Brake light mod for 123's

[oldnavy]

By simply adding an extra bulb socket to the light bar of the tail light assembly you go from two brake light's to four brake light's. This mod will take about 20 minutes at most, and the results are excellent.

Here are the lights marked to prevent me goofing up. The three that are marked are the tail, brake, and back up light's. This is driver's side lights. Notice the open spot on the bar, that's the inboard side and where you install the extra plastic bulb holder.


Here it is after being connected. I soldered them together, but you can use a cable splice device or cut them and splice them. I have since added a liquid rubber compond around solder joint.


Here is the new brake light's on a very sunny, hot, and humid day. :p I think it was about 102*F in the garage with 98% humidity. This mod will have no effect on cruise control.


Many thanks to Bruce Bonds for sending the old harness from which I used two bulb holder's for this mod. You're the man Bruce, now add another set of brake light's to your car.

[Brad123D]

Nice mod.

I mounted one of those aftermarket strobe light sets in the two blanks. I think the strobe effect helps wake some tailgaters up. Seems a shame to leave those extra taillight sockets empty.

[oldnavy]

I started to do that, but was informed it was illegal for me to instal them in the car. Something only allowed on emergency vehicles and school buses.

[oldnavy]

Bump!!!

[d.delano]

nice car dude

[H-townbenzoboy]

I took a look at an extra W126 tail light assembly I had, and it looks like this procedure can be used on the W126s in addition to the W123s. I just may try it, (translates into: It probably ain't gon' happen). :p
-Joe

[oldnavy]

This can be done to most European cars going back 20+ years. If you noticed, I've done it on my Jetta.

[Brad123D]

Originally posted by oldnavy
I started to do that, but was informed it was illegal for me to instal them in the car. Something only allowed on emergency vehicles and school buses.

I've been running a strobe 3rd brake light on another personal passenger vehicle for about 10 yrs. and have never been stopped.

[oldnavy]

But that's TN not MO.

There are differences in both law's and their inforcement of the law's from state to state or even city to city. However if you checked, you might find that it is illegal for you to have a stobe light on the car. In VA and MO 10 to 15 to 15 years ago if your truck had wheels sticking out of fenders would get you a ticket, and was enforced rather vigeriously. Nowdays you seldom see a truck with a big lift kit installed and when you do the wheels are out of the fenders and they are seldom stopped.

The law nation wide is fog light's wired only to come on with low beams, not by themselve's, but most state's do not inforce that law. VA use to at inspection check fog light's for proper able to be on with low beam's, I found out hard way when I moved there in the early '80's. Twenty plus year's later they might not enforce the same.

In recent years cops have gotten slack on enforcing some vehicle codes, so that they can use these small infractions on stopping suspious car or trucks and have "probable cause." Teens fall victum to this rouse all the time nowdays.

[Brad123D]

Originally posted by oldnavy
[B]But that's TN not MO.

There are differences in both law's and their inforcement of the law's from state to state or even city to city. However if you checked, you might find that it is illegal for you to have a stobe light on the car.

The law nation wide is fog light's wired only to come on with low beams, not by themselve's, but most state's do not inforce that law.]

I'll take my chances with my fog's as daytime running lights and strobe 3rd brake lights. I don't think I'll have a problem . Anything that decreases my chances of having a wreck is worth the minimal risk.

Side note: I Recently saw a Motorcycle with a very bright, daytime running, strobe headlight...couldn't miss seeing that ! A great safety idea IMO.

[oldnavy]

Yep I use to run those back in the mid seventies on my Beemer and couple of Yamaha's I had, they were also outlawed and are now illegal. I however would use the cycle switch if I were on a motorcycle today, at least till I got popped for ticket. It wasn't a strobe back then, it was a electronic switch to cycle the power to dim the bulb or cycle back and forth between high/low beams.

[JimmyL]

Looks nice, but alas, I have a wagon... Great mod though.

[Deezl]

Did this yesterday, added the second bulb to each side. Really impressed. Adds to the safety while maintaining the original look. Thanks Old Navy!

Now, gotta do something about those stock (original) headlights.

[kamil]

I'm going to do this especially since I have the spare parts.
Great Idea by the way!!

[oldnavy]

Might I suggest a pair of Hella H4 7" round Euro code head lights.