Re: [DML] Re: Installing Turn Signal Under Side Mirror

["K.L. (KAYO) Ong" <klo@xxxxxxxxx>]

Harold:

I am glad you like my set up.

Here are my reasons why I did what I did.? You and I both live and  
drive our cars in two different large metropolises and you must have  
the same experiences with the pedestrians and drivers on the road who  
can have different psychological reactions when they suddenly see the  
DeLoreans or any exotic or "usual" cars.   For some, it immediately  
cause people in NOT paying or they lose their attention as to what  
they are doing or going to which may cause an incident or an  
accident.  Our front turning lights, which are recessed and not  
completely visible, it also doesn?t help when people are at the side  
of our cars.  They just can't see the front or the rear flashing  
lights.  With my car, the front and rear ends are lowered and that  
doesn't help its visibility either.  I also find that when turning on  
intersections, the pedestrians and other motorist all have different  
responses such as not being aware or wanting to accepting my  
intentions and maneuvers or they don't give a hoot and will even  
challenge me as to ?hit? them..... Very rude (NYC) people.  While on  
the highway in changing lanes when I had a safe distance for me to do  
so (with the flashers on), many times a speeder will start to close  
up the gap in the lane that I was merging onto, for he/she was  
curious to see my DeLorean or they just want to race me.  Because of  
these incidents, I always felt that an added on side turning light on  
a DeLorean would help resolve some of these issues.

Before I made the final decision with my setup, I had gotten several  
different lights units in the mirror style and with the side makers  
style that were available and I physical placed them on many  
different areas of the DeLorean until I can find an acceptable  
placement.  I had to find a position that the units would be an  
effective indicator, while still maintaining the looks and contour of  
the DeLorean's bodylines.  I also had to keep away in running  
unnecessary wires and or to drill or modify the DeLorean?s body.   
Several years ago when I started this project many of the mirror  
units and styles available DO NOT blend in with the our DeLorean, for  
many of them are fat dumpy looking  -- They are JUST UGLY!   Also  
these units will be adding additional weight to the doors further  
burdening the torsion bar and struts.  As to the marker lights units  
to be mounted on the existing mirrors housing, they too were not  
successful without being obtrusive or weird looking.

With the DeLorean?s mirror position, what I did find that any turning  
indicator lights whether it is added on, or as a unit with turning  
unit built in as a whole, it is a big distraction when flashing.  The  
flashing is always "in your face" due to the mirror's position as to  
the level of the driver's eye.  This distraction is good for the  
surrounding people and other surrounding drivers that is near the  
DeLorean as to let them know your intentions, but not for the  
DeLorean driver and the passenger for the blinking in the face.   
Since I do a lot of night driving and when in the poorly lit roads  
and if a mirror turning indicator is turn on, it also leaves a mild  
spotting in your eyes.  If a bulb of less lumen is used, the  
effectiveness of the turning indicator will be lost in the daytime  
for the ambient sun light over takes the weak blinking light.

I have decided to use the BMW?s OEM side light units that are as  
bright as it comes in its small and the desired shape.  I have  
modifying the base of the units to accommodate the bulb to a new  
position within the housing.  I went along with the manufacturers  
chose of mount position ? The front fender.  I just glued them onto  
the black side molding just at the end of the trailing edge of the  
front fenders and in front of the front doors? edging

Anyway, in *MY* opinion, the side marker lights where they are now,  
is the best set up. And when I am (and my passenger are) sitting in  
the DeLorean they are out of sight and out of mind while still being  
very highly effective to do its job and it stays in continuity with  
the DeLorean lines.  I would like to add that the conversion of the  
four front and rear side marker lights to be converted as signal  
lights are still not as effect effective as a turning indicators  
versus the individual side light.  For whatever the reasons, the  
single add on unit do stands out over the front and rear converted  
markers.....


Kayo Ong
#5508
Lic  9D NY


PS  I have a pic to show for those who are interested......



On Dec 16, 2007, at 10:49 AM, Harold McElraft wrote:

> I've seen Kayo's setup and it is good one - he blended it in with the
> side molding. The light is as effective as most BMW lights and about
> the same height. He enhanced the safety factor. However, that setup is
> not as effective, in my opinion, as many mirror mounted lights -
> especially those on a Mercedes for example.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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