Sidemarker Inquiry
#1
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Sidemarker Inquiry
Just had my sidemarkers color matched. Love how it looks during the day, but not a huge fan of what they look like at night now that the light is dim.
If I pull the bulbs out, will it throw a warning on the dash?
If I pull the bulbs out, will it throw a warning on the dash?
#4
Super Member
The SAM just needs to THINK there is a bulb consuming power from that circuit....
Just grab a pair of these, plug the male end into your sidemarker socket, cut the female connector off the other end and butt those two wires together to complete the circuit.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.amazon.com/PartsSquare-Resistor-Decoder-Flashing-Canceller/dp/B014STAW42&ved=0ahUKEwiPzp-Cz4DXAhXBNSYKHVk2DG8QFghpMAo&usg=AOvVaw2b9R3BYjR8V UwwAM7XtmQK
#5
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Are they required under Quebec law and if so will the cops enforce it?
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
The SAM just needs to THINK there is a bulb consuming power from that circuit....
Just grab a pair of these, plug the male end into your sidemarker socket, cut the female connector off the other end and butt those two wires together to complete the circuit.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...R8VUwwAM7XtmQK
Just grab a pair of these, plug the male end into your sidemarker socket, cut the female connector off the other end and butt those two wires together to complete the circuit.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...R8VUwwAM7XtmQK
.
#7
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12 C63BS Magno Alanite Grey, 22 X3M Brooklyn Grey, 08 BMW E93, 22 Ducati Desert Sled, John Deere 3R
You can also by the Phillips 5w load resistors
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Philips-LED-L...-/161714906435
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Philips-LED-L...-/161714906435
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#8
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2012 C63;1971 280SE 3.5(Sold);2023 EQS 450 SUV 4 Matic (Wife's)
You can pull the bulb and socket out of the side marker and tie it up out of the way in the engine bay. That way there will be no glow through the painted side marker and no warning on the dash.
#10
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#12
Super Member
Note that if you make the side marker lights inoperative,and your car is hit at night, a lawyer representing the other car's owner or insurance company may successfully argue that your removal of the lights contributed to the accident and assess a portion of the blame and cost to you. After all, you are deliberately removing a safety feature,required by law, whose very purpose is to be visible. Not a good place to be after a night accident.
I am personally aware of a situation years ago where the owner of a special Oldsmobile model (a "Trofeo" I think) that was pretty "blacked out"i n its trim to be begin with, had modded the car to be even more blacked out. He was hit in a restaurant parking lot by a senior with limited night vision who backed into him, claiming he could not see the car because it was so blacked out. Exactly this kind of blame apportionment argument occurred.
I did not hear how it ultimately turned out,but the owner was pretty pissed regardless because his cherry condition car would never be the same.
Think about whether it is worth it to you.
Jim G
I am personally aware of a situation years ago where the owner of a special Oldsmobile model (a "Trofeo" I think) that was pretty "blacked out"i n its trim to be begin with, had modded the car to be even more blacked out. He was hit in a restaurant parking lot by a senior with limited night vision who backed into him, claiming he could not see the car because it was so blacked out. Exactly this kind of blame apportionment argument occurred.
I did not hear how it ultimately turned out,but the owner was pretty pissed regardless because his cherry condition car would never be the same.
Think about whether it is worth it to you.
Jim G
#13
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Do it right and get the resister "pretend" bulb.
#14
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Thread Starter
Went another route....
Found myself some high temp electrical tape (good for 500 degrees fahrenheit) at Home Depot. Wrapped it around each light bulb and plugged them back into their respective sockets. Light does not come through and don't have to worry about the bulbs being exposed to the elements.
Found myself some high temp electrical tape (good for 500 degrees fahrenheit) at Home Depot. Wrapped it around each light bulb and plugged them back into their respective sockets. Light does not come through and don't have to worry about the bulbs being exposed to the elements.
#15
Note that if you make the side marker lights inoperative,and your car is hit at night, a lawyer representing the other car's owner or insurance company may successfully argue that your removal of the lights contributed to the accident and assess a portion of the blame and cost to you. After all, you are deliberately removing a safety feature,required by law, whose very purpose is to be visible. Not a good place to be after a night accident.
I am personally aware of a situation years ago where the owner of a special Oldsmobile model (a "Trofeo" I think) that was pretty "blacked out"i n its trim to be begin with, had modded the car to be even more blacked out. He was hit in a restaurant parking lot by a senior with limited night vision who backed into him, claiming he could not see the car because it was so blacked out. Exactly this kind of blame apportionment argument occurred.
I did not hear how it ultimately turned out,but the owner was pretty pissed regardless because his cherry condition car would never be the same.
Think about whether it is worth it to you.
Jim G
I am personally aware of a situation years ago where the owner of a special Oldsmobile model (a "Trofeo" I think) that was pretty "blacked out"i n its trim to be begin with, had modded the car to be even more blacked out. He was hit in a restaurant parking lot by a senior with limited night vision who backed into him, claiming he could not see the car because it was so blacked out. Exactly this kind of blame apportionment argument occurred.
I did not hear how it ultimately turned out,but the owner was pretty pissed regardless because his cherry condition car would never be the same.
Think about whether it is worth it to you.
Jim G
#18
MBWorld Fanatic!
