08-06-2013, 12:37 PM | #1 |
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Purpose of side markers located on mirrors?
I've lived, worked and traveled to Europe on and off over the past 30+ years, and as life-long motorhead, I was always interested in the differences between American and European cars.
Way back when, the side markers on European cars were always on the front fenders. I always figured that they were placed there to notify other cars that were approaching from the side - for example, if you were being overtaken or if you were pulling out of a parking space. In those instances, the front and rear direction signals are not always visible. So for that reason, the side markers on the fenders were very smart to me. But now all the side markers are being moved to the mirrors, I believe in accordance with new European legal requirements, and I'm confused. Located on the mirrors, the markers are now mainly visible to cars approaching head on, just like the markers in the front of the car. So to me, the purpose is duplicative and their side functionality is lost. But I'm sure that the brains of Brussels had something else in mind. What am I missing?
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08-07-2013, 09:57 AM | #2 |
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Shhhhh!!! Don't encourage the EU for anymore regulations!!!!! Our quiet M5 exhausts are proof of that!!!
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08-07-2013, 10:44 AM | #3 |
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Because we do NOT have the god awful markers in the front wings, they look sooooo NAF.
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08-07-2013, 12:45 PM | #4 |
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Good point. This should not have been changed from fender to mirror.
It just makes it worse. From the 3/4 rear angle you can see a fender blinker, not on a mirror, nor can you see it dead on, if I'm correct. Stupid Americans.
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08-07-2013, 12:49 PM | #5 | |
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Anyone confirm this one way or the other?.
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08-07-2013, 12:59 PM | #6 |
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Looking on bmwusa.com, BYO M5, looks like it will remain on the fender. You lucky guy!
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08-07-2013, 01:47 PM | #7 | |
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http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/t...gs/R006r5e.pdf This is the legislation in force within the EU, as referred to in Annex II to EU directive 76/759/EEC As you can see on page 19, the idea of these direction markers is to be visible from the rear. So even though manufacturers also choose to make them visible from the front (with the largest illuminated area towards the front), they still have to comply with ECE Reg 6 regarding visibilty from the rear. |
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08-07-2013, 02:01 PM | #8 | |
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08-07-2013, 02:06 PM | #9 |
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The EU regs have a specific noise test procedure with certain gears, revs, accelerations etc. Make your car comply with those exact provisions, and use valves in the exhaust, it's legal to make all the noise you want outside the test criterias... (within reasonable levels off course )
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08-07-2013, 02:15 PM | #10 | |
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I hadn't thought so, but maybe BMW's change is more to conform to the current fad than to comply with a new reg? Still . . .
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08-07-2013, 02:23 PM | #11 | |
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And as you could see from page 19, your guess as to the side indicators purpose was spot on |
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