"Smoked" rear lights

[shnozz]

just going back on this topic - i have today received both the smoked rear lights and side repeaters from Direct car parts - i am gonna have a whirl at fitting them this w'end and will try and post some photos if i can work my mum's digital camera!

[rrouse]

quote:
In case you would like to see some piccies of my S3 with the new rear lights, go to:

www.fotango.com/cgi-bin/public_gallery_item.cgi?id=172649&index=0&key=

I'm just at the negotiation stage of buying an dark blue S3, and I quite fancied the look of the smoked lights, so it's good to see how they actually look together - very nice IMO.

[shnozz]

just had a quick look at fitting the side indicators - the connections are completely different for the Mk 4 Escort set that I have got - rather than the 2 pins being either side of the central piece they are next to each other - the standard female ends of the wires are too wide to slot in side by side.

are these the wrong ones or am I just lacking any electronic ability and inginuity?

[johno]

Don't worry Schnozz....when I achanged mine they were different fittings and I had to cut out the old ones and connect new ones. Easy enough really..

Cheers

Mark

[markbigears]

well, ive gotta disagree with you boys.....im not a fan of thses "maxed" lights....keep it original, looks nicer... but then ive always been anal on originality!
, got me coat, i'll lock up....mark

[johno]

I'm not convinced about the 'smoked' effect although I have seen a few S's with them and they look alright.

I do prefer the Oval shaped repeaters though and think they look far better than the originals.

I really like the colour contrast with the original lights between the darker body colour and the lighter lights and therefor haven't changed them.

Max Power washer jets in blue are next on my shopping list of course

[rrouse]

quote:
just going back on this topic - i have today received both the smoked rear lights and side repeaters from Direct car parts - i am gonna have a whirl at fitting them this w'end and will try and post some photos if i can work my mum's digital camera!

Are the rears the fully smoked ones? Qualia's part smoked ones look smart, so it'd be good to see how the fully smoked ones look - you definitely need to suss out your Mum's camera!

[shnozz]

ok - fully smoked ones are pants. IMHO they looked great against my grey paintwork but you could barely see the red light from the standard lights when switched on. Whilst I am fond of the cars looks, I am not compromising safety (along with risking failing the MOT/pestered by the fuzz etc)

I will be sending them back today seeking money back.

Qualia - those semi-smoked ones - are the lights the same brightness as before?

[mhibbins]

Isn't the idea you put brighter bulbs in them?

Mark

[Podie]

Shnozz - the ones Qualia fitted are the ones from the Escort Turbo, which are fully legal, were fitted to the car as standard and are as bright as the normal ones. Best bet is to hunt out a set of these.

[Jonzo]

what year Escort turbo do we need for the part smoked rears?..they look good on the darker S's. I take it most ford spares shops could supply them still?

[Podie]

Not 100% sure, but think they're from the late 80's / early 90's - there should be a picture in this thread that I posted.

You could try a Ford garage, a scrapyard or have a hunt on the net... or if you're feeling REALLY brave have a look in the back of Max Power...!

[shnozz]

Mark - you have to change the bulbs for both brightness and more importantly put in coloured bulbs to compensate for the fact the lenses are not coloured. The lights come with coloured bulbs but they simply are not bright enough. I asked around to see if anyone stocked higher wattage coloured bulbs but no joy.

I will either stick with the originals or go with those as Qualias.

[Qualia]

Shnozz, the lights I fitted are bright enough. If you have a look at the pictures I posted you can see how "orangey' the indicators are when they're on.

I got them from Nomad racing, link is at the top of the thread. Just make sure they send you some orange bulbs.

[Podie]

I had a scan through demon tweeks catalogue and they sell them for about £55... made by ABC Design... THINK the reference number was ABCFO-230...

I also understand from a conversation with someone who owns and RS Turbo (not difficult when you work in Essex!), that a company called "Motech" and one called "Larkspeed" (bolt-on boy type places) that they also sell them for a similar amount of money...