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Non pop-up sidelights

S

Sandspider

New member
Hi all.

Just a random thought that hit me the other day as I was driving to Dorset - does anyone know of a simple way to use sidelights without needing to pop up the headlight unit? (I prefer the looks of my car when they're down, so when it's just getting a little bit dark, I'd rather have sidelights where the fog lights are...) For example, is it possible to just wire the sidelight switch direct to the foglights...? (I imagine this might be too bright / wrong voltage or ampage, so I'm asking here before messing around with my wiring!)

Incidentally, was anyone here driving a red 944 from Bath to Bristol at about 12 on Saturday? You flashed me, and I waved!

Cheers,

Giles

Edit - flashed your lights that is!
 
Wire it like the later 944 (do a search on dim-dip) and then the pods do not lift when switching on side lights but lift only when switching to dipped beam. If you switch back to sidelights the pods stay lifted until you switch the lights off completely.

Of course, you shouldn't drive around just with side lights on anyway - if it's dark then switch on your headlights - and if you switch on fogs when it's not foggy you should be flogged. [:)]
 
Thanks Ian.

So would the headlights still be shining in sidelight mode, but just into the engine bay? And when sidelights are on normally, are both headlights and the "proper" sidelights illuminated? (I don't think I've actually looked at the front of the car with just sidelights on!) I'll search on dim dip and see what I can find...

It's not for when it's properly dark, more for how things are as I'm writing this (in Bristol) - sort of a bit grey, very early dusk, and I'd rather have some lights on when driving, but not the big boys. Totally with you on fog lights, nothing looks more chavtastic.

Cheers.
 
Giles - no, with the later wiring when you switch to sidelights the sidelights come on (obviously) but the pods stay down and the main headlamp bulbs stay off. In this position you can switch on fogs too. When you rotate the knob then next turn the pods raise and the H4 headlamp bulbs come on. If you switch back to sidelights, the H4 headlamp bulbs extinguish, but the pods stay raised. Switching the lights off completely of course, lowers the pods.
 
Thanks very much both of you, perfect link poprock! For some reason, that post didn't come up when I searched for "dim dip". Oh well, this forum knows all! A task for this weekend I think...

Cheers.
 
I used to use front fogs and headlights down in my 944 (when it had front fogs - and a running engine for that matter). I did it typically when it was raining but crucially only in daylight. I know a lot of people think I should have been hung, drawn and quartered (or worse, forced to drive a Nova), but I contend it has several advantages:
  1. Pop-ups are not filthy when you come to need them to see by rather than just be seen.
  2. At speed you don't have the equivalent of 4 house bricks on the front of your car using extra fuel.
  3. You can't get your headlight lens broken by a flying stone.
  4. Round town should you knock someone over they are much less likely to be injured than if the pods are sticking up.
  5. Fog lights don't dazzle in daylight as they disperse the beam too much, but being less directional make you easier to see from a wider angle than dipped headlights.
Of course when you need headlights to see with you turn the fogs off, and there is no excuse for rear fogs ever - even when it's foggy unless it's exceptionally bad.
 
ORIGINAL: Fen

I used to use front fogs and headlights down in my 944. I did it typically when it was raining but crucially only in daylight. I know a lot of people think I should have been hung, drawn and quartered (or worse, forced to drive a Nova), but I contend it has several advantages:
  1. Pop-ups are not filthy when you come to need them to see by rather than just be seen.
  2. At speed you don't have the equivalent of 4 house bricks on the front of your car using extra fuel.
  3. You can't get your headlight lens broken by a flying stone.
  4. Round town should you knock someone over they are much less likely to be injured than if the pods are sticking up.
  5. Fog lights don't dazzle in daylight as they disperse the beam too much, but being less directional make you easier to see from a wider angle than dipped headlights.

Of course when you need headlights to see with you turn the fogs off, and there is no excuse for rear fogs ever - even when it's foggy unless it's exceptionally bad.
Click to expand...


Me too, couldn't agree more and will add an additional agreement to the rear fogs, and turn them off when someone is close enough behind to see your normal lights and never ever use them at night in the rain.[:mad:]

Tony

Hope the arm is on the mend!
 
Front fogs are acceptable in daylight and rain but not at night in lieu of dipped headlights. I think I've only used rear fogs once in 25 years.
 
I was reading about 968 turbos (from the link on the 968 thread on here), and noted this one:

http://968turbo.homestead.com/Number2.html

This claims to have had the headlights removed, and the lights in the bumper modified to act as headlights - both dipped and main beam. While I can't think that you'd get much light out of a parabolic mirror and filament bulb arrangement such as is pictured, it did set me thinking that a modern 'projector' type headlight would probably fit in there well, and make a decent job of it.

That would then allow total removal of all the headlight workings under the bonnet (akin to fitting the clear covers and removing the buckets that Mr Empson has done, but more comprehensively), thus freeing up more space for other things, and saving yet more weight. AND giving all the advantages that Mr Coull speaks of in his post ^^^^.

Has anyone seen this done for real? Does anyone know where you could buy projector headlight units from? How much space do they take up, and how much space is there in the front bumper?


Oli.
 
Interesting idea, but I suspect that they would be to low to be of any use. As you know, headlamps (particularly projector lenses) focus light downwards and to the kerbside. Due to the sharp cut-off of these lenses I suspect illumination of objects in front but not at road height would be negligeable. Still, if you want to hack into your PU bumper I have a pair of BMW e46 Bi-xenon projector lamps I could supply you with.
 
Hi again all.

One more thought on this. Just took the car to Westonbirt Arboretum, lovely Autumn colours. But I noticed that when the sidelights are on, only one of the actual sidelights (in the bumper) works. Therefore, would I be better off leaving my headlights also working as sidelights until after the MOT in December, as at least I will have functional sidelights? Or will it fail the MOT due to the dodgy actual sidelight anyway?

According to motester.co.uk:

Test Description
All required lights are checked for:
  • operation
  • condition
  • security
But I'm not sure if the sidelight is a required light, and even if it is, if I have 3 out of 4 sidelights, surely that would be enough to pass, even though one of them may not actually be working?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Cheers,

Giles
 
Personally I would either fix the broken sidelight or remove the bulb for the working one before the MOT. Having working sidelights in the popups will satisfy the test but if they see the broken one in the bumper you risk a fail. Removing the working bulb will not alert them that somehing is awry on the other side
 
Mine managed to pass an MOT with a sidelight in the bumper out and both pop-ups working. It's about time I got my backside in gear and did this mod.

I do like the Carerra GT style pop-up delete kits but i'm torn between moving too far away from stock appearance.
 
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