Computer as in just that a CM (Control Module) for EVERYTHING Merc's have on for the stereo, one for rear suspension, one for the tail lights, one for the head lights and on an on and EVERY CM costs $1700 EACH.
I thought the point of fog lights were to make you visible to others on the road?
Driving lights on a Impala and a Daewoo? no thanks this look tacky as hell and ugly they dont even look good one SUVs!
Most cars at this point have a control module for things, doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Windows, security/locks, abs, airbags, engine, transmission, lights, cruise control, etc. Something as simple as a standard calculator can be called a computer. I imagine they're more reliable than a bunch using a bunch of relays or vacuum system.
Rear fog lights are there to make you visible. Front ones maybe to an extent, but if they're functional its primarily widening the light front of you to show the lane markers. Fog is fog, you can't see through it so you have to go slow. If you drive slow, you don't need to look far down the road.
If you want to improve the light in front of you, but driving lights. If you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars, go out and spend $35 on a decent pair of new bulbs. $7 bulbs aren't always very good, and bulbs lose their power with time.
Fog lights in America are only 34 watts for a reason. They are designed to NOT blind people. What DOES blind people are those useless HID lights that are so bright it's like someone with brights on. I mean FACTORY HIDs not retrofitted ones. Me driving with fog, DRLs AND lights on hurts no one and in the day affects NO ONE. I never said doing it was LEGAL but its far from UNSAFE
Regular low beam headlights are 51watts, you want to add 50w fog lights. Having twice the light won't increase the glare on other drivers? It only matters the headlights other people have, not yours?
I've never had an issue with HID lights. In fact, I think they're better as they self level whereas 99.9% of halogen lights do not in the U.S.
Check a few pages back. I posted a video showing these claims.
EDIT: seems like i was off ALL computers are around 600 bucks and ONE shock is 1100.
It depends what it is. Some are under $200. Some of these "computers" aren't very sophisticated though...
She was not at fault(the other car ran a red light), and the car is virtually brand new.
I advised her to insist on OEM parts and I think she will do that. Our insurance agent has been a family friend for years, and is not afraid to get rough with the other insurance to get it that way. The body shop where it is sitting is excellent, but I'm really encouraging her to get it to the dealer.
The resale value is toast, but at least having the work done correctly now will milk whatever remaining resale value is remaining out of it.
I don't think dealer body shops necessarily do the best work, but in terms of preserving as much residual value as possible, it's probably your best bet. Too bad insurance doesn't reimburse for lost residual value.
AFAIK cars in the US don't have rear fogs.
There are many cars in the U.S. with rear fogs, but it's not a legal requirement. It's mostly European cars that do. Volvo, BMW, Audi, Land Rover, etc to name a few.
My E60 BMW in the U.S. Spec does not have rear fogs, though it can be added if you replace it with the euro spec headlight switch and recoding of the computer. In my model, the lights that function as the rear fogs in are used for the progressive brake lights- if you hit the brakes the normal brake lights turn on, if the ABS engages (asumes hard braking) the brighter rear fogs turn on. I believe the newer BMWs wil rapidly blink their tail lights under similar conditions. My moms new Volvo does this as well.
