwiching a sheet of black grille mesh in front. Thinking this thread should now be moved to the Pimp My Bongo area

Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:19 pm
by Simon Jones
Yes, sounds like a good idea. I found a pic of the original blanks which shows the little plastic strips that hold it in place:

Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:43 pm
by mikeonb4c
Or fit a pair of Ring foglights. Practical bling

Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 6:22 am
by helen&tony
Hi
Thread now moved

..
Anyway...since fitting a set of rather nice original fogs in perfect condition, I find that they're not up to what I'd want. Nothing wrong with the lights, and they look good, but I put them on to remove the FDB original Cibie fogs, to replace them with spots....I've not tried them in a real pea-souper, but in light fog typical here, they're not great!....so...I'd definitely go with a custom grille with or without a placky backing....incidentally, if you go for a backing, get some "standoffs" from Maplins to place the plastic sheet with a black covering away from the grille, so you can't see it....then it would look like brake-cooling ducts!
Anyway, I now have the spare Cibies sitting doing nothing !
Cheers
Helen
Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 10:15 am
by mikeonb4c
The point about practical bling is that it must look good. If it gives any useful service, that's a bonus, and more than blanking plates can do. I never imagined low set foglights would be useful in fog (lets face it, even decent ones are limited in usefulness), but they might provide 'kerb level' illumination of the sort useful on campsites etc.

Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:31 am
by helen&tony
Hi
Mike...The original Cibie lights on the FDB were the yellow fogs...and absolutely brilliant....it's the low level bumper jobbies that aren't as good...but good for kerbs, as you say!
Cheers
Helen
Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:42 am
by mikeonb4c
Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 1:25 pm
by helen&tony
Hi Mike
I have some KC Daylighters on the FDB now,,,,,er.....slightly high-power, so covered!...great for night-blindness, though, (others night-blindness)

...
Cheers
Helen
Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 7:26 pm
by Diplomat
I have toyed with the idea of covering my blanking plates with plastic mirror material, i.e. creating front reflectors.
Does anyone know if this legal. Off hand I can't really see why it shouldn't be.
Quite often I have noticed cars which are of a hard to see colour coming up behind me because of some shiny trim catching the light.
Frank
Re: Front Fog Light Blanks Replacement
Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 8:43 pm
by helen&tony
Hi Frank
Stick it on and try it....it's not an offence attracting corporal punishment these days, and I doubt that there's a "rule in the book" about reflective substance, as long as it's whitish at the front and reddish at the back...
Cheers
Helen