Turn that ugly rear bumper center insert into a functioning brake light. My 06 R53 Checkmate did not come with the rear fog light. So I bought a rear fog light assembly and installed in the rear bumper connected to rear driver side brake light in panel access.

 

Did your car not come pre-wired for a rear fog like mine did?

 

Mine likewise wasn't equipped with the rear fog and I sort of prefer the simplicity. From what I recall on this same topic, installing the OEM fog also requires the replacement full switch toggle panel plus coding the ECU (or is it the BCM?) accordingly. OTOH, a separate dedicated switch and power/ground could probably be utilized instead. Steve's solution being used as a 4th brake light avoided all that.

 

The rear fog is super nice if you ever drive in bad conditions. It's actually a really easy retrofit for the switch panel, and coding the BCM takes all of five minutes, if that. Running a separate switch would probably be more work on a car that's pre-wired for fogs, but then at least you wouldn't be risking killing a circuit in the BCM.

 

Well, I should say the switch panel retrofit is easy... if you're fine with acquiring a replacement panel. That's a pretty big qualifier I suppose. On a pre-wired car, it's just an unbolt and unplug, and installation is reverse of removal. Then plug in the fog light, program (change one option from nicht_aktiv to aktiv), and done. The front fogs on the other hand. Those are quite annoying to do.

 

No or I would have added fog light switch, light assembly, and had programmed.

 

Interesting. I thought that all 2006s were pre-wired. I’ve learned a whole bunch of new things in the past week.

IIRC, the retrofit for a car without wiring looks like a royal PITA.

 

I never really understood the whole "fog light" thing. I just assume if it's foggy or raining - anyone with common sense would just turn on the headlights - thus illuminating the rear taillights for visibility and safety reasons.
My pre-facelit didn't have the top rear taillight section illuminated. I later discovered after a bit of reading; The reason being was for the rear fog light option; as discussed here.
I opted to jump the lower rear brake lights to the intended top rear "fog light" section as another pair of brake lights.
I also modified my center switch panel by adding in and wiring a micro switch to the vacant location intended for the "fog light switch" option. I wired this switch to run my grille mounted rally/spot lights.

 

The big deal with the rear fog for me is Atlanta interstates in massive rainstorms - particularly in low-light conditions. It’s also one of the reasons I swapped to LED marker lights. Sometimes taillights just disappear in those conditions.

Did you post that switch mod before? It seems familiar and also really good looking. I would be nervous cutting up my switch panel.

 

Oh - Don't get me wrong - Being visible as much as possible during inclement weather (or any time) is of the utmost. And I agree that under bad weather conditions lights seem to visually disappear.
Especially nowadays with all these distracted drivers and those who neglect to turn on their headlights (by law as we know) during a rain storm. Having been out here as long as I have been (longer than I'd hope to be), Everyday during my commute I see so many cars on the road with front-end and rear-end damage. It scares the **** out of me sometimes to think my rear-end might be next! That's why I had opted to wire my rear "fog" tailights to brake lights instead. Most of my driving is during early morning to mid/late afternoon rush hour. I always drive with my rally and running lights on during the day so my tail lights are on as well. Even so; I am constantly being tailgated when driving my Mini. Even while driving at or just above the lawful posted speed limit...

I had posted my/this switch console mod before. No cutting of the switch panel is necessary other than drilling out the vacant spot for the fog light switch. I scored a few switch panels for $10ea from the local salvage yards so I had a few extra factory toggle switches to modify and keep on hand just in case. As we've learned - 20year old plastic doesn't get better with age.

Thanks for the compliment and the "like".

 

Yeah, if you try to drive the limit in the ATL, you’re going to have a bad time. It’s been that way ever since I can remember. I think people partially got desensitized to the old artificially low 55 mph limit everywhere ITP, so 70 or higher in a 55 on the interstate is just business as usual for most commuters along with big Benzes and whatnot running 80 or 90 in the left lane. You used to see sport bikes cracking triple digits fairly often, but that seems to have died off a bit. Atlanta is its own special brand of crazy.

 

@deepgrey - You are so right! So articulately put and on- point - I couldn't have expressed it better myself.
Although I'm impressed by how much the city has grown since I used to travel do business here over the last 20years. However along with development, craziness follows not too far behind.
[no pun intended]

This discussion has convinced me of the rationality in having a rear fog light. It is now given me inspiration for my next project...
I have an overhead toggle switch assembly I pulled from a '11(?) R55 salvage yard w/map lights for which I had hoped to install/wire up one day.
I now plan on modding and incorporating a custom LED rear fog light(s) to my lower rear grille activated via one of those additional switches.