Running Lights Embedded in Over-Riders

[muphy]

Just back from Paris where I took SWMBO for a significant birthday (banned from telling which one) and suffering from severe withdrawal took "Miss Vivian" out for a run today which ended up being three, one for me and one
for each of the kids - do I care !!!

I notice - yet again - that many new vehicles have DRL's and I know that this has been discussed on this site a lot, I'm not so much interested in opinions (per se) but interest...........

This will be my first Lotus Mod. I can do vacuum forming/moulding and I'm planning of making some moulds with embedded Daylight Running Lights into bumper over-rider GRP replacements
It might take a couple of months to get right but wondering if anyone else might be interested should I make them? With the right molds and gel coat, the over-riders can match the colour of the car (hopefully)

re-usable molds are harder and more costly to make but can literally last forever.

Appreciate any views


Mark

[AndyC]

I've been thinking along similar lines except utilising rubber for the overriders so they still allow me to rely on touch parking if required.

[Mr Locust]

Could it be done as a 'snug' infill around the fog lamp. Front fogs could be used as DRL but not sure on the legality.

[AndyC]

You'd probably have to cut a fair bit of the bumper above the fogs, below wouldn't meet the height requirements.

That reminds me the overriders are technically too far in to be legal as DRLs also.

[Mr Locust]

Not checked construction and use regs but could front fogs be used with a change over relay system to give ign on/headlights off operation unless fogs are switched on?

[AndyC]

They wouldn't be considered DRLs due to their power so then you fail the bit about fogs being required to only operate when vehicle lights are on.

[Mr Locust]

So you would need a changeover relay setup AND a dim dip relay to use the front fogs?

Edited to add: A bit more research shows that seemingly dip dip fell out of favour.......(credit Wikepedia)

The dim-dip lights were not intended for use as daytime running lights. Rather, they operated when the engine was running and the driver switched on the front position (parking) lamps. Dim-dip was intended to provide a nighttime "town beam" with intensity between that of the parking lamps commonly used at the time by British drivers in city traffic after dark, and low beam headlamps; the former were considered insufficiently intense to provide improved conspicuity in conditions requiring it, while the latter were considered too glaring for safe use in built-up areas. The UK was the only country to require such dim-dip systems, though vehicles so equipped were sold in other Commonwealth countries with left-hand traffic.[20]

In 1988, the European Commission successfully prosecuted the UK government in the European Court of Justice, arguing that the UK requirement for dim-dip was illegal under EC directives prohibiting member states from enacting vehicle lighting requirements not contained in pan-European EC directives. As a result, the UK requirement for dim-dip was quashed.[19] Nevertheless, dim-dip systems remain permitted, and while such systems are not presently as common as they once were, dim-dip functionality was fitted on many new cars well into the 1990s.

[B. Swankie]

Hi Muphy! I couldn`t help noticing that you can do moulding etc, is there any possibility of making a pair of hard shell mirror covers for (the first excel which is a prototype that should have colour coded mirrors to match the bodywork) I have tried to find originals through all the usual sources but so far no can find. The mirrors are the only thing that are not as they should be on the car and I would absolutely chuffed to bits if you could help me out with this issue, I live down in Fife so I am happy to meet up with you to discuss all things Excel.
Cheers in anticipation,
Brian Swankie.

[muphy]

Hi Brian,

Should be possible. Vacuum forms are usually quite thin thermoplastics but I've had luck in the past making one molding and then another on top and then a bit of epoxy to glue them together, they become quite rigid and paint a treat. Might fit the bill, it cannae hurt to try

My only problem is my molder is out on loan at the moment on a production run so it would be a good few weeks before I get it back but if you want to PM me your details then I can keep in contact with you and we can work out a plan and a run to Fife would be just fine.

Cheers,


Mark