Sidelights in indicators, why?? (D2)

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jimbo-td5

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Gower, near Swansea
Whats the purpose of the sidelights in the indicators on a D2? I presume its just for looks? Ive had lots of people complaining that they think im indicating, and lots of people cutting me up and shouting at me like its my fault?! All I can think of is that they think im indicating when they see the sidelights?! Im thinking about just pulling the bulbs out, but I kinda like the look of them :/
 
The lights are there because you cannot see the sidelights in the front when you are slightly to the rear of the front of the vehicle, and being sidemarkers they have to be yellow/amber. I don't know if the facelift front lights got around this or not? It may have originated with the USA, but D1's didn't have the extra bulb.

The US-spec rear lights on the facelight models also have a small bulb in the tail light compartment which shines out to the side. The UK versions have the lens and the bulb compartment, but no fitting hole for the holder and no holder wired in to the loom.

I've got one of each at work, I'll post a picture.

Peter
 
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The lights are there because you cannot see the sidelights in the front when you are slightly to the rear of the front of the vehicle, and being sidemarkers they have to be yellow/amber. I don't know if the facelift front lights got around this or not? It may have originated with the USA, but D1's didn't have the extra bulb.

The US-spec rear lights on the facelight models also have a small bulb in the tail light compartment which shines out to the side. The UK versions have the lens and the bulb compartment, but no fitting hole for the holder and no holder wired in to the loom.

I've got one of each at work, I'll post a picture.

Peter
If you have a Nanocom device I think you can switch them off on a D2
 
The lights are there because you cannot see the sidelights in the front when you are slightly to the rear of the front of the vehicle, and being sidemarkers they have to be yellow/amber. I don't know if the facelift front lights got around this or not? It may have originated with the USA, but D1's didn't have the extra bulb.

The US-spec rear lights on the facelight models also have a small bulb in the tail light compartment which shines out to the side. The UK versions have the lens and the bulb compartment, but no fitting hole for the holder and no holder wired in to the loom.

I've got one of each at work, I'll post a picture.

Peter



What cars can you see the front side lights when standing slightly to the rear of the front of the car?:confused: But you are correct its an american thing so the car can be seen from a side aspect, many cars in uk have side reflectors but they are illuminated in US
 
If the lights are fitted, they have to be working, that's C&U Reg's by memory.

Might have changed over the past few years or so.

I wonder if an MOT would pick it up if both were out?

Peter

Just because lights are fitted to a car doesn't mean they are testable items for an mot.
eg reversing lights, front fog lights and spot/driving lights can be fitted but are not testable.
Side marker lights are not a requirement in the uk in the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989
 
They're switched off in the software applications.
I only know because I know someone who actually switched them on when they weren't.

There may be an alternative fusebox that allows that to be done, the standard Disco 2 wiring diagram shows both markers fed from the same sidelight feed on each side.

The BCU option sheets don't list anything for the marker lights, only daylight running lights, and then only if the headlights were switched on, so I assume that they would be separate lights to the marker lights, as the markers would come on with headlights anyway.

Peter
 
My other car - Volvo xc70 gen 3 - also has led's in the indicators which come on with the sidelights... (my daytime running lights are switched off)

I quite like it. A bit of extra visibility, and a backup in case one breaks (same as having a 2nd tail light bulb in the rear cluster)?
 
Im sure newer BMW 5 series have amber side lights (led) built in to the top and side of the head light, looks good in my opinion,I have also come a cropper with people thin king im turning when in fact im not, i just take extra care at junctions.
 
Im sure newer BMW 5 series have amber side lights (led) built in to the top and side of the head light, looks good in my opinion,I have also come a cropper with people thin king im turning when in fact im not, i just take extra care at junctions.

The worse cars for this imhpo are the VW's. Some have indicators inside the headlight assy, and inside the rear stop/tail light - I can't see them...!
 
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