Turn signals

[GreenT]

Having been on the road for 5+ years, I want to know if someone has found a way to mess with the turn signals.

Specifically one thing I have always disliked about my S is the RED turn signals.
I want Amber so drivers around me know instinctively, instantly that I am not on the breaks.

Euro cars have amber. Why are US cars red. It is so potentially dangerous.

So, with all the 3rd party vendors messing with the car does anyone have a fix for this yet?

 

[Chaserr]

Install Euro parts? I can't imagine they wouldn't fit.

Also, to answer your question of why: Tesla can absolutely use amber turn signals in the US, but by US law there is not just a requirement of red as a brake light, but also amount of red by area that does not include the center light. So, Tesla chose to make the signals red rather than add more light area overall to satisfy US law.

 

[GreenT]

And how would one obtain them?
Even if there, Tesla do not sell parts.

 

[Lloyd]

And how would one obtain them?
Even if there, Tesla do not sell parts.

You would have to contract someone in Europe to purchase a set of tail lights there. I would be willing to pay for a set if anyone would be willing to ship them.

 

[GreenT]

Contact?
Contact whom though? An owner? How would an owner even get ahold of parts as Tesla do not sell parts. I am thinking this would need to be homebrew?
I never understood why the USA homolgation was this way.

 

[Lloyd]

Tesla sells parts in the US, I don't know why they would not at any service center in the EU.

Back in the day that is how we got Euro Spec Porsche tail lights in Amber instead of Red.

 

[Chaserr]

Ebay.co.uk

I edited above, but US law specifies a surface area of rear red lighting. Tesla chose to make the signals red rather than make the taill lights larger overall to satisfy that law. This is what many manufacturers choose to do, otherwise there would be no reason for the expense of a different US / EU lighting configuration.

 

[jjh1234]

And how would one obtain them?
Even if there, Tesla do not sell parts.

Only certain parts are "restricted" by Tesla. Others can be ordered from your local parts department.

 

[GreenT]

Ebay.co.uk

I edited above, but US law specifies a surface area of rear red lighting. Tesla chose to make the signals red rather than make the taill lights larger overall to satisfy that law. This is what many manufacturers choose to do, otherwise there would be no reason for the expense of a different US / EU lighting configuration.

Any chance you could:
a - provide a specific link to the EBAY.CO.UK web site?
b - maybe I am lacking some synapses but care to talk to a layman about the homolgation? The tail lights are enormous to start with. What "surface area"?

 

[Chaserr]

I don't see any up there, but the UK ebay site works the same as the US, it just has more UK stuff.

Literally, the surface area of red lighting is not enough in red for the US. Like if I use imaginary numbers, you need 100 square inches or whatever the actual number is of illuminated red lighting on the read of a mass-manufactured automobile in order to sell it in the USA, with amber turn signals the tesla has only 80 square inches of red (illegal in the US) but with them it's 101 square inches of red (legal). My Porsche cars have done the same thing, trading out amber in exchange for more red light area for US market cars. I swapped out for euro tails on one of them years ago, but haven't bothered since. It's perfectly legal for us to do individually, but illegal for a manufacturer to sell that way.

A lot of manufacturers just go for gigantic ugly lights; sleeker cars with styled lighting trend toward less of it, and often have to make this trade in signal color to red rather than amber in order to cheat that US law.

 

[GreenT]

The tragic irony is that - red turn signals should be ILLEGAL.

 

[Chaserr]

That's a topic a century older than Tesla

 

[x4er0]

When somebody in the EU want parts they come from the US so i guess the amber lights are also in the US warehouse.

Tesla is an American brand so all the parts are there.

Maybe you have to ask for the amber lights to buy it for a nephew, friend, sister... in the EU because you are leaving for the EU in a couple of days

 

[TEG]

Yellow/amber rear turn indicators?

Amber rear blinkers?

Amber rear turn signals?

European amber rear flashers

Did Tesla Finally Put Amber Rear Turn Signals?

 

[Iluvpcs]

Slightly off topic - I would love reverse fog light indicator. guess having so many MB/Audi/VWs over the decades got used to using it in heavy fog.