So, the utterly anemic stock foglights on my R56 have bothered me since day 1. The stock H8 30W bulb does not do much for use in actual fog conditions: in fog, they should be used with positioning lights only, not even with low beams. They are intended to replace the low beams in fog. They are better than low beams because they are lower to the ground and thus reflect less light back into the drivers eyes. But they should have comparable light output to low beams, or at least close. Well the R56 stock fogs are light years from that. The stock bulbs are simply way too dim.
I tried Ziza platinum whites and they are even more hopeless, I can't even tell they are on from inside the car, they are not even as bright as the ziza LED positioning lights! Then I tried Ziza yellows. They are better than the platinums, but still not as good as even the poor performing stock bulbs. They do have the advantage of being more yellow. So the stock H8 bulbs are better than any of the Zizas I have tried.
Here is my solution: I purchased Hoen endurance yellow H11 bulbs. These are 55W. To make them fit, follow these instructions on H11 to H8 conversions (very simple):
http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/86...8-h11-mod.html
These are a lot better than stock. A nice yellow light, and bright enough to just about work.
Now, some say that 55W is too much for fogs. Well, as far as I know 55W is still legal. Aftermarket fogs (i.e. Hella) go up to 55W. I just could not find H8 bulbs at >30W. H11 are the same as H8 except for one small tab (see link above).
So, if you are unhappy with your anemic stock fogs, use the H11 bulbs.
However, with this change, I would very strongly suggest not to do what most silly truck and SUV drivers do: leave the fogs on. At 55W, you really only want to use them in fog, period. At least the advantage of the MINIs over the cheap North American truck stuff is that you have to turn them on every time you start the car (as it should be), rather than flipping a toggle and leaving them on, as so many inconsiderate people do.
Motor on!

 

Great info, thanks a million

 

Zephyr1, I was beginning to think I was the only one on the highway that knew the correct use of fog lights. Thank you for your wisdom, hopefully others will read your post and believe it. Believe it folks!