It is best that there be specified requirements for how a vehicle’s lighting system must be made.
After all, in recent years, the automotive sector and lawmakers have enacted a number of improvements that have improved the safety, comfort, and creativity of the automobile.
Here are some particulars that eager amateur mechanics can apply to enhance the extra lighting in our country.
Don’t let Hollywood fool you
People who are enthusiastic about cars are hypnotized by films like “The Fast and the Furious.”
With powerful engines, glossy finishes, and virtually endless creative lighting options, cars that have been tweaked to the very edge of what is possible stand out from the competition.
One need only tries to imagine the mayhem that would ensue on roads if each driver was free to design the lighting on their vehicle according to their whims.
Additional front lights include the obligation and the coronation
Headlights and indicator lights in the front should, at the very least, belong there. The great majority of headlamps still have this nowadays. Hilux lamps give the choice between a low beam and a high beam.
Round or square bulbs predominated in headlamp design for a number of decades. Since the 1980s, their outline has taken on a form that is progressively more complicated.
This component was also independently found by the aftermarket, which now offers replacement parts for several versions that look different from the original model.
You won’t be going anywhere without the homologation marking, so beware!
The general roadworthiness certificate is considered invalidated if any light means does not have the required type approval number engraved on it.
This holds true even for the smallest extra turn signals that are hidden on the sides of the car. This makes sense because turn signal lenses or other turn signal components are frequently modified by tuners to complement the overall design of the car.
On an automobile that is completely black, who would want yellow lenses on their turn signals?
If this is the case, there is no question that the aftermarket has acceptable lenses in black; but, in order for the turn signal to function effectively, the light source’s intensity and the protective glass’s degree of transparency must both be proportionately high.
New features have been added to the front end, including cornering lights and daytime running lights.
There is now a “retrofit kit” available for either or both of these additional lights located in the front bumper.
They are tailored to perfectly fit into the recessed regions of the front bumper, which were built to match the specific make and model of the car.
The wiring on the great majority of car types is much simpler to understand than one may think.
The required connections and wire harnesses for both the light and the button are normally located within the majority of light switches and fixtures.
The front of the car is therefore an appropriate site for the installation of the following extra lights:
– Fog lights
– Cornering lights
– Daytime running lights
The MOT will not raise any objections as long as the lamps being used have both a certificate and a type approval number and as long as they have been installed correctly.
On the other hand, the front of the vehicle can now accommodate a second set of high beams, which was not possible in the past.
This feature is normally relatively useless when it comes to passenger cars, but it can be useful when it comes to vans and light vans, which frequently drive on unpaved roads.
Watch out for the “reference number” that is shown here. A number is assigned to each light located on the front of the vehicle, which is etched into the glass cover.
The total of all the numbers must be less than or equal to 75.
Additional lighting provided by the sidelights: good but constrained opportunities
The system that manages the side lighting of a vehicle has a finite amount of room for development.
A little turn signal is a standard element on the fender of most cars. This is all that can be done; the only thing that can be added is a turn signal that is integrated into the side mirror.
Another violation of the guidelines is the use of reflective side strips. The only vehicles that are allowed to have reflectors affixed on the sides of their fenders are emergency vehicles like ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars.
Additionally, enjoyable additions like illuminated rims are acceptable.
Supplemental lighting for the back: There are hardly any extras.
Modern cars often have rear lights that perform admirably, which is why they frequently come with them as standard equipment.
Only a few short years ago, a “third brake light” was considered “a nice tuning feature.” These days, however, it is installed on every vehicle as a standard safety feature.
The retrofit feature for the additional brake light pair briefly gained popularity in the 1980s.
Even though they are still legal in today’s society, very few people use them because they have been superseded.
The vehicle’s trunk lid and the rear spoiler are both locations for the third brake light. The only change that is allowed when a rear fog lamp is not present is to install a retrofitted one.
The license plate with an integrated light source, on the other hand, is a desirable alternative for a car’s taillights that thrills inspectors just as much.
This accessory is a flat light box with a top made of transparent plastic to let light through.
Displayed is the polycarbonate plate that functions as the license plate and is evenly lit by LED lights inside the lightbox.
This adds a second, visually pleasant touch to the illumination and greatly enhances the remote effect and legibility of the license plate.
But there’s still reason to hold onto hope right now. The car industry is steadily making progress in this regard by continuously seeking for fresh approaches to improve the optical design of tail lights.
In its most current models, Audi has replaced the turn signal with a running light.
It won’t be long before the aftermarket offers this brand-new alternative for installing turn signals retroactively.
Watch out for the different sources of light!
Unluckily, the question of whether a component is legal or illegal doesn’t stop with the element itself.
It also applies to the turn signals and lights inside the taillights. The switch to LED lighting from outdated incandescent lighting makes perfect sense in theory.
You almost never have to worry about the lights going out when you’re using LEDs. They normally stay put for the entire time the vehicle is in existence.
But not every single one of them. The same applies to LED lights.
They are highly dissimilar from one another in terms of both their design and brightness. You should therefore always take care to install only lights that have been approved for your vehicle.
Always be careful to install only lights that have been deemed appropriate for your vehicle.
Unfortunately, none of the following are permitted at any time:
– Every conceivable variety of marker lights
– Lighting on the underside of the vehicle (available even when the vehicle is parked)
– Illuminated bands along the edges
Having lights or bulbs inside the car that shine the other way is likewise inappropriate. This could even affect the miniature Christmas tree displayed atop the dashboard.
A question of proportions when it comes to car lights
Although it may be tempting to put a beacon in the car, you must always remember to follow the rules established by the law.
A variety of options are available to personalize the automobile’s look. However, there is no need in jeopardizing your driving privileges or committing a crime out of sheer impatience.
Both of these outcomes are undesirable. On the other hand, Amateur tuners will discover a colorful and varied world within the confines of the allowed limits, enabling them to tailor their vehicles to their unique preferences.
