Indicator side-light behaviour and rules?

[Aulday]

Hi chaps

I put a couple of LED 501 side lights in the car. They did not come with the advertised resistors installed, so the car has put the indicators on dimly as side lights. As I expect you know when you indicate, the light momentarily behaves like a normal bright indicator. Then back to dim on when you cancel signal.

I am waiting for resistor armed LED 501s, but actually like the look of the dim indicator and side light combination.

Can someone explain the legalities of this? As the dim indicator is a factory feature, it must be legal?

I am aware the 501s are not going to be type approved, so I could get fined for that.

But the more important question is in the event of an accident, if the other party blamed me for having static indicators, and that it caused an accident, one could be up sh*t street. (i.e I doubt LED sidelights would cause an accident, but it could be argued that the indicator could).

To make this more awkward to answer, E60s come with yellow (running or marker) lights on as standard: https://www.carmodshop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/142115192.jpeg

 

[kis]

I would have said it should be okay... it’s like a DRL right? Colour shouldn’t matter? But will wait for someone to chime in with legal stuff/mot/Highway Code knowledge.

 

[Aulday]

I def see it as a DRL, as it turns off when dipped beam is selected. It's just whether having that enabled normally is acceptable. I'm not fussed about getting pulled and told off once (although I've never been pulled in 10 years of motoring).

It's just the liability thing I'm thinking about. It looks no different to a stock E60 though really.

 

[Scooba_Steve]

I def see it as a DRL, as it turns off when dipped beam is selected. It's just whether having that enabled normally is acceptable. I'm not fussed about getting pulled and told off once (although I've never been pulled in 10 years of motoring).

It's just the liability thing I'm thinking about. It looks no different to a stock E60 though really.

If you can't be bothered to do it properly, or are worried, take them out until you can.

Better option is to code out the sidelight checks.

 

[Rockhopper]

Construction and Use regulations say that you must only show white lights to the front of your vehicle and red lights to the rear (apart from number plate lights and direction indicators) so yes, your orange lights to the front would be illegal.

In addition your new LED bulbs should comply with The Filament Lamp for Vehicles (Safety) Regulations 1982 which prohibit the sale or supply of light bulbs for use in vehicles unless they carry an approval mark. This mark is in the form of the letter E followed by a number.

So there you go!

 

[Aulday]

Construction and Use regulations say that you must only show white lights to the front of your vehicle and red lights to the rear (apart from number plate lights and direction indicators) so yes, your orange lights to the front would be illegal.

In addition your new LED bulbs should comply with The Filament Lamp for Vehicles (Safety) Regulations 1982 which prohibit the sale or supply of light bulbs for use in vehicles unless they carry an approval mark. This mark is in the form of the letter E followed by a number.

So there you go!

I'm aware the type approval of the 501s isn't legit. But the orange light at the front isn't actually illegal, quite a lot of stock cars have this now like the e60. Plus the z4 is built with this behaviour.

I've ordered resistor armed 501s but was toying with it how it is. But as its such a grey area I don't think I'll bother

 

[Aulday]

I def see it as a DRL, as it turns off when dipped beam is selected. It's just whether having that enabled normally is acceptable. I'm not fussed about getting pulled and told off once (although I've never been pulled in 10 years of motoring).

It's just the liability thing I'm thinking about. It looks no different to a stock E60 though really.

If you can't be bothered to do it properly, or are worried, take them out until you can.

Better option is to code out the sidelight checks.

Yes great idea. What tools do we need to code these cars? Just finished de-misting one of the headlights out and re-greasing the seals. Worst headlight housings I've ever had to deal with. Would rather code it out then replace those bulbs again!

 

[Scooba_Steve]

What tools do we need to code these cars?

NCS Expert or Carly

Worst headlight housings I've ever had to deal with. Would rather code it out then replace those bulbs again!

Tell me about it, they are a right PITA. Others have disagreed but I have been happy with Philips and Osram LEDs, any 'canbus' LEDs I have had failed shortly after install, the W5Ws are particularly prone as they are such a small size.
So I buy once and cry once with a decent set and the checks coded out

 

[Aulday]

What tools do we need to code these cars?

NCS Expert or Carly

Worst headlight housings I've ever had to deal with. Would rather code it out then replace those bulbs again!

Tell me about it, they are a right PITA. Others have disagreed but I have been happy with Philips and Osram LEDs, any 'canbus' LEDs I have had failed shortly after install, the W5Ws are particularly prone as they are such a small size.
So I buy once and cry once with a decent set and the checks coded out

Thanks will look into those.

Yeah having to steer the wheel out, remove mucky panel with crappy clips, then awkward light panel, right pita!

It seems a lot of these led bulbs don't include a series load resistor or driver, so they draw more current than they need / can handle and eventually burn out. I'll see how mine get on and fit a load resistor if necessary