What is the point of the Orange Sidemarkers?
#1
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LOADED 08' C350 & 14' GLK-350 Diamond White (P1, MM, AMG Pkg, Ln Trkng, Htd Sts, Keylss Go)
What is the point of the Orange Sidemarkers?
I know most people painted, removed, or replaced them with clear or smoked side markers...
I know now I am going to replace my "chromed" stealth orange bulbs with Polarg clear bulbs since I don't like the orange look at night when they are turned on still through the clear lens...
Is there an actual safety function of these bulbs? Like does Europe have wayyy more accidents than we do in the US because they don't have these huge orange side markers???
Just want to make sure my vehicle will not lose a major safety function once I replace the bulbs with clears that I am not currently aware of... I know it is illegal though in the US to not have them, right?
I know now I am going to replace my "chromed" stealth orange bulbs with Polarg clear bulbs since I don't like the orange look at night when they are turned on still through the clear lens...
Is there an actual safety function of these bulbs? Like does Europe have wayyy more accidents than we do in the US because they don't have these huge orange side markers???
Just want to make sure my vehicle will not lose a major safety function once I replace the bulbs with clears that I am not currently aware of... I know it is illegal though in the US to not have them, right?
#2
I'm pretty sure the laws say that the markers have to be orange or white. replacing them with clear markers and white bulbs should not be illegal, but you might want to consult your state laws.
#4
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I know most people painted, removed, or replaced them with clear or smoked side markers...
I know now I am going to replace my "chromed" stealth orange bulbs with Polarg clear bulbs since I don't like the orange look at night when they are turned on still through the clear lens...
Is there an actual safety function of these bulbs? Like does Europe have wayyy more accidents than we do in the US because they don't have these huge orange side markers???
Just want to make sure my vehicle will not lose a major safety function once I replace the bulbs with clears that I am not currently aware of... I know it is illegal though in the US to not have them, right?
I know now I am going to replace my "chromed" stealth orange bulbs with Polarg clear bulbs since I don't like the orange look at night when they are turned on still through the clear lens...
Is there an actual safety function of these bulbs? Like does Europe have wayyy more accidents than we do in the US because they don't have these huge orange side markers???
Just want to make sure my vehicle will not lose a major safety function once I replace the bulbs with clears that I am not currently aware of... I know it is illegal though in the US to not have them, right?
Once mandated content is on a vehicle at the time of manufacture, when the Federal Certification label is affixed, the role of the federal government is essentially over (unless a defect is found, for example). Then, once the vehicle is in use, states have individual regulations and laws governing how the vehicle is used within their boundries. For example, lighting regulations may not be the same in all 50 states.
Having said all that, I would suggest keeping some form of widely recognized and understood amber illumination at the front side marker to minimize the chances of the front of your car seeming to disappear to a driver approaching from 90 degrees or a more acute angle at night...regardless of how dumb you think that driver would need to be not to see you otherwise. Wrinkled sheetmetal looks worse than an amber bulb.
Last edited by Sportstick; 11-05-2009 at 04:47 PM.
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2018 E300 4MATIC Sedan
Holy crap, Sportstick, did you really write that, or did you copy / paste that from somewhere ? I don't think I have ever seen "promulgated" in a sentence before !
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I am impressed. Thanks for the knowledge, that made my day...
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Last edited by Sportstick; 11-05-2009 at 05:26 PM.
#9
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my X5 had an orange marker with no light behind it... it's just a reflector. I replaced it with clear and it looks a ton better. Too bad it's not as simple on the C300.
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'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Side markers
...........
Is there an actual safety function of these bulbs? Like does Europe have wayyy more accidents than we do in the US because they don't have these huge orange side markers???
Just want to make sure my vehicle will not lose a major safety function once I replace the bulbs with clears that I am not currently aware of... I know it is illegal though in the US to not have them, right?
Is there an actual safety function of these bulbs? Like does Europe have wayyy more accidents than we do in the US because they don't have these huge orange side markers???
Just want to make sure my vehicle will not lose a major safety function once I replace the bulbs with clears that I am not currently aware of... I know it is illegal though in the US to not have them, right?
The first attempts at emission controls by the Germans was also 1968 and pitiful they were.
Sorry I couldn't work promulgated in here someplace.