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Centre brake Light
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:51 pm
by greentouring
I want to fit one to my Touring. They're supposed to decrease the chance of someone shunting your car from behind (a French boyracer has already used his Renault to ram my trusty E30 at a junction....no damage to mine luckily!).
I think this is true as they really stand out, especially in foggy weather and such. Anyone else fitted one? I think U.S. E30s had them as standard..........
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:14 pm
by toby
Fitted one on the saloons I've had - the E30 & E28. Have thought about one for the touring but not bothered so far. I wonder if there's an original BMW design idea for one somewhere. A modern LED style one would fit on the inside of rear screen somewhere but would look crap.
I suppose, at first thought, you could run a wire from brake light positive feed at rear of the car, run the wire through into the tailgate and mount a lamp near the rear wiper on the inside somehow. France's huge tool shops often have little things you could adapt for another use. Hunt around and maybe you'll find something cheap.
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:28 pm
by Steviec
Youve just given me an idea, ive got a spare standard touring tailgate rear spoiler. I wonder if I can mount an LED brake light into that.... gotta be worth a go.
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:39 pm
by greentouring
Well, if it could save the old E30 from being shunted by an inattentive driver, it's worth a go, and if it's 'trick' and looks good, all the better
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:57 pm
by Steviec
Any idea how you remove the spoiler?
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:10 pm
by JimmyC
I'll have to get a pic, but a mate of mine has it mounted flush in the tailgate below the window, looks awesome
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:12 pm
by toby
I thought about mounting it near the spoiler but I wouldn't fancy getting wires to it neatly and easily. Maybe there's a way and I'm not thinking clearly about cars right now. The spoiler is glued on. When I replaced my rusty tailgate I experimented with removing the old tailgate's spoiler. It wasn't easy and I couldn't be bothered faffing around and testing further but it's not a job I'd tomato f*ckin' relish. Nahwotimsayin'?
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:14 pm
by sam325is
i have seen a genuine bmw one at my scrapie before it went at the top in the middle and the inside of the boot had a different style plastic surround. i didnt think it was anything out of the ordinary
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 8:17 pm
by tailoutcharlie
could be possible to take one from an tech two rear spoiler and somehow get it into the touring one, could be a right ball ache tho.
go council and get one of those things they had on top gear that scrolls writing accross, they'll definatley no your there when your swearing at them for tailgating you
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:03 pm
by Morat
I'd be up for this. I think LED is the way to go since it hardly uses any power - you should be able to use the existing brake light circuit (suitably extended and with fat resistors) without causing any embarrassing fuse blowing moments?
The best option would be to persuade Mr Moooore that he wants them on his tourings. We'd be half way to a group buy already ;)
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:07 pm
by greentouring
Yeah, I really want one now....has anyone seen any half decent ones that are universal and would suit ye olde touring?
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:23 pm
by Morat
Some googling revealed
THIS. There are a few options on there, the best ones are near the bottom of the page. I'd be quite tempted by the $35 small 3rd brake light (black cased, not billet aluminium). Annoyingly they only deal by phone, fax or snailmail - I doubt they'd ship to the UK unless it was a big order.
Re: Centre brake Light
Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:59 pm
by greentouring
Riffian wrote:There's nothing out there for Tourings.
I think the best thing would be to get enough orders up (I think we could get 20 on here easily) and get a good Fiberglass / resin / rubber shop to make a mould with the recess for a given LED strip (the E36 / E46 cabrio one's are nice and thin and good quality) and then we just press fire!
Unless anybody on here is a fiberglass / resin / rubber guy then I'm up for making it happen - I could start an order thread?
I'll probably order and pay the minimum order amount anyway as I'll always be able to sell them on and break even.
I'll look into it ASAP.
Here's how great it could look:
That looks bloody awesome! I want, I want!