(14+ XT Premium) DIY Fog Light Install - lights from The Retrofit Source
Installing fog lights on your Forester is actually quite simple and straight forward. However, complications arise when you don't want to use the standard H11 incandescent bulb for your illumination (standard Subaru approved kits HERE or HERE). Sure, you could simply put in a aftermarket HID kit, but with a fog light reflector, you are guaranteed to blind everyone on the road (rude and dangerous). Or you could install the full kit and then replace the reflectors with something more appealing and effective (like the Morimoto XB Type S LED Fog Lights or the OLM Bixenon Projector Fog Lights).
Subaru does not list the parts included in their kit. For my 2014 Forester XT Premium, here are the parts I purchased (and some optional ones to make this a bit easier):
Left Fog Light Trim Piece - 57731SG090
Right Fog Light Trim Piece - 57731SG080
Fog Light Switch - H4510FJ000
Relay - 82501TC000
(2x J-Nut - 902510032)
(2x Screw Rivet - 909310002)
Keep in mind that the XT Touring requires the fog light switch be on the left Stalk, and not a push button, so you'll have to consult your dealer or SubaruOnlineParts.com for your specific part. Non-XT models use different trim pieces and may need the Stalk switch as well.
This parts list does not include your choice of fog light, so like me you could go with something a little different than usual, all for about the same price as the kit Subaru sells.
----
Now that you have all your parts, it's time to start wrenching on your car. This whole install should take about an hour or two, depending on your skill level and familiarity with your vehicle. Tools you will need:
*Flat Head and Phillips Head Screw Driver (Medium size)
*Scissors
*Patience and a general appreciation for the thought Subaru Engineers put into crafting these cars
----
Step 1: Remove Front Bumper
I am not going to show you how to do this. Remove the push-pin fasteners marked in RED
And you should end up with something like this:
Step 2: Remove Fog Light Covers
4 tabs hold the covers in place. Depress these and push forward through the main fog light hole to remove this piece.
Step 3: Free Lighting Harness
Subaru built-in the fog light connectors into their main system (Probably assuming than an upgrade like this was inevitable), so all you have to do is cut the blue tape that holds the connector in place and you've now got a full extra foot or so of cable length to connector your lights.
Step 4: Install Lights into Bumper
--4a: Support brackets and the "right way" to do it
If you purchased the (what I consider) optional J-Clips and Screw Rivets, you'll now slide the J-Clips onto the location of the fog light support frame closest to the radiator/center of the bumper.
Take your light, making sure the writing is legible on the front of the light when installed in your bumper, and place two of the tabs in the furthest from the radiator/center of the bumper and lay the other two tabs over the remaining two holes. Place the screw rivet through the top holes and push down to secure the connector. For the screw, I purchased the one the Subaru diagram indicated, but it was the wrong part, and I just ended up using a screw that was part of my LED Fog Light kit anyway (Not Pictured).
--4b: The other way to do it
I (stupidly) only purchased one screw rivet and one J-Clip, and I wasn't interested in waiting another week or paying for shipping for those parts, so I used zip ties for the other side and it was just as secure as the properly done side. It cost less and took less time to install than the proper side too! (No picture for this, but you can EASILY guess what holes the zip ties go through :icon_wink
Step 5: Preparing your connectors for the stock Subaru harness
The Morimoto XB Type S LED Fog Lights come with the H11 harness disconnected, to allow you the flexibility to use or not use the connector easily. For this instance, I wanted as much protection from the elements and felt the connector would be beneficial. To make sure you have the pins located in the correct location, check the harness connection and notice that when the connector faces you, the colored wire is on the right (positive) with the black wire on the left (ground). This is especially important to know since LEDs only work if they are wired correctly, and undoing this kind of connector and swapping the pins can be very difficult and time consuming.
Locate the wires for the fog light to reflect how it will be connected into the lighting harness and push them in. Once the pins are completely pushed into their sockets, you will hear a very subtle click. When you get both pushed in, you'll want to use your scissors to spread the pins so they are about 1cm apart from each other to ensure they will fit into the Lighting Harness (Not pictured).
Step 6: Connect the Fog Lights to the Harness and Re-Seat the Front Bumper
The connectors for the fog lights are not very long, so you'll need to move the front bumper very close to the front of the vehicle to make sure they can be connected before you reinstall the front bumper (reverse of removing it, but be careful with the tabs that go under the lights so you don't bend or break those).
Push on the new Fog Light trim for each side of the front bumper.
Congratulations! You have now installed your fog lights! Take a break and enjoy the day. :woohoo:
You're not done, however.
