amber euro side marker fender lights

[zedsn]

I like the euro look and am thinking about using it on my 1977 911S widebody and wanted to know why I see some 911 cars that have the smallish amber side marker front fender lights while others I do not. Both styles appear to have the euro taillight lenses as well as the rubber front bumper side marker delete. Any insight is appriciated.

[Reiver]

The side fender lights came on Euro's (by law) but not on US models as it is/was not a DOT requirement.
Anyone can put the Euro ambers on a US car, I have them on mine as I like the look and DOT and the Cops have become use to so many different lighting systems they don't bother....by law they should be red I believe.

[Oh Haha]

My SC was a Euro spec 911 so it had the marker lights from the factory but not the bumper plugs. I can only assume the front bumper lights were installed whenit was federalized for the USA.

If they are installed correctly I think it adds to the flavor of a 911. The Euro headlights and rear lenses would be a cool change, too.

[zedsn]

Many thanks for clearing this up for me. Now I just have to decide if I want to install them or not.

[Cooper911SC]

Without looking at reference material...my memory is that the Euro fender mounted side marker lights started in 1980 or 1981.

Cooper

[javadog]

They were added to ROW models in 1981. US spec cars never had them.

JR

[SilverWT]

If you do decide to install them, don't pay P tax. They are common to a number of German made vehicles, e.g. the VW Golf.

Mark

[zedsn]

Thanks all for the imfo. Parts geek has the cheapest price for the euro side marker pair that I have found and are good quality units if anyone is looking. Even cheaper than evilbay. Since my car did not come with them I am not going to install them and just going to use the euro rear bumper ends, amber bosch tail light lenses as well as the rubber front bumper plugs.

[rlane930]

Originally Posted by javadog

They were added to ROW models in 1981. US spec cars never had them.

JR

+1 - not period correct for any pre-1981 Porsche and drives me crazy that all the scale model makers put them on most of their vintage 911s/930s.

[FrenchToast]

Originally Posted by Reiver

by law they should be red I believe.

Incorrect. Anything that is not a taillight, brakelight, rear signal*, rear reflector, or rear foglight must be amber or white, depending on its function.

There is no problem with sidemarkers. They just aren't required. Just like a rear foglight is not required in the U.S. However, plenty of foreign cars come in with them.

*Now in Europe, rear signals must be amber, never red. In North America, red or amber rear signals are acceptable.

[86 911 Targa]

Originally Posted by FrenchToast

Incorrect. Anything that is not a taillight, brakelight, rear signal*, rear reflector, or rear foglight must be amber or white, depending on its function.

There is no problem with sidemarkers. They just aren't required. Just like a rear foglight is not required in the U.S. However, plenty of foreign cars come in with them.

*Now in Europe, rear signals must be amber, never red. In North America, red or amber rear signals are acceptable.

And, for our '86 U.S. model, the factory pre-wired the black/white wire harness fender lights.



Gerry

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by FrenchToast

There is no problem with sidemarkers. They just aren't required. Just like a rear foglight is not required in the U.S.

Actually, side marker lights (markers, not blinkers) used to be prohibited in Europe. A while back (8-10 years, maybe) the rules changed to allow, but not require rear markers, but they have to be Amber, not red. Again, as I recall...

[Canada Kev]

On my Swiss market car, the fender lights are only signal light repeaters and NOT marker lights. They are only illuminated with the signal flashers.

While not exactly a good example of the signal light only nature of the side repeaters, not that the photo was taken with the hazard flashers on and the shutter clicked when the lights just happened to be lit up. Also note no marker lights on the front bumper - only signals, and the illuminated city lights in the headlights.

[Racerbvd]

My Euro 81 had them,
But it is about to get a steel Wide body treatment

[sm70911]

My 1981 ROW (German Market) car has them. They work with the turn indicators and when the hazards are on. They are not illuminated when the 'side' lights (first notch on light pull switch) or main low / high beams are on (second notch on light pull switch)

[Wout_RS]

yes, they where standard from '81 on.

Easily to know these are the 204 hp models as well

[FrenchToast]

Originally Posted by FrenchToast

Incorrect. Anything that is not a taillight, brakelight, rear signal*, rear reflector, or rear foglight must be amber or white, depending on its function.

There is no problem with sidemarkers. They just aren't required. Just like a rear foglight is not required in the U.S. However, plenty of foreign cars come in with them.

*Now in Europe, rear signals must be amber, never red. In North America, red or amber rear signals are acceptable.

Cannot edit. Should read:

Originally Posted by FrenchToast

There is no problem with siderepeaters. They just aren't required. Just like a rear foglight is not required in the U.S. However, plenty of foreign cars come in with them.

However, now that lots of cars have repeaters on the mirror, maybe ruling has been revised to require them. But I know previously side repeaters were never required.

Side markers (or reflectors) have always been required. This is easily seen on any 80's grey-market car, where the DOT artfully stuck some eyesore reflectors onto the sides of 928s, etc. The 911 was an easy mod (swap small rubber strip in bumper for US reflector). 928 required fender replacement. Easier for people to drill holes and glue a random trailer light on there.

Note how Racerbvd's car above has some oh-so-OEM reflectors on the lower valence.

[Bill Douglas]

My 1979 SC Sport, a UK set of options, has them. As did a friends '78 SC also from the UK.

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by Canada Kev

On my Swiss market car, the fender lights are only signal light repeaters and NOT marker lights. They are only illuminated with the signal flashers.

My side lights are signal indicators as well, PO originally had them as markers ( melting the housing, btw ) but, that seemed not so functional so I switched them to indicators, only lights when I signal, seem more secure on lane changes when a driver is too close and in that potential blind spot.

Over kill with my US standard fronts, but better safe then sowwy

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

My 1979 SC Sport, a UK set of options, has them. As did a friends '78 SC also from the UK.

Which obviously were added by owners after the cars were built, since the side markers didn't exist yet in those years.

JR