Brake lights and Fog lights.

[TheJoyOfSix]

The 700 series saloons prior to 1990 had the outer pair of rear lights with 21W/5W bulbs, the 5W being the rear light and the 21W being the brake light. Inboard of these is a 5W rear light and the innermost light being a 21W fog light.

Now I don't happen to like the fact that my brake lights are just rear lights that get brighter, I'd much prefer that an extra light come on to give warning to those behind.

So, is there any legal reason why I can't swap the wiring over so that the brake lights become the fog lights and vice versa? A brighter rear light as the fog light causes no visibility issues for those following and an extra pair of bright lights coming on as brake lights gives extra warning. The fog lights will still be more than the legal 10cm away from the brake lights so there's no legal issue there, but as the original fogs have a different reflector will that mean with the new system the brake lights will be too bright and the fogs are too dim?

[Chris_C]

I'd imagine the thing to look for is if the reflectors have any directional element to them, i.e the prisms in the reflector for the brake light I'd imagine angles the beam slightly to the pavement side, and for the fog light angles them slightly down, but without checking I wouldn't like to say.

I think I'd get a bit peeved if the 700 fogs are as bright as most cars seem to be, it'd be a bit overpowering. Is there no OEM/decent third party third brake you could drop on?

[Mike_Brace]

Doing the swapover will not comply to Construction and Use Regulations as the brake light will be brighter then the fog light. This would also be an MOT failure.
However, what is leagel and complies with MOT requirements is what I have done on my 245. On this the existing twin filament and high level brake light are used but also the fog lights operate at the same time. The wiring from the fog ilight is diverted to under bumper fog lights


The led lights above the window are not brake lights just tail lights.


Mike

[Viper_7]

I bet no-one has run into the back of you! unless dazzled!

[Mike_Brace]

I've also fitted a unit which gives two flashes on the high level brake light before coming on continuously. Since doing this and converting the reversing light to a second indicator I have never had anybody not realise that I am stopping unlike previously especially when the high level brake light wasn't working.

Mike