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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: jamie16v on 07 March 2009, 20:00

Title: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 07 March 2009, 20:00
just wondering what people have done..
i today have frenched my tailgate and was wondering how people have managed to illuminate their number plates without having the lights petruding.
at the moment i have my lights installed on the surface so they are pretruding alot. i do plan to sink them in when i get time but i ran out of daylight today. (took me a day to cut, weld, fibreglass, filler, prime and paint the boot) it was a rush job with the paint but i am spraying the whole car next month so didnt want to waste too much time on it.
these are what i have used to illuminate the number plate. >> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/White-LED-Front-Marker-Light-12v-24v-Scania-Volvo-DAF_W0QQitemZ230327269227QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item230327269227&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1689%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 07 March 2009, 20:03
oh and no "french tailgates are sh!t" comments please.. lol
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: davero on 07 March 2009, 23:10
Pics.
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Josho on 07 March 2009, 23:29
French tailgates are sh!t.
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 07 March 2009, 23:32
Pics.
will get some tomorrow mate, i`ll have to charge the batterys for the camera.
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Mikester on 08 March 2009, 08:58
French tailgates are sh!t.

You are just post whoring, and how did this help! STFU sometimes josho. Do you even know what frenched is???

Im not sure if the rear numberplate lights are a mot requirement or not? As cars behind u light them up with their lights.

Do you want them, or for the legal factor?
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Shady Pioneer on 08 March 2009, 09:37
I think they are a legal requirement as the police will pull you over if one is out. And even though car lights light them up, what if they isn't a car behind you? And you're speeding and a pedestrian wants to report you? :P
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 08 March 2009, 09:49
French tailgates are sh!t.

You are just post whoring, and how did this help! STFU sometimes josho. Do you even know what frenched is???

Do you want them, or for the legal factor?
i didnt want to say it myself lol...
i have bought the lights now and surface mounted them for now. and its only for the legal factor.

I think they are a legal requirement as the police will pull you over if one is out. And even though car lights light them up, what if they isn't a car behind you? And you're speeding and a pedestrian wants to report you? :P
if youre speeding, i doubt a pedestrian will have chance to read your number plate...lol
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Wayne on 08 March 2009, 10:08
Yes rear number plate lamps are a legal issue and you will get a on the spot fine if not working.
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Wayne on 08 March 2009, 10:12
Not sure if it helps, my mate used motorbike led's when he did his, he mounted them in the corners worked well and looked ok.
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 08 March 2009, 10:17
cheers wayne
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: CHRIS_MC on 08 March 2009, 10:34
(http://smilies.newcastlebeats.com/smilies/threadworthlesswithoutpics.gif)

my mk3 failed its MOT on the brake pipes AND the rear numberplate lights
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Wayne on 08 March 2009, 11:22
Link for you, just spoke to my mate he said you may be ok with one mounted in the middle.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Led-number-plate-light-R1-R6-GSXR-999-749_W0QQitemZ260372149278QQihZ016QQcategoryZ10490QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 08 March 2009, 11:56
(http://smilies.newcastlebeats.com/smilies/threadworthlesswithoutpics.gif)

will do when i get the batteries charged on the camera mate, not got a lot of time on my hands today.
cheers, jamie.
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Josho on 08 March 2009, 14:51
French tailgates are sh!t.

You are just post whoring, and how did this help! STFU sometimes josho. Do you even know what frenched is???

Humour.
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting. pic added
Post by: jamie16v on 09 March 2009, 18:34
as requested, excuse the rush spray job, used whatever paint i had left in rattle cans.
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f82/citroenaxgtr/100_0713.jpg)
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: kells on 09 March 2009, 18:45
the correct way to smooth it is to extend it, basically by welding a metal plate over where the standard lights are, hence you dont need to change the standard ones if that makes sense
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 09 March 2009, 19:14
the correct way to smooth it is to extend it, basically by welding a metal plate over where the standard lights are, hence you dont need to change the standard ones if that makes sense
i did weld a plate in mate, but the standard lights wouldnt have fitted under the plate. these are quite slimmer.. once i cut a hole for them they will sink in nicely, i left gaps in the steel for them and then just reinforced it with fibreglass from inside the boot before i fillered.
as you can see, its not finished yet, if you look at the two top corners they are a different shape.. it was getting dark and i knew i had to use the car the next day so a lick of paint just to stop it rusting was needed.
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Ashley on 09 March 2009, 19:32
couldnt you just get a couple of ultra bright LEDs and tucket them up into the holes where you've put the temporary ones? could even put a couple together on each side and try conceal them as much as possible

had a bugger of an MOT a couple of years ago trying to get 2 rusted, rounded screws out to change my number plate lates, so they're definitely a requirement  :drool:
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Wayne on 09 March 2009, 19:40
I have seen a lot where they bring the plate down over the lights, I am sure they keep the standard lamps as well.
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 09 March 2009, 20:16
i trial fitted the plate over the lights and it wouldnt sit flush... so i just wripped them out.
besides.. leds give off a nicer light :smiley:
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: kells on 09 March 2009, 20:20
I have seen a lot where they bring the plate down over the lights, I am sure they keep the standard lamps as well.

