Third Brake Light??

[Griffinr]

Anybody come up with a neat and sympathetic way of adding a third brake light to the S.
As almost everthing on the road has one these days I do sometimes feel a bit vulnerable in the rear, if you know what I mean.
Quite a neat one on the latest MX5's but rather pricey to buy.
Rob

Edited by Griffinr on Friday 5th October 11:02

[Julesprivate]

I just ordered soem 60 SMT/LED 1157 bulbs... In theory they'll be significantly brighter than the stock bulbs. Can't see how a 3rd brakelight would work without drilling somewhere - although I'll watch with interest to see if someone has managed it LOL

[S2Mike]

I had a rollbar in my MGB and I planned to fix a brakelight onto the underside of the middle of that, so it would shine through the back window with the hood up.
I would like to get a rollbar for my S then I could use this plan, run the wiring up the inside of the tubing. for neatness.
First I need to find a rollbar, but this is after I have all the other jobs complete.

[Ragtop]

A couple of years ago a chap in New Zealand posted some pix of his car in this forum, and it had a very neat third brake light fitted (mandatory in that country, as I recall). I remember commenting on it at the time. I've looked through my list of posts, but unfortunately I can't identify it from the title.

Does anyone else remember it?

Graham

[Ragtop]

Found it. Brendan NZ is the man to contact if you like his. See:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... down pictures

Regards,
Graham

[Julesprivate]

It's funny how the mind works but that just jogged my memory..

In the garage I have a "Motorcycle Helmet Brake Light" just like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Radio-signal-3rd-brake-l...

The light is self adhesive and receives an input from a transmitter that replaces one of the brake light bulbs (it has LEDs so still works as a brakelight)...

It's something to consider.. Takes 5 mins to fit and requires no wiring or drilling...

[phillpot]

This is a Saab unit I bought some time ago with a view to fitting to the Chimaera I owned at the time.

There were a few problems and I never progressed it, not least was having the "nerve" to drill mounting holes just incase it didn't work out!

Originally it was black, in the picture it has been flatted down to remove a fine textured finish and a hole on the right hand side has been filled ( can't remember what it was there for?)

The photo's are taken on a scrap S Series shell, the curveatre is not quite right but possibly it would pull down, except the moulded in studs are not long enough (designed to go through a steel panel not fibreglass).

I took it apart to try and remove the lens for painting, it was very well glued together, thats sellotape in the pictures temporarily holing it together.



Anybody wants it (Rob ?) you're welcome to it to play around with

this is on the panel behind boot lid, in front of hood....



this is on the very back of the body above number plate....

[french dave]

Hi,have seen additional brake light on an MX-5 fitted on panel between hood and bootlid which was same colour as car.sorry no photo.

[BountyHunter]

nice idea to add a touch of individualism and be different etc - but honestly dont see its a genuine safety thing

[drmaloney]

Hi
I bought one of these from fleabay 180834331826. It fits quite neatly under the back edge of the rear section of the roof. Very neat. I will try to post a photo.
Dave

[dryden]

Hi,
Has anyone ever considered fitting some kind of pressure switch to these LED brake lights so they come up sequencially as a guide to how hard one is braking. If we all had one, it would remove the hazzard of the those who tend to "touch" their brakes in the fast lane! Just a thought.

[Griffinr]

[quote=phillpot]This is a Saab unit I bought some time ago with a view to fitting to the Chimaera I owned at the time.

There were a few problems and I never progressed it, not least was having the "nerve" to drill mounting holes just incase it didn't work out!
quote]

And this what it looks like fitted if you have got the nerve / stupidity to drill the body work.





I'm realy rather chuffed with that, just wondering how to fill the holes in when Mike asks for it back.
Rob.
Edited to say, it took a considerable amount of modding to get it to fit.

Edited by Griffinr on Saturday 27th October 22:48

[BountyHunter]

i actually quite like that.
i still dont think its necessary unless you want the look (does nothing for safety in my view) but i do quite like it

[phillpot]

Griffinr said:

just wondering how to fill the holes in when Mike asks for it back.

I've got a selection box of grommets


Looks good Rob, being a bit higher and brighter it's got to be beneficial.

[Andy Lynch]

There is one fitted on my Chim, it is on the underside of the folding roof hoop. It was on the car when I bought it.

Heath at X Works installed it, if you want any more info, give him a bell.

Andy

[SaltySeaDog]

Hi Rob

I need to fit a third brake light to my V8S prior to taking it to Australia. Can you please tell me what donor car the light and cover came from? I have looked at XK8 and MX5 ones so far, but they are both to big to position them where you have, which in my opinion is the right place for it to go.

Cheers

Warwick

[phillpot]

Griffinr said:

phillpot said:

This is a Saab unit I bought some time ago with a view to fitting to the Chimaera I owned at the time.

There were a few problems and I never progressed it, not least was having the "nerve" to drill mounting holes just incase it didn't work out!

And this what it looks like fitted if you have got the nerve / stupidity to drill the body work.



I'm realy rather chuffed with that, just wondering how to fill the holes in when Mike asks for it back.
Rob.
Edited to say, it took a considerable amount of modding to get it to fit.

Try Ebay search "Saab brake light" (that's how I found it), don't know exactly which Saab, 900 cabriolet perhaps?

Edited by phillpot on Tuesday 22 January 11:54

[Barkychoc]

Could you cut the mountings off and mount it using some silicon sealant, and take the cable in the boot or under the edge of the hood?

[Griffinr]

Barkychoc said:

Could you cut the mountings off and mount it using some silicon sealant, and take the cable in the boot or under the edge of the hood?

No reson why you couldnt do it that way, if you dont mind seeing the cable. They are LED's so very low current, you might get away with a bit flexible PCB ribbon.
The Saab unit is a different profile to the S rear deck and needs a fair bit of modding to fit well. I think it looks good though and is very bright.
Rob.

[SaltySeaDog]

phillpot said:

Try Ebay search "Saab brake light" (that's how I found it), don't know exactly which Saab, 900 cabriolet perhaps?

Edited by phillpot on Tuesday 22 January 11:54

Mike

Having looked at loads of pictures of Saabs I can't seem to find one that looks like it may have that light fitted. Can you remember when you first got it whether it looked like it had been an external or internal light. Also, before you started rubbing and stripping the light down, did it fit in its final position without having to trim/modify the top cover?

Cheers

Warwick