I’m going to upgrade my Mini City to H4 headlamps. I see the kits are sold with and without pilot lights. What are pilot lights? I’m assuming they are what we call “side marker lights” here in America. If so, why would it matter? What do the headlamps have to do with side lights or am I missing something?
Headlamp With Or Without Pilot Lights?
Started by
80sMiniCity
, Nov 16 2012 09:00 AM
4 replies to this topic
#2
pdaykin
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Super Mini Mad
Posted 16 November 2012 - 09:08 AM
The side light is built in to the headlamp unit on most minis.
Elfs/hornets, clubmans have seperate sidelights. I think some of the non-british made minis also had seperate sidelights
Elfs/hornets, clubmans have seperate sidelights. I think some of the non-british made minis also had seperate sidelights
#3
Woreign
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Mini Mad
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Posted 16 November 2012 - 09:21 AM
The pilot lights are what we call "parking lights" in the States. They come on with the tail lights and dash lights.
#4
80sMiniCity
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Stage One Kit Fitted
Posted 16 November 2012 - 03:20 PM
Is the yellow light under the headlamp (headlight in the US) only used as the direction indicator (blinker in the US) in the UK? Mine is also the front pilot light (parking light in the US). It is light solid when I turn on the lights and blinks when I use the direction indicator (turn signal in the US). If I’m correct then a “pilot light” in the headlamp would be redundant.
#5
tiger99
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Crazy About Mini's
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Posted 17 November 2012 - 06:21 PM
Yes, the amber (not yellow on any road vehicle or traffic light in the UK, but interestingly, railway signals are always yellow, not amber, but don't ask me why) light is only legally used as the indicator in the UK. Combining functions which require different colours is not legal here. For instance, the typical US car with combined brake lights and indicators, both red, one brake light being interrupted to show the flashing if both are on together, is now completely illegal here and results in MOT failure.
There is nothing to prevent anyone from legally fitting a pair of white sidelights to the front of a Mini, and these may be twin units with an amber lens for the indicator and a clear lens for the sidelight. It would increase the number of headlight units which could be used, as some do not have the hole for the sidelight bulb, which in any case impairs the optical efficiency. The dilemma is in choosing a light which looks right and fits to the curves of the bodywork without too much effort.
There is nothing to prevent anyone from legally fitting a pair of white sidelights to the front of a Mini, and these may be twin units with an amber lens for the indicator and a clear lens for the sidelight. It would increase the number of headlight units which could be used, as some do not have the hole for the sidelight bulb, which in any case impairs the optical efficiency. The dilemma is in choosing a light which looks right and fits to the curves of the bodywork without too much effort.
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