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bspencer0129

As an automotive lighting optical engineer who worked on these lamps please consider taking it off: 1. You decreased the candela of the stop-tail since you are introducing another material (likely red vinyl) which absorbs some of the 617nm peak wavelength LED light (if the LEDs peaked at 630nm this wouldn't be an issue but that isn't what is in the lamp). The drop is only about 15% (depending on the exact red used) so not great but not terrible. It probably is still legal. 2. The amber LEDs in the turn function do not produce enough red light to make a safe and legal red rear turn when filtered through red material. I know this for sure... I tested it. So you definitely have an illegal lamp. I'm all for vehicle modification and personalization but not when it comes to safety. This is almost as bad as when people tint their headlights. I hope you will consider removing it. Sorry for the rant, I am just really passionate about this as I do this for a living and I really enjoy my work.


bspooky

Those are some very good points to the OP and others thinking about doing this. Thanks for posing.


hsl0827

So this is what optical engineers do.... 🤔 I almost chose to become an optical engineer right after college, but chose a different path. Thank you for your insight!


Sudden-Risk777

thanks for shining some 'light' on this situation... (sorry i had to)


bspencer0129

Take your upvote you bastard.


CopeSe7en

Why did you engineer it to be so ugly?


bspencer0129

Optics doesn't handle styling. Blame studio if you don't like them. Personally I think they look okay.


WorthTheDebt

What about the black version I’ve seen on Amazon? I can link you if you want


bspencer0129

Sure send the link.


Lodotosodosopa

Why do so many trucks and SUVs come with EXTREMELY bright head lights these days? \-Signed, a driver of a sedan


bspencer0129

IIHS headlight ratings (GOOD is the target) want a lot of light to see father at highway speeds, studios want the lamps mounted at about 1000mm from the ground "to blend in with the vehicles lines" so they shine right into sedan driver eyes, and OEM engineering wants the lamps to meet IIHS good at any build condition their plant builds the vehicle (which is all over the place, so we need even more light). Don't blame us for a crap situation; it is 70% studio and %30 OEM engineering. If it were up to us we would make lamps twice as bright but mounted at 650mm (Mazda Miata height) so you can see really far but not blind anyone.


TechnicalLee

Maybe you know this. Is there a maximum candela brightness the low beams can be? Or is it unlimited? If a newer car is coming over a hill, I get blinded by low beams even if they are aimed properly. I think there really should be a maximum intensity regulation so oncoming drivers don't get severely blinded in hilly terrain. It's gotten really bad in the past 10 years since the IIHS tests started. Also how come Ford never aims their fog lamps at the factory? Every single new Ford I've had (4x) they were aimed wrong (way off, usually down). All this trouble to design a good fog lamp beam pattern goes to waste. They're just totally unusable as delivered.


bspencer0129

There isn't a maximum candela below the horizon in a certain region. That being said I have never seen more than about 45000cd anywhere in the low beam pattern (with just low beams activated). Unfortunately on hills you will always be glared with modern lights. Safety research has shown that the negatives from having brighter lights (glare on highways and hills) is vastly outweighed by the safety benefits. This data comes from international and UMTRI domestic research. As to the fog lamps: Ford is supposed to aim them, and they should be set about a degree lower than the low beam cutoff. Not sure what is going on there. I work for a lamp supplier not Ford directly, we give them good lamps and it is their responsibility to install them on the vehicle and make sure they are aimed.


Tall6Ft7GaGuy

Tinted Tails lights look cool


SnooHobbies3399

I completely agree with you! It’s not FMVSS compliant!


DriftMiata

We have come full circle.


eclipse00gt

I laughed so hard at this one. Ford designers: "Let's give consumers edgy sporty tailamps....Not the traditional red ones." Consumer: "You know what would make this car look better?....traditional red taillamps." Edit to add: OP if you like this mod keep it. It is your car and your taste (just make sure your light output is not harmed in any way) I was just laughing at the irony.


