Car designers are crazy !

[charliecambs]

Not mechanical as such but was queuing behind a new Discovery and noticed ( just ) the rear indicators were LED but maybe a vertical line 50mm x 10mm?? Obviously fairly bright but not terribly easy to spot.
Infact the mirror repeater was more visible!
Form over function???

 

[Ubique]

Yep, they're not the best - we had a lot of complaints at launch, as you can see, nothing was done about it. The intensity is such that they are very visible in moving traffic, when you're pulled up behind them, not so much.

 

[bourbon]

I always thought that indicators had to have an area of 2 square inches according to construction and use regs?

 

[Mark 5]

What a bag of s==t to drive.

I understand your sentiment, mine from new was ok to drive and for a small, diesel, van based car was roomy.

Purchased mine, few days past it's 3 year warranty, started vehicle, terrible growling sound from semi auto box or engine with only 18,000+ miles on the clock. Peugeot weren't the least bit interested but were prepared to hit me with a 5 grand bill to sort it.

Never did resolve the issue for sure, gearbox or engine but the conclusion was gearbox + the Dual Fly clutch.

I was fortunate and managed to do a fantastic PX deal.

I was told a replacement or existing gearbox would require a rebuild and should consider conversion from dual fly to standard clutch.

So yeah S**T but it was ok to drive, ran on air, sliding doors so could get wheelchair, some of the kids, wife and some luggage/ large family shopping.

 

[jimbo84]

The day will come I'm sure. that a car/van will be written off because of a failed headlight bulb!. This is why the 'right to repair' legislation is so important. It doesn't just cover the odd washing machine.

Some of the Merc headlights are at the £1500 mark each.

Fair enough they’re expensive cars but once the depreciation kicks in and it has a front end bump taking out both headlights and the bumper it’ll be written off.

 

[rtcosic]

Not mechanical as such but was queuing behind a new Discovery and noticed ( just ) the rear indicators were LED but maybe a vertical line 50mm x 10mm?? Obviously fairly bright but not terribly easy to spot.
Infact the mirror repeater was more visible!
Form over function???

Yep, they're not the best - we had a lot of complaints at launch, as you can see, nothing was done about it. The intensity is such that they are very visible in moving traffic, when you're pulled up behind them, not so much.

I always thought that indicators had to have an area of 2 square inches according to construction and use regs?

Almost as many complaints about invisible indicators as blinding headlights.

It is indeed an issue of Form over Function. Non-Numerate Stylists being given authority over the Engineers who actually Design vehicles.

No2 son chairs the international lighting committee that advises the UN Working Group. Recommendations for new rules in all lighting areas due to LED technology are in final draft.

It doesn't take much to list the worst offenders:

Telsa (don't meet current regulations but have CE marking from that well known manufacturing powerhouse that is Cyprus)

VAG, particularly the Audi sub-brand

EtA: No2 son vetoed a Stylist's proposal for lighting. The Stylist claimed light could go around corners - Seriously!! They can wield a mean felt-tip pen, but don't let them out in public without a chaperone.

 

[chunkytfg]

While on the subject of indicators.

Can someone explain what is the purpose of the 'stripy' indicators? Why cant they just flash on and off regardless of the shape or size? Why do they have to swipe out?

 

[cheb]

While on the subject of indicators.

Can someone explain what is the purpose of the 'stripy' indicators? Why cant they just flash on and off regardless of the shape or size? Why do they have to swipe out?

They catch one's eye better, but that may just be novelty value.

Somebody who knows about these things should work an arduino or similar into the system so they can flash Morse code messages while turning.

 

[dobbslc]

Some of the Merc headlights are at the £1500 mark each.

Fair enough they’re expensive cars but once the depreciation kicks in and it has a front end bump taking out both headlights and the bumper it’ll be written off.

I saw a Porsche in town this week with masking tape over both headlights or more accurately where the headlights had been before some turd stole them.

 

[pint]

it was all a lot easier when everything had a 7" headlight and a lucas indicator

 

[bourbon]

it was all a lot easier when everything had a 7" headlight and a lucas indicator

That was pressure from Lucas themselves. The first vehicle that broke the mould was the Ford sierra.

 

[Ubique]

The Jelly mould?

 

[sako243]

They catch one's eye better, but that may just be novelty value.

Because they're so bloody small in the first instance. Still find ironically old vehicles like the back of Defenders are the most visible. There's a foot of difference between lights so they're easily visible.

 

[bourbon]

The Jelly mould?

that's the one. I think the headlights for them were made by Corello

 

[nickk]

On my Regal I extended the opening downwards making starter removal easier

I drove my regal 180 miles from Sussex up the motorway to Macclesfield,people said it’s illegal! Went over to glossop and chapel en le frith,starter kept failing,took off that panel,then turned the comm,with I think a 7mm spanner to make it worse again.

 

[Roger440]

I saw a Porsche in town this week with masking tape over both headlights or more accurately where the headlights had been before some turd stole them.

Was it a cayenne? They are over £4k each.

 

[Robotstar5]

that's the one. I think the headlights for them were made by Corello

Carello lighting, they bought the Lucas factory near Cannock to make them, I installed a robot to stick the lenses onto the lamp body.

 

[bricol]

Try doing a cam belt change on a Lancia Integrali Evo4 5hrs or more,

I have - quite a few over the last 30 odd years I've owned mine. Every two years in fact. Does not take that long.

Admittedly the first one might - there's a screw into the timing cover around the water pump that you cannot get out in-situ. One slot in the cover, so it slides off

Alternate changes are quicker as I don't bother changing the water pump these days - used to be recommened every change, but I've never had one fail (bang goes tomorrows towing a trailer day then . . . )

 

[bricol]

I always thought that indicators had to have an area of 2 square inches according to construction and use regs?

They probably do - long than thin still adds up.

I followed a VW or a Seat or something down a long hill today - the only reason I noticed the indicator against the brake light, was seeing the repeater lamp in the wing mirror first - I drive a left hand drive car, so I could see it. If they had been turning right . . .

 

[bricol]

That was pressure from Lucas themselves. The first vehicle that broke the mould was the Ford sierra.

You're going to have to explain the lights on a Rover SD1, Austin Princess, Allegros, Renaults, Citroens, Lamborginis, Jag XJS, Mercs . . .

The Americans stuck with a few standard sealed beam headlights until relatively recently (just into this century?) due to Federal lighting regulations - but it did mean you could buy a new headlight at 1am on a Sunday from a 24hr Walmart off the shelf. And probably still can.

Which is why you saw European cars that used stylised headlights - Mercs, XJS, Peugeots etc in the USA with twin 5-1/4 sealed beams each side - comply with the law.