Just hope someone here can settle a query of mine. I have seen several cars now with totally clear back lenses - many of the cars in our club have them fitted. However, I have just been told they are not road legal.
Could someone explain why they are not road legal and if not, why do they pass an MOT?
Thanks
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My understanding is that the legal requirement is for a light of the correct colour. So if the indicators flash orange (etc) then it's legal regardless of what they look like when they're off.
Only my recolection though, not a legal opinion.
Which car club is this?
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To be strictly legal they need the 'E' mark on them as well.
They will also have to have a red reflector somewhere.
Me, I think they look naff.
Martin
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They seem to have the correct colour bulbs, i.e. orange bulb for indicators etc. Saw them selling sets of them at a show yesterday, clear lenses with coloured bulbs.
Work colleague has just said he thinks its something to do with displaying red reflectors????
Im a member of the Wirral Minis - just love my minis.
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Done a bit of searching on the net and it appears that they are not street legal (although why they can still pass an MOT is unclear).
To be street legal you must display two red reflectors at the rear of the car (which not all vehicles with clear lenses do) and there is no such thing as a street legal red bulb.
The only yellow (indicator) bulbs which are street legal are those with an off-set pin, and in many cases the sets of clear lenses come with yellow bulbs with pins opposite each other.
Can anyone shed any light on this information?
Thanks
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Are you referring to Lexus IS200 style back lights? If so, they sell these everywhere now for Corsas, Saxos etc, presume they must be legal.
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My main moan about these is the pigment on the bulb weakens, or they get replaced with clear bulbs, and thus flash not orange enough, or white.
Plus, if the lens is orange, you know where to look for a flash, and although the person might not be indicating anyway, your decision about what they are or are not doing is made a bit quicker.
I think you can see, I don't like them.
As for refelctors, it might be argued I'm not looking hard enough, but I've not seen any that lack the red reflector. Put behind a clear lens it might not be as obvious in daylight, but they seem to work in the dark. As the sort of person who fits this sort of thing is more likely to keep them clean, it might be argued it is an improvment.
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I don't get which lights you mean. Do you mean the ones like on a Peugoet 406 or a Mondeo or Laguna where the brake lenses are red but the indicators are clear and the bulbs orange?
If so, I'd imagine they're perfectly legal. I can't imagine any other lights.
Adam
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I followed one of the new Lexus luxury 4x4 things today, complete with '54' reg no. Not a pretty car to start with but I thought the silver 'tinfoil' rear lights did it no favours.
Cheers, Sofa Spud
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Im a member of the Wirral Minis - just love my minis.
You weren't one the drivers of a small convoy of minis i saw driving along the m53 past Ellesmere Port the other week by any chance? I noticed they all had wirral minis stickers on the back windows!
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The other point about the recent fashion for clear tail light lenses is that when the sun is low, shining from behind, it can be very difficult to distinguish the brake light from the glinting 'sunflower' pattern of the lens inside the housing. I seem to remember some Vauxhalls were like this. No problem at night, or in dim light, but 'down sun', hmmmm...
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The lenses I am referring to are completely clear - there is no coloured glass whatsoever. You basically rely on the coloured bulbs inside. I have driven behind such vehicles and I must admit the back lights appear to be pink rather than red and are difficult to see in the daylight.
p.s. StuW - I probably was in one of those minis you saw in convoy on the M53, probably going to a show.
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