Not sure I concur with Jim G. After all if the difference between liability is going to be based on a side marker when we have all this fire power in our headlights the other guy would have to be walking around with a white cane when he isn't driving.
That reminds me of an old joke.
Three guys were on the T with the last of them to T off when a blind guy strolled across the fairway just about in the landing zone of the shot.
They yelled at him and he turned and walked up to the T.
There was an exchange of words and the blind guy says to them "look you guys, you might think you are pretty hot shots playing golf but I can whup your butts!"
This of course enraged these guys. After all how could a blind guy beat them at golf. The dialogue continued for a few minutes before the subject of a bet came up.
The blind guy suggested they put their money where their mouths were. He would give them 10 to 1 as long as he got to pick the time and his bet was $10000 against each of them.
They of course jumped on an opportunity to win $10000 for a $1000 bet so they agreed.
"When do you want to play?" they said.
The blind guy said "Midnight".
#19
Super Member
On some cars and on all motorcycles, both the front and rear of the vehicles have unpowered REFLECTORS, not lights, which apparently satisfy the law, but look just like the sidelights, and while they do not proactively light up, they do reflect very well, even when lit up by only the backup lights of a car backing towards them. And they are awesome at reflecting headlights.
Jim G
#20
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Thread Starter
ANYWAYS....
For anybody not wanting the light 'glowing' through at night. Go buy yourselves some self bonding silicone wrap (high heat) and wrap the bulbs. Worked perfect for me.
For anybody not wanting the light 'glowing' through at night. Go buy yourselves some self bonding silicone wrap (high heat) and wrap the bulbs. Worked perfect for me.
#21
Those sidelights are also,by law,reflective even when not powered up. They are there to ALSO protect your vehicle from other vehicles at night. The guy with the Oldsmobile (see above) was parked at the time,but had deleted his side reflectors. So the driver of the offending car claimed there was no way to see the blacked out Olds in the dark.
On some cars and on all motorcycles, both the front and rear of the vehicles have unpowered REFLECTORS, not lights, which apparently satisfy the law, but look just like the sidelights, and while they do not proactively light up, they do reflect very well, even when lit up by only the backup lights of a car backing towards them. And they are awesome at reflecting headlights.
Jim G
On some cars and on all motorcycles, both the front and rear of the vehicles have unpowered REFLECTORS, not lights, which apparently satisfy the law, but look just like the sidelights, and while they do not proactively light up, they do reflect very well, even when lit up by only the backup lights of a car backing towards them. And they are awesome at reflecting headlights.
Jim G
Non-compliance with a regulation or bylaw is not proof of negligence.
In your example, I think the old man hit the blacked out car because he's old as **** and shouldn't be driving anymore. Claiming you hit a parked car because you couldn't see it is ballsy.
#22
Super Member
As a matter of legal interest, I am told by older friends that here in British Columbia, once you hit a certain age, you must submit to annual driving vision (and other) testing, and if you fail,they strip youofyour license. I know several people who can no longer drive because of the testing. One of them now "drives" a snazzied up but speed limited electric 4-wheeler that the local laws permit driving on sidewalks. Perhaps something similar for older C63 owners will someday be announced by Mercedes!
At a very fancy RV resort near Orlando Florida built around a gold course, back in 2001-2002, there was a brief "escalating horsepower race" in which the old codgers one-upped each other with faster and faster souped-up golf carts,until the Resort Management brought in a radar gun borrowed from The Orlando PD, and shut down the festivities.
Old hotrodders never really retire. They just change vehicles.
Jim G
#23
Maybe,but the Olds owner told methe opposing insurance companies were engaged in heavy discussion about it,because the damage to the Olds and the other car was not trivial!
As a matter of legal interest, I am told by older friends that here in British Columbia, once you hit a certain age, you must submit to annual driving vision (and other) testing, and if you fail,they strip youofyour license. I know several people who can no longer drive because of the testing. One of them now "drives" a snazzied up but speed limited electric 4-wheeler that the local laws permit driving on sidewalks. Perhaps something similar for older C63 owners will someday be announced by Mercedes!
At a very fancy RV resort near Orlando Florida built around a gold course, back in 2001-2002, there was a brief "escalating horsepower race" in which the old codgers one-upped each other with faster and faster souped-up golf carts,until the Resort Management brought in a radar gun borrowed from The Orlando PD, and shut down the festivities.
Old hotrodders never really retire. They just change vehicles.
Jim G
As a matter of legal interest, I am told by older friends that here in British Columbia, once you hit a certain age, you must submit to annual driving vision (and other) testing, and if you fail,they strip youofyour license. I know several people who can no longer drive because of the testing. One of them now "drives" a snazzied up but speed limited electric 4-wheeler that the local laws permit driving on sidewalks. Perhaps something similar for older C63 owners will someday be announced by Mercedes!
At a very fancy RV resort near Orlando Florida built around a gold course, back in 2001-2002, there was a brief "escalating horsepower race" in which the old codgers one-upped each other with faster and faster souped-up golf carts,until the Resort Management brought in a radar gun borrowed from The Orlando PD, and shut down the festivities.
Old hotrodders never really retire. They just change vehicles.
Jim G
I think the OP can turn off his side markers if he wants to. He might get a ticket though depending on his local state requirements.
Last edited by Ambystom01; 10-22-2017 at 12:55 PM.
#25
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