The original H11 bulbs for the fogs (as well as) the Halogens are equally useless, I mean they're both dim! The exact same bulbs. So if you hate the fogs, can you imagine how I felt to have both the halogens and fogs being so dim! The LR HIDs are miles ahead of what I had.
I don't want to oversell the CVs, but IMHO, they are the closest I've seen to HIDs for much less money. The projected light is pure white, very much a match to HID, along with the distance and safety of HIDs.
I was VERY skeptical at first, but after reading that Philips won numerous awards with the CVs in Europe and that they're consumer claim on their Web site notes that these are the "closest you can get to HIDs" and that they’re only 37 dollars a pair, I ordered them.
When I got them and installed them I was blown away. I honestly cannot tell the difference from my '08 M3 HIDs and these new CVs.
I think Philips nailed it with these and when you think about these new bulbs and process recently out of Germany, totally new technology and injection process, it's very plausible that these could be as good as HIDs. HIDs are an older technology and there's no question HIDs have competition.
These bulbs will not last as long as HIDs – but since they've only been on the US market for about four-weeks now, we’ll see what the life is soon.
BTW - fog HIDs are pretty hot looking! Why not try CVs (they are cheap) and if you don't like them just sell them on eBay.
I think you are right. I'll order a set for the fogs. For about $30, I can't really go wrong. Are these newer bulbs than the ones I bought last year?