Rear sequentials finally ready

[Lone Survivor]

Sequential isn't illegal, but three separate lights are - so the funky Audi thing is fine, but ours is not.

The Audi has two lights on each side, one half on the boot lid, the other half on the rear quarter of the wing. Looks like all in one at first glance, but it's two really.

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[simonp83]

I've been seeing more and more of the Audi version and have to say it looks horrible for a couple of reasons.

1. the rears on some models are broken in the middle due to their location on the boot/rear quarter so it looks like there's a bulb out.

2. because of the way they work you only get the whole thing illuminated for a split second and therefore they're not as noticeable as the solid version.

3. it screams "LOOK, LOOK, I SPECCED MY AUDI WITH SEQUENTIALS" as opposed to just looking like that's how they come from the factory.

The thing that annoys me about them and a few other cars is that they're the same leds used for both drls and indicators on the front. So when you indicate, the left drl goes off for half a second and then starts doing the indicator in yellow.

 

[willisit]

The Audi has two lights on each side, one half on the boot lid, the other half on the rear quarter of the wing. Looks like all in one at first glance, but it's two really.

Two are allowed, three are not; so I can see why Ford removed them entirely.

I guess that's why Audi get away with the split boot - still equals only two. Stupid laws!

Someone elsewhere did bring up something interesting; legal or not, if you have sequentials and you're in an accident, your insurance probably won't cover you....

 

[Manders Mustang]

Eff knows, we'll see when someone hits 3 years if it passes an MOT lol!

Well, those with a modified CAT if it lets out more emissions, technically it fails an MOT, unless it disperses the same or less emissions.

But anyway, it's apples and oranges, MOT vs The law are two separate things as well, MOT is it's 'road worthy' law is another kettle of fish.

Equally, MOT only states indicators have to work and be visible ( I believe) law states it should be on 1 light... (Mind you Audi's have 2 lights 1 on the boot panel 1 on the rear back panel/.bumper... so very odd that case is....

Equally, if it's ONE led strip, it's fine as that classes as 'One bulb'.


Ah the joys of technicalities.







Will let you know if/when I ever get pulled over for having it £10 says I never do

 

[willisit]

The thing that annoys me about them and a few other cars is that they're the same leds used for both drls and indicators on the front. So when you indicate, the left drl goes off for half a second and then starts doing the indicator in yellow.

Without Googling where I'd seen this, that last part isn't true - the DRL has to darken for visibility reasons - it's a "Law" thing again. There's a whole article on this on Jalopnik or something (quite recent).

My wife's S5 is 9 years old and does that and uses different areas of the light - and still dims the DRL strip.

 

[willisit]

Eff knows, we'll see when someone hits 3 years if it passes an MOT lol!

Well, those with a modified CAT if it lets out more emissions, technically it fails an MOT, unless it disperses the same or less emissions.

But anyway, it's apples and oranges, MOT vs The law are two separate things as well, MOT is it's 'road worthy' law is another kettle of fish.

Equally, MOT only states indicators have to work and be visible ( I believe) law states it should be on 1 light... (Mind you Audi's have 2 lights 1 on the boot panel 1 on the rear back panel/.bumper... so very odd that case is....

Equally, if it's ONE led strip, it's fine as that classes as 'One bulb'.


Ah the joys of technicalities.







Will let you know if/when I ever get pulled over for having it £10 says I never do

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/7/made

"PART II
Requirements relating to optional direction indicators

1. No vehicle shall be fitted with a total of more than one front indicator nor more than two rear indicators, on each side.

2. Any number of side indicators may be fitted to the side (excluding the front and rear) of a vehicle."

Two; so Audi's are fine, but ours would look even stranger with two flashing and the third blank. :headbonk:

 

[Manders Mustang]

It's a legal requirement for DRLs to dim when the indicators come on. Our DRLs do it. My Diode DRLs do it. It's nothing unusual or new.

 

[Manders Mustang]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/7/made

"PART II
Requirements relating to optional direction indicators

1. No vehicle shall be fitted with a total of more than one front indicator nor more than two rear indicators, on each side.

2. Any number of side indicators may be fitted to the side (excluding the front and rear) of a vehicle."

Two; so Audi's are fine, but ours would look even stranger with two flashing and the third blank. :headbonk:

Ah yes that was it. :lol: 2 on the back 1 on the front, I forget with how much research I've done.

But yeah 2 flashing would be hideous on the back of ours lol.

