'splain to me the us\euro red reflector issue?
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okay, okay, I just took delivery of a 05 545i, orient blue with color coded bumper reflector "patches' in the back. Personally, I am torn between changing them out to red reflectors as they look kindo of good in the blue (but also as red), but can somebody please tell me why in the h**l this was a big enough issue between euro and the US to even warrant manufacturing these plugs? Geez, are we that over-regulated here!
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Originally Posted by Marco545' date='Feb 22 2005, 07:57 PM
okay, okay, I just took delivery of a 05 545i, orient blue with color coded bumper reflector "patches' in the back.? Personally, I am torn between changing them out to red reflectors as they look kindo of good in the blue (but also as red), but can somebody please tell me why in the h**l this was a big enough issue between euro and the US to even warrant manufacturing these plugs?? Geez, are we that over-regulated here!
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My Ride: '05 545i, silver gray, black leather with anthracite maple wood, sport package, premium sound, navigation, cold weather package, electric rear sunshade, folding rear seat, satellite radio prep, PIAA 4150K fogs, red rear reflectors, hardwired Valentine One
My '05 545i came with the body colored inserts and I replaced them with the red reflectors. My preference would actually be to have neither, but since there already were 2 cutouts in the bumper, I felt the red reflectors looked much better, whereas the body colored inserts looked like an afterthought (which they obviously were).
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I spoke with BMWNA today and one of the questions I asked was why do they not put the rear bumper reflectors on the US cars? They said that only reason was to differentiate the European BMWs from the US ones. Omitting the reflectors had nothing to do with safety, laws, or regulations.
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My Ride: '05 545i, silver gray, black leather with anthracite maple wood, sport package, premium sound, navigation, cold weather package, electric rear sunshade, folding rear seat, satellite radio prep, PIAA 4150K fogs, red rear reflectors, hardwired Valentine One
Originally Posted by Stoley' date='Feb 22 2005, 07:39 PM
I spoke with BMWNA today and one of the questions I asked was why do they not put the rear bumper reflectors on the US cars? They said that only reason was to differentiate the European BMWs from the US ones. Omitting the reflectors had nothing to do with safety, laws, or regulations.
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You know... these reflector things.. it's like our signature. If I see an E60 with red reflectors.. I know for SURE that the owner of that car is "in the know" and/or visiting this forum or other related forums versus being a regular joe smith e60 owner. Not that I see many E60's to begin with but if I see one with red reflectors I might just turn around if he's going the other way and follow him! 
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Originally Posted by Lomag' date='Feb 22 2005, 10:01 PM
You know... these reflector things.. it's like our signature. If I see an E60 with red reflectors.. I know for SURE that the owner of that car is "in the know" and/or visiting this forum or other related forums versus being a regular joe smith e60 owner. Not that I see many E60's to begin with but if I see one with red reflectors I might just turn around if he's going the other way and follow him!?
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From: Netherlands
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That's why a little www.e60.net sticker would be great!
Differentiation all the way.
Here in Europe we all have the red inserts, so there is no way to separate John Smith :'(
Or maybe we could use color coded inserts instead of reflectors
Hmm, I have a Touring so there is no issue with reflectors. I will get my custom licence plate holder like Kigerka!
Differentiation all the way.
Here in Europe we all have the red inserts, so there is no way to separate John Smith :'(
Or maybe we could use color coded inserts instead of reflectors
Hmm, I have a Touring so there is no issue with reflectors. I will get my custom licence plate holder like Kigerka!