The 'E' Type Forum

Has any member fitted a 3rd brake light to the top of a 2+2 rear window. I have had a number of people almost hit me up the rear. The brake lights are quite low on sereies 2 and I expect people have trouble seeing the brake lights
Chris

Not thoroughly germaine to your question - have done it to my Series 1 Roadster for much the same reason as you - lights are just too low, especially in traffic, and feel much more comfortable in traffic as the brakelight is much more in the eyeline of following drivers.

Chris, I have done it to my S2 FHC so similar to the rear of yours.
Firstly, though, have a chat with MarekH here on the forum as he makes replacement rear light LED clusters. Brighter and includes built in reverse light, so you can also change the wheel barrow exhaust tailpipes to straight and get rid of the square number plate. Looks much nicer.

The off the shelf third brake lights can be too large and awkward to fit so they do not intrude in the view through the rear view mirror. e.g.:


But I took one of these apart and trimmed it down to fit to the top of the rubber seal around the rear window. Used about 18-24 LEDs, angled it and used small screws and glue to attach to the rubber. Can't be seen until its lit, but does the job. Took a few trials and errors to get it right, but quite do-able.

If you want to go along this route let me know and I'll take a photo or two for you.

I reckon Marek could design a really neat, discrete unit

Geoff

I already have.

The newest reverse rear light lenses can light up both red and/or white, so you'd get two extra rear brake lights as well as the reversing lights.

It'll be available around Christmas time.

The version for the series1 is already available.

kind regards
Marek

Hi Marek, yes, your reverse light is a good idea, but if you could design a neat, slim one to fit in the top of the rear window it would be higher and more in the expected place for drivers of modern euroboxes. A thought for you?

Regards

Geoff

You'll have to pop over and show me - my car is a roadster.

I could always embed it into the top of the window's rubber surround but you'd still need to supply a 12v wire and an earth return to it from somewhere.

kind regards
Marek

Gfhug wrote:Hi Marek, yes, your reverse light is a good idea, but if you could design a neat, slim one to fit in the top of the rear window it would be higher and more in the expected place for drivers of modern euroboxes. A thought for you? Geoff

Regards

Ditto. The elevated location makes sense for an FHC. I'm thinking of fabricating a drop down bracket from the interior light above the rear window. Already snaked a wire up from the tail lights. Just need a slim line led array to preclude blocking the field of view any more than necessary.

Geoff, if its not to much trouble a couple of photos would be good.
I dont have the wheel barrow exhaust pipes. I changed them to just strait out the rear. I think some one said they were series1 pipes. I dont like the wheel barrow type pipes.

Thanks Chris

Geoff, how do I get intouch with MarekH that you mentioned.

Chris

Chris, he has responded above so just click on his user name and it will give you the option to send a PM

Geoff

I won’t be fitting high level brake lights any time soon. There was never any evidence that these would produce results before they were mandated, and since then, if anything, the number and severity of rear end accidents has risen rather than fallen. Stats are difficult to obtain proving either efficacy or uselessness, unlike, for example day time running lights. Here evidence was overwhelming and mandatory fitting was resisted by the motor industry for years.

I’m afraid that the truth about rear enders may be that the major cause is idiots driving too fast or not paying attention to the road. Neither will be affected by high level brake lights on my highly polished bright red E-Type, they will still rear end me. Or you. Far better to fit high back seats with proper head rests instead of the seats originally fitted. It won’t stop a rear ender, but it will reduce the effect on you and your passenger.

Whether high brake lights work or not is open to discussion, however:




It ain't pretty, but I reckon they're brighter and draw attention better than the LED bulbs I've fitted to my rear/brake lights

Used the one referred to above, trimmed down the number of LEDs as too long, bodged the housing to create a smaller unit and then played about at getting the fit so it faced rearwards and not at the sky or ground.
The thin cables that come with the unit are tucked into the window seal.

A bit fiddly to do with some trial and error, but I'm happy with the result.

Geoff

Chris, I've been pointed towards this:
https://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/ ... ight-235mm

It might be an option for you, though I suggest you tape something of the same size in position first and check if it restricts your view through the rear view mirror. My bodge (expertly modified!) version is barely noticeable. Food for thought if you look at what else they have.

Geoff

Thanks Geoff, I have ordered one. Thanks for your help.

Chris