Are the marker lights an MOT requirement?

jmurray01 · Jul 19th, 2015, 01:00

I am almost certain the answer is no, but just thought I'd check.

Recently the N/S/F marker light on the V40 fell out whilst driving and now it won't clip back in, nor will the light stay in place inside the lens.

I know it wouldn't be a big job to get a new lens unit and get it working again, but to be honest I'd be happy just to glue the lens back on without the light so it looks complete but doesn't illuminate, and I will do this as long as I know it won't fail the MOT?

As I say, I'm certain it wouldn't as it is not a compulsory light - although with all the little things they nit-pick at these days, for all I know it could be a required item as it was fitted at the factory.

Darlo 1 · Jul 19th, 2015, 03:31

As far as i know they are not.

Austin160 · Jul 19th, 2015, 06:43

Sorry to be a bit thick on this, but when you say marker lights - which lights do you actually mean? Would these be be the small side repeater ( flashing indicator) lights normally fitted into the front wings)?
If so, then personally I would not have any hesitation in saying that if one does not work, then it is an MOT failure, on the basis that it was fitted originally and therefore has to work.
If it is not these lights then.....

neanderthal · Jul 19th, 2015, 08:23

they failed mine as i had clear bulbs in clear marker lights,instead of orange bulbs in clear marker lights.....they said road users could mistake them for reversing lights.........

Antz · Jul 19th, 2015, 09:47

No. I have no bulbs in mine. Never failed an mot in 6 years.

ijmorrison · Jul 19th, 2015, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antz

No. I have no bulbs in mine. Never failed an mot in 6 years.

Yup one of mine has never worked ... its one of the few things it didn't fail on !

Iain

netrocyn · Jul 19th, 2015, 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by neanderthal

they failed mine as i had clear bulbs in clear marker lights,instead of orange bulbs in clear marker lights.....they said road users could mistake them for reversing lights.........

I have that set up and it's never been questioned, seems like there's no real rule out there.

twotrees · Jul 19th, 2015, 10:54

you can tape all lights up and tell them you only use the car day time

skyship007 · Jul 19th, 2015, 12:39

It might not be an MOT failure point, but if you glue one in rather than replace the unit (Cheap non Volvo part), which will probably take less time, then your V40 is no longer OEM, COS marker lights are safety equipment in the EU. Orange glass OR orange bulbs only.

A glue job means your insurance policy is not valid (It is if they don't work, BUT gluing them in would be defined as a modification), unless you call them and get a written or company e-mail confirming the exact job done to designate yourself as a true blue Volvo muppet!

Translation of EU research: Effectiveness of side marker lamps (Summary)
*If none of the cars, trucks and buses operating on the roads during 1980 had been equipped with side marker lamps there would have been 661,000 police-reported nighttime angle collisions. If all of those cars, trucks and buses had been equipped with side marker lamps, there would only have been 555,000 collisions. In other words, the lamps reduce the number of nighttime angle collisions by 16 percent. The accident reduction is statistically significant (confidence bounds: 10 to 22 percent).
* Side marker lamps reduce the number of personal injuries in nighttime angle collisions by 21 percent. The reduction is statistically significant (confidence bounds: 12 to 29 percent).
* The statistical analyses of fatal angle collisions did not indicate a significant effect for side marker lamps (confidence bounds for effectiveness: -25 to +13 percent).
* Sighting and stopping distances suggested that the effectiveness of side marker lamps in fatal crashes, if any, is at most 1/4 as high as in nonfatal crashes: at the traveling speeds prevalent in most fatal crashes, either the lamps are seen too late for drivers to react to them and stop or slow down or the headlamps are more readily visible than the side marker lamps.

If you are a mad, but road legal modder, it would be good to see 2 more orange markers (One on each door) with higher output (5w max) upmarket LED bulbs AND a nice big dayglo yellow side stripe!

jmurray01 · Jul 19th, 2015, 13:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antz

No. I have no bulbs in mine. Never failed an mot in 6 years.

Great - gluing the lens back on it is then!

I will probably fix it one day if I decide to do a full restoration of the vehicle, but for now I couldn't care less.

As for insurance implications - that's not something that worries me.

