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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - frogeye front indicators

Hi,
A couple of questions:
1. On a Frog, the front indicator lenses are white. Do these have a double function of sidelights and indicators?
2.If so, do the front indicators flash white?

The reason I ask such obvious questions is that I have an IOW Frog, based on a 1967 midget.
The PO changed the front indicator lenses to orange, disconnected the sidelight wires and installed integrated sidelights into the headlamps. Kind of makes sense, but I'm sure I've seen somewhere in the archives that on a Frog, if the sidelights are only on the headlamps, they will not be far enough apart for the MOT.
Curiously, my car has always passed the MOT. Has the tester made a mistake? or could it be something to do with the fact that my car is registered as a 1967 Midget and not an original Frog?
I want to reinstate the correct "look" by replacing the front indicator lenses with clear ones and installing orange or chrome/orange bulbs. Alternatively, I could just install clear bulbs and reconnect the sidelight wires, thereby having 2 sets of sidelights. Can anyone see any problems with either choice?
Regards,

Andrew
aj robinson

It may just be that your Mot tester doesn't realise but the clear side lights with clear bulbs are the indicator lights too.
So that when the lights are off and you indicate, they will flash on and off but when the side light are on, they will flash off and on (does that make sense?).
The headlights are purely dipped and main only.
At least that's the arrangement on my Frog.
No orange indicator bulbs or lenses on the front.
Gary Lazarus

Thanks Gary, that's confirmed what I thought.
Any thoughts on my other questions/dilemmas?
Regards,

Andrew
aj robinson

Andrew,

My frogeye is wired as original and has clear lenses and bulbs at the front. I can't see any issue with having side lights in both places. Whether the sidelights being in the headlights at the moment is legal or not is an issue you might have to look at construction and use regulations. IIRC the Mk1 Landrover has the same arrangement with clear sidelight/indicators in the wings and the headlights inboard. My understanding is that you can't build a car like that now as the regulations have changed and the Landrover headlights would be too far in from the side of the car and not be legal but was ok with the regulations of the time so not a problem.

The questions would have to be what were the regulations regarding sidelight placement when you car was built.
David Billington

In The Uk you cannot have clear front indicators unless car is pre 1965 ..Before that date many cars used combined indicator sidelights . You can put sidelights in the headlights as well as separate lights on wings , just that if they are fitted they have to work . The reason they are mounted on wings is that they are an indication of the vehicles width. Sidlights only in the headlights on a frogeye i believe are too far away from the outer edge of the car to be legal.
R Mcknight

Slightly confusing then......
Car is registersd 1967 so must have orange indicators, but if i do that, the only sidelights i have are inboard in the headlights! car has passed mot last 3 years and more with PO, so perhaps i should leave everything as is. i.e sidelights only in the headlights, and orange indicators. Hmmm...
Andrew
aj robinson

To Clarify , sidelights in headlights are probably illegal from a contructions and use regulation, as they are incorectly placed , but these regulations are not checked on a MOT test.So as far as an MOT test goes yes you have 2 sidelights and they are white that will pass the MOT.
R Mcknight

Thanks for that R Mcknight, that seems to fit.
I think I may ask other IOW frog owners about their experience.
Regards,

Andrew
aj robinson

This thread was discussed on 02/07/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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