The Mustang shenanigans of a Bavarian

[DE_Marcus]

You list two things were I will do EVERYTHING in my power so I DO NOT have to do them.....
1. putting any additonal light housing on the car ESPECIALLY at the bottom of the bumper because of the CS diffusor
2. drilling into something

I'm trying to keep everything as factory looking as possible even if it's delaying me from driving the car. Trust me if there was a easy way that doesn't ruin the looks I'd take it in a heartbeat.

Let me show you what I'm trying to do:


All of it is controlled by a turn signal brake light splitter module and sequential module wired up with a self made harness and 3D printed housing in a way where I can just plug it into the factory plugs for the rear harness on the car so it's completly reversable and/or able to be modified if ever needed for some reason.
I'll only need to get two switched power wires routed to the back. One with the rear fog switch inbetween to the rear fog light and one to power the module.

But I'm looking into the SJB if there's any unused fuse slot for like the covertible top or something else I can just plug into. With the LEDs I probably need nothing more than a 2 amp fuse.....

 

[GriffX]

That's what I say, you want to do a unique conversion.

Is there no amber side marker reflector? I guess the problem in the front is, when you use the original side marker with white, the TUV can say, white to the side is not allowed.

I on the other hand like the old school light bulb optics in the tail lamps and would not change them for LED. Except for reverse lamp, I don't see much at night and do not like the additional lamp either.

 

[Kev555]

I found a good wiring Diagram online for UK/Ireland lights conversion. Much the same as Germany id guess? Not sure if your turn signals have to be amber like ours. I had advice help from a guy who does IVA work for a living in England, The SJB in these are very sensitive and easily damaged if the wiring is overloaded hence why you see extent i went to with the relay setup in the boot or trunk for Americans It is a very labour intensive project as cables have to be taken from the front turn signals all the way to the rear and a power cable to the trunk to power the relays Also a feed for the fog light is required. I fitted Euro rear lamps which look awful, i tinted them recently to make them more pleasing to the eye.

 

[DE_Marcus]

That's what I say, you want to do a unique conversion.

Is there no amber side marker reflector? I guess the problem in the front is, when you use the original side marker with white, the TUV can say, white to the side is not allowed.

I on the other hand like the old school light bulb optics in the tail lamps and would not change them for LED. Except for reverse lamp, I don't see much at night and do not like the additional lamp either.

That's the whole reason I got one from the US. So it's untouched. (well.... that worked out great with the tail lights.... the NOS Replacement is at least acceptable since it's better).
All wiring done propperly and nothing cut or irreversibly changed. And not just random wires going front to back, all factory look as much as possible. Hence why I'm still looking for that one Taurus X headlight switch to make a propper rear fog button and not just drill a hole and put in a random switch laying around.

Nope, completly clear. The exact same as in the picture. I had one TÜV guy tell me that exact same thing, but he literally said not to basically everything because he goes EXACTLY by the book with the reason "well that's how you do it in germany". I'll try it with a different TÜV a buddy of mine (also has a Mustang but 2013) said is really chill about stuff like that. If not I'll get the ones where the turn signal and parking light are basically next to each other with a amber reflector to the side. We'll have to see. The TÜV still has power over the police when it comes to that and with "Etwa-Wirkung" it doesn't have to follow rules exactly.

The Problem is the only way to get a amber light with red glass is with a strong yellow Light source. But I'll also need a red light from the same place and that is only possible with Switchback LEDs. I've thought about including capacitors in the future to make them act like normal bulbs would, but that's for when the car is finally legal
I'm keeping the LEDs to the tail lights only since I'm not the biggest fan of it either, hence why I'm using normal amber bulbs in the front.
I've also bought good looking LEDs, not just the "white spot on a circuit board" ones.

 

[DE_Marcus]

I found a good wiring Diagram online for UK/Ireland lights conversion. Much the same as Germany id guess? Not sure if your turn signals have to be amber like ours. I had advice help from a guy who does IVA work for a living in England, The SJB in these are very sensitive and easily damaged if the wiring is overloaded hence why you see extent i went to with the relay setup in the boot or trunk for Americans It is a very labour intensive project as cables have to be taken from the front turn signals all the way to the rear and a power cable to the trunk to power the relays Also a feed for the fog light is required. I fitted Euro rear lamps which look awful, i tinted them recently to make them more pleasing to the eye.
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Yes we need Amber Turn Signals, but as I've already mentioned I'm not switching out the tail light housings.
I don't really have to worry about any SJB overloading, since the LEDs draw alot less power than the stock bulbs.

The thing is you're describing once again what's been done before but just with the lights beeing powered from a different source through relays.
I'm not tapping into anything other than the plug in the back, except for the rear fog light because there's no other way to do that.

And the self tappers into the body..... whyyyyyyy?

 

[Kev555]

LOL I'm Not concerned about the self tappers as much as the wiring conversion on your rear lights. LED,s are fine and attractive looking with sequencing but usually prone to failure with vibration, moisture etc. A bulb is a lot easier changed, the Fuse holders and relays are secure, thats the important bit. Screws wont be seen in there.