Installing fog lights on your Forester is actually quite simple and straight forward. However, complications arise when you don't want to use the standard H11 incandescent bulb for your illumination (standard Subaru approved kits HERE or HERE). Sure, you could simply put in a aftermarket HID kit, but with a fog light reflector, you are guaranteed to blind everyone on the road (rude and dangerous). Or you could install the full kit and then replace the reflectors with something more appealing and effective (like the Morimoto XB Type S LED Fog Lights or the OLM Bixenon Projector Fog Lights).
Subaru does not list the parts included in their kit. For my 2014 Forester XT Premium, here are the parts I purchased (and some optional ones to make this a bit easier):
Left Fog Light Trim Piece - 57731SG090
Right Fog Light Trim Piece - 57731SG080
Fog Light Switch - H4510FJ000
Relay - 82501TC000
(2x J-Nut - 902510032)
(2x Screw Rivet - 909310002)
Keep in mind that the XT Touring requires the fog light switch be on the left Stalk, and not a push button, so you'll have to consult your dealer or SubaruOnlineParts.com for your specific part. Non-XT models use different trim pieces and may need the Stalk switch as well.
This parts list does not include your choice of fog light, so like me you could go with something a little different than usual, all for about the same price as the kit Subaru sells.
----
Now that you have all your parts, it's time to start wrenching on your car. This whole install should take about an hour or two, depending on your skill level and familiarity with your vehicle. Tools you will need:
*Flat Head and Phillips Head Screw Driver (Medium size)
*Scissors
*Patience and a general appreciation for the thought Subaru Engineers put into crafting these cars
----
Step 1: Remove Front Bumper
I am not going to show you how to do this. Remove the push-pin fasteners marked in RED
And you should end up with something like this:
Step 2: Remove Fog Light Covers
4 tabs hold the covers in place. Depress these and push forward through the main fog light hole to remove this piece.
Step 3: Free Lighting Harness
Subaru built-in the fog light connectors into their main system (Probably assuming than an upgrade like this was inevitable), so all you have to do is cut the blue tape that holds the connector in place and you've now got a full extra foot or so of cable length to connector your lights.
Step 4: Install Lights into Bumper
--4a: Support brackets and the "right way" to do it
If you purchased the (what I consider) optional J-Clips and Screw Rivets, you'll now slide the J-Clips onto the location of the fog light support frame closest to the radiator/center of the bumper.
Take your light, making sure the writing is legible on the front of the light when installed in your bumper, and place two of the tabs in the furthest from the radiator/center of the bumper and lay the other two tabs over the remaining two holes. Place the screw rivet through the top holes and push down to secure the connector. For the screw, I purchased the one the Subaru diagram indicated, but it was the wrong part, and I just ended up using a screw that was part of my LED Fog Light kit anyway (Not Pictured).
--4b: The other way to do it
I (stupidly) only purchased one screw rivet and one J-Clip, and I wasn't interested in waiting another week or paying for shipping for those parts, so I used zip ties for the other side and it was just as secure as the properly done side. It cost less and took less time to install than the proper side too! (No picture for this, but you can EASILY guess what holes the zip ties go through :icon_wink
Step 5: Preparing your connectors for the stock Subaru harness
The Morimoto XB Type S LED Fog Lights come with the H11 harness disconnected, to allow you the flexibility to use or not use the connector easily. For this instance, I wanted as much protection from the elements and felt the connector would be beneficial. To make sure you have the pins located in the correct location, check the harness connection and notice that when the connector faces you, the colored wire is on the right (positive) with the black wire on the left (ground). This is especially important to know since LEDs only work if they are wired correctly, and undoing this kind of connector and swapping the pins can be very difficult and time consuming.
Locate the wires for the fog light to reflect how it will be connected into the lighting harness and push them in. Once the pins are completely pushed into their sockets, you will hear a very subtle click. When you get both pushed in, you'll want to use your scissors to spread the pins so they are about 1cm apart from each other to ensure they will fit into the Lighting Harness (Not pictured).
Step 6: Connect the Fog Lights to the Harness and Re-Seat the Front Bumper
The connectors for the fog lights are not very long, so you'll need to move the front bumper very close to the front of the vehicle to make sure they can be connected before you reinstall the front bumper (reverse of removing it, but be careful with the tabs that go under the lights so you don't bend or break those).
Push on the new Fog Light trim for each side of the front bumper.
Congratulations! You have now installed your fog lights! Take a break and enjoy the day. :woohoo:
You're not done, however.