[england1987]

I went to my dealer today. I asked about the blackline taillights. The service and parts department didn't know about them the other day. They said that the blackline taillights have not been approved by the DOT. They said that they could not pass the vehicle for its state inspection if it has the blackline lights.

Is this true? Are they legal?

i searched first, but I couldn't find an answer.

[akhbhaat]

This is how it was with the clears on E46 cars. Only the coupes were available with them directly from the factory, because they had red reflectors mounted within the rear bumper and small square amber reflectors mounted on the front, just below the headlights.

There's some sort of obscure (though hardly obscure in effect) DOT regulation which specifies an amber reflector at each of the front corners (look at EVERY SINGLE CAR sold in the US today - and if they're in stock trim, they will have amber reflectors at the corners, usually integrated into the headlight assembly or on the front bumper), and two red or amber reflectors at the rear. Installing clears (front or back) essentially removes these reflectors and constitutes an illegal modification.

I really don't see the point. The amber colored reflectors really don't increase the visibility of the car in any meaningful way. Just another example of pointless government regulation.

Needless to say, you can easily retrofit them, and I've not once encountered a cop or anybody else who even realized that the clears on my E46 were technically illegal.

[shragon]

if you look at longtran's pic of the blacklines, you'll see there is a reflector in place on the side, just like the stock tails. depending on state, i guess you could have problems if DOT is not stamped on it.

[Paul330d]

England1987, why not leave this post for 12 months or so and then bump it by adding a pointless comment like "HAHAHA"? I'm sure members will be delighted to help you out then.

[england1987]

Originally Posted by Paul330d

England1987, why not leave this post for 12 months or so and then bump it by adding a pointless comment like "HAHAHA"? I'm sure members will be delighted to help you out then.

Thanks, I'll be sure to put a note on it stating that you wanted me to. by the way, how is france?

[itznin]

Originally Posted by Paul330d

England1987, why not leave this post for 12 months or so and then bump it by adding a pointless comment like "HAHAHA"? I'm sure members will be delighted to help you out then.

[James Bond]

With the black-lines looks the new 3er-BMW still more sportive!
But I really don´t know - if it´s given for the touring, too!??

[akhbhaat]

Originally Posted by shragon

if you look at longtran's pic of the blacklines, you'll see there is a reflector in place on the side, just like the stock tails. depending on state, i guess you could have problems if DOT is not stamped on it.

Seeing as that's the case, I don't see why they're not DOT approved. Maybe they will be.

[thd13]

They are DOT approved. It has DOT imprinted on the plastic. Not noticable in any pictures, but if you look closely in person, it says so.

[shragon]

Originally Posted by thd13

They are DOT approved. It has DOT imprinted on the plastic. Not noticable in any pictures, but if you look closely in person, it says so.

well, there you go folks.

also proves to show that some dealers don't know s**t.

[ChrisPA]

Originally Posted by akhbhaat

There's some sort of obscure (though hardly obscure in effect) DOT regulation which specifies an amber reflector at each of the front corners ...

I really don't see the point. The amber colored reflectors really don't increase the visibility of the car in any meaningful way. Just another example of pointless government regulation.

I agree that there are many many pointless regulations, but I don't see this one as particularly egregious - at the very least, its easy to meet the requirement. I'd imagine its for times when the car lights are OFF, so there is some kind of reflection coming from the corners of a car, say, off to the side of the road, maybe broken down. In the dark, particularly foggy times, I've noticed these reflectors pretty clearly on parked cars... Not sure that I wouldn't have seen the car without them, but it did help...

[Chesmu]

moot point!
They are legal... corroborated by the fact that they are sold by BMW dealerships in NA.

[akhbhaat]

Originally Posted by ChrisPA

I agree that there are many many pointless regulations, but I don't see this one as particularly egregious - at the very least, its easy to meet the requirement. I'd imagine its for times when the car lights are OFF, so there is some kind of reflection coming from the corners of a car, say, off to the side of the road, maybe broken down. In the dark, particularly foggy times, I've noticed these reflectors pretty clearly on parked cars... Not sure that I wouldn't have seen the car without them, but it did help...

Assuming the reflectors do have a valid purpose (and I do see your point), why specify amber as opposed to white (which looks far better)? I have no trouble seeing the white reflectors used over lane markings on highways.

[ChrisPA]

Originally Posted by akhbhaat

Assuming the reflectors do have a valid purpose (and I do see your point), why specify amber as opposed to white (which looks far better)? I have no trouble seeing the white reflectors used over lane markings on highways.

you have me there! i can see no good reason why they insist on amber, so i'd guess it's just to make it simpler on them - not necessarily safer or better, but just simpler for them to test/standardize. doh!

[shragon]

i guess because it's been amber for so long, the govt is too lazy to change it. in my mind, i think it should be tweaked to make the requirement either a clear/white or amber reflector up front.