why do some cars have 2 reversing lights and others only 1?
Discussion
On some cars the lights are symetrical with the reversing light on the NS and the the fog light on the OS. That's because you need a rear fog in the UK and it has to be central or OS of central. This saves space from a larger lense, but doesn't cut costs beacuse you have to manufacture different light units for LHD.
On cars where both spaces for reverse lights and fog lights are on both sides, this is simply cost saving and being able to make the same part for LHD and RHD. If you take apart the light cluster on some VW's for instance, a bulb will be in the NS fog light section, but the wire in the loom at the plug isn't there. So I don't know how they find cost saving there, but they seem to see sense in it.
On cars where both spaces for reverse lights and fog lights are on both sides, this is simply cost saving and being able to make the same part for LHD and RHD. If you take apart the light cluster on some VW's for instance, a bulb will be in the NS fog light section, but the wire in the loom at the plug isn't there. So I don't know how they find cost saving there, but they seem to see sense in it.
The OCD in me finds it difficult to cope with cars that have rear lights that aren't symmetrical. Unfortunately for me, I've owned a few that have a fog lamp on one side and a reversing lamp on the other. It's cheap to cure (with a LHD lamp) on a Focus as it's a separate little unit in the bumper, but on some of the others it would have been quite pricey!
David87 said:
The OCD in me finds it difficult to cope with cars that have rear lights that aren't symmetrical. Unfortunately for me, I've owned a few that have a fog lamp on one side and a reversing lamp on the other. It's cheap to cure (with a LHD lamp) on a Focus as it's a separate little unit in the bumper, but on some of the others it would have been quite pricey!
When I used to read the Fiesta forums (I had a MK3) I remember talk of buying a batch of nearside clusters from Europe so their cars could have symmetrical rear lights. Of course, that loses the reverse light but as it's not an MOT item it's not a problem really.
Perd Hapley said:
When I used to read the Fiesta forums (I had a MK3) I remember talk of buying a batch of nearside clusters from Europe so their cars could have symmetrical rear lights.
Of course, that loses the reverse light but as it's not an MOT item it's not a problem really.
Very common with Novas, too, to fit a LHD spec cluster. You don't lose the reverse light, it's just red instead!Of course, that loses the reverse light but as it's not an MOT item it's not a problem really.
Astra Dan said:
Perd Hapley said:
When I used to read the Fiesta forums (I had a MK3) I remember talk of buying a batch of nearside clusters from Europe so their cars could have symmetrical rear lights.
Of course, that loses the reverse light but as it's not an MOT item it's not a problem really.
Very common with Novas, too, to fit a LHD spec cluster. You don't lose the reverse light, it's just red instead!Of course, that loses the reverse light but as it's not an MOT item it's not a problem really.
David87 said:
The OCD in me finds it difficult to cope with cars that have rear lights that aren't symmetrical. Unfortunately for me, I've owned a few that have a fog lamp on one side and a reversing lamp on the other. It's cheap to cure (with a LHD lamp) on a Focus as it's a separate little unit in the bumper, but on some of the others it would have been quite pricey!
Don't have nightmares!
Fetchez la vache said:
Mave said:
TheDoggingFather said:
Well several of my Mini's don't have reverse lights 
How old are they, and were they originally fitted with them? Construction and Use Regs now aren't the same as they used to be....
I prefer two. Maybe its better and brighter for reversing.
It just looks like some after thought when there are only one of each. Still its better than some older Jap imports that have a separate fog light underneath.
I think the older Focus must be one of the worse for rear reverse lighting.
Max_Torque said:
You obviously have never bought a new car. When you buy one they ask you how much reversing you are likely to do after nightfall. You can then choose the extra light option (although i believe they take away one of the cupholders to balance the cost of the extra light........... ;-)
Wow, do they take away a radio knob to balance the extra weight!
Codswallop said:
My car is posh - not only does it have two reversing lights, but it also has two rear fog lights 
Same (MG ZT)Geussing it's because a reversing light lens is white, and a (rear) foglight lens is red - on my old car (Proton Wira) this made the tail lights look imbalanced as they weren't the same (1 of each)
Having 2 reversing lights help when parking at night I find (or at least, with a reversing camera you can see a bit more).
It's the little things
New POD said:
Jacobthechap said:
as the title say,
something i have noticed is that the more expensive the car the more likely it has 2 reversing lights?
just a weird thing i noticed...
Cost. On a volvo S40 I Owned I noticed that one of the rear fog lights was out. So I bought a bulb, and found that all the wiring and the socket was in place, but the HOLE in the plastic had not been cut out. So with Stanley's knife I carefully removed said bit of plastic and fitted a second fog lamp bulb. I reckon they'd saved £0.25 p MAX something i have noticed is that the more expensive the car the more likely it has 2 reversing lights?
just a weird thing i noticed...
If they can get away with saving 1 Fog light bulb, 1 Reversing light bulb AND the wiring, then they'll be saving what ? £2 ?
Multiply that out by the number of vehicles made, and it becomes a significant number.
Cost; I would imagine.
German cars tend to only have one foglight as logic dictates it is more easily distinguished from the brake lights. My BMW only has one. My old Volvo had one on each side and they really did look like brake lights. Had a dash mounted switch too, which I never engaged when being tailgated. Never.
As for reversing lights; I hate cars that only have one. It makes reversing in badly lit areas more complex than necessary. The Ford Focus is a case in point.
German cars tend to only have one foglight as logic dictates it is more easily distinguished from the brake lights. My BMW only has one. My old Volvo had one on each side and they really did look like brake lights. Had a dash mounted switch too, which I never engaged when being tailgated. Never.
As for reversing lights; I hate cars that only have one. It makes reversing in badly lit areas more complex than necessary. The Ford Focus is a case in point.
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