Side marker question

CSteve

CSteve

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I have seen amber/yellow side marker lens for sale on ebay. Were these a stock item for a coupe, an alternative to the red? Curious what you think about originality and how they would look on my Polaris coupe on the rear fenders.

Thanks,

Steve ONeill
 
Side marker lights were required on ALL US cars after 1968...

The side marker lights were required as a DOT (DEPT of TRANS.)requirement on all US cars starting in 1968...

The side lights were red in the rear and yellow in the front. This was so you could tell which direction the car was headed (like aircraft).

The red rears on my 1974 CS have bulbs and are lighted as running lights. The yellow fronts are only reflectors.

The EXACT same lights were used in the 1970s on many different Audis, BMWs and MBs. Back then BMW charged $21, Audi $14 and MB $9.... So check ebay for other cars and get them much cheaper then the BMW guys are asking...
 

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Funny you should ask...

I have been doing detail work in the lens department myself. Oddly, on my 1974 USA, I have only the rear red side markers and not the amber fronts I have seen on other cars. I went ahead and jumped on the ebay listing for new red rears...$48.99 ea. Pricey yes, but not near as bad as the price I paid for new euro type front turn signal lenses, and was worried about future availability. (my old stuff is, well, old and frazzled) The turn signal lenses are for sure a nice aesthetic improvement. I needed to shave the bulb reflectors about 1/4 inch to make fit. I could post some photos if there is interest.
 
Thanks guys.
My 74 euro coupe has the rear markers none in front. It seems coupes sold by dealers had front and rear, euros imported had just rear. Or it was the state of mind of the DOT gimp federalizing the euro import. I am not sure. I switched out the turn signal lenses for the euro/slim version. Also had to shave the reflectors.

So I will keep my rear red lenses and be happy there are none in front. Should have had the rears removed when the car was painted three years ago. Drat.
 
OK

Thanks for that. Same on my '74...I was worried...front quarters replaced? Saw no evidence of this or of a "delete"
 
markers

My 1973 has only the rear red side markers. I suspect (but cannot prove) that the PO had the fronts removed when the car was repainted and repaired - probably left the rears because they had wiring.
 
The fronts were just reflectors with 2 very small holes.

Removing the front reflectors and filling the two 5mm holes would be very easy! Swipe a little body filler (Bondo) and the holes are gone! The rears had a large 24mm hole for the light and the two 5mm holes which would be much more difficult to fill requiring welding in a piece of metal etc...
 
I could never quite understand :confused: the front marker lights / reflectors because the amber turn signal lights are clearly visible from the side of the car. The rear marker lights I can see the reasoning on because the taillights don’t wrap around the corner of the car, like on some other cars. So I removed the fronts (looks ridiculously busy with them IMO, like a total after thought) and left on the rears for the safety aspect. ~ John Buchtenkirch
 
Side marker lights--blah

Simply there as a result of our bureacracy at "work"--and did you know that sealed beam headlights were also specified by DOT for US delivered BMW's. Question--how many of you subcsribe to that DOT spec and have kept that marginal lighting standard as part of your "original" equipment ? If so--why?

Come on guys get real and get rid of the crap that makes no aesthetic sense or safety contribution to our E-9's--those DOT items have long since outlived their usefullness.
 
blumax said:
Simply there as a result of our bureacracy at "work"--and did you know that sealed beam headlights were also specified by DOT for US delivered BMW's. Question--how many of you subcsribe to that DOT spec and have kept that marginal lighting standard as part of your "original" equipment ? If so--why?

Come on guys get real and get rid of the crap that makes no aesthetic sense or safety contribution to our E-9's--those DOT items have long since outlived their usefullness.
Click to expand...

+1...When I imported my '72 CSi in the early 80's, I did not replace the headlights nor did I add any side markers...DOT gave me a green light for all FMVSR as long as it passed EPA...of course it did!

On my 2002 which I imported two years previously, same thing. Though, after CA registration, I eventually added a separate parking/running light (from the headlight parking light bulb) to the turn lights there is enough room in there to do it on the '02 but not on the CS...anyone done it to a Coupe??
 
Sealed beam headlights do have a purpose and make sense!

The reason for the DOT sealed beam headlights was because moisture ALWAYS was a problem inside the glass and caused the reflectors to dull. I have numerous sets of Euro lights that are junk because of water contamination. So sealed beams do have a function.

That being said the original 1967 DOT specs. used a ridiculously LOW "legal" lumens number and would not originally allow a sealed beam lights with halogen bulbs. That made absolutely no sense!!!

That obviously has changed and our modern head lights have Xenon and even use the new LEDs.

There is currently a problem with todays plastic headlights fading and dulling and I do not understand how the DOT allows them to pass their tests... No doubt ultra highly paid political lobbiests for the lighting industry!
 
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