Jul 19th, 2015, 01:00	#1
jmurray01 Member Last Online: Sep 25th, 2021 11:28 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Buckie, Scotland	Are the marker lights an MOT requirement? I am almost certain the answer is no, but just thought I'd check. Recently the N/S/F marker light on the V40 fell out whilst driving and now it won't clip back in, nor will the light stay in place inside the lens. I know it wouldn't be a big job to get a new lens unit and get it working again, but to be honest I'd be happy just to glue the lens back on without the light so it looks complete but doesn't illuminate, and I will do this as long as I know it won't fail the MOT? As I say, I'm certain it wouldn't as it is not a compulsory light - although with all the little things they nit-pick at these days, for all I know it could be a required item as it was fitted at the factory. __________________ 1989 VOLVO 340 GL BLUELINE 1.7 1996 PEUGEOT 405 QUASAR 1.9 IDI TURBO DIESEL

Jul 19th, 2015, 03:31	#2
Darlo 1 Lunatic. Last Online: Jun 6th, 2024 22:59 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: staffordshire	As far as i know they are not. __________________ V40 1.9D 2004 620 miles to the tankful. 235000 miles on clock. Now sold, S60 D5 2004. I vape therefore I am.

Jul 19th, 2015, 06:43	#3
Austin160 Master Member Last Online: Oct 29th, 2021 13:42 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Cardiff	Are the marker lights an MOT requirement? Sorry to be a bit thick on this, but when you say marker lights - which lights do you actually mean? Would these be be the small side repeater ( flashing indicator) lights normally fitted into the front wings)? If so, then personally I would not have any hesitation in saying that if one does not work, then it is an MOT failure, on the basis that it was fitted originally and therefore has to work. If it is not these lights then.....

Jul 19th, 2015, 08:23	#4
neanderthal Master Member Last Online: Feb 10th, 2022 10:02 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: THE MINSTER MAN View Photos By: neanderthal	side markers ? they failed mine as i had clear bulbs in clear marker lights,instead of orange bulbs in clear marker lights.....they said road users could mistake them for reversing lights......... __________________ volvo v50 2.0 se lux D estate 2007 s/h volvo v40d estate 2003

Jul 19th, 2015, 09:47	#5
Antz No I'm not the redhead Last Online: Nov 25th, 2022 09:49 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Yorkshire Coast	No. I have no bulbs in mine. Never failed an mot in 6 years. __________________ 1988 Volvo 240 GLT T5 Swap a T5 motor into your RWD Volvo:The Guide

Jul 19th, 2015, 10:54	#8
twotrees New Member Last Online: Jul 20th, 2015 21:01 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: johnstone	lights you can tape all lights up and tell them you only use the car day time

Jul 19th, 2015, 12:39	#9
skyship007 Premier Member Last Online: May 2nd, 2018 08:14 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: DownSouth	It might not be an MOT failure point, but if you glue one in rather than replace the unit (Cheap non Volvo part), which will probably take less time, then your V40 is no longer OEM, COS marker lights are safety equipment in the EU. Orange glass OR orange bulbs only. A glue job means your insurance policy is not valid (It is if they don't work, BUT gluing them in would be defined as a modification), unless you call them and get a written or company e-mail confirming the exact job done to designate yourself as a true blue Volvo muppet! Translation of EU research: Effectiveness of side marker lamps (Summary) If none of the cars, trucks and buses operating on the roads during 1980 had been equipped with side marker lamps there would have been 661,000 police-reported nighttime angle collisions. If all of those cars, trucks and buses had been equipped with side marker lamps, there would only have been 555,000 collisions. In other words, the lamps reduce the number of nighttime angle collisions by 16 percent. The accident reduction is statistically significant (confidence bounds: 10 to 22 percent). Side marker lamps reduce the number of personal injuries in nighttime angle collisions by 21 percent. The reduction is statistically significant (confidence bounds: 12 to 29 percent). * The statistical analyses of fatal angle collisions did not indicate a significant effect for side marker lamps (confidence bounds for effectiveness: -25 to +13 percent). * Sighting and stopping distances suggested that the effectiveness of side marker lamps in fatal crashes, if any, is at most 1/4 as high as in nonfatal crashes: at the traveling speeds prevalent in most fatal crashes, either the lamps are seen too late for drivers to react to them and stop or slow down or the headlamps are more readily visible than the side marker lamps. If you are a mad, but road legal modder, it would be good to see 2 more orange markers (One on each door) with higher output (5w max) upmarket LED bulbs AND a nice big dayglo yellow side stripe! __________________ 2003 V40 1.9TD Mods: Scratches, bent bumpers, raised REAR mats & internal mud guards. SHELL ULTRA 5/40 & LIQUI MOLY CERATEC. Everyone should DYOR (Do Your Own Research) Last edited by skyship007; Jul 19th, 2015 at 12:53.

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