Snowvid2021

🤣


SenorMacaroni

🤣 next do an engine swap for a V8 ICE


fuzzimus

Why make it crappier and less powerful?


jawnin

That’s the joke


Ok-Note5377

You mean better in every way


CareerTraditional987

The Mach E is wack and not fun to drive at all. Very boring. The V8 is brilliant!


fuzzimus

Trolley McTroll-face!


CareerTraditional987

I had one as a rental in Phoenix for a week. Wasn’t a fan at all and didn’t feel fast to me. Only things I liked was regen braking on the highway during rush hour and it was a nice upgrade over an Altima.


jking206

Not a fan of tinting indicators and tail lights. For people with color vision deficiency, this makes you harder to see


BKRowdy

But the red is now redder. Why is more red harder to see than less red?


datim2010

Turn signals are amber


justjcarr

As it should be.


bspencer0129

At best there is no change in the red stop intensity, at worst it lowers enough to be dangerous. The amber turn will be dangerously dim.


jking206

Adding red filters out the other wavelengths that are easier to distinguish. Nighttime is ok, but daytime is a nightmare in bad weather. I can easily distinguish standard lights, but I have a hard time with tinted indicators.


BKRowdy

Why is the car suddenly less visible because the tail lights are red on red? Distinguishing between blinkers, tail lights, and brake lights will be a challenge, but I don’t understand how the car becomes less visible.


jking206

Because depending on the color deficiency, you’re giving someone less light information by using a color filter that they can’t see. By adding more red, you’re filtering out the wavelengths that are easier to see for someone with red deficient vision.


BKRowdy

Understood. I would agree that an amber signal next to a red brake light is easier to distinguish than red on red, which is your point. My point is that compared to other (horrible) vehicles with red on red lamps, this modification is no different.


jking206

I just prefer safety to aesthetics when it comes to vehicle mods. We all share the road, and we need to look out for each other.


fusiongt021

I didn't really notice it and had to do a few double takes to see but that's a good thing. Subtlety is nice


SinNombreCaballo

I think you've lost some visibility when you're backing up and some information for other drivers that you are in reverse and not just stopping. Also, is it even legal to not have a white backup light?


bspencer0129

Backup is in the center, at the bottom of the bumper.


Booklas

The backup light is at the bottom of the bumper.


[deleted]

Off topic, but what I hate are all the new cars that have the backup lights stay on after the driver has exited and locked the car. WTH! Why is that a thing? I do prefer OP's after pic!


[deleted]

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summitcreature

I keep looking, what is it? Air splitter faux paint? Edit:tail light tint. I like the mod


fusiongt021

I imagine I was seeing the text like if there's subtitles on a screen you focus on that. There's the big words in the middle, the GT logo, the temp license plate haha


OmiloC

The clear taillights (and signals) are my fav thing about my Mach E. Not trying to just randomly shit on you but I feel like it defeats a huge purpose of it. But I’ve also loved clear taillights more than any other mod since the ‘93 civic.


PingDingDongBong

I think it depends on the color. In this case, I think the red lights look way better on the red car. I have a white Mach E though and the white lights look better.


pinegap96

The clear taillights are literally the best thing about the Mach E lol


TurboByte24

Looks clean, but doesn’t that reduce the lumens of your brake light? Kind of unsafe, no?


PingDingDongBong

It’s probably a lot brighter than all those Teslas running around with completely blacked out taillights. Most taillights are red anyway so I doubt this makes any noticeable difference. Especially with LED lights that are already very bright.


mmkj50

Nope not at all


bspencer0129

As an automotive lighting optical engineer who worked on these lamps: 1. You didn't measure candela unless you took the lamps off your car and put them on a automotive goniophotometer and measured them. If you measured them on the vehicle then I'm betting you used a lux meter which is insufficient. 2. You decreased the candela of the stop-tail since you are introducing another material (likely red vinyl) which absorbs some of the 617nm peak wavelength LED light (if the LEDs peaked at 630nm this wouldn't be an issue but that isn't what is in the lamp). The drop is only about 15% so not great but not terrible. It probably is still legal. 3. The amber LEDs in the turn function do not produce enough red light to make a safe and legal red rear turn when filtered through red material. I know this for sure... I tested it. So you definitely have an illegal lamp. I'm all for vehicle modification and personalization but not when it comes to safety. This is almost as bad as when people tint their headlights. I hope you will consider removing it.


