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Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: rugbymad on 17 September 2008, 08:11

Title: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: rugbymad on 17 September 2008, 08:11
hi folks

just fitted new rear lights yesterday, pics to follow l8r today when dry, everything went smoothly, however the rear clusters on the boot lid are opposite from what i had as stock, so now when i reverse thereverse light still comes on but the lens is for a fog lamp , so when fog lamp comes on it is a clear lens as if for reverse.  obviously i need to sort this out. is the cable loom at the rear long enough to swap over or am i going to have to cut into wires  and move pins etc, or do you have any other suggestions ....... pics to follow

steph
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Cass on 17 September 2008, 08:28
You sure you haven't bought rear lights for a European LHD model :huh:

Cass
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: rugbymad on 17 September 2008, 08:31
bought off  a guy in cornwall from fleabay........the light do look smart though....
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Pirelli_P on 17 September 2008, 08:45
What colour car you got?

I rate those Hella ones which are virtually completely black, but think they'd only really suit a black car, maybe white and red at a push!

Get a pic up!
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: rugbymad on 17 September 2008, 10:07
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a163/rugbymad/IMG_0903.jpg)
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: mrlapou on 17 September 2008, 10:36
Looks like you've been fleeced.  : :evil::
Illegal to have lights reversed like this...
From pic, need to take the red reflector out, but it's likely the unit will be sealed.
Then use a RED led bulb where the reverse light is at the moment.
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: No Golf Clubs at all on 17 September 2008, 11:09
think i would be selling them on german feebay... :sad:
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: joesgti on 17 September 2008, 12:08
if they are sealed then bake them to melt the glue, then swap the reflectors over, if not then sell them and get some decent R32/ed30 ones......like mine (pic whore)  :grin: :grin: :grin:

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd153/joesgti/Picture005-6.jpg)
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: rugbymad on 17 September 2008, 14:31
took car to garage and got the guy to extend the cables so they now work ok.  only thing is though for an mot i will have to swap them over as the fog will be on the wrong side. but the cable is long enough to do that. and it dosent matter what side your reverse light is on, not ideal but a working solution.
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: RedRobin on 18 September 2008, 00:02
took car to garage and got the guy to extend the cables so they now work ok.  only thing is though for an mot i will have to swap them over as the fog will be on the wrong side. but the cable is long enough to do that. and it dosent matter what side your reverse light is on, not ideal but a working solution.


....Not just for MOT - It's highly illegal not to have rear foglight (when single unit) on driver's righthand side and not to have single reversing light on lefthand side. An eagle-eyed Policeman could easily pull you up on it. They are easy to swop around - Just the internal lenses. Better job with plastic weld rather than hot gun glue.
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Cass on 18 September 2008, 00:41
Sorry mate - these are illegal in UK - reversing must be on nearside and fog light to the offside. Schoolboy error I'm afraid :shocked:

Hope TT doesn't see this :laugh:

Cass
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: CocoPops on 18 September 2008, 09:17
In the fog, this could cause issues surely....

ie someone thinks that your fog light is on the correct side (and isn't) thus doesn't allow enough space to pass and slams into the back...

Not a good fix imho.
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: RedRobin on 18 September 2008, 09:47
In the fog, this could cause issues surely....

ie someone thinks that your fog light is on the correct side (and isn't) thus doesn't allow enough space to pass and slams into the back...

Not a good fix imho.

....Which is exactly the principle behind the law and why the law will come down heavily on such a configuration. Furthermore, if someone is injured in a resulting incident such a mod would land you in very serious doo-daa, also with insurance!

Not worth the risk - Don't drive on public roads with such a mod.
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 18 September 2008, 13:57
took car to garage and got the guy to extend the cables so they now work ok.  only thing is though for an mot i will have to swap them over as the fog will be on the wrong side. but the cable is long enough to do that. and it dosent matter what side your reverse light is on, not ideal but a working solution.


....Not just for MOT - It's highly illegal not to have rear foglight (when single unit) on driver's righthand side

That is correct.

and not to have single reversing light on lefthand side.

