Several of us TMS'ers are going with a company to get clear side markers made. Would anyone be interested in a clear brake light lense? If so, go here to express interest. I found this red led bulb that will fit in both the side marker and the brake light. It has a 270 deg light pattern (so they say).

Once enough interest is expressed, and somebody (probably me) sends them the OEM lense, then we're go. As soon as the sides come in, pix will be posted.......

 

I think that the DOT requires that there be a Red Reflector in the rear lense assembly. If that's the case, then just putting red bulbs inside of a clear lense won't quite cut it. I heard that this is one of the reasons Altezza lights were confiscated at their ports of entry to the USA.

 

There's been WAY to much discussion on what's legal/required when it comes to lights/lenses. (Just look at the the threads regarding front clears). What made me decide this was an OK/legal mod - take a look at a NEW Scion - CLEAR brake light lense with red bulbs. I figure if the DOT, FCC, FBI, CIA, NSA, ABC, etc will let Toyota do it then I can do it.

Besides, I heard that the polar caps were melting at an alarming rate and Florida will no longer exsist in a couple of years - so on with the clear lense!!!

 

rice-a-roni

 

Do what you want Nole. Ignorance to the law won't get you out of a ticket..

The DOT approved versions all have reflectors that reflect "RED" to the rear. There are no exceptions as the DOT regulates for *ALL* states in the USA.

Enjoy..

 

I'd be interested in a deck lid that eliminates the 3rd brake light altogether, move it into the back window.

 

I'm with BurntPony... I think it's RICE. The clear brake light lens won't match your existing tail lights, unless you replace them with the Fleabay Altezzas that I see floating around...

I don't think you would molest your 'Stang like that would you?

 

Do you work for DOT?? Could you explain a car that is manufactured with a clear lense and a red bulb? (Scion)

 

I just love the "RICE" comments!! That's what a few were saying about the clear fronts, now folks are paying twice what I did.

Come to think about it, I should have put a poll on my thread - so everyone could officially gave me their opinion. Don't let this board turn into something like so many others out there.......at least most of the regulars have kept their opinions to themselves - THANKS!!!

 

316.224 Color of clearance lamps, identification lamps, side marker lamps, backup lamps, reflectors, and deceleration lights.--
(1) Front clearance lamps, identification lamps, and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of a vehicle shall display or reflect an amber color.
(2) Rear clearance lamps, identification lamps, and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall display or reflect a red color.
(3) All lighting devices and reflectors mounted on the rear of any vehicle shall display or reflect a red color, except the stop light or other signal device, which may be red, amber, or yellow, and except that the light illuminating the license plate shall be white and the light emitted by a backup lamp shall be white or amber. Deceleration lights as authorized by s. 316.235(5) shall display an amber color.
(4) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.
316.234 Signal lamps and signal devices.--
(1) Any vehicle may be equipped and, when required under this chapter, shall be equipped with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red or amber light, visible from a distance of not less than 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight, and which shall be actuated upon application of the service (foot) brake, and which may but need not be incorporated with one or more other rear lamps. An object, material, or covering that alters the stop lamp's visibility from 300 feet to the rear in normal sunlight may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a stop lamp.
(2) Any vehicle may be equipped and, when required under s. 316.222(2), shall be equipped with electric turn signals which shall indicate an intention to turn by flashing lights showing to the front and rear of a vehicle or on a combination of vehicles on the side of the vehicle or combination toward which the turn is to be made. The lamps showing to the front shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and, when signaling, shall emit white or amber light. The lamps showing to the rear shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and, when signaling, shall emit a red or amber light. Turn signal lamps on vehicles 80 inches or more in overall width shall be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the front and rear in normal sunlight, and an object, material, or covering that alters the lamp's visibility from a distance of 500 feet to the front or rear in normal sunlight may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a turn signal lamp. Turn signal lamps on vehicles less than 80 inches wide shall be visible at a distance of not less than 300 feet to the front and rear in normal sunlight, and an object, material, or covering that alters the lamp's visibility from a distance of 300 feet to the front or rear in normal sunlight may not be placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied over a turn signal lamp. Turn signal lamps may, but need not be, incorporated in other lamps on the vehicle.
(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in chapter 318.

 

OK, any real interest in a clear 3rd brake light?? Our sides are coming in and the manufacture MIGHT make them (with a good down payment)? So put your interest here, and I will put together a list and buy the spare lense needed for the mold!!

If not, that's ok......no rice comments needed and yes clear brake lenses will make my car go faster by adding 16 HP.

 

I'm interested - but would need to know 2 things:
Price
Can a smoked version be made?

 

Once I get a decent enough number interested, I will get an answer. My guess is that Tina is gonna want more than 5 this time....

 

I'm interested! I love these "rice" comments. It's people like that that make me ashamed at times to own an American car.

The reason some cars from the factory (3 series BMW) have a clear 3rd brake light is because it stands out less. Especially on a silver or white car it basically just blends in.

 

Found this one on ebay $90!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MakeTrack=true

 

Why should you be ashamed to own an American car? I'm not afraid to call RICE. That's my opinion and I'm entitled to it. I'm not trashing YOUR cars - I am thinking about how the piece would look on MY car, and then I call RICE if I believe the part would look that way.

The reason I call "RICE" is that here in CA every punk kid with a backwards baseball cap and a trashed 1994 fart-canned Civic has watched "Fast and Furious" a dozen times, and then gone to Pep Boys and Altezza'd the tar out of their vehicles, whether a clear lens is in good taste or not. (usually NOT) They even sell that RICE-crap in kiosks in the malls here. Our S197s are far superior to that junk and I wouldn't want to sink to the level of those crappy Civics.

IMHO the clear lens has its place - for example on our S197s, I believe that a clear front turn signal lens looks better on black, white, and silver cars. I even bought clear APCs for the front of mine.

However, (again IMHO) on my black 'Stang the clear brake light lens would stand out like a cockroach on a wedding cake, since the taillights are red and there are no other similiar items on the rear exposure of the car (ie, headlights, foglights). Therefore, (again IMHO) installation of a clear brake light lens would be RICE.

A silver or white 'Stang would be different - it would blend with the car. It's all personal taste. Don't be ashamed of where your car is built just because you may want to pass up a mod that may not be for you to preserve a modicum of (generally accepted) good taste.

 

Glad my car is white and will not look rice. Just curious, if a car comes from the factory with clear lenses, is that rice?

 

Smoke would be nice. I'll have to see the clear to yay or nay it. Unsure right now.

 

IMHO it could be...

If a car came from the factory (let's just say a Civic) with one of those large, aluminum "park bench" wings slathered in Japanese characters on the trunk, I'd most definitely call it "factory rice!" I'd also laugh at the person that paid $$$ for that "rice option."

Unless it's a Super Bird or an Evo I would laugh at the car.

Aren't we getting a bit O/T here with this rice/non rice subject?

 

OK, back on topic. Looks like we are gonna need 15 down payments! Yikes!! I think they got burned with the side markers.....

I'll keep track, but looks like no rice for me.....only in my sushi....