3rd brake lights

[fitz]

I'm looking to do this in the very near future, has anyone done this before and got a picture of how they have done it?

- Have you mounted it below spoiler / on parcel shelf / on headlining?
- What donor car / aftermarket part have you used?

I've spend the last few days staring at 3rd brake lights, almost becoming a hobby. The one my corsa looks like it might be nice and low profile / unobtrusive if mounted inverted on the parcel shelf. Or i'm tempted to do have two squarer style ones - think 90's e-class mounted on the parcel shelf to give me an unhindered view down the middle. Although when in the drivers seat the first inch or so of visibility is blocked by the spoiler, so i think one corsa (long and low but modern and led) or one/two mk1 ka ones (5 bar light ones so would look more inkeeping?)

what do you guys think?

edit:...anything has to look oem and be reversible easily...

[Ozzy_UK]

MGF looks pretty easy swap... but i think latter ones needed some fancy electronics if they didnt have ABS...



Oz.

[fitz]

i was going to use the mgf one, but have decided that its too wide to look infitting, have gone with one ford KA unit, will try and get some pics up when finished....its in the post!

[RRHANS]

Who needs a 3th brake light on a calypso red car!!!!
You are driving a giant one

[fitz]

have got it through the post and offered it up inverted 180 degrees from ford fitment and it matches the incline of the rear window perfectly, will fit it at the weekend

[KevW]

More on the subject at http://www.lotusexcel.net/phpbb/viewtop ... =27&t=3636

[AndyC]

Here's one way of adding a 3rd brake light.
Not my cup of tea, but each to their own I suppose.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LOTUS-EXCEL-1983- ... arParts_SM

[fitz]

Good Grief, i'm hoping my attempt will look a little subtler that than rear ended knightrider thing...

However I could be wrong...must go on the hunt for some thinner alumininium sheet for my bracket and capping assembly...and some carpet off cut...

[fitz]

Right, I think I'll have all the pieces to make a concerted effort soon. I'm going to roof mount it now, as it will look a lot cleaner with the unit being designed to be mounted that way. From a lot of digging around, i should be able to locate the wiring into the headling, down the passenger side rear cant rail and into the boot via the heated screen grommet. From there I can splice into the rear light quarter wiring to connect it up and hopefully use the same earthing point. The unit should screw into the fibreglass re-enforcement ride just above the rear screen. and some polystyrene and headlining material should make it look the part.

I am concerned that as the the tension of the screws will be in the opposite direction to the window incline that it may not sit tightly on the screen, might have a look for some kind of adhesive foam sheet or similar to "mate" the two nicely and stop any light seepage..

[fitz]

A LONG delay, lucky I have no fairer companion as I have had a ford KA brake light and mdf adorning my living room for several months!

after a little mockup, it was apparent that it would be difficult to do and make a good job without equipment to bend ali plate and would require either a lot of trial and error or some sophisticated measuring equipment to do a 'good' job. Just not really worth it. Of course when a smart unit at halfords that didn't help the cause, it has two pivot mounts at each end that have adhesive foam pads to attach to the rear screen. It neat and better than some I saw on Ebay etc, its in and working (cable run via the boot grommet for the rear screen element and up the c pillar cover. I may have to make a minor shroud to stop it illuminating the rear screen, but it seemed much better than when I tried the KA one when it was hooked up (without a shroud). Although that could be because my rear screen has misted by this point!

Pics to follow, tomorrow, maybe.

[fitz]

right well, after it fell off in the heat, i've got round to re-attaching my 3rd brake light today. I'm hoping the number plate fixing foam adhesive is a bit better?!

also taken a pic today. it looks reasonably neat and takes 5 minutes to remove if i / a new owner wishes.

[MattDebbage]

Looks good mate. Can i steal the idea or do you have copyright?

[fitz]

considering that i'm busy having a go at painting my spare wheel, i'd be a hippocrit!

its one of these

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165688