 

[goldengooner]

I like Manders response above and pretty much what I was going to say.

Personally, I would lot like them to start sodding around with my wiring loom up near the light switch and I reckon to run the cables back and fourth would be another 1 or 2 hours labour. Plus they would have to start sodding around with interior trim removal.

This set up allows them to do all the work in the boot.

As for two switches, that makes sense to me as well. Its less wring and again, just keeps things fairly simple and 'plug and play'

My only issue is cost. I am not saying they have overcharged but it is a lot of money for something you don't get to see yourself!

my lights cost me £350 and yes its a US car, but to pass the IVA it was all stripped out, it's only after the IVA that there was 17 relays put in, and then the wiring and the switch put in.
It has not touched my wiring loom, it runs on its own power source from the fusebox, the switch lights up when its on US and no light for UK. Only problem I have is you don't leave the US on when you don't use the car for a few days as it will drain the battery. That's why i always lock the doors by the key that when when i see the amber I know they are back on stock.
I can understand the fear of having the interior removed, but that depends on the company?
There are 3 companies I trust my car with, AVS which is part of Boatwrights who imported my car and done my lights, Modurstang watching Mike at work is like watching a magician, and Custom Exotics who build cars for fun, and they are as good as the original. If you go to a quality company then there should be no fear of them taking bits apart in my opinion

 

[goldengooner]

Not illegal if they're 'show lights' ;)!

BINGO
On my receipt it says the lights are just for the shows, so there is no comeback onto my dealer, if i get pulled its all down to me
Its like today pulled into a Petrol station in ilford and had 3 cop cars sitting there, pulled up could see a few eyes on the car, so as I pulled away and turned left she went back to stock, 10 seconds later back onto the Reds
I do like them, but would I have paid £700 for the Reds, No, cause as people say you don't see them, unless you show them to people.
I spent more yesterday on a load of things, and these things add to the look of the car the safety aspect and I can see them when I look at the car
I never got mine done on the S197 and that was around £400.

 

[goldengooner]

Someone elsewhere did bring up something interesting; legal or not, if you have sequentials and you're in an accident, your insurance probably won't cover you....

that is a very interesting point, but a lot of S197s have had this done
http://www.americanmuscle.com/raxiom-gen5-taillights-0509.html

also some classics have had their lights converted over

I would think it would have to be proven that the accident was caused by the driver behind not knowing you was going to turn left or right
And if it is a case of voiding the insurance, would my import dealer who got me the car put them on?

 

[willisit]

that is a very interesting point, but a lot of S197s have had this done
http://www.americanmuscle.com/raxiom-gen5-taillights-0509.html

also some classics have had their lights converted over

I would think it would have to be proven that the accident was caused by the driver behind not knowing you was going to turn left or right
And if it is a case of voiding the insurance, would my import dealer who got me the car put them on?

In a world of dashcams, if you're caught causing "confusion" or some such nonsense from the sequence, I doubt you'd have a leg to stand on. It'd be on you, not anyone that did the work dealer-wise. YOU should always know better - like an MOT making your car "road legal", which it does not.

 

[Manders Mustang]

BINGO
On my receipt it says the lights are just for the shows, so there is no comeback onto my dealer, if i get pulled its all down to me
Its like today pulled into a Petrol station in ilford and had 3 cop cars sitting there, pulled up could see a few eyes on the car, so as I pulled away and turned left she went back to stock, 10 seconds later back onto the Reds
I do like them, but would I have paid £700 for the Reds, No, cause as people say you don't see them, unless you show them to people.
I spent more yesterday on a load of things, and these things add to the look of the car the safety aspect and I can see them when I look at the car
I never got mine done on the S197 and that was around £400.

You aint paying £700 for reds, it's £700 to have the lights opened, new bulbs inserted, rewired to work for Red (Brake) and Indicate (Amber) when indicator is used/brake is used. It will only sequential when indicator is used (If braking it's red whilst orange runs over the top of the lights).

Not £700 for a conversion of US Spec lights (Mind you it'd be the same if not more work to make the US spec ones work to UK specs (Orange indicators).

 

[slowhand99]

Just checked today, turns out I can't see my rear lights from where I'm sitting. I'll pass for now.

 

[Manders Mustang]

Just checked today, turns out I can't see my rear lights from where I'm sitting. I'll pass for now.

Sit behind me SLOWhand and you'll see them ;)!

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