Black rubber wedges for fog and reverse light

[Jumpin Jack Flash]

Hi,

Another academic question. When did Caterhsm start with the use of these black rubber wedges?

https://caterhamparts.co.uk/rear-lights/4347-rubber-wedge-fog-rev-light-csr-only.html

On the site, they state "CSR only". Does this mean that these wedges have never been used on S3 cars?

[ChrisC]

My car needed them for IVA this year. 

[The_ASH]

My 2012 S3 has them fitted, I assume for the purpose mentioned above and so the lights point backwards not upwards at an angle.

[blueyedbiker]

The rationale I believe is that the lenses focus the beam in a straight line so that the lenses need to be vertical to achieve maximum brightness to following vehicles.

[Jim 123]

I would suspect that the rubber wedges for the rear lights became a requirement under EU vehicle construction and use legislation which affects all new cars and new imports.  This would have brought the requirement into the scope of the IVA test for first registration of all new 7's.  I personally think that older 7's look better without the wedges..

[Jumpin Jack Flash]

Thanks,

The explanation is logical, but as said it doesn' t look as pretty as in the past.

I have to mount fog lights on my late 2004 ex-Roadsport B car. Based on the pictures I can find, the rubber wedges were not in use back then. Or am I wrong?

Cheers

[Bricol]

My 2001 car failed SVA with the rear fog at the wrong angle.

I simply re-seated the lense in the housing so it was vertical, and tightened the screws just enough to hold it in place.

Of course, for the 16 years since, the lense has been angled and screwed up properly . . .

[anthony1956]

my 2000 car doesn't have them

[Jumpin Jack Flash]

Thx guys.

If the fog lights come on the back, it will be without the rubber wedges. Or they come below on brackets, just as Caterham did in 1997 - 1998.

[Wrightpayne]

My '98 car has them on the back panel rather than underslung below. Again, I think they were moved up to meet regulations.

Originally, caterham supplied the fog / reverse lamps for the owner/builder to fit, however a number of fuel tanks were holed as the drill popped through the thin back panel more quickly than anticipated! Mine were supplied pre-fitted by caterham!

Ian

[Jumpin Jack Flash]

Perhaps only 1997 cars were supplied with the fog and reverse light below the bottom rail. I have seen a couple of cars and demonstrators in 1997 and 1998 with this fitment.

 

[The_ASH]

The 1400 Supersport LE cars from that era certainly had under slung fog and reverse, if the spare wheel carrier is ditched the back panel looks much cleaner for not having the lights mounted on it, also generates a slight length reduction for those with limited garage space :-) Neatest setup IMHO is fog light tight under back panel set to correct side and deleted reverse, uncluttered, simple and lighter.