But that isn't.  There is no placement requirement for single reverse lights, and they are not even testable on the MoT.
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: RedRobin on 18 September 2008, 14:44
took car to garage and got the guy to extend the cables so they now work ok.  only thing is though for an mot i will have to swap them over as the fog will be on the wrong side. but the cable is long enough to do that. and it dosent matter what side your reverse light is on, not ideal but a working solution.


....Not just for MOT - It's highly illegal not to have rear foglight (when single unit) on driver's righthand side

That is correct.

and not to have single reversing light on lefthand side.

But that isn't.  There is no placement requirement for single reverse lights, and they are not even testable on the MoT.

....I stand corrected. I rather assumed that one effected the other. I learn something new everyday :afro:
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 18 September 2008, 16:14
took car to garage and got the guy to extend the cables so they now work ok.  only thing is though for an mot i will have to swap them over as the fog will be on the wrong side. but the cable is long enough to do that. and it dosent matter what side your reverse light is on, not ideal but a working solution.


....Not just for MOT - It's highly illegal not to have rear foglight (when single unit) on driver's righthand side

That is correct.

and not to have single reversing light on lefthand side.

But that isn't.  There is no placement requirement for single reverse lights, and they are not even testable on the MoT.

....I stand corrected. I rather assumed that one effected the other. I learn something new everyday :afro:

No worries.  :smiley:  I suppose it is just down to the convenience of simply swapping the lens colours for the different markets, which probably leads to the confusion.

Has the OP been back to review our comments?  :smiley:
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: rugbymad on 18 September 2008, 20:03
yeah ive been back, talk about putting a guilt trip on someone, but ive decided to keep them as they are. how often do we really put of fogs on also what about all the left hookers out there,

anyway i/p is what i wanted and i/p is what i got LOL.

LETS CHANGE THE SUBJECT.. nice weather, do you think it will rain?
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: RedRobin on 18 September 2008, 20:13

....We're only trying to help you, mate. And to keep you out of trouble - Honestly, you could meet a lot of trouble with the law if it's spotted. You might not be spotted, but............
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: SteveP on 18 September 2008, 20:41
I agree with RR, IMHO I just wouldn't risk it  :undecided:
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: RedRobin on 18 September 2008, 21:01

....The most likely scenario is that the Police stop you for something else - It might be just a friendly 'watch-your-speed' but they will automatically visually check other things (tyres for example) and you probably won't even realise they're doing so, and then Ooops!! And, according to your attitude, things could quickly change! They're only doing their job and basically we should be grateful for their presence (as long as they use their discretion).
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Cass on 18 September 2008, 23:01
Rear fog on wrong side could cause a serious accident in poor visibility - as other road users will assume your fog to be on the offside and during any overtake, you cound well get rear ended. Breach of Con and Use Road Traffic Regs and likely to void your insurance if discovered as a non standard/declared modification. Also likely to result in significant law suit if any injuries sustained. Police and/or Insurance Assessor would be likely to notice it during any inspection. Not worth it mate :shocked:

Cass   
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: PhilMart on 19 September 2008, 00:00
Well that craps me right off .. I was reading this thinking .. I got to get me some of these ... I reverse out my driveway and the reverse on the left hand side is a useless little light for seeing whats going on (I have hedges on either side and some sort of weird space time continuim problem where it looks like you are reversing straight until you hit the other hedge). Having the reverse light on the drivers side would really help!

Any case I'm from Australia where it is rarely foggy .. to the point that in every car I have had I did not know where the fog lights were. In fact just like others here when I had a Hyundai (gulp) I had the fogs on all the time. I couldn't work out how to turn them off .. I had to resort to reading the manual!  :shocked:

I know in the GTI its in the light cluster but I just set the thing on auto .. anyone know if setting to auto will cause the fog lights to come on when its foggy ... after all it knows when it rains .. when its dark .. and when my toast is ready!?
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: RedRobin on 19 September 2008, 00:23

....PhilMart - Although the reversing light is only on one side, it lights up the whole rear very well.

Auto lighting doesn't automatically switch on the fogs. You do need to read the Handbook/Manual - It will help you understand lots of things about the car.
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: PhilMart on 19 September 2008, 04:15
Hey RedRobin

It's my bible .. but when you don't get fog, you skip over the bit that says "Turning on fog lights". I also skipped the bit about getting the glovebox to be airconditioned, but will probably have to read up on it now we are coming into spring/summer!

