Red Flashing Indicator - Will i get in trouble

[DannyH]

Hi all,

i have just fitted some red covers for the amber indicators on the rear of my z4, they look awsome but now flash a red colour, was wondering whether i will get in trouble with the police for this.

Thanks

Danny

 

[hotdog3147]

In a word yes. Indicators and repeaters have to be amber, red would be an MOT failure.

 

[pvr]

Depends on in which country you are I guess.

Point to note is that a lot of American cars have red indicators, so are you sure it is an MOT failure in the UK?

 

[Dreamer]

Have you tried fitting amber bulbs? Where did you get the red covers from?

PIX....

 

[easty027]

Have you tried fitting amber bulbs? Where did you get the red covers from?

PIX....

I agree, i need to know if its works as i am also looking into this..

 

[gmaster]

If you are in the UK you will get in trouble.

I had the red covers for my amber indicators on the rear of the car and the police pulled me over and made me remove them. They also decided to check my car over whilst giving me a lecture.

 

[cj10jeeper]

For UK purposes - From the MOT handbook/guide:

Stop lights, indicators and hazard lights*

are the correct type and colour
do not interfere with each other in operation
driver's tell-tale works with respect to indicators, or there is an audible warning system.


Colour is clearly mentioned

 

[easty027]

For UK purposes - From the MOT handbook/guide:

Stop lights, indicators and hazard lights*

are the correct type and colour
do not interfere with each other in operation
driver's tell-tale works with respect to indicators, or there is an audible warning system.


Colour is clearly mentioned

Thats what i thought, on that basis then, i am going to leave well alone. Not interested in the five-O pulling me over because if them.

 

[Swami]

Easty- I was interested in this and saw that you had the redout decals fitted in your sig pics, did you solve the problem of the amber indicator? Did you try amber bulbs? Not a fan of the orange in mine and looks like a bargain mod!

 

[easty027]

Easty- I was interested in this and saw that you had the redout decals fitted in your sig pics, did you solve the problem of the amber indicator? Did you try amber bulbs? Not a fan of the orange in mine and looks like a bargain mod!

Sorry no, its photoshopped to look like that. I did think of getting the red out decals as i hate the amber circles to the rear but after reading the issues related to the indicator flash colour, i decided against it. I am interested though if soembody has managed to keep it legal whilst having them fitted ?.

 

[mikedav]

Depends on in which country you are I guess.

Point to note is that a lot of American cars have red indicators, so are you sure it is an MOT failure in the UK?

UK spec American cars have orange indicators (or white with an orange bulb)...anything that flashes red is technically illegal. You see the odd dodgy import but technically they are supposed to have retro fitted orange ones, just like those bolt on fog lights you see fitted to Japanese imports that don't have them as standard

 

[Dreamer]

On another forum i have read that where people have tinted red and want an orange indicator flash, a green bulb will do it. Not sure about that though :?

 

[powerontap]

On another forum i have read that where people have tinted red and want an orange indicator flash, a green bulb will do it. Not sure about that though :?

it's starting to look like Christmas...

 

[gannet]

On another forum i have read that where people have tinted red and want an orange indicator flash, a green bulb will do it. Not sure about that though :?

Given that red + green gives yellow (RGB) you would need a bit of blue to make orange.... but you also have some orange from the existing lens :idunno:

 

[Dreamer]

Seems the corrado lot have been doing this with total success...
Orange tower LED bulbs with resistors fitted. Quite tempted now.

Topic...
http://the-corrado.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=70584&start=60

Video..

http://s399.photobucket.com/albums/pp71/vr6breaking/random%20parts/?action=view&current=MVI_0105.flv

 

[Swami]

Dreamer- full marks for research / knowledge with the Corrado forum reference! That video looks like a perfect indicator, how hard is it to get in to change the bulb on the Zed?

 

[easty027]

Good work Dreamer, i am very interested in this 'budget friendly' modification. The red decals are like $12 from ebay (U.S.) so a nice cheap job.

 

[gannet]

Dreamer- full marks for research / knowledge with the Corrado forum reference! That video looks like a perfect indicator, how hard is it to get in to change the bulb on the Zed?

Real easy, they just come out the back (from memory...)

 

[T2FFN]

Anyone here used these Uber bright orange leds? They say on the link they need resistors to slow the indicator flash down to normal rate... I may need a bit of tech help :?

 

[cj10jeeper]

Anyone here used these Uber bright orange leds? They say on the link they need resistors to slow the indicator flash down to normal rate... I may need a bit of tech help :?

I haven't used amber LEDs as indicators but have usd loads of them on my Zed (sidelights, puddle lights, external door handles, internal door handles, etc.) but the principal is the same.

The bulbs will almost certainly be a direct slot if you match them to the OEM fitting using the bulb number, but problems arise that a normal indicator bulb is typically 5 w or 21w and a LED about 0.1w to 0.5w depending upon the type and size used.

Normal practice is to crimp a ceramic resistor in parallel with the bulb to increase the current draw to the same as an incandescent bulb. If you don't do this the circuit thinks it's got a bulb out and sends dash warnings, or a bit like a traditional indicator where with a broken bulb the other flashes faster. Most LED suppliers will give you resistor for near free and their web give a guide to these problems and some bulbs these days have them built in to avoid these problems.

I'm not close to my manual to tell you the part number and wattage needed, but you can look that up.