Club126UK
Fiat 126 Chat => Fiat 126 Mechanical Problem Solving => Topic started by: Adey1970 on November 12, 2017, 10:51:23 PM
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Evening all. If I buy a left hand drive 126 what do I need to do to be able to drive it in the Uk apart from getting it registered here? New headlights, getting the reverse and fog lights switched over at the rear, anything else?
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Sit on the other side of the car :P
(sorry Ill get me coat :$)
On a serious note legally you dont have to have a reversing light...
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haha or have the wheel in the middle like a bumper car! (hmm now there's an idea...)
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On a serious note legally you dont have to have a reversing light...
And if you do I'm not aware that it has to be on any particular side of the car - or at any particular height afaik, as long as it is only operative while reversing. Further, afaik, it does not HAVE to be wired in with the reversing switch. A manually operated light would be OK, just remember to turn it off when driving forwards ! Displaying a white light to the rear whilst moving IS illegal and for good reason (as I wish all the customisers fitting LED number plate lights would realise, Grrrr...) ;D
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I think it’s the dog light that has to be on the correct side isn’t it?
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I think it’s the dog light that has to be on the correct side isn’t it?
That would seem to make sense, but I just found this in a fairly old forum (not this one) about taking RHD cars onto the continental mainland:
One red coloured rear fog lamp must be fitted to the centre or offside of vehicles first used from 1st April 1980. Additional rear fog lamps or rear fog lamps fitted to vehicles first used before this date are not testable.
If that's true, a pre-April '80 car can either have no fog lamp, or one on the 'wrong' side. Personally, given the size of the 126 and the way some folks drive in fog, I think I'd want to be as bright as possible in poor visibility - at least 4 fog lights, one on each corner, plus three red lights in the centre of the roof, US truck style !! :P
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Mine still has the original LHD headlights. Passed 2 MOTs so far :$
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So does that mean you’re blinding everyone at night because your lights are dipping the wrong way? I can’t find any new rhd headlights for sale so guess I’ll need the stick on things that block the beam.
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Technically yes. LHD lights will be shining upwards into the lane passing by you on the right.
However one could argue that the 126 is so low down, and the bulbs are so low powered, that in practice it's not really a problem.
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So does that mean you’re blinding everyone at night because your lights are dipping the wrong way? I can’t find any new rhd headlights for sale so guess I’ll need the stick on things that block the beam.
I've left a packet of the stick-ons on the passenger seat when it went in for the test, never used them and rarely drive it at night. Its an old school garage where their test equipment is a series of horizontal lines painted on the back wall of the test bay. I'm not sure if they even test for the 'throw' to the left/right, just the height.
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the testing manual class 4 united kingdom. ;D
thought this may help, sort the unknown issues out ;D
looking at section 1
1.8 head light aim
1.8 European ‘E’ Beam Headlamp
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/m4s01000801.htm
web version
pdf 3.81 mb!!
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/611019/mot-inspection-manual-classes-3-4-5-and-7.pdf
all mot testers must test in accordance with the current manual,
read this and compare..
next page icon moves on, not the arrow
contents makes easy navigation around the sections enjoy :D
Hope it helps
F
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Ooh that’s all a bit cryptic! The Bis has gone, collecting a 1997 LHD ELX tomorrow morning :)
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oo exciting
;D ;D pictures we need pictures ;D ;D
F
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The Bis has gone, collecting a 1997 LHD ELX tomorrow morning :)
You're mad I tells ya! RHD > LHD any day
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Well, of course I'd prefer a RHD car, but this little beauty appears to be a real gem. Lovely smooth running engine, nice gearbox, zero rust, everything where it should be (apart from the steering wheel on the wrong side), and an absolute bargain compared to some of the ridiculous prices people are asking. So, I'm happy. Waiting for UK registration number but insured on VIN, and ready to rock and roll! :D
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nice , ;D
:D
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You learn something every day (or week in my case).
What I hadn't thought enough about - and have no previous knowledge of - is the fact that I need to "import" the car before I can register it and more importantly drive it!
It's now officially imported and awaiting the registration application form DVLA which takes 7 to 10 days to arrive, then 4 - 6 weeks following that to get a V5, UK registration and road tax :(
I'm sure everyone else nows that it's illegal for a UK citizen to drive a non UK reg car on the UK roads :$
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I'm sure everyone else nows that it's illegal for a UK citizen to drive a non UK reg car on the UK roads :$
I took issue with this point when I brought mine in. The car was insured and had a Polish MOT when I drove it home. I'd argue its discrimination that a UK resident can't drive it, but anyone visiting could.
Anyway, my import and reg went through without a problem. Good Luck!
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Thanks hopefully it won't take long.
I have insurance from Admiral based on the VIN, and a UK MOT (which I didn't think was possible), but it's not taxable.
Anyway, not going to risk having it confiscated and crushed. :-