Perhaps you have different bulbs over there .. but certainly I find it difficult to reverse out of my driveway with hedges on either side in the dark .. and right reverse turn at the same time to get into that driveway .. and as such would definitely find it more useful for the drivers side.

For edification the last time I saw fog was in 2002 in San Francisco! So its a rare event where I live.
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: RedRobin on 19 September 2008, 08:31

....Yes, the rear vision for reversing isn't that great (the new Scirocco is even worse!) and that's why I had reversing sensors fitted aftermarket - I didn't think I'd need them. Would it help to reverse in to your driveway so that you face forwards between the hedges when you go out?

:afro:
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 19 September 2008, 09:59
yeah ive been back, talk about putting a guilt trip on someone, but ive decided to keep them as they are. how often do we really put of fogs on also what about all the left hookers out there,

But you have missed the point (or two)!  Just because you don't actually use the rear fogs, it won't make them any "less" illegal.  The simple fact of just fitting them to your car the wrong way round will make them illegal - and they are very easy to spot, even when they are switched off.

And the left verses right hookers bit is a complete non-starter.  A car is specifically designed for its "primary or home market" - which means here in Blighty (and Ireland too  :wink:), we drive on the left, and so MUST have the steering wheel, pedals, and a single rear fog on the right.  But somewere in Brussels, part of the EU rulez allows primary market cars to visit foreign shores with out having to swap major bits over.  I think there is a six month limit for this (though the Poles, Portugese, Lithuanians and Latvians in my area don't seem to understand that!  :rolleyes:).  Naturally, you must alter the GB kerb-side kick of your dipped headlamps.

anyway i/p is what i wanted and i/p is what i got LOL.

Whas "i/p" ????

LETS CHANGE THE SUBJECT.. nice weather, do you think it will rain?

Shhhhsshhhh - don't say that too loudly, or it will pi$$ it down!  :tongue:  :grin:
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 19 September 2008, 10:00

....The most likely scenario is that the Police stop you for something else - It might be just a friendly 'watch-your-speed' but they will automatically visually check other things (tyres for example) and you probably won't even realise they're doing so, and then Ooops!! And, according to your attitude, things could quickly change! They're only doing their job and basically we should be grateful for their presence (as long as they use their discretion).

Very wise words - fully agree. :afro:  :smiley:
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 19 September 2008, 10:06
Well that craps me right off .. I was reading this thinking .. I got to get me some of these ... I reverse out my driveway and the reverse on the left hand side is a useless little light for seeing whats going on (I have hedges on either side and some sort of weird space time continuim problem where it looks like you are reversing straight until you hit the other hedge). Having the reverse light on the drivers side would really help!

Any case I'm from Australia where it is rarely foggy .. to the point that in every car I have had I did not know where the fog lights were. In fact just like others here when I had a Hyundai (gulp) I had the fogs on all the time. I couldn't work out how to turn them off .. I had to resort to reading the manual!  :shocked:

I know in the GTI its in the light cluster but I just set the thing on auto .. anyone know if setting to auto will cause the fog lights to come on when its foggy ... after all it knows when it rains .. when its dark .. and when my toast is ready!?

Do you have similar laws down under like the UKs Construction and Use Regs?

And I agree, an unplanned "bumper to bush interface" is not good!  :tongue:  :evil:

But seriously, when reversing, can you not put on your rear fog too?  It's what I have to do in my RS4 - because even though that has reversing lights on both sides, they are woefully inadequate, but supplementing the reversing lights with the rear fogs helps no end.  :nerd:
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: RedRobin on 19 September 2008, 10:10

....The most likely scenario is that the Police stop you for something else - It might be just a friendly 'watch-your-speed' but they will automatically visually check other things (tyres for example) and you probably won't even realise they're doing so, and then Ooops!! And, according to your attitude, things could quickly change! They're only doing their job and basically we should be grateful for their presence (as long as they use their discretion).

