HigHal320

Can't make up my mind for my 02 C320 Silver.
Will the Clear reflector and PIAA ultrawhite get me pull over alot??
thanks in advance

Enze6997

What about painted over with matching color.

Rick

What about stock amber with stock bulbs?

(again, this reverts back to warranty issues...if you put the lens on incorrectly, and water damages the electrical system, will MBUSA cover that damage caused by your modification?)






I'm really not being 'retentive' about this...just enlightening you to some of the issues that may arise should something go wrong.

MB-BOB

If you live anywhere in the states other than LA LA land (CA, your profile doesn't say), I think you've already answered your own question.

I have the clear reflectors with amber bulbs behind and they look great! And they're USDOT legal.

vadim

Leave them alone...

patronus

MB-BOB - I beg to differ.

I do not believe that the clear corner markers on the W203 are DOT legal because they do not provide yellow reflector properties to identify your (parked) car when not lit.

Notice every other STOCK car on the road built since the early 70's. They ALL have yellow reflectors on the front.

All that said, I love my clear corners with amber bulbs, too!

MB-BOB

I agree that they don't reflect amber. However, when USDOT established the regulation in 1967, it required "Side Marker Illumination," implying ACTIVE illumination (lights). It does not specify PASSIVE reflection in the regulations, at least not anywhere I've been able to read. Getting through these regs is a real challenge.... you can spend several hours.

I was 16 years old when this law went into effect. I recall at the time at least one manufacturer asked the USDOT if side reflectors were sufficient and were rebuked... Implicit in this is that reflectiveness is not the issue.

The clear lenses DO come with disclaimers stating "for off-road use only." I believe that means that the lenses have not been submitted for USDOT certification, not that they are illegal for on-road use.

TimmyC230boy

MB BOB your right. they are perfectly legal IF you put in amber bulbs, or clear bulbs that lightup amber

patronus

If this is indeed true, then why are there NO manufacturer's cars without yellow reflectors on the side markers? Said another way, why are there NO maunufacturer's cars with clear side markers with amber bulbs?

TimmyC230boy

There are . VW's and Audi's have clear side markers with a amber LED in it.

Jorel C320

I have clears with hyperwhites and i will change the bulbs to amber like MB-BOBS....this is due to legal reasons. I get to many stares from cops wid my new HIDS and i dont think they will believe my HIDS is stock if i have hyperwhite markers.

Jorel C320

BTW...MB-BOB....did u just get regular bulbs from like autozone that cost about 2 bucks...or special ones?? (IF there is any special ones)

MB-BOB

Amber bulbs are amber bulbs. The Autozone 194A's were more than adequate. You could spend $30 on something "special," but only you would know you did... and you'd want to keep it that way. Spending 1400% more than necessary would have most people thinking you were silly.

Jorel C320

Hee hee...i was confused about those ones that shine amber and look clear....never seen them before

MB-BOB

Timmy, I think you're referring to the turn repeaters behind the front wheels on VWs/Audis which indeed are clear lenses with amber illumination. But those are only lit when you signal a turn, right? The side markers we are discussing are the full-time ones near the front bumper. All the Passats and Jettas I see have amber colored side marker lenses with white bulbs behind. The smallest amber reflectors I've seen are on recent model Honda Accords... a strip barely 1/2" wide, but several inches long.

patronas, I agree that almost all cars have some sort of illuminated amber lens for side markers, WITH integral amber reflectors. I have been looking for any clarification to the USDOT regs that "require" amber reflectors in addition to illuminated amber front side markers. But I've not found it anywhere. I'm open to suggestion as to where to look for this information.

In the meantime, I figure that if I can't find it (and I have an interest), your average cop surely won't know the distinction.

I haven't tested it seriously, yet, but there is a clear window in the clear reflector that leads directly to the bulb underneath. I'm thinking that car lights aimed at this assembly enters the housing and reflects off the amber bulb and at least some light bounces out as a passive amber reflection. But I really need to test this. Of course, this wouldn't work if the bulb was white but burned amber, JoReL.