what the hell is wrong with people?
 

So tonight (after dark) I was driving up Aurora Ave and I merge in behind an Integra. This guy had done a clear taillight conversion, but had neglected to replace the bulbs with red ones. That's right - his tail lights/brake lights were bright white. WTF? The whole time I'm driving behind him (I couldn't change lanes) I felt like I was about to have a head-on collision with a car that has dim headlights. Then we get to a stop light and he sits there with his foot on the brake and now I was completely blinded - I had to look through the little holes in the sun visor just to be able to see! :cussing:

I felt like dragging this guy out of his car and beating him. What the hell was he thinking? I very nearly called the cops and reported him, and now I wish I had (I couldn't really get to my cell phone). I'm all for people doing whatever they feel like to their car (even if it looks dumb, I don't get angry about it like some people), but there's a reason why we have laws about shit like this. This is like those idiots that get blue-painted headlight bulbs that barely put out any light, only much worse. At least he didn't have a ridiculous fart-can muffler that deafened me in the process.

betcha the fart-can muffler is being installed as we speak, plus an $80 steel wing, and purple tint, and washer fluid LEDs, and...........

...20 inch chrome spinners...

...type R stickers....

That is dangerous, get his tag# and report it. The other one that get's me is the guy driving without headlights on at dusk or in heavy rain and fog. I see it often.

man...I thought the age of ricers were coming to an end....I guess the F&F 3 will revive the trend. God help us.

I'm ashamed to admit that one of the local Mitsubishi dealers in this area still proudly display a 2F2F banner on their homepage to encourage Evo sales. Shameless and embarassing...

http://www.veracom.com/veracommitsubishi/index.html

Actually, that should be "14 inch chrome spinner hubcaps." I saw a great set yesterday, the spinning part was on the outside, plus it was flat while the rest of the hubcap was curved and the diameter of the spinner was about two inches smaller than the rest of the hubcap. Big pimpin, I tell ya.

:rollingla

I agree 100%.

That's one of the reasons I refuse to change change out the orange side marker lenses on my RX-8 for clear ones. The federally mandated standard is to have orange marker lamps on the front/side.

Here's a good source for more information on the standards:

American Association of Motor Vehilce Administrators >> Vehicle & Equipment Standards >> Lighting Issues

You can have the clear side markers because you change out the clear bulbs for some amber coloured ones. The problem here is that the bulbs remained clear when he swapped for clear lens.

Yea when I go to my local shop(s) that have a banner that reads "Some products may be for off road use only" It further state's that they are not responsible if you are a Jack A$$ and use them for everyday use.
I think this should be placed at the top of web sites (that sell these types of products) when you click to see more product info.

a lot of websites DO have that posted under the description portion of those qualified (or unqualified, i should say) products...

RP mid pipe

check out the 'Important Note' for the mid pipe.

Not true. The orange marker lenses have to purposes -- one is to illuminate an amber light at night, and the other is to produce an amber reflection when light is pointed at it. Using an amber bulb behind a clear or white lens produces the first result, but not the second, so unless you also stick on an ugly orange reflector on your fender, it's not legal.

Here's an excerpt from a technical report from the Department of Transportation (DOT HS 809 833) (pages 58-59):The reason that Australian RX-8s have "clear corners" is because, yes, I suppose they may be more attractive (although I don't personally think so)... But the Aussie's have apparently not adopted USDOT's lighting standards.

I see you live in Canada -- I think Transport Canada's standards mirror USDOTs, but I can't say for sure.

Sorry for the multiple posts. I just learned that edits are only possible within 2 minutes of posting. So noted!

I think our car comes with the reflector on the inside or it will come with it when you order the clear corners. Rules in Canada vary from province to province, so I am not so sure myself if I were to do this modification.

It's interesting, because I'm actually going through some debate right now about my corner lens. I got a set of clear corners because I'm with the majority here that it looks much better, especially on a black car. I checked my state laws (WA state), and while the wording is a little confusing, I think it's perfectly legal to have my corners both reflect and project clear light. (A friend of mine has been driving around here for years with white corner lights and never got hassled). So I was gonna put some white LEDs in there, because I really like the way it looks when all the light coming out of the front of the car is the same color.

But now I'm second guessing myself. After all, first priority is to be safe and legal and to provide other cars on the road with accurate information. As I see it, corner lights are so that other cars can a) see how wide you are when looking at the front of the car, and b) make the car visible from the side. I think that white light in the front does both of these things just fine, as long as the bulb isn't so bright that it's blinding or distracting to other drivers. I do worry that the LEDs will be too bright.

Really, I wish changing bulbs/lenses in this car wasn't such a PITA, or else I would just try a couple configurations...

In all the posts about clear corners, this is the first I've seen address the color of the reflection . The reflection is only an issue, of course, when the car is parked, ignition off.
I'm just now about to install my clear corners with amber stealth bulbs.
I will proceed as planned, but thank you for bringing up this point .

It doesn't matter if you think white corner lights make your car visable to other drivers, and it doesn't matter what state you are in (I'm in WA too). We are talking about USDOT regulations. Look at any stock car released in the US, they all have an amber reflective side marker in front of the front wheels. Some have it integrated into the headlamp, some have a separate piece like our 8's, but they all have it.

Other countries obviously have different regulations, I believe in Europe and Japan the side marker can be anywhere on the front half of the car and only has to emit amber light (not reflect). That's why many Euro spec and JDM cars will have no corner light at all and just the little clear side marker near the door (behind the front wheel) or even integrated into the mirror. It's also why some cars (Carrera GT comes to mind) end up with a tacked on amber light up front for US spec that aren't there at all in Europe.

Of course USDOT regs are for automobile manufacturers, and I doubt there are many police out there that would actually pull you over for having clear corners, especially if they are emitting amber light (The officer would basically have to shine light on your car while it is parked at night with the lights out to really even notice). So while technically illegal, the chances of getting a ticket are slim.

I just got my 8 (this is my first post here, actually) and although I plan on keeping it as stock as possible, I do plan on putting clear corners with amber bulbs on it. I think there's a much higher chance of me getting pulled over for not having a front plate, and I've done that for the past 7 years and it's technically illegal.

In CA, if you're pulled over for any type of "white" tailights or turn signal markers, it's an automatic moving violation and not just a fix it ticket.

I too put the clear corners on my car (red) in Florida and probably sit in traffic next to, in front of, or behind sheriff and trooper cars everyday, and I have not been hasseled about them being clear. I believe that it is legal, so long as the bulb is amber, which mine are, I even removed the reflector inside, so at night, you can not tell that they are clear, they look just like the factory amber ones. The clear ones fit the body better and have that little flair that makes the front look a little meaner, plus they are away from the body a little more and thus more visible.

I do agree, having clear tailights with clear bulbs is just plain stupid, I see it here all the time on Acuras and Hondas, but I never stay behind them long, whether they like it or not.:mdrmed:

I've been doing a little digging on this and here's what I've found for my location (I currently live in Portland, OR and work in Vancouver, WA. I'll be moving to Vancouver in 1 month though)

Oregon Law

Oregon state law is pretty specific then about the need for amber reflex reflectors at the front corners, which the JDM spec side markers do not provide.

Washington Law

The wording of the Washington state law is a little more ambiguous. It says the front corner must display OR reflect amber, so if you've got the JDM clear corners with an amber bulb are you OK? Well, maybe, but there is also a page that says that Washington state has adopted FMVSS 108 (like Oregon Washington Law #2) which would clear up the vague wording.

Bottom line is if you live in OR or WA, the JDM clear corners are technically illegal. Will you be pulled over for it? If you are using amber lighting bulbs I doubt it, if you are using white, blue or other color bulbs I would think it would be more likely.

Florida has not adopted FMVSS 108. FL state laws regarding lighting can be found at: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/data/stat...00/sl00313.pdf. There doesn't seem to be any mention of front side marker lights reflecting amber, and they actually say that front signal lights can emit white or amber light. So you appear to be safe! Lucky!