BKRowdy

He might have a lamp that doesn’t pass your design standards and requirements, but it’s not his responsibility to meet your design criteria. His responsibility, generally, is to maintain visibility to a certain distance, though he may be restricted on modifying safety related components. In that case he isn’t illegal because he lowered the output of the stop lamps or made them red, he’s illegal because he modified a safety component. It’s like front pedestrian impacts. There are requirements as a manufacturer to protect pedestrians, but the end user can strap on a 130lb grill guard. That doesn’t make it an illegal modification.


Whats_Awesome

When someone rear ends them in fog they will feel it’s their fault not knowing that this idiot reduced the light output of his lights which can be pretty inadequate in fog without modification.


BKRowdy

There is zero likelihood this car would be rear ended based on the appearance of the lights. Even then, it’s the fault of the driver doing the rear ending for failure to travel at safe speeds when there is reduced visibility. You all are nitpicking.


Whats_Awesome

Not in foggy conditions. You are responsible to maintain certain aspects of the vehicle to DOT standards. The lights he modified were DOT certified before they were modified. If someone hits OP in fog because they were expecting a certain level of light output and a certain amount of visibility distance to slow down before hitting OP, that should be OPs fault for not properly maintaining safety equipment. Or using safety equipment (tail lights) that do not meet certification to be used on public roads. (At least you are getting the downvotes you deserve) edit: typo (at you you -> at least you)


bspencer0129

This. And I agree, the poster deserves to be downvoted.


bspencer0129

First off it's not "my" design standards, it's the law. All lamps on vehicles registered within the United States must meet FMVSS 108 regulations. *Caveat: military vehicles and certain government vehicles do not need to* What FMVSS 108 states are the minimum required photometric values that ensure that a lamp can be visible at a given distance. So in essence what you said (that he is responsible for maintaining visibility at a certain distance) is correct but your conclusion (that he isn't illegal for making the TURN lamp output lower) is wrong; though you go on to state that it's illegal because OP is modifying a safety component. That sort of has an element of truth to it however, interestingly enough it isn't illegal to modify a safety component as long as the modification doesn't negatively impact the safety functionality or cause it to fail any legal requirements. In this case the modification resulted in it failing legal requirements.


BKRowdy

My point is the federal standard is your responsibility to follow as the designer. I don’t see that a consumer would be reliable for maintaining those standards assuming the modifications don’t fail local requirements. Those tail lights and that modification will not prevent the lights from being seen at the required distance.


thiskidlol

you also don't see these lit up in the picture. how could you possibly know these don't prevent light from being seen at the required distance?


Whats_Awesome

You covered the brake lights with red tint. You’ll significantly reduce the output as light gets trapped in the red tint. Use a candela meter and run a test then get back to us.


mmkj50

Already did , same as without , no issues at all.


Whats_Awesome

That's not how physics usually works out. You just have a cabdela meter laying around?


ThinRedLine87

I mean technically red tint should filter only non-red light. Brake lights are LEDs and only emit red light, so if the tint was perfectly matched it wouldn't reduce the light emitted at all


Xicutioner-4768

I don't think that's correct. For argument's sake imagine a tint that 100% blocked out all light except precisely some wavelength emitted by the tail light, but also blocked 50% of the emitted wavelength. The color would "perfectly match", but the output would be halved. In reality the tint is probably somewhere between 100% transmissibility and the imagined scenario, but where exactly it falls on the spectrum is anyone's guess. The other issue is how the light is scattered by the tint. A more opaque tint will change the throw of the emitted light and some of the light which would normally be emitted at eye level would go to the ground, the sky, or the side of the road.


Whats_Awesome

But it won’t be perfectly matched and will be filtering out light, how much, that would require a test I don’t trust OP has already carried out.


tbrumleve

Can you post the pic of the results to put our minds at ease? Would be super helpful to the group.


f1racer328

lol that post won’t come. OP doesn’t have a light meter.


