CWS530

HAHA! I was just kidding around Gene. I think you know that about me already. Maybe if more people did, I wouldn't get into so many wars!

Ricracing

What are the reflectors good for, the car has side markers!?

Europe has its own weird car rules also, ie the side markers where forbidden until a couple of years ago.

In Finland all car was required to have mud flaps, this law expired some 20 years ago.

In France all cars was required to have yellow headlamps, this law has also expired.

Brit_in_NJ

I don't like the reflectors and won't add them to the car, my inserts are body coloured however they are good when the lights are off and the car's parked on the street. I never intend to park on the street.

There's often a reason behind some of these laws but often the reason itself does not make it into the law then when designs and technology change the outdated laws remain for a while. I hate red indicators (blinkers) but can't see that there is a law requiring either colour. So maybe it's just BMWNA personal taste

HotLap

Personally I prefer the red turn signals in the rear, I think the rear lenses just look better a single color and given that they have always been red here in the US - it would seem a stretch that people would be getting confused Also, many of the economy import cars have the amber rear turn signals and I think it cheapens the look to have amber on an upscale car like the 535, etc. And last, I just picked up an M3 vert and was disappointed to learn it has amber rear turn signals...so I guess it's just subjective...probably more like Gene was saying "the grass is always greener on the other side..."

HotLap

Think of a black BMW parked across a dark street at night...you wouldn't see it until you were practically hitting it - but now put those side reflectors on and you're going to see it a block away...safety would be the reason. Being a m-cycle rider - I have learned over the years - visibility is a GREAT thing!!

Brit_in_NJ

I'll swap you the M3 for a nice American convertible that has red blinkers...

panaguy

To all still wondering about this topic., here is my take on a reply I made to a posting on this very same subject back on September 3oth so maybe it bears repeating:

"I bought the Euro Spec LCI Tail Lights from Germany that have the yellow (amber) LED turn signals. I think they look better especially since my 2007 530xi (and all years of U.S. E60's before 2008 LCI !) originally came with yellow turn signals in the U.S., albeit plain non-LED pre-LCI version. Since I am not the least bit color blind and a very graphically visual person, to me yellow means "caution" and red means "stop".

In a sudden about face there must have been a recent change in U.S. DOT regulations because an awful lot of other new cars are now suddenly coming out with RED turn signals again as of 2008, including BMW, and I think the look is dated.

For 30-40 years or so cars sold in the U.S. were allowed to use the international style amber or yellow turn signals on their cars and now they have changed back. This is my opinion as to probably what has happened: :thumbsdown:

The U.S. is the most litigous country on earth (Even Shakespeare wrote in Mac Beth "Kill the lawyers"). Some lawyer must have successfully litigated a multi-zillion dollar lawsuit recently for a plaintiff who rear ended a BMW stopped for a turn in front of them and the owner was critically injured because they were "confused" when they saw yellow turn signals on that car in front of them and not a "red" signal instead cautioning them to slow down and stop or some other such nonsense argued as a defense... Then DOT and/or BMW changed the turn signal color requirment back to red to avoid future claims or litigation.

Many unexplained product changes today can be attributed to some past litigation forcing the mfr. to make a running change. (Hey we can get remote opening of windows, sunroofs, and convertible tops, etc. in the U.S. but not REMOTE closing function because that is considered unsafe by DOT for U.S. models; yet BMW and other imports have "full" open and close remote control function in Europe, Asia, etc. "

Now I have nothing personal against lawyers...just my $.02 worth

IceyTys

Are you sure Garry cant get the EU parts???? When I ordered my 166 wheels (M6 Offset) Garry said they had to come from Germany....doesnt that qualify as an EU part?

Does anyone know if Garry can or cannot get EU spec tail lights? Just curious as I was thinking of ordering a set, but I wanted the amber blinker as well...

bruce_miranda

All BMW parts come from Germany. But not all BMW parts are EU spec. Garry can only get you the US spec parts.

Gene

Bruce, do you know of a good EU dealer to contact if US/NA members wanted to order EU spec parts?