Lights question - "Town Lights " ??

[capri_rob]

This is stuck in the front page of my cars handbook - don't remember seeing this before on any of my other E30's



doesn't make much sense ? The lights on my car work no differently to any other E30 I've had ?

[DanThe]

Your car has dim-dip function, when you have sidelights on the dip bulb is partially lit

Not sure of the years this was fitted as standard, my 87 chromie has it, but I dont think the F plater has it, I may have pulled it out of the loom though

[magpie]

turbo candle

[jmc330i]

Not sure of the years this was fitted as standard, my 87 chromie has it, but I dont think the F plater has it, I may have pulled it out of the loom though

My '89 G plate touring had dim dip.

[B7]

It as something a lot of manufacturers did at the time. Ford had them also on the entire range. Cam in about 87 but fizzled out about '90 I think. My 89 F convertible has them.

As Dan say's, with the cars sidelights on and no ignition, just the 5W sides will light. Switch the ignition on and the dipped beam bulbs will come on to about half power. Pull the switch to headlights and they increase to normal dipped beams.

I always thought it was a good idea to stop idiots who forget to go to dipped beam from sides when it finally gets dark.

[capri_rob]

Cool ! Until yesterday Id never heard of this before - been driving E30's 20 years and still finding stuff out

[daimlerman]

Dim-dip,as it was known back in the day,was a UK legal requirement.

Started in '85,I think.Certainly the D plate Nissan Vanette( )I bought new was equipped.

The aim was to stop drivers from using just sidelights(they started to these'parking lights' at the same time)whilst the vehicle was moving.
Bear in mind that before alternators became a standard fit,it was considered normal practice to turn off one's headlights upon entering a 'built up area'(another term that dim-dip abolished!)to conserve battery power.
The elderly,people my age and older(!),find it difficult to see if a vehicle displaying just parking lights is moving or stationary.

A dynamo was not able to put out enough 'powa' to keep headlights.wipers etc running constantly.

This is just one of the issues you face when running a pre 70's classic,do you keep the dynamo for 'originality',or install an alternator for 'road safety' reasons?

[Brianmoooore]

IIRC, it was anticipated to soon become a UK (and EEC) wide legal requirement, and many manufacturers introduced the feature to pre-empt the legislation, but eventually the legal plans were abandoned, probably as a result of disagreements between the EEC members.
It appeared on the last of the pre facelift E30s, and disappeared around '89 - '90.

[mercdriver]

The red 316 turd has dim dip too on an F plate... I like em. I drive it with them on permanently, even if it's night - city driving doesn't need full power!