Pictures of the E90 from Spain

Originally Posted by Shamrock

Looks nice.

Needs a sports facia on the front (the existing is conservative). And the US version will have the orange eyeliner around the headlights (yuck!)

I've been wondering about this for a bit actually. Why do the US models have the ugly orange band around the headlights (or orange corner lights on older models)? I mean, the white ones still flash orange?! When I lived in the US last year I also noticed that some cars use the brake lights as indicators on the back (Corvettes I remember do this) - so red is fine on the back, which to me means that the colour of the indicator doesn't matter.

Cheers,
Michael

Originally Posted by dojobi

I've been wondering about this for a bit actually. Why do the US models have the ugly orange band around the headlights (or orange corner lights on older models)? I mean, the white ones still flash orange?! When I lived in the US last year I also noticed that some cars use the brake lights as indicators on the back (Corvettes I remember do this) - so red is fine on the back, which to me means that the colour of the indicator doesn't matter.

Cheers,
Michael

Yes, the white indicators flash orange, it's the law, at least in Spain (and the rest of Europe I think).

Bye

Originally Posted by dojobi

I've been wondering about this for a bit actually. Why do the US models have the ugly orange band around the headlights (or orange corner lights on older models)?

Cars sold in the US must conform to national safety standards promulgated by the US Department of Transportation. The decision makers at DOT hate automobiles. The better a car looks the more they hate it. A car that is as safe and well engineered as a BMW cannont be kept out of the country but they can give it a little whack with the ugly stick before they let it in.

Illegal clear lenses go unnoticed by the highway patrol and state troopers in most states because their job really is public safety and they have better things to do than enforcing spiteful federal regulations.

You'll notice that US regulations stipulate that there has to be a certain area of orange reflective material at the front of the car on each side, which most manufacturers these days put in the light assembly.

Keep this in mind when you are out on the road or in a parking lot and notice how different foreign manufacturers comply with this law; from some cars which seamlessly integrate the reflector deep into the light assembly so well that you can hardly see it, through to some that just tack a reflector anywhere on the front side of the car.

[Example cars are a Honda Civic and Honda Element]

Originally Posted by Blax

You'll notice that US regulations stipulate that there has to be a certain area of orange reflective material at the front of the car on each side, which most manufacturers these days put in the light assembly.

Keep this in mind when you are out on the road or in a parking lot and notice how different foreign manufacturers comply with this law; from some cars which seamlessly integrate the reflector deep into the light assembly so well that you can hardly see it, through to some that just tack a reflector anywhere on the front side of the car.

[Example cars are a Honda Civic and Honda Element]

Cool, thanks for the info guys. So it's all about having reflectors. It's a shame as it really ruins the look of the car.

BTW I liked your reason numbersguy

Also, sorry for the late reply - I didn't realise I had auto notification off.