Are Frenched headlights illegal

Started by Sven23, October 27, 2016, 12:49:27 AM

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Sven23

So I was thinking of doing the joey mod and Frenching my headlights but I'm not sure of what the legality of yellow tint in the headlights is got an example of the mod below
Mk3 16v manual swap 😊😊

McDoof

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/get-your-lights-right/get-your-lights-right/#main
Lights must be white or amber in colour.

So I guess technically they are legal. Looks amber to me

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Sven23

That's what I thought I'm pretty sure there are some factory Lexus soarers with yellow/amber highbeams so they must be okay right...  Oh well do first think later
Mk3 16v manual swap 😊😊

M M

Technically applying any kind of paint or film to the lense is illegal. However, you are almost 100% likely to get away with it.
Bought not built.

hagan

I had yellow fog lights, (used them as DRL's) and yellow high beams, never had an issue from Mr Plod, but lots of people (vask/car people) asked if they were legal.

Also live in an area with a lot of police (Auckland CBD), so I say go for it!
Swaps for an S2K?

bigbumper

When I read your title I thought you meant frenched in the old hot rodding sense...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frenching_(automobile)

schattenblau

More importantly is why on earth would you want yellow headlights ?

Their effectiveness in letting you see at night will be curtailed by "Frenching"

:P

hagan

Aint yellow better in foggy conditions?
Swaps for an S2K?

Sven23

I really just wanted to do it for aesthetic and considering its not the main headlight the yellow won't really worry me. I had a chat to a vtnz inspector who works at a compliance centre near me and he saw no problem with it so if anyone else wants to do the same go ahead..
Mk3 16v manual swap 😊😊

schattenblau

Quote from: hagan on October 27, 2016, 04:12:00 PM
Aint yellow better in foggy conditions?

No.

Yellow lights go back to war time French nationalism, they wanted foreign vehicles to be easily identifiable.

There were also theories that yellow light was less easily scattered by moisture in fog, since proven to be bogus, such water droplets are too big.

The big disadvantage is that almost all yellow light is produced by filtering a white source, reducing output by as much as 30%.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/lights/light_color/light_color.html

http://blog.autointhebox.com/yellow-vs-white-fog-lights.html

Fizz

Yellow is easier on the eyes of oncoming cars also roadsigns etc. All light up beautifully. I had yellow highbeams in my golf and looking to do the same for my mk3

wilco

Yellow headlights are only useful if you're in a GT at Le Mans... :)