(For the TR/TS Magnas).

I wonder if anywhere makes them? (custom build using a mould of the original lights, etc)

Kim

If you find a place and come up with decent ones let me know... been thinking that for long time

If someone can organise it, im in!, would love those clear lights (actually looking into what other lights could be "Made" fit on the car :nuts:

if you find somewhere let me know i'll get a set too

No.....

I talked to my dad (automotive engineer, does compliances etc) about this stuff recently, and basically he said the design rules were so complicated that you didn't have a hope of making them or getting them made. If you look at virtually all of the aftermarket clear lights, unless they were made by the manufacturer themselves, they specifically state that they are NOT ADR compliant, and that it is illegal to use them on a moving vehicle. Which means they are completely useless.
Basically no-one is going to go to the effort to make after-market lights that comply with all of the rules they have to comply with to be legal.
(Can't remember which year it was they came into effect, if you have an OLD car they don't need to comply, you can put any old thing on them)

HOWEVER:
1. You can fit any lights that are ADR compliant. If you can find some that are similar in size/shape, you could adapt the mounts to fit your car. But I haven't seen any even remotely similar (haven't looked all that much, though).
Don't know what the rules say about hacking lights though, you probably have to use the full assembly and not take anything away from it. Otherwise you could just hack apart different bits and glue them together to form a new light assemby...

2. Maybe if we all banded together and hassled Mitsubishi, we could get them to do a run of clear lights using their existing molds? I don't really know if this makes them ADR compliant or not, but I figure as the original molds were...
Anyone work at Mitsu, who could "accidentally" do a run of the wrong lights?! :D
But to make it look decent, you'd probably have to completely redesign the interior of the housing, smooth off any diffuser gratings, etc...

I do have some experience doing small runs of plastic moldings, but you've just got no hope of getting anything to fully comply with the ADRs, so you can be defected at the drop of a hat.

Since when are clear tail lights legal on car anyway unless it was a factory option...
Most lancers you see out there have non-ralliart clear tails and are illegal...

So what if its illegal? Its a risk you take to modify your car.
I personally dont care if its legal or not...

And the issue of being defected... from the day I started modifying my car I already expected that one day I will get defected. Just gotta be smart around cops.

i had a thought on this a bit earlier today while cruising arround autobarn..

The older lancers, cant remember what year/model, had a wrap arround light VERY simmilar to the tr/ts magna, its very similar but not quite the same.

anyway my thoughts were,

how difficult would it be to modify the paneling arround the lights?
its hardly structural, so any pannel beater should be able to do it.

that may be an option, depends on if someone can get some made somewhere!!!

Making a set isnt hard just cost whoever is making initial manufacture cost... maybe if there is enough demand for it they will make it... Try EMTECH AUTOMOTIVE to make custom ones...

Yeah its all good till someone runs up your ass and suddenly your at fault and your insurance won't pay out cause you rear lights are dodgy

I would of thought that as long as the lights are working, showing red and orange in the right times, then it has nothing to do with the lights, more so the driver who hit you...

The lancer you my be thinking of would be around the 1992 - 4 lancer GSR.

If you wanna flame about clear tail lights go flame on the 3rd gen forum because the clear tails for the 3rd gen is illegal in all states as they dont have the red tail reflectors let alone the brightness of the lights. Because most 3rd gen clear tails I have seen do not show red light... its more pink than anything...

So if you wanna crap about being legal and stuff... crap about it else where

If you wanna flame about clear tail lights go flame on the 3rd gen forum because the clear tails for the 3rd gen is illegal in all states as they dont have the red tail reflectors let alone the brightness of the lights. Because most 3rd gen clear tails I have seen do not show red light... its more pink than anything...

So if you wanna crap about being legal and stuff... crap about it else where

well said,

down here in tassie its not such a problem, our cops dont pick up on thoes sorta things :D :D

anyway, has anybody got anywhere with this?

??
Who's flaming??! I thought one of the main ideas with forums is to discuss the pros and cons of the topic in question, and I'm sure to many the legalities of changing the lights is a major concern. From what I've seen and read, one of Kim's main focuses is to keep the car completely street-legal.

I'm all for getting some different rear lights. That's why I looked into it. Just need to be aware of the pitfalls if you decide to use something that's not ADR-compliant. If you know the risks and are prepared to accept them, cool. If not, make sure you do your homework before modding anything.

Back on topic, I've been observing quite a few "modern" lights, and to me one of the main differences between 90's and 00's designs is the lense clarity - ie., the actual materials are the same clarity, but 00's designs don't seem to have the defraction gratings on the lenses, usually having smooth lenses with a dimpled reflector instead. So a POSSIBLE way to update the look would be to simply smooth out the lense molding, and add different reflectors behind. Less changes to the design, then, whilst modernising the look.
Does anyone know if Mitsubishi actually still produce lights for parts, or are they all old stock? If they still produce, then there could be the opportunity to approach them to make some minor changes to the molds, and it should all then be ADR complaint...

ok over the weekend i looked into the lancer lights, all indications are good, they look to be only about an inch to narrow, but they fit well with the curve of the boot and seem to fit at the top. getting in contact with my pannelbeater very soon to find out if he can fix em up for me :D :D

cool - let us know what the go is :)