Problems with all frenched lighting?

[khnordeen]

Hello r3v,

I plan on frenching all the lighting on my car (high beams, low beams, fogs) and I was wondering if I would have any problems with cops if I did this. I see people with frenched high beams from time to time, but never everything. Just curious as I can't find anything concerning the topic. Thanks

-Kyle

[e30polak]

If you run yellow HIDs in your lows or fogs, you will eventually get pulled over for it. I remember Cary (golde30) having issues running yellow HIDs in his lows, and he's in the Bay Area.

[castros]

Im running all yellow lights with 55w lows and 35w fogs all yellow, and been running them for about 6 or 7 months now.

[khnordeen]

Thanks for the quick replies fellas.

I am currently running 55w 4500k HID's in my lows, and have a set of of the same waiting to be installed on my fogs.

I'm planning on frenching the lenses myself, but I'd rather not have issues with them... Meh

[castros]

Yea we did mine at the shop with yellow light paint and clear coated them after. Turned out really good.

[ak-]

You have to prove it's oem to get out of whatever ticket you might/will get for it.
I know of ppl getting popped for it.

[weedshoes]

^ You can get out of it by saying its oem? even if its not to us spec?

[ak-]

^ You can get out of it by saying its oem? even if its not to us spec?

Think old mercedes high beams. Yes.

[unrlmth]

I thought it had to be DOT?

[weedshoes]

yes! dot!

[stumble_t]

VC Code Here

Good luck explaining this to a peace officer...

V C Section 25950 Color of Lamps and Reflectors
Color of Lamps and Reflectors

25950. This section applies to the color of lamps and to any reflector exhibiting or reflecting perceptible light of 0.05 candela or more per foot-candle of incident illumination. Unless provided otherwise, the color of lamps and reflectors upon a vehicle shall be as follows:

(a) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from in front of a vehicle, shall be white or yellow, except as follows:

(1) Rear side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show red to the front.

(2) The color of foglamps described in Section 24403 may be in the color spectrum from white to yellow.

(3) An illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall emit radiation predominantly in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Any incidental visible light projecting to the front of the vehicle shall be predominantly yellow to white. Any incidental visible light projecting to the rear of the vehicle shall be predominantly red. Any incidental visible light from an illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall not resemble any other required or permitted lighting device or official traffic control device.

(b) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from the rear of a vehicle, shall be red except as follows:

(1) Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1979, may show yellow to the rear.

(2) Turn signal lamps may show yellow to the rear.

(3) Front side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show yellow to the rear.

(4) Backup lamps shall show white to the rear.

(5) The rearward facing portion of a front-mounted double-faced turn signal lamp may show amber to the rear while the headlamps or parking lamps are lighted, if the intensity of the light emitted is not greater than the parking lamps and the turn signal function is not impaired.

(6) A reflector meeting the requirements of and installed in accordance with Section 24611 shall be red or white, or both.

(c) All lamps and reflectors visible from the front, sides, or rear of a vehicle, except headlamps, may have any unlighted color, provided the emitted light from all lamps or reflected light from all reflectors complies with the required color. Except for backup lamps, the entire effective projected luminous area of lamps visible from the rear or mounted on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall be covered by an inner lens of the required color when the unlighted color differs from the required emitted light color. Taillamps, stoplamps, and turn signal lamps that are visible to the rear may be white when unlighted on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1974.
Amended Sec. 38, Ch. 766, Stats. 1995. Effective January 1, 1996.
Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 198, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.

[Van Westervelt]

I have legit oem french lights all over the front of mine... Never had an issue with it. BUT I could easily be given a ticket any day I have it on the road. Key is its not an everyday car, and I dont drive like a douche etc. Both make the chance of getting cited for it lessen.

[khnordeen]

VC Code Here

Good luck explaining this to a peace officer...

V C Section 25950 Color of Lamps and Reflectors
Color of Lamps and Reflectors

25950. This section applies to the color of lamps and to any reflector exhibiting or reflecting perceptible light of 0.05 candela or more per foot-candle of incident illumination. Unless provided otherwise, the color of lamps and reflectors upon a vehicle shall be as follows:

(a) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from in front of a vehicle, shall be white or yellow, except as follows:

(1) Rear side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show red to the front.

(2) The color of foglamps described in Section 24403 may be in the color spectrum from white to yellow.

(3) An illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall emit radiation predominantly in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Any incidental visible light projecting to the front of the vehicle shall be predominantly yellow to white. Any incidental visible light projecting to the rear of the vehicle shall be predominantly red. Any incidental visible light from an illuminating device, as permitted under Section 24255, shall not resemble any other required or permitted lighting device or official traffic control device.

(b) The emitted light from all lamps and the reflected light from all reflectors, visible from the rear of a vehicle, shall be red except as follows:

(1) Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1979, may show yellow to the rear.

(2) Turn signal lamps may show yellow to the rear.

(3) Front side marker lamps required by Section 25100 may show yellow to the rear.

(4) Backup lamps shall show white to the rear.

(5) The rearward facing portion of a front-mounted double-faced turn signal lamp may show amber to the rear while the headlamps or parking lamps are lighted, if the intensity of the light emitted is not greater than the parking lamps and the turn signal function is not impaired.

(6) A reflector meeting the requirements of and installed in accordance with Section 24611 shall be red or white, or both.

(c) All lamps and reflectors visible from the front, sides, or rear of a vehicle, except headlamps, may have any unlighted color, provided the emitted light from all lamps or reflected light from all reflectors complies with the required color. Except for backup lamps, the entire effective projected luminous area of lamps visible from the rear or mounted on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall be covered by an inner lens of the required color when the unlighted color differs from the required emitted light color. Taillamps, stoplamps, and turn signal lamps that are visible to the rear may be white when unlighted on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1974.
Amended Sec. 38, Ch. 766, Stats. 1995. Effective January 1, 1996.
Amended Sec. 4, Ch. 198, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.

Thanks for posting this, exactly what I was looking for!

And from the sound of the bolded section, I should be fine, no?

And Van Westervelt - thanks for the photo. Your car is part of the reason I am taking this approach.

[///digitalme]

ive never had frenched lights, but i had smoked highs on my old e30 and didnt have any problem drove like that for about 2 years no problems...now on my 318is im running smoked highs havent had a problem its been 8 months now

[KenC]

"French" is an adjective, not a verb.

Have you ever tried to drive with yellow headlights? You can't see shit.