britishtrident
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| posted on 14/11/09 at 07:37 PM |
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New production cars lighting --- visiabilty
I am starting to form the opinion that on most new production cars the arrangement of light clusters is designed with regard only for style not
visibility.
On a lot of new models the front flashers cannot be seen from some angles or are so close to the headlights they are masked by the headlight glare,
On others the LED tail lights are either too dim or as bright as the brake lights. On many cars the LED brake lights cause dazzle.
BMW were (perhaps still are) selling chrome effect tail light clusters as an accessory for the MINI that didn't have any reflectors.
Why are major manufacturers getting away with this when the IVA is so tough on home. builders
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 14/11/09 at 07:42 PM |
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Well said - I've been noticing the latest batch of VWs that have the indicator in the middle of the brake light - a circle of red with a yellow
inner.
When one of these VWs in front is approaching his corner, puts his foot on the brake and indicates - you can't see the indicator.
It may look pretty (to some peoples' eyes) but as an indicator it doesn't achieve its aims - to tell other drivers of an intended
manoeuvre.
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nib1980
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| posted on 14/11/09 at 07:55 PM |
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Ok flop it on it's head you put your car through whole vehilcle type approval!
May I wish you luck!
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 14/11/09 at 07:58 PM |
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I noticed this the forst time i started driving at night. Drivers would be indicating to make a turn but as they had their headlights on, i couldnt
see the indicator and thought they were parked ont he wrong side of the road.
It does seem to be more common on newer cars. My tintop had the indicators in the bumper so my car doesnt give that problem 
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morcus
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| posted on 14/11/09 at 08:16 PM |
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If your turning you should indicate before you star braking (Otherwise theres not much point) so the rear indicator in the brake light wouldn't
pose much of a problem is half the people out there knew how to indicate propperly. I think your right, I also think they don't do enough with
regards to not blinding or dissorientating oncoming traffic. Audis in particular seem to have lights that are too bright and slightly blue and barry
boys like to put the same kind of lights on there stupid creations aswell. It also doesn't help that to many people drive with foglights on all
the time.
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 14/11/09 at 08:31 PM |
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Lights aren't the only thing that wouldn't pass an SVA/IVA test , have you seen the spacing on the brake pipe clips on a lot of modern
cars? the Focus is a prize example, nearer 600mm than 300
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mistergrumpy
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| posted on 14/11/09 at 08:44 PM |
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Well said. Another thing I noticed on some Vauxhalls is the dash radius edge. The plastic dash ends sharply at the bottom and there's a steel
tube behind it. That's not radiused at all.
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iscmatt
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| posted on 14/11/09 at 08:48 PM |
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I have found that the indicators on the front of sevens - mainly the bike indicator on the nosecone style - are also very difficult to see under
normal daylight driving conditions. Not that i have done anything to change mine...
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Hammerhead
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| posted on 14/11/09 at 08:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Well said - I've been noticing the latest batch of VWs that have the indicator in the middle of the brake light - a circle of red with a yellow
inner.
When one of these VWs in front is approaching his corner, puts his foot on the brake and indicates - you can't see the indicator.
It may look pretty (to some peoples' eyes) but as an indicator it doesn't achieve its aims - to tell other drivers of an intended
manoeuvre.
+1
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907
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| posted on 14/11/09 at 10:51 PM |
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I'm still trying to work out why the side repeater on a seven should be viewable from over the rear wheel arch,
but the modern trend on a tintop is to put them in the front of the door mirrors. ???
Paul G
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greglogan
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| posted on 14/11/09 at 11:27 PM |
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Maybe not the best looking, but GREAT lighting.........
AFS
Women are meant to be loved, not understood.
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BenB
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| posted on 15/11/09 at 11:56 AM |
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Anyone driven a car with AFS?
It's a way old trick- didn't the DS have headlights that followed the steering?
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BenB
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| posted on 15/11/09 at 11:58 AM |
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Just checked. It did. 1967.
Plus ça change (plus c'est la même chose).....
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 15/11/09 at 11:59 AM |
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It must be a VAG thing - this morning I was following a 58-plate Audi A3... what PATHETIC indicators those things have! 1" tall, 4" or
5" wide with really weak light output - I could barely see it flashing.
Spot the indicator in this picture...
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:{THC}:YosamiteSam
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| posted on 15/11/09 at 12:31 PM |
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the bulbs still have to be 21w tho for brake and indicator - same as IVA - but the lens are the difference - not sure if theres a rule for that.
i for one dont agree with the 'o' ring type lens with an indicator in the center - when the car brakes the indicator light is very hard to
see indeed.
but i for one wouldnt like to put a car thro type approval - iva would be a lot easier
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morcus
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| posted on 16/11/09 at 03:32 AM |
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As I said before, why do you need to see the rear indicater if you already know they are slowing/stopping? They should indicate before they brake, the
purpose of that indicator is to tell you they're going to brake unless they're changing lanes in which case the shouldn't be
braking. I know this isn't the case in the real world, but it should be, and I still say that from behind you don't need to see and
indicator if you can see a brake light as they both tell you to do the same thing in that situation.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 16/11/09 at 08:51 AM |
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Cobblers!
The idea of an indicator is to tell people in advance that you're about to do something - the A3 I saw yesterday was indicating before braking,
which was good - but the indicator was almost invisible, which was poor design.
As for the VW Golf - when someone puts their brake on, it's useful if following cars know what they're planning to do, even if the
indication was late. The VW indicator is also very small - about 30 or 40mm diameter, which is next to useless in anything less than perfect
visibility.
You can contrast them with Ford lights - they're pretty good, with clear differentiation between each light.
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