Making the rear fog lights {functional|practical|purposeful|useful} on the A3 is a matter of getting {the right|the appropriate|the best|the correct|the fitting|the precise|the proper|the suitable} {switch|change|swap}, and making {the right|the appropriate|the best|the correct|the fitting|the precise|the proper|the suitable} settings {in the|within the} Central Electronics {computer|laptop|pc} ({using|utilizing} VAG-COM). {There's no|There is no|There is not any|There isn't any} excuse for Audi not doing this from the {factory|manufacturing facility|manufacturing unit}. The allowable {range|vary} of {intensity|depth} for a rear fog lamp is {150|a hundred and fifty|one hundred fifty} to 300 candelas, which is {within the|inside the|throughout the} {range|vary} of a U.S. {For this reason|Because of this|For that reason}, many European {vehicles|automobiles|autos} imported to the United States have their rear fog lamps wired as brake lamps, since their European-specification brake lamps {may not be|is probably not|might not be|will not be} sufficiently intense to {comply with|adjust to} U.S. Most jurisdictions permit rear fog lamps to be {installed|put in} {either|both} singly or in pairs. Proponents of twin rear fog lamps say two lamps {provide|present} {vehicle|automobile|car} distance {information|data|info} not {available|accessible|obtainable|out there} from a single lamp. Proponents of {the single|the one|the only} rear fog lamp say {dual|twin} rear fog lamps {closely|carefully|intently} mimic {the appearance|the looks} of illuminated brake lamps ({which are|that are} mandatorily {installed|put in} in pairs), {reducing|decreasing|lowering} the conspicuity of the brake lamps' message when the rear fogs are activated.
{To provide|To offer|To supply} some safeguard {against|in opposition to|towards} rear fog lamps' masking of brake lamps, ECE Regulations require a separation of {at least|a minimum of|at the least|at the very least|no less than|not less than} 10 cm between {adjacent|adjoining} illuminated edges of brake lamps and rear fog lamps. That {last|final} sentence is why the US and non-US A3's have {differently|in a different way|in another way|otherwise}-configured taillamps. Fortunately, {this is|that is} all {done|accomplished|achieved|carried out|completed|executed|finished|performed} {through|by|by means of|by way of|via} coding, with no re-wiring {necessary|crucial|essential|mandatory|needed|obligatory|vital}. Note: Also see my article on European taillights with amber {turn|flip} {signals|alerts|indicators}. Finding {the right|the appropriate|the best|the correct|the fitting|the precise|the proper|the suitable} {switch|change|swap} to get is an {adventure|journey}. Since this {feature|characteristic|function} {uses|makes use of} {existing|current|present} bulbs {in the|within the} taillamp assemblies and a {software|software program} setting, {the only|the one} {physical|bodily} {difference|distinction} between {cars|automobiles|vehicles} 'with' the {feature|characteristic|function} and '{without|with out}' is the headlamp {switch|change|swap} on the {dash|sprint}. Instead {of making|of constructing|of creating} {a few|a couple of|a number of|just a few} {different|completely different|totally different} switches for {the most|essentially the most|probably the most} {necessary|crucial|essential|mandatory|needed|obligatory|vital} {combinations|combos|mixtures}, Audi made 67 {different|completely different|totally different} switches ({parts|components|elements} {list|checklist|listing|record} PDF). Update, November 2006: Switches with aluminium trim {used in|utilized in} {the new|the brand new}-{generation|era|technology} Audi TT will work {in the|within the} A3. So, out of {those|these} 67 {different|completely different|totally different} switches, {you have|you could have|you have got|you may have|you might have|you will have|you've|you've got|you've gotten} {to pick|to choose|to select} the one you {need|want}.
Some {cars|automobiles|vehicles} have the 'AUTO', and 'Coming/Leaving Home' {features|options}, mine {does not|doesn't}. Those {cannot be|can't be} added by getting the '{wrong|fallacious|flawed|improper|incorrect|mistaken|unsuitable}' {switch|change|swap}, so {don't|do not} {try|attempt|strive}. What I do have is a DRL {switch|change|swap} on my headlamp {switch|change|swap} {assembly|meeting}, which turns on/off the {dedicated|devoted} Daytime Running Lamps {in the|within the} bi-xenon headlamps. Again, this {is dependent|depends|relies} on {those|these} headlamps being {factory|manufacturing facility|manufacturing unit}-{installed|put in} on my {car|automobile|automotive}, and {cannot be|can't be} used on {cars|automobiles|vehicles} not so {equipped|geared up|outfitted}. The {part|half} {number|quantity} for the {switch|change|swap} that I {needed|wanted} was: 8P1 941 531 AH 5PR Audi describes this as "{multiple|a number of} {switch|change|swap} for {side|aspect|facet} lights, headlights, {front|entrance} and rear fog lights, for {models|fashions} with day driving headlights". I ordered it from Martyn at VAGParts, the {international|worldwide} {shipping|delivery|transport} was no {problem|downside|drawback} for them {at all|in any respect}. {You will need|You have to|You will have|You will want|You'll need} {to pick|to choose|to select} {the appropriate|the suitable} {switch|change|swap} {for how|for a way|for the way} your {car|automobile|automotive} is {equipped|geared up|outfitted}. Installation of the {switch|change|swap} is trivial: Simultaneously push-in-and-twist the knob clockwise, which releases the clips, and {while|whereas} {maintaining|sustaining} that {pressure|strain|stress} wiggle the {switch|change|swap} and pull to get it out of the {dash|sprint}. Swap the corresponding wiring plugs between {the two|the 2}, and put {the new|the brand new} {switch|change|swap} in {the same|the identical} {way|approach|manner|means|method}.
{The next|The following|The subsequent} step is {to change|to alter|to vary} the Central Electronics coding {so that|in order that} {they are|they're} usable. {A few|A couple of|A number of|Just a few} {people|folks|individuals} have reported that their {cars|automobiles|vehicles} {were|had been|have been} already coded {this way|this fashion|this manner} (i.e. {just|simply} plugging in {the new|the brand new} {switch|change|swap} was all they {had to|needed to} do), {but|however} {that is not|that isn't|that's not} the norm. Decide {whether|whether or not} you {want|need} one (driver's {side|aspect|facet}) or two ({both|each} sides) rear fogs activated, and make the coding change {using|utilizing} the steps described in my VAG-COM Coding Reference. New {switch|change|swap} {installed|put in}. Note {the extra|the additional} icon on the left of {the main|the primary|the principle} {switch|change|swap} indicating 'pull two clicks out for rear fog'. Taillights on, rear fogs off. The US configuration {uses|makes use of} all three bulbs for taillights, and all three brighten for brakelights. Taillights on, rear fogs on. {You can|You may|You possibly can|You'll be able to} see that the innermost bulb (the one on the hatch) is as {bright|brilliant|shiny|vibrant|vivid} as brake lights {would be|can be|could be}, to make you {more|extra} {visible|seen} from the rear in heavy fog or rain. {Do not|Don't} drive {around|round} like this in {normal|regular} weather! It's {dangerous|harmful} and obnoxious.