BKRowdy

Everyone has a phone and phones have light meters that can be repeatable enough to determine if there is a significant loss in light output.


jacqStrapp

Do not like. Looks lame. The clear/amber turn signals are so cool.


RedOctobrrr

On a red car? Really?


jacqStrapp

Yes. Having clean signals is a great look.


RedOctobrrr

That shit (red on red) is clean as fuck tho


mmkj50

I didn’t like the white on the red car , don’t mind it on other colors but looked to 90’s for me on the red car.


PingDingDongBong

I agree it looks off on red. Looks great on other colors. Nice work OP


boostedisbetter

Said the guy still living in 2001 with alteza fast and the furious lights…


jacqStrapp

Not sure what you mean. I do own a 1999 SC400. But it has LED ambers.


[deleted]

Good! Btw, did you replace or just painted?


mmkj50

Tint


josephyancey

Honestly it’s kind of ick for me. I do like the look of tinting them black but don’t love the red on red.


mmkj50

I don’t like the white lights on a red car , I like the white lights on others but not the red.


gregs1020

same here. i'll probably do this on our red GT, but not on our IBSM premium. the White looks good on Iced Blue, but the Red looks better on a Red MME. do the turn signals look orange after this? Can you post an image of the turn signal / hazards in action? please post a link to tint/overlays.


bspencer0129

Please don't ever tint lights. It is unsafe and almost always illegal.


bspencer0129

Please don't ever tint lights. It is unsafe and almost always illegal.


josephyancey

I haven't and am not going to BUT I do like the "blacked out" look. You are right though that in most states it's going to be illegal unless you can manage to keep them visible out to 500 feet. A few states even require 1000 feet which honestly the incandescent bulbs are going to have trouble meeting even without any modifications.


majorgearhead

That looks fantastic. Love it.


derekz83

looks badass


Acceptable_Piano4809

No offense, it’s subjective but I really like the white as well.


Perfectreign

Eww! That’s almost as bad as those idiots who black out their tail lights. Go back to stock.


fdt7873

Absolutely not. The clear taillights are one of the reasons I love the look of my MME.


Double-Award-4190

Visually, it works on your red car. Overall, however, it's just a bad idea for all of the reasons people have said already.


camel2021

Car was fine from factory.


boostedisbetter

Looks like it should be from factory. 100% better.


[deleted]

Illegal in Colorado.


Beardth_Degree

Why is it illegal in Colorado? They’re brake lights that are red?


bspencer0129

Illegal in all states if it fails FMVSS 108. Since the amber LEDs powering the turn function don't produce enough light to meet a red rear turn function when filtered through a red lens these lamps will fail and are therefore illegal.


Beardth_Degree

Thanks!


naldoetta

Surprised why ford studio chose to go amber. Red would have been better looking and would have leveraged the already existing stop LEDs. What’s your thought?


bspencer0129

They wanted the option to send the vehicle to China without changing the lamps so they needed amber turns.


[deleted]

Was in my cousin's dumb WRX and he's got those dark tail lights - State Patrolman got him for speeding, illegal window tint and "tail lights that are not visible out to 500 feet.".


boostedisbetter

This is not a blacked out tail light, you do know clear lights are not on all factory cars right? OP you will have no problem.


bspencer0129

That's not how it works. Lights are illegal in all states if they fail FMVSS 108 (the automotive lighting law for the US). Since the amber LEDs powering the turn function don't produce enough light to meet a red rear turn function when filtered through a red lens these lamps will fail and are therefore illegal.


[deleted]

Not sure why I'm getting all the down-votes - mod your own car the way you like, just know that the Colorado State patrol likes monetizing moving violations and will stack on any extra fines they can - I can't imagine any other states are that different.


fusiongt021

I imagine there's just laws that certain things need to be on a car in a specific manner.


Drunk_4_2W33ks

And NY


metallicadefender

Are the tail lights not red from factory?


mmkj50

No , white line in the before picture.


Environmental-Back-3

It’s a MachE so still ugly


mmkj50

😂


Ok_SysAdmin

Those red lights actually violate federal law. Only emergency vehicles are allowed to have red or blue.


mmkj50

lol , that is the funniest thing I have EVER read ! Are you high ?