Very wise words - fully agree. :afro:  :smiley:

....With age, comes wisdom - so I'm told! (Also short term memory loss and lusting for younger women - Above 20yo I hasten to add!!)
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: RedRobin on 19 September 2008, 10:13

And I agree, an unplanned "bumper to bush interface" is not good!  :tongue:  :evil:

But seriously, when reversing, can you not put on your rear fog too?  It's what I have to do in my RS4 - because even though that has reversing lights on both sides, they are woefully inadequate, but supplementing the reversing lights with the rear fogs helps no end.  :nerd:

....But "bumper to bush interface" in the world of humans can be a real pleasure! :evil:

....Great tip about using the rear fog for further illumination! I sometimes touch my brake pedal for some extra reversing light.
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: PhilMart on 19 September 2008, 14:13
Well that craps me right off .. I was reading this thinking .. I got to get me some of these ... I reverse out my driveway and the reverse on the left hand side is a useless little light for seeing whats going on (I have hedges on either side and some sort of weird space time continuim problem where it looks like you are reversing straight until you hit the other hedge). Having the reverse light on the drivers side would really help!

Any case I'm from Australia where it is rarely foggy .. to the point that in every car I have had I did not know where the fog lights were. In fact just like others here when I had a Hyundai (gulp) I had the fogs on all the time. I couldn't work out how to turn them off .. I had to resort to reading the manual!  :shocked:

I know in the GTI its in the light cluster but I just set the thing on auto .. anyone know if setting to auto will cause the fog lights to come on when its foggy ... after all it knows when it rains .. when its dark .. and when my toast is ready!?

Do you have similar laws down under like the UKs Construction and Use Regs?

And I agree, an unplanned "bumper to bush interface" is not good!  :tongue:  :evil:

But seriously, when reversing, can you not put on your rear fog too?  It's what I have to do in my RS4 - because even though that has reversing lights on both sides, they are woefully inadequate, but supplementing the reversing lights with the rear fogs helps no end.  :nerd:

TT and Redrobin.. you both it!!I will now have to read the manual about fog lights and try it ..I do dab the brakes already ... but it is still a dab and see dab and see scenario!

The laws over here seem to be a lot more lax .. in South Australia we don't have any roadworthy tests ..Victoria does I believe ..but we still have 1967 holdens driving around that as long as they met compliance back in 67 don't have to meet with current compliance laws. The last time i had to have my car tested was because it was defected for a loud exhaust ..and the only test they did was a DB rating and ensuring that the minimum height could go over their "gutter". My exhaust at that time (a 1971 Holden LC GTR - which a good copy nowadays sells for as much as  a GTI) scraped over the top as it wasn't properly attached, and hence passed and I got my defect notice removed! So your MOT laws I am ignorant of!

Back to read the manual ..thanks TT again .. sometimes you have to think outside the square ..and that is why I am on your guy's forum..it rocks well and truly!! All I want now is 240 KW of power with KW coilovers and colour coded bumpers like the ED 30 which we dont get here... Apparently they are bringing out the Pirelli .. but only DSG??? What the?? Manual no matter WHAT is the ONLY way to go!!!! So an S3 coversion I think it is ..and maybe a brake upgrade ...but we fork out a lot more here for this kind of thing ..you guys in UK get thinsg somuch cheaper!
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 19 September 2008, 14:33

....The most likely scenario is that the Police stop you for something else - It might be just a friendly 'watch-your-speed' but they will automatically visually check other things (tyres for example) and you probably won't even realise they're doing so, and then Ooops!! And, according to your attitude, things could quickly change! They're only doing their job and basically we should be grateful for their presence (as long as they use their discretion).

Very wise words - fully agree. :afro:  :smiley:

....With age, comes wisdom - so I'm told! (Also short term memory loss and lusting for younger women - Above 20yo I hasten to add!!)

And greater "staying power" too!  :wink:  :wink:  :wink:  :wink:
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on 19 September 2008, 14:38
PhilMart - we certainly don't get stuff as cheap as the Yanks do!  :angry:

And we get shyte weather!  :cry:  Round up a few shielas, crack open a few tinnies, and throw another roo steak on the barbie for us all!  :wink:  :laugh:
Title: Re: rear lights, fog and reverse on wrong side
Post by: Cass on 20 September 2008, 10:29
....With age, comes wisdom - so I'm told! (Also short term memory loss and lusting for younger women - Above 20yo I hasten to add!!)

About 40 does it for me  :laugh:

Cass