9 replies to this topic

[Deano@84]

~~~~~Please delete this text before posting the topic~~~~~~
Please give your topic a title that quickly describes your problem. Just putting 'Help my Mini doesn't work' is useless to anyone trying to help.
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Model:Mayfair
Year:1991
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):
Hi Guys,

i love the look of the spotlight being used as a reverse light. Problem is I don't know how to go about doing this. Do I tap into the lines feeding the reverse lights? Also how do i go about mounting it to the boot lid? Cheers guys in advance. Any advice would be greatly received.



Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem?no

[Dan]

It's not usually just any old spot lamp that is used but a specific one designed to mount onto a panel. There is a replica of the original available from S-V-C but it's expensive. Also, they are illegal as a reverse lamp.

[samsfern]

i have one, but i have mk2 rear lenses as well, you get a lamp unit with the bolt thingy in the centre, not the bottom like spotlights, you have to drill a fairly big hole in the lid, then just modify the reverse wires.

why are they illegal as a reverse lamp?? why havent the police had me for that as well??

[ohsuchislife]

i have had mine on for a while now .. never been pulled yet ... oh well i wait .. will happen one day .. the bloke who lives next got done for not having enough water in his washer bottle .. they made him open his bonnet ... oh the joy of the old bill ...

Attached Files

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[mk3 Cooper S]

Needs to be fitted with a 21W bulb to comply to regs.

[shorty]

i have had mine on for a while now .. never been pulled yet ... oh well i wait .. will happen one day .. the bloke who lives next got done for not having enough water in his washer bottle .. they made him open his bonnet ... oh the joy of the old bill ...

yours looks like it has the reverse light built into the rear lights though :S

so therefore you wouldn't get pulled unless you have wired the spot up to be used as a reverse lamp

[ohsuchislife]

what i did with mine is tap into the reverse light put a relay inline and ....bobs your uncle or auntie if hes that way ...

[phil_clubman]

i have mine wired onto a seperate switch so i can just use it when i need it

was also told that they are too bright to use as a reverse lamp

Edited by phil_clubman, 29 March 2010 - 01:21 PM.

[Dan]

why are they illegal as a reverse lamp?? why havent the police had me for that as well??

If your car was built after 1985 they are completely illegal because any reverse lamp fitted needs to be E marked or Kite marked as a reverse lamp. If your car was built before 1985 any reverse lamp fitted must be below 24 watts output and nobody makes a dim enough bulb which actually fits into the bulb holder in that lamp. You haven't been pulled because no bored copper has seen you using it as a reverse lamp yet, they might do one day though. It can be legally fitted as a work lamp, but only if it is not switched automatically by the gear lever. It would have to be switched independently and the switch would need a tell-tale. It would still be illegal to use for reversing though or to have it switched on at all unless you were working at the rear of the car, like if you were hooking up a trailer or something.

This has all been posted many times before.

[Cooperman]

I've always used the Lucas 5" flush-fitted fog lamp as a reversing lamp on all my Mini rally cars since 1963. They are only illegal if you use them on a public road and that's why I never wire them into an automatic reverse switch, I have a separate switch and a warning light. They are quite legal for use on special stages and not illegal to fit.