Clear indicator lens - legal?

Volgrrr · Post by **Volgrrr** » 28 Sep 2006, 00:58

I have just replaced both rather tatty LH tail lamp assemblies on my T5 wagon.

After I had completed the job I stood back to admire my work and suddenly realised the newly installed upper tail lamp had a clear indicator lens (and it appears to be genuine Volvo). I am in the situation where it looks a little odd with one amber and one clear tail light.

In Australia where I live, the law stipulates an indicator lens must show amber when operated (quite a lot of vehicles now come supplied with a clear lens fitted over the amber lens - which at first glance appears to be clear).

I obtained my tail lamp set via the internet from a parts supplier in the U.S.A.

My question is:

Are clear indicator lens road-legal in America (or even the U.K for that matter)?

The obvious solution is to put an amber globe in the tail light and keep my fingers crossed an over-enthusiastic member of the constabulary doesn't drop in behind me one day.

Still doesn't get over the rather weird-looking rear end though!

dannyboy · Post by **dannyboy** » 28 Sep 2006, 03:49

In Europe some Volvos are fitted with these clear (looking) rear light indicators. In fact there is an amber plastic inside (you do not see it from outside or barely) that makes the light looking amber when it flashes.

Have you checked that?

Otherwise the only alternative is what you suggested: amber bulb.

NB: here also the colour for indicators is amber (front) and amber or red (rear)

philosophicaldreamer · Post by **philosophicaldreamer** » 28 Sep 2006, 05:30

I am not sure whether "clear (looking) rear light indicators" are legal in the States, but again I don't think that in the States anybody cares about this stuff. People here don't use turn signals anyway, and cops don't bother to give tickets for not using turn signals. The only thing that I seemed to be getting tickets for is speeding and illegal parking.

Ta-ta, j.

White850Turbo · Post by **White850Turbo** » 28 Sep 2006, 07:14

Okej. I think the problem here is that you got a hold of some tail lamps from a '95 - '97 850, which are red and white only. The '93 and '94 850's are the ones that have amber.

I've heard the cops down there are kinda picky about such stuff, especially when it comes to lighting (mainly picking on those who have fitted HID lighting to their vehicle which was not originally equipped with it). I think the non-matching tail-lamps would bother me more than the threat of the police though

.

Volgrrr · Post by **Volgrrr** » 28 Sep 2006, 20:33

Conclusion:

Since my initial post, I've looked at a number of photographs that focus on the rear end of Volvo wagons and it appears I was supplied with a V70 upper tail lamp lens which has a clear indicator lens - instead of the orange lensed 850 tail lamp.

It looks like I'll just have to start buying V70 bits and pieces from now on and gradually put together a V70 from the tail lamp going forward - might take some time though.