Smoked/Tinted Light Laws

[Maxtek]

So, I've done a load of Google'ing about the laws on smoked/tinted lights, specifically MHW's and haven't found any solid info.

I have a set of MHW's on my car at the moment and my garage said that it would fail an MOT with them on due to the indicator's emitting more of a red colour opposed to the amber it's supposed to.

The lights have the 'E marking' on them which means they pass EU regulations, however I'm told that this doesn't mean they're legal on the roads.

I have a set of standard tail lights on the way, however I would like to use the MHW's but without being pulled over all the time and risking points on my license/fines.

[Kos]

Dump in an orange bulb. Job done

[maxfield]

Are they red MHWs? If so, try a green bulb.

[Maxtek]

Already got orange bulbs in there, in fact I was thinking about putting clear bulbs in but the notches on the clear bulbs are off-sync.

[Maxtek]

Stolen picture of it. I believe these are Black MHW's.

[maxfield]

Orange bulb should be fine in them.

Can you get a picture of how they are when lit?

[magpie]

tell the garage they are talking shit and take it elsewhere ....job done

[sweep]

do they have reflectors?

[Maxtek]

Just popped outside to take some pics, turns out I'm going crazy. These looks like Red MHW's to me, and also there was already clear bulb's in there, 'temp fitted' an amber bulb and the colour looked the same to me. Sorry for the confusion >_>





Phone picture so the colour of the light looks different in the picture compared to in person, that's if you still believe anything I say after reading the first bit.

In my eye's the indicator's are orange, also compared with another car just then and they had a clear yellow colour.[/url]

[maxfield]

They're perfectly fine. I'd pass that

[Maxtek]

Coming to Mansfield for my next MOT

[maxfield]

It would be a really harsh fail.

Too many hitler types out there. MOT laws are minimum requirements.

[magpie]

i've heard green bulbs in diy red rears flash yellow ?

[DanThe]

i've heard green bulbs in diy red rears flash yellow ?

No, they just flash a less bright red

Orange bulbs FTW, even if they do flash red it should only be an advisory AFAIK?

[Maxtek]

Green bulbs was suggested earlier on in the thread too, I'll try and get my hands on some green glass paint. This is just an annoyance, it's pretty obvious that a flashing light at the sides of the rear of a car is an indicator.

[maxfield]

i've heard green bulbs in diy red rears flash yellow ?

No, they just flash a less bright red

Orange bulbs FTW, even if they do flash red it should only be an advisory AFAIK?

No they have to be amber. Obviously if they are slightly red then an advisory. (Although if you're car is really old you're allowed white front, and rear red indicators, can't remember the exact year)

Although Ive followed a couple mustang which used all of its rear light as an indicator and they were all red. Which is a fail by MOT standards.

[harry_p]

Yank cars flash the whole light, but to be uk registered and have a proper mot they need orange independant indicators. Most either wire up the reverse light as an indicator and fit orange bulbs, or stick horrible little universal indicators to the bodywork!

As for the original problem, the colour of any light is a matter of opinion, there are no specifics, just white / yellow, amber, red etc. just look at headlights there are a massive range of colours out there all with a different colour tint but all 'white'

[Maxtek]

As for the original problem, the colour of any light is a matter of opinion, there are no specifics, just white / yellow, amber, red etc. just look at headlights there are a massive range of colours out there all with a different colour tint but all 'white'

That sounds like a very unfair way of handling the issue. So essentially it all comes down to the person doing the MOT and the policeman who pulls you over?

[harry_p]

Lots of items on the mot are at the testers discretion to some extent, with guidelines and explanations, but no specific way to give a definitive yes / no.