 

[DE_Marcus]

Well unless somebody somehow creates Switchback Bulbs I'm stuck with LEDs. I would have preferred something else but since this is the best option....
But changing them is as easy as the bulb. They plug into the original sockets. Just more expensive.

But couldn't you have secured them in a less destructive way?
Even if no one ever saw them I could never do that.... just feels wrong.

Same reason I'm not just tapping into wires or pulling anything front to back that isn't completely necessary.
Yes, it's way more complicated, but if I wanted easy I wouldn't have imported a car into a country it was never designed for.

 

[Kev555]

Good luck with your adventure

 

[brasil]

@ DE_Marcus

few days ago Trump and VDL made a "deal "... no more 10% tax on US Cars...

Trump wanted that US Cars can hit the streets of our "beloved " Europe as they were built in the US.
So my hope is, that these agreements will make all the registration nightmare - snow from yesterday.
In other words...the EU needs to make new laws concerning US cars that enter the EU..
and so the flasher /blinker can be amber or red ( rear ones )

If a car from the US enters switzerland... the swiss law does not permit to "fiddle " change .. the original wiring must not be touched .

lets keep our fingers crossed

 

[AndiObb]

You can cross your fingers as tight as you can - this will never happen. But I like that you see the positive in any ... ähm ... "things" like this.

 

[DE_Marcus]

Good luck with your adventure

Already not happening..... but still thanks

@ DE_Marcus

few days ago Trump and VDL made a "deal "... no more 10% tax on US Cars...

Trump wanted that US Cars can hit the streets of our "beloved " Europe as they were built in the US.
So my hope is, that these agreements will make all the registration nightmare - snow from yesterday.
In other words...the EU needs to make new laws concerning US cars that enter the EU..
and so the flasher /blinker can be amber or red ( rear ones )

If a car from the US enters switzerland... the swiss law does not permit to "fiddle " change .. the original wiring must not be touched .

lets keep our fingers crossed

Honestly first time I'm hearing this and after looking it up it.... this will never work/last. You think any government or tax associated thing will give up free money? VDL is literally only in the position she's in because no one else wanted to.

There is no way in hell any registration or regulation stuff regarding imports will become easier. It's already getting harder. You used to be able to get a exemption for red turn signals in the back. Now you can't and everyone that has it from before will fail inspection.
They'll just start making EU compliant parts for NEW cars, because the EU will do fuck all regarding to vehicle laws.
Trust me.... I just spent 5 fucking hours compiling and filling out DIGITAL ONLY custom forms because one box I got sent didn't have any and I only found out about that AFTER I drove 50mins to the Customs Office. All of that so tomorrow they can charge me customs for all of it..... AND I STILL HAVE TO PRINT EVERYTHING OUT!

That law could have saved so many wiring harnesses..... Here it just has to function like reguations say..... You don't wanna know how many times I heared "Just drill into *part that is extremly expensive or were it can't be reversed afterwards*". TÜV doesn't care. If they don't like it your out of luck. And don't get me started on the DMV and their obsession with not giving you a plate that fits, which you literally NEED, because "those plates aren't for cars"

You're probably more likely to find a unicorn, bigfoot and the loch ness monster at the same time than that......

 

[GriffX]

@ DE_Marcus

few days ago Trump and VDL made a "deal "... no more 10% tax on US Cars...

Trump wanted that US Cars can hit the streets of our "beloved " Europe as they were built in the US.
So my hope is, that these agreements will make all the registration nightmare - snow from yesterday.
In other words...the EU needs to make new laws concerning US cars that enter the EU..
and so the flasher /blinker can be amber or red ( rear ones )

If a car from the US enters switzerland... the swiss law does not permit to "fiddle " change .. the original wiring must not be touched .

lets keep our fingers crossed

Sales tax is on top of the 10% toll, so it is 11.9%. And also BMW shipped from Alabama should get cheaper, but I guess they increase the revenue instead. And pretty sure they will invent some new fees to compensate this. Like the new water tax in Bavaria.

Unfortunately I cannot delete text messages like von der L did with the Pfizer 11 shot for all, from baby to senior, dEaL.

@DE_Marcus
Idea, right now tail and headlight and still available used and not expensive. Maybe a compromise to store some and use them if you want to go back to original, then you can drill some holes.

 

[DE_Marcus]

Sales tax is on top of the 10% toll, so it is 11.9%. And also BMW shipped from Alabama should get cheaper, but I guess they increase the revenue instead. And pretty sure they will invent some new fees to compensate this. Like the new water tax in Bavaria.

Unfortunately I cannot delete text messages like von der L did with the Pfizer 11 shot for all, from baby to senior, dEaL.

@DE_Marcus
Idea, right now tail and headlight and still available used and not expensive. Maybe a compromise to store some and use them if you want to go back to original, then you can drill some holes.

Why if I can do without. My tails are already ruined. Already bought new ones and can do it legally in a non destructive way. And if the clear front turns get an okay why drill into the headlights?

Ony problems is CUSTOMS ARE BEING THE BIGGEST PIECES OF SHIT AND NOT GIVING ME MY PACKAGE BECAUSE "aMoUnT iS wRