Clear Turn Signal Lenses

[MarvelPhx]

YES! They are legal as long as you have amber reflectors somewhere on the front sides of the car. I will post more on this later.

[MarvelPhx]

Alright, here is a summary of FMVSS 108:

Section S5.1.1 states that all motor vehicles shall be equipped with at least the number of lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment specified in (the following) tables...

Table III states that motor vehicles must have 2 red or amber rear turn signals (lens color is irrelevant as long as bulb is correct color)... 2 amber front turn signals (again, lens color is irrelevant as long as bulb is correct color)... 2 amber side marker lamps (again with the correct bulb or lens color)... PAY ATTENTION HERE... 4 red reflectors (2 rear / 2 side) and 2 amber (2 side).

Since the replacement clear front turn signals do not incorporate the amber reflector like the stock ones do, you must have another amber reflector somewhere.

Now, the coupe has 2 amber reflectors in the stock bumper, so you are OK without modifying those reflectors (such as putting clears there or painting them).

The sedan, however, does not have a amber bumper reflector. And when you order the clears, they should come with small 1x2" amber stick-on reflectors to place on your bumper to make it legal.

Sedan owners: The choice to omit these ugly-ass stickies is up to you. How well versed your police force is in the vehicle code is going to decide if you get pulled over for not having them.

Good Luck!

Read the FULL TEXT of FMVSS 108 HERE (http://www.my330i.com/fmvss108.html).

NOTICE: Your State may have laws that overrule this law. Check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles for more information.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MarvelPhx on 2001-08-09 17:38 ]</font>

[Eternal-X]

Hey,
i just got ticket yesterday
the ticket said that my clear corner light is "unlawful rear light"
is it true ?

[MarvelPhx]

According to the Federal Law, if it emits an amber light when the turn signal is on, then it is legal.

State and city laws may place additional restrictions on them, so you would have to check with your local regulations.

[York]

Interesting. I believe that the clear look is supposed to be European. Having recently picked up my 330xi at the works and drove around Germany, I noticed that at least 75% of BMW's had yellow lights as we do.

[Angel]

I live in NY and I frequently get pulled over for speeding (Can't help it, I love the speed of my 330) anyway, I have the super bright white bulbs all around and have never gotten a ticket because of them. The troopers do always ask if they came standard w/ the car and I say yes.
BTW, they hate it when they pull me over and I put my hazzards on!

My $0.02