LocostUSA.com

This just in from a fellow LocostUSA member. I know we have 50 different DMVs but does anyone have any suggestions?

Got the lights, thanks. Unfortunately I asked my NYS tenchnical services
about SAE marking on the lenses and they replied the EU marking isn't good
enough. SAE's are manitory.
Do you know of any documentation that equates EU labels to SAE?

It's a problem that has never crossed my desk before. Caterham and Westfield and Birkin and blablablah all use the same lights, does anyone know how they deal with it in New York? This is a vague memory, but don't some Mercedes models (and other European imports) have EU markings on their tail light lenses?

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Locost builder and adventurer, and founder (but no longer owner) of Kinetic Vehicles

Hmmm, ya got me there. .. My 04 Volvo has dual stampings, SAE and DOT but I disremember what my Mercedes had.

I suspect a DOT stamping would be acceptable as well but it's hard to say for sure.

Here's the US spec coding for lamps in case it will help (these sometimes but not always appear in the info stamp on the lens);

North American SAE Lighting and Signalling Function Markings:

A Reflex reflectors
A2 Wide angle reflex reflectors
C Motorcycle auxiliary "passing" lamp
D Motorcycle turn signal lamp
E Side turn signals for vehicles at least 12m long
E2 Side turn signals for vehicles shorter than 12m
F Front fog lamp
F2 Rear fog lamp (fog taillamp)
G Cargo lamp
H Sealed beam headlamp
HG Xenon HID headlamp
HR Halogen replaceable-bulb headlamp
I Turn signal, front
I3 Turn signal, front, spaced from 75mm to 99mm from low beam headlamp
I4 Turn signal, front, spaced from 60mm to 74mm from low beam headlamp
I5 Turn signal, front, spaced less than 60mm from low beam headlamp
I6 Turn signal, rear (also front for vehicles at least 2m wide)
I7 Turn signal, front, spaced less than 100mm from the headlamp, for vehicles at least 2m wide
K Front cornering lamp
K2 Rear cornering lamp
L License plate lamp
M Motorcycle headlamp
N Moped headlamp
O Spot lamp
P Parking lamp
P2 Clearance, Sidemarker, and Identification lamp
P3 Clearance, Sidemarker and Identification lamp for vehicles at least 2m wide
PC Combination clearance and sidemarker lamp (trucks)
PC2 Combination clearance and sidemarker lamp for vehicles at least 2m wide
R Reversing (backup) lamp
S Stop (brake) lamp
S2 Stop (brake) lamp for vehicles at least 2m wide
T Tail (rear position) lamp
T2 Tail (rear position) lamp for vehicles at least 2m wide
U Supplemental high-mounted combination brake/turn lamp
U2 Supplemental high-mounted brake lamp for vehicles at least 2m wide
U3 Center high-mounted brake lamp (CHMSL) for passenger cars
W2 Warning lamp for school buses
Y Auxiliary high beam ("driving") lamp
Y2 Daytime Running Lamp
Z Auxiliary low beam lamp

_________________
"There are times when a broken tool is better than a sound one, or a twisted personality more useful than a whole one.
For instance, a whole beer bottle isn't half the weapon that half a beer bottle is ..." Randall Garrett

I went googling and guess what I found?

http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=9285

From what I can tell, the lamps must meet DOT (FMVSS-SAE) requirements. There are no marking requirements. The marking just makes it easier for an inspector to verify that it meets those requirements. I wonder if a letter of compliance to FMVSS 108 from Britax would be acceptable to the NY inspectors. If it works like a lot of other regulatory agencies, the manufacturer tests to self-certify they meet the requirements.

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Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766

It doesn't hurt to ask:
http://www.midatlanticcaterham.com/

Hey, don't we know this guy?
http://www.vcmc.ca/forum/showthread.php ... T-approval
Screw some cheap dot lights to a piece of wood on the back is an option.

For those who have not sprung for tail lights yet, I suggest the dot forklift lights in the supplier section. Just pop rivet an aluminum wedge box to fit behind them. It could also be fiberglass or wood.

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Jack, 'E' code lights or EU are rapidly becoming a world standard, as far as I know Japan is currently going through this same standard coding themselves for their new vehicles.
All you have to do is look at most any European cars today and they come into this country and I assume yours as well with E coded lights.
My Passat is built in Germany and it has E code lights, not DOT or SAE lights.
When I installed the Britax lights on my car I did not contact the inspector but contacted the DMV directly to get their take on it, considering my existing daily driver already had E or EU code lights.
They sent me a letter stating that they had no problem with the lights as long as they met current brightness standards.
I responded that the Britax lights used a standard 1157 bulb with internal reflector, the same as just about every trailer and old car light out there.
After I had their letter I had my ammo for my cars inspection, as it turned out in my case the inspector didn't even consider the E code lights an issue.
Just remind them that E or EU code lights are already standard equipment on a number of today's cars being shipped to North America for sale already.
They shouldn't deny one and accept the other, logically, have them contact the DMV or it's equivalent for New York directly, they should be able to over ride or issue something that would satisfy the local inspector.

Al

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Super Seven 3.4