Third brake light!

smiffy

smiffy

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Points
147
Location
Lowestoft
Model of Z
Z3 2.8 pre-facelift in Montreal Blue
Last week at Duxford, the opening line from the driver of the green Z1 that followed me in was "did you know your third brake light isn't working?"

Obviously I'd not checked it since buying the car, so this evening I decided to investigate, anyone spot what's
20160505_191900.webp
wrong?
 
Bulb holders and bulbs missing.
Probably because they are so expensive quoted 72 pound from BMW.
Bought a whole new unit from spurs fan for less.
 
Yeah I don't think that will emit much red light!

I have a holder with most bulbs working, I'll see if I can mongrel another few together and get a full working set!
 
smiffy said:
Last week at Duxford, the opening line from the driver of the green Z1 that followed me in was "did you know your third brake light isn't working?"

Obviously I'd not checked it since buying the car, so this evening I decided to investigate, anyone spot what's View attachment 31538 wrong?
Click to expand...
Hmmmmm, tough one that. Not good either.
 
question for @t-tony . I know that in an MOT the third light must be mostly working or disconnected. If it is "disconnected" is it an advisory?

Don't panic @spurs fan in a coupe I'll be converting this to LED, I've got a load of red leds lying about in my workshop! If it works I'll do a "how to" post. £72 :hungover:

I do however need the plastic cover, 51478398919 and a headlight leveling motor if you have them.
 
smiffy said:
question for @t-tony . I know that in an MOT the third light must be mostly working or disconnected. If it is "disconnected" is it an advisory?

Don't panic @spurs fan in a coupe I'll be converting this to LED, I've got a load of red leds lying about in my workshop! If it works I'll do a "how to" post. £72 :hungover:

I do however need the plastic cover, 51478398919 and a headlight leveling motor if you have them.
Click to expand...

Yep got both of them, will drop you a PM
 
If the third brake light is made up of individual light sources (led's) at least 50% must illuminate. Most have an odd number. Even now the tester can advise that the third brake light is inoperative because without removing covers etc. you can't be 100% sure it is connected. Absolutely idiotic state of affairs as this was brought in to covers aftermarket stop lights which were fitted circa 70's - 80's not factory fitted OEM ones. My opinion, for what it's worth is, if it's fitted, it should work, then there's no grey area.

Tony.
 
i thought the mot requirement was for two break lights lights and as such the third doesn't really count, but according to our resident mot chap then if you have less than 50% lit on the 3rd light it is better to disconect it, am i reading this correctly?
another option for the missing holders and bulbs is to simply fit an led strip (cheapest option)
 
its just a shame you hadnt gone and fitted one of those boot light roadster thingys that spells out roadster while bracking just aftyer you brought it too, now that would have been ace, driving around all this time thinking your rear light looked cool and all that.=))
 
You can disconnect it so long as the tester cannot see that it has been disconnected. If it illuminates, however few light sources, then it's a testable item. Hope that is clear?

Tony.
 
cheers @t-tony I agree totally, if fitted it should work.

would this normally be an advisory? and are advisories at the discretion of the tester? Just wondering as it wasn't listed on the Mot done just before I bought it.
 
IT could just be that some tester's have grown weary of advising for the sake of it, especially where it pretty pointless, as in this case?
Of course there is the slim possibility that it did work "at the time of the test" which is really all that counts.its a bit like if a tree falls in a forest and there is no one there, did it make any sound? If you weren't there you'll never know mate.;)

Tony.
 
t-tony said:
its a bit like if a tree falls in a forest and there is no one there, did it make any sound? If you weren't there you'll never know mate.;)
Click to expand...

Is that the same kind of thing like if a bear.....
 
t-tony said:
Of course there is the slim possibility that it did work "at the time of the test" which is really all that counts.its a bit like if a tree falls in a forest and there is no one there, did it make any sound? If you weren't there you'll never know mate.;)

Tony.
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based on what else I've found, i'm not convinced the tester was there either!
 
You must have caught him on an "off" day mate, or his day off! =))

Tony.
 
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