Has Anyone Replaced The Rear Number Plate Bulbs With These, Or Somethi

Beejay55 · March 7, 2015

Has Anyone Replaced The Rear Number Plate bulbs With These, Or Something Similar?

I have seen a number of posts about replacing the bulbs on the rear number plate, with LEDs. This is something I am considering doing, even if it means having to take off the boot liner and doing it from inside the car.

In searching Youtube I found these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ-c3MPFl0U&spfreload=10

My concern is that they are too bright.

Do people think if these were fitted I might get stopped by the police for, in effect, having a white light illuminating the road behind me and potentially dazzling anyone behind my car?

cruisermark · March 7, 2015

havent had those fitted and yes they do look too bright.

i have however fitted LED replacement bulbs to my 400 and 430 now without any problems - these are like for like type which are simila inr brightness to the original bulb but give a whiter more modern look - thats the only mod i have done on my 430

Beejay55 · March 7, 2015

I found the The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001, Statutory Instrument

Lighting of rear registration plates

9.—

(1) This regulation applies to vehicles other than—
(a) works trucks,
(b)road rollers,
©agricultural machines, and
(d) vehicles first registered before the relevant date.

(2) Where the vehicle is being used on a road between sunset and sunrise the registration
plate fixed on the rear of—
(a) the vehicle, or
(b)where the vehicle is towing a trailer, the trailer or
©where the vehicle is towing more than one trailer, the rearmost trailer,
must be lit in accordance with this regulation.

(3) Where a vehicle (or, in a case where the plate is required to be fixed on a trailer, that
trailer) has been constructed so as to satisfy the requirements of the relevant type-approval
directive, whether or not it is required by law to satisfy them, that plate may be lit by a lamp
which complies with those requirements but if it is not so lit it must be lit in the manner required
by paragraph (5).

(4) Except as provided in paragraph (3) that plate must be lit in the manner required by

paragraph (5).

(5) This paragraph requires the plate to be lit so that it is easily distinguishable from every
part of a relevant area having a diagonal length—
(a) in the case of a plate displaying a mark having characters with a width of 44
millimetres, of 15 metres, and
(b)in any other case, of 18 metres.

So nothing in this, but I bet there is something in whichever Act regulates the colours of the bulbs on the rear of a car, and would prohibit the use of a white bulb, other than the reversing light. If stopped I am concerned that the rear number plate LED lights may be interpreted as a rearward facing while light.

The more I type, the more I am starting to think it is a bad idea.

Thoughts anyone?

cruisermark · March 7, 2015

i found this on direct gov website

114

You MUST NOT

use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to
other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders

personally i think some of these DRLs we these days are dazzling - decision is yours - surely if you get stopped by the police they will give you a chance to rectify it before taking any action?

Bluesman · March 7, 2015

Has Anyone Replaced The Rear Number Plate Bulbs With These, Or Something Similar?

I have seen a number of posts about replacing the bulbs on the rear number plate, with LEDs. This is something I am considering doing, even if it means having to take off the boot liner and doing it from inside the car.

In searching Youtube I found these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ-c3MPFl0U&spfreload=10

My concern is that they are too bright.

Do people think if these were fitted I might get stopped by the police for, in effect, having a white light illuminating the road behind me and potentially dazzling anyone behind my car?

Do they blank the number plate out like that? if it does cant see ol bill liking that as speed cameras wont be able to pick up the plate.

Beejay55 · March 7, 2015

Has Anyone Replaced The Rear Number Plate Bulbs With These, Or Something Similar?

I have seen a number of posts about replacing the bulbs on the rear number plate, with LEDs. This is something I am considering doing, even if it means having to take off the boot liner and doing it from inside the car.

In searching Youtube I found these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ-c3MPFl0U&spfreload=10

My concern is that they are too bright.

Do people think if these were fitted I might get stopped by the police for, in effect, having a white light illuminating the road behind me and potentially dazzling anyone behind my car?

Do they blank the number plate out like that? if it does cant see ol bill liking that as speed cameras wont be able to pick up the plate.

That's a good point, and not one I had thought of. A distinct advantage (although, obviously, in the day the plate is still very visible to the speed cameras). I will have to do all my speeding in the dark !