Fog Lights - Colour and MOT

[gr_96]

Hopefully I can get a clear cut answer here. I've been doing some research into fog light colouring, before I make any modifications to my car.

I'm wanting to modify the output colour via an acrylic filter - https://thatfoglightguy.com/collections/ford/produ...

The vehicle is registered BEFORE 1 March 2018. So I'm under the impression that the fog lights will not be checked/covered under the MOT? It's a 2015 plate, for reference.

I'm wanting to put an orange acrylic over the front. Is this legal? Whether they're switched on or off. If they're on and it's illegal, but off is legal then that's fine, I simply won't turn them on when on a public road...

Let me know what you think is right here?

Thanks!

[Ussrcossack]

They look poor

Stick with what you have

Only colour change should be yellow on a French car
Although the old East Germany also went for that coordination

[gr_96]

Whilst you're entitled to your own opinion, I'm just looking for the legalities.
I think they look pretty smart on this and I'm interesting in replicating some of the ideas!

[FiF]

Legal? Nope. White or yellow only.

As for that advert, what bell-ends would fit red filters on the front lights? Is that really a thing now. FFS. What next, white brake lights?

[TheBALDpuma]

Ussrcossack said:

They look poor

Stick with what you have

Only colour change should be yellow on a French car
Although the old East Germany also went for that coordination

This kind of response really annoys me on PH. Looks are subjective, and he's not asked for aesthetic opinions - he's come to the SP&L asking for advice about legality.

Sorry though OP I don't know the answer!

[gr_96]

FiF said:

Legal? Nope. White or yellow only.

As for that advert, what bell-ends would fit red filters on the front lights? Is that really a thing now. FFS. What next, white brake lights?

They're orange, not red dude. Apparently it is a thing, yes.
You say they're not legal, whilst I'm not saying you're wrong, can you evidence that for me? As I'm seeing they don't fall under MOT as the car was registered before that date, so it would imply I'm okay? They just can't be blue/green, I believe (Emergency Services)?

[Lonely]

gr_96 said:

FiF said:

Legal? Nope. White or yellow only.

As for that advert, what bell-ends would fit red filters on the front lights? Is that really a thing now. FFS. What next, white brake lights?

They're orange, not red dude. Apparently it is a thing, yes.
You say they're not legal, whilst I'm not saying you're wrong, can you evidence that for me? As I'm seeing they don't fall under MOT as the car was registered before that date, so it would imply I'm okay? They just can't be blue/green, I believe (Emergency Services)?

Definitely white or yellow only.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/sche...

[Triumph Man]

Why would anyone want to alter the colour of their fog lights - they are needed very rarely and anyone who uses them all the time/for fashion reasons is a .

[Ussrcossack]

TheBALDpuma said:

Ussrcossack said:

They look poor

Stick with what you have

Only colour change should be yellow on a French car
Although the old East Germany also went for that coordination

This kind of response really annoys me on PH. Looks are subjective, and he's not asked for aesthetic opinions - he's come to the SP&L asking for advice about legality.

Sorry though OP I don't know the answer!

.
Option
Hey yer Sen off
Mumsnet darling

[Muddle238]

I think the answer you’re looking for is that they must be either white or yellow.

In lighting terms, “orange” is classed as amber, which would fall foul of the law.

Even if they’re switched off, they’d still be illegal.

[Muntu]

IANAL but if there is no bulb in there, technically they are not lights. Remove the bulbs and do whatever you want?

[gr_96]

Muntu said:

IANAL but if there is no bulb in there, technically they are not lights. Remove the bulbs and do whatever you want?

Kinda what I was thinking........... There doesn't LEGALLY have to be any fog lights on the vehicle, so...?

[doggydog33]

If the vehicle isn’t required to have fog lights and you want amber lenses, wire them up to your indicators! Better visibility to other road users when making a turn!!
Not sure if it’s legal but why wouldn’t it be?

Doggydog33.

[Chester draws]

Happy to be corrected, but I think you're right in that they aren't inspected on MOT for vehicles prior to 2018.

However, there are Construction & Use regs that you will likely fall foul of.

[s p a c e m a n]

Tell them that it's US spec and that they're running lights

[4rephill]

Triumph Man said:

Why would anyone want to alter the colour of their fog lights - they are needed very rarely and anyone who uses them all the time/for fashion reasons is a .

Around our way, there seems to be a bit of a fashion at the moment, to give older UK market cars, such as VW Passats/Golf's and BMW E36's/E46's/E39's, an American front sidelight/marker light look, where they have orange lights on constantly.

Most times, this seems to involve re-wiring the front indicators, so they are on constantly, and then when the indicator lever is operated, they flash in an OFF - ON - OFF - ON - OFF - ON sequence, instead of the standard ON - OFF - ON - OFF - ON - OFF sequence.

I suspect the idea of colouring the front fog lights orange, is to give the car the American front orange side marker look, without having to go to the trouble and expense of having the indicator's re-wired.

Personally, I think the US orange marker light's look cr4p on non-USA cars, and the funny thing is, a popular mod in America is to give their cars a European look, whereby they re-wire the indicators, so that they are off unless the indicator lever is operated, when they flash in a European style ON - OFF - ON - OFF - ON - OFF sequence.


It's the OP's car, and they can make it look as cr4p as they like - Hopefully though, they won't be coming back on here, crying and whinging if they get stopped by the Police.

[Lonely]

gr_96 said:

Muntu said:

IANAL but if there is no bulb in there, technically they are not lights. Remove the bulbs and do whatever you want?

Kinda what I was thinking........... There doesn't LEGALLY have to be any fog lights on the vehicle, so...?

OP - you are getting yourself confused over this matter.

If you simply want to get through an MOT then you can do whatever you like with your fog lamps on this particular vehicle as they are not subject to checks.

If however you want to remain road legal then read the legislation - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/cont... because, as previously stated, amber/orange is not legal.

If you follow the suggestion of Muntu above you will also be open to police prosecution - removing bulbs does not make the lamp exempt. You have to remove the electrical supply so that it cannot be readily attached. Not that it's likely a routine stop check would reveal this, but a vehicle exam after a crash in foggy weather just might!

[FiF]

Just for the record this is the sort of bell endery being discussed.


Colour Lava Orange,

[doggydog33]

I personally dislike all blue/green sidelight bulbs, running lights etc and orange fogs fall in to this category too but as someone has already said, the o.p. was looking for legalities not fashion opinions.

[Lonely]

doggydog33 said:

I personally dislike all blue/green sidelight bulbs, running lights etc and orange fogs fall in to this category too but as someone has already said, the o.p. was looking for legalities not fashion opinions.

And he's been told the legalities more than once but still appears to want to ignore them.