yeah this is what i mean, you weld it in and it makes the recess for the plate slimmer
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 09 March 2009, 20:26
sorry if there is any confusion,  but if the recess on mine was any slimmer the number plate wouldnt fit in...
i know it looks sh!t at the moment, so im not blowing my own whistle in any way..
just wondering, anybody have any pics of others?.  i`m not going to be altering how i have done mine now as that would mean too much work, i would have to smash the filler to get back to the metal. 
all i plan on doing now is sinking the leds..
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: kells on 09 March 2009, 20:28
can still get the plate in if its slimmer, you just put it in at a angle, iv seen it done loads..everyone who i know whos done this has kept the standard bulb holders for the lights
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Josho on 09 March 2009, 20:31
What about drilling a couple of holes and then sticking some 10MM LEDs through, white of course.
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 09 March 2009, 20:38
What about drilling a couple of holes and then sticking some 10MM LEDs through, white of course.
had thought of that... but would be too much of a pain in the ass to do..
also thought of this.. but thought it would be too tacky..
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-12v-72cm-Waterproof-PVC-White-Light-Strip-72p-LEDS_W0QQitemZ320347269260QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item320347269260&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Mikester on 09 March 2009, 20:39
What about drilling a couple of holes and then sticking some 10MM LEDs through, white of course.
had thought of that... but would be too much of a pain in the ass to do..
also thought of this.. but thought it would be too tacky..
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-12v-72cm-Waterproof-PVC-White-Light-Strip-72p-LEDS_W0QQitemZ320347269260QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item320347269260&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

NO!
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 09 March 2009, 20:41
can still get the plate in if its slimmer, you just put it in at a angle, iv seen it done loads..everyone who i know whos done this has kept the standard bulb holders for the lights
the number plate at an angle or the steel?.
just been scouring the net for pics, most are the same width as mine but i found one which was alot slimmer as you mention.. dont really fancy that though tbh..
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 09 March 2009, 20:43
What about drilling a couple of holes and then sticking some 10MM LEDs through, white of course.
had thought of that... but would be too much of a pain in the ass to do..
also thought of this.. but thought it would be too tacky..
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-12v-72cm-Waterproof-PVC-White-Light-Strip-72p-LEDS_W0QQitemZ320347269260QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item320347269260&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
lol... the strip lights or the 10mm leds?.  i did say it would be too tacky.. which is why i decided against it. i think the lights i chose are right, well they will be once they are sunk in..

NO!
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: kells on 09 March 2009, 21:02
can still get the plate in if its slimmer, you just put it in at a angle, iv seen it done loads..everyone who i know whos done this has kept the standard bulb holders for the lights
the number plate at an angle or the steel?.
just been scouring the net for pics, most are the same width as mine but i found one which was alot slimmer as you mention.. dont really fancy that though tbh..

yeah the plate if you tilt it to locate it if that makes sense, and yeah most people i know make it slightly slimmer, id dont have to be much, just enough to cover the lights
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 09 March 2009, 21:19
the plate i cut was a bit longer than the original plinth, so it would have covered the lights. but i wanted to conceal all that so i welded more metal in to angle it back into the recess and close it off (if you get me?).
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: kells on 09 March 2009, 21:20
yeah i think i kno what you mean haha
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Wayne on 09 March 2009, 21:41
Hope this helps.

(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/DSCF2962.jpg)

(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/DSCF2963.jpg)
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Wayne on 09 March 2009, 21:41
(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/DSCF2972.jpg)


(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/DSCF2994.jpg)
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: jamie16v on 09 March 2009, 21:55
see what you mean yeah.. it looks good,and i wish i did mine that way to be honest.
though as i said earlier, when i trial fitted the plate on mine the lamp lenses got in the way..  :sad:
 
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: CHRIS_MC on 10 March 2009, 00:46
(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/DSCF2972.jpg)


(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p51/jmfangio5/DSCF2994.jpg)


That does look wicked tbh, i also like what ive seen on some US cars where they chop the top of the lights & extend the boot to fill the gap where the top of the light cluster has been, looks more aggressive

(http://cdn.faces.com/images/profileImages/135/134809/6204810.jpg) :shocked:
Title: Re: french tailgates and number plate lighting.
Post by: Len on 10 March 2009, 08:35
I like the look and its something I want to do to mine!

But just for reference this is NOT frenching! All you are doing is using the existing indent.
Frenching is creating your own new indent!