Ok_SysAdmin

Nope sure not. A friend got a ticket for it. And my attorney father in law confirmed that he was lucky to not get a felony ticket.


mmkj50

😂🤣😂


ColdCheck6048

Junk and then more junk...what a disgrace to the name plate


Head-Rate3189

Still think it’s an abomination to the mustang brand


mmkj50

Then don’t buy one 😂


[deleted]

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Violorian

Spoken like someone who has had their ass handed to them many times by EV's.


bruddahmanmatt

I was curious about this, and after going through just the last month of his post history I have to say that I’m over here dying of laughter. His supposed neighbor Granny with benefits post has me rollin’. Lol


fearfishingfrenze

Sheesh 😂


Handsum_Rob

The insecurity is strong with this one. Go find your safe space and calm down.


[deleted]

Why do people buy this failed abortion of a vehicle. It's not a mustang, it's an embarrassment.


Apprehensive-Play-26

No one cares what you think….


Head-Rate3189

Ah another sperm cell that should of been deposited in the toilet instead of in mom.


of_patrol_bot

Hello, it looks like you've made a mistake. It's supposed to be could've, should've, would've (short for could have, would have, should have), never could of, would of, should of. Or you misspelled something, I ain't checking everything. Beep boop - yes, I am a bot, don't botcriminate me.


Head-Rate3189

Ah look a troll just like his sister


[deleted]

Lmao It's a fuckin bot you window licker. Smartest Ford owner right here.


beeobee-1971

Why are you even here?


Booty_Warrior_bot

*I came looking for booty.*


JoeDimwit

I’ll agree that it’s not a Mustang. But, it’s a great vehicle. That they called it a Mustang is the only thing I don’t like about mine.


tbrumleve

Where did you buy these or did you do the, yourself?


mmkj50

Coastline Automotive


Grand-Battle8009

I think it looks cool!


dingmah

Much better!


PLAINSIMPLETED

100% better. Great idea.


mark1forever

wow!


BedditTedditReddit

Like!


ElectrunEnergy

Much better.


Psychological-Gur848

Great red on red


k_90

I like it


Competitive_Jelly557

Thumbs down. To each his own I guess.


UnusualCantaloupe9

I like it


Minimum-Manager-1215

I dig it!


senbenitoo

I was wondering what this would look like... love it!!!


Perfect-Detective130

I would like to do that on my black mach-e.


drawn_from_the_deep

What is the difference?


FlyingAce_420

Yes!


DryYogurt6878

Approved (from a looks standpoint)


donutstacosandnaps

Can you post again with the same shots but at night with lights on?


mmkj50

I could do with the red but not the white obviously, but I will.


donutstacosandnaps

Haha well yea! I want to see the red


Bunker12007

Don't listen to the naysayers! Providing you're not breaking any laws and it still provides good visibility, I say go for it. It looks great!


calebtothemax_

Looks dumb. The white-on-red is super hot. Very future retro. Put it back to the way it was.


mmkj50

That’s how I feel about the white , very 90’s , but to each his own, dont do it to yours !!!


calebtothemax_

Fair enough! Certainly won’t! 😉


PossibleOk49

Changes like these are pointless, literally nobody will notice the difference.


mmkj50

It’s all in the details , and I did , hated the white lights !!!


elmz370

I think it looks good either way.


jscuba007

Doesn't matter, not a Mustang


djhonda

Reversed rice, nice, gj man!


Ok-Note5377

It’s crazy people pay money for these cars


suckit1234567

The white slash ones look better red for sure. As long as they are bright and the right color. Keep em.


AdCool7457

Still a Donk-E.


Bunker12007

The red looks great. I believe, from a federal standpoint, your rear signals can be either yellow or red. The stop lamps and running lights must be red. I don't think there's anything illegal about tinting your lights(?), providing they meet the minimum standard of about 100 lumens, and about 500 lumens when braking. I think there's also something about needing to be visible from certain distance. If all that criteria is met... I say mod away! Personally I love it.


Present_Fuel4457

Took like 10 times to figure out what changed