Active Cornering lights

[Plodd]

Do they actually use the fog light or part of the headlight?

Doing a quick google search seems to show it's part of the headlight that turns into the corner, not the fog light.

http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/con...w_cars/b_class/overview/safety.0001.0002.html

 

[Shude]

Do they actually use the fog light or part of the headlight?

Doing a quick google search seems to show it's part of the headlight that turns into the corner, not the fog light.

http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/con...w_cars/b_class/overview/safety.0001.0002.html

It is the foglamps, in the front bumper. Those lights are something else

 

[Plodd]

Why would they develop 2 systems for doing the same thing?

And for what it's worth I can't think of any way this could be 'legal' if it is using the 'fog' light at the same power as when it's doing it's duties as a fog light.

My google search showed quite a few of these systems and all use part of the headlight. Nothing I found says fog lights are used. I know a few on here have this system and they should know which light is used but why can't I find it?

 

[Shude]

Why would they develop 2 systems for doing the same thing?

One is a motorised lamp system which turns the headlamp as you turn the steering wheel, presumably at any speed, to look around winding country roads etc, the other simply turns on either foglamp as you turn the wheel at low speeds, for example when parking.

 

[R2D2]

Mine uses the foglights, not the motorised headlight version........

 

[BTB 500]

Right Kent Police have said that whilst it is true that you cannot run with foglights on in clear visability, it is also true that you cant drive on full beam in clear visability for the same reason. You are allowed (encouraged ) to flash your main beam to warn others of your presence etc. and you are therefore making temporary use of a light which would otherwise be illegal to have on (Beam in day light) therefore the arguement is the same for fog lights you are making temporary use of a light to check for people crossing a road you are turning into. You are not driving around blinding people withfog lights full on.

Hmm .. I've never heard that you were encouraged to flash your headlights?!

Highway Code says

90: Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights in an attempt to intimidate other road users.

Seems a pretty weird argument to say that automatically covers something else that would normally be illegal. "But officer, I only fired my shotgun at that car to let him know I was there!"

Like I said originally, I'm pretty sure that putting single foglights on for turning isn't legal ... but it's extremely unlikely anyone would bother to nick you for it.

Personally I think it looks daft (until I knew about the system my reaction was always "look at that Mercedes with a broken foglight"), and serves little or no practical purpose!

 

[glojo]

I thought that foglights\spotlights had to be fitted and work in pairs, plus of course foglights should only be used in 'poor' visibility. No mention of speed?

I asked this self same question before the CLS was released. I still have not got a proper answer. I think Kent Police are slightly out of order and should give a legal answer and not 'encourage'. They are either legal, or illegal. If the person asked does not know the answer then simply say they do not know, but they will find out.

I cannot imagine a vehicle manufacturer getting type approval on something that is illegal, so a portion of me thinks the lighting laws have changed?

John

 

[robert.saunders]

I assume there has been an amendment to lighting regulations.

This also for the new s-class:

http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/con...ss_Saloon_2006/overview/safety.0004.0004.html

Which I don't believe is/was ordinarily allowed for use in UK. Bit like flashing of a red rear lamp - only Emergency vehicles/Highways Agency Traffic Officer vehicles are allowed to display a flashing red rear, if you pardon the expression.

Not sure if breakdown/recovery vehicles are allowed to show a flashing red to the rear.

There was a recent amendment to the lighting regulations for abnormal load escort vehicles. The use of amber flashing beacons was only really allowed for speeds under 25mph but I understand this has changed, or will change, as escorting is now undertaken often by private contractors and these readily travel (especially on motorways) at speeds higher than 25mph.

However, I can't as yet find further evidence of this.

Rob

 

[Rory]

Xenons are technically illegal in the UK. So are LED rear lights, hazard lights that come on under heavy braking and cornering lights.
My foglights (and I suspect most MB owners have this activated) come on when I unlock the car in the dark - I guess that's technically illegal too?

The reason all these things are allowed is because they are EU type approved, and EU law over-rides ours. Xenons are a bit of a bone of contention as there is a school of thought that only factory fitted items can be EU type approved (I *think* this is because the car as a complete entity carries the approval?). I guess retro activating the cornering lights might fall into the same area?

 

[219]

Here are the regs

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uk...iii)25requirementaboutuseheadlampfrontfoglamp

The salient parts being ,

"Requirements about the use of headlamps and front fog lamps
25.—(1) Save as provided in paragraph (2), no person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, on a road a vehicle which is fitted with obligatory dipped-beam headlamps unless every such lamp is kept lit-

(a) during the hours of darkness, except on a road which is a restricted road for the purposes of section 81 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 by virtue of a system of street lighting when it is lit; and

(b) in seriously reduced visibility.

(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) do not apply-

(a) in the case of a motor vehicle fitted with one obligatory dipped-beam headlamp or a solo motor bicycle or motor bicycle combination fitted with a pair of obligatory dipped-beam headlamps, if a main-beam headlamp or a front fog lamp is kept lit;

(b) in the case of a motor vehicle, other than a solo motor bicycle or motor bicycle combination, fitted with a pair of obligatory dipped-beam headlamps, if-

(i) a pair of main-beam headlamps is kept lit; or

(ii) in seriously reduced visibility, a pair of front fog lamps which is so fitted that the outermost part of the illuminated area of each lamp in the pair is not more than 400 mm from the outer edge of the vehicle is kept lit;

(c) to a vehicle being drawn by another vehicle;

(d) to a vehicle while being used to propel a snow plough; or

(e) to a vehicle which is parked."


and ...

"(1) (2) (3)
Item No. Type of lamp, hazard warning signal device or warning beacon Manner of use prohibited
1 Headlamp
(a) Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road.

(b) Used so as to be lit when a vehicle is parked.
2 Front fog lamp
(a) Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road.

(b) Used so as to be lit at any time other than in conditions of seriously reduced visibility.

(c) Used so as to be lit when a vehicle is parked.
3 Rear fog lamp
(a) Used so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to the driver of a following vehicle.

(b) Used so as to be lit at any time other than in conditions of seriously reduced visibility.

(c) Save in the case of an emergency vehicle, used so as to be lit when a vehicle is parked."

 

[glojo]

Xenons are technically illegal in the UK. So are LED rear lights, hazard lights that come on under heavy braking and cornering lights.

This is a forum which has a lot of very knowledgeable folk and I consider myself fortunate to be able to learn froim them. Could you possibly 'enlighten' me as to how xeon lights are technically??? illegal please. Surely they are either legal, or illegal.

I am certainly NOT disagreeing with you, I am merely curious and the owner of a vehicle with xeon lights.

Regards,
John

 

[portzy]

I think the difference here is three fold.

1. In this country everything is legal unless it is specifically legislated against. Such as in having to seek permision to do anything. As was, (and still is), sometimes the case in eastern europe and 'developing countries'. So, by default, and in the absence of specific banning to the contrary, the cornering light facility is legal.

2. When utilised, the system is not "fog lights" as such in the traditional sense. It is one single, (modified) lamp throwing a low, wide, and irregular beam in the direction of the turn. The emphasis being on the singular lamp/light and not lights.

3. The light comes on slowly and goes off slowly, not in an instant as it does when you select both lights with the switch in bad visibility. Also, MB do state that the beam is not your regular pattern and is designed to be low, wide, and irregular to accomodate both functions.

My two'penneth

Portzy.

 

[Rory]

This is a forum which has a lot of very knowledgeable folk and I consider myself fortunate to be able to learn froim them. Could you possibly 'enlighten' me as to how xeon lights are technically??? illegal please. Surely they are either legal, or illegal.

I am certainly NOT disagreeing with you, I am merely curious and the owner of a vehicle with xeon lights.

It's apparently (and this also picks up on what Portzy says) because they're not specifically mentioned in UK legislation as a suitable kind of lamp for a vehicle. Contrary to Portzy's thoughts, you can only use lighting as defined in the law. I've got a feeling that there's also a second issue in that the legislation calls for lamps to be filament lamps, too (which of course Xenons and LEDs are not).

The Xenon thing comes up quite frequently on various forums as people fit them themselves. There is a letter kicking around from the Dept of Transport which suggests that illegal (or at least, not legal).

 

[glojo]

Hi Portzy,
Unfortunately the Lighting Regulations, plus Construction and Use are an absolute minefield of legislation that would baffle Mr Average.

Side lights must not exceed a specific wattage otherwise they are illegal, this also applies to foglights\spotlights and headlights. I cannot comment on lights that illuminate, or switch on slowly, because I feel that once again there will be legislation which I am not aware of. Pontoneer's link is a nice guide but the regulations are in a book with hundreds of pages!

My query is regarding the single operation of these 'turning' lights, I assume they have a higher wattage than indicators, plus of course indicators must be a certain colour, again our strict laws control this. American vehicles have red coloured rear indicators, this is illegal over here.

I believe that the lights must be lawful simply because of the very strict type approval legislation. Manufacturers must adapt their vehicles so that they fully comply in every respect, so I feel that an amendment might have been slipped into the legislation.

Having said that the parking light system was always a useless 'option' that was\is fitted to our vehicles. The law always used to state that within certain stipulated areas we could park our motor vehicle on the highway at night without lights. (provided we complied with certain requirements) On other roads however we had to have our sidelights switched on. This was sidelights, NOT parking lights which would normally be only the offside sidelights. If you failed to display two red lights to the rear and two white lights to the front, then you were breaking the law, yet cars have for years been fitted with this parking light option.

On a final note.
For donkeys years the law dictated that when you go abroad in your motor vehicle it must display a 'GB' plate, likewise foreign vehicles that grace our shores must display their country of origin plate. Times might well have changed, but during all the RAC Rallies that have taken place it was very rare, very rare indeed for any of the competing cars to comply with this legislation?? Wouldn't it have been brilliant for our Plodd to have pulled over all the foreign competing cars and booked them whilst the British competitors sailed by?

John

 

[R2D2]

My cornering lights........

 

[DieselE]

My cornering lights........

Is this the point where we all post telling you that one of your fog lights is out.

 

[glojo]

Is this the point where we all post telling you that one of your fog lights is out.

Just like indicators, Now they're working, now they're not, now they're working, now they're not

John

R2D2
You must be very pleased with the upgrade, well done.

John

 

[R2D2]

If I'm honest John. Its nice to have modded them to do it and the way they fade in and out is kind of cool but at the end of the day they are 90% for show and 10% any earthly use. Put it this way I've never hit a Hedgehog turning into my drive at night with the lights but I hadnt before without them!

 

[R2D2]

Is this the point where we all post telling you that one of your fog lights is out.

Cheers Mate, I hadnt noticed

 

[BTB 500]

2. When utilised, the system is not "fog lights" as such in the traditional sense. It is one single, (modified) lamp throwing a low, wide, and irregular beam in the direction of the turn. The emphasis being on the singular lamp/light and not lights.

The lights ARE front fog lights, by virtue of where they're mounted and the light pattern they emit (they're not headlights, side lights, or indicators as they don't meet the requirements for any of those). And a single fog light is perfecly legal btw:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uk...#nsch6requirementrelatingoptionalfrontfoglamp

The law that prohibits use in anything other than seriously reduced visibility also says "Front fog lamp" (singular).

The only real issue here is whether it's true that something which (apparently) has EU approval is automatically legal in the UK, even if UK law specifically says it isn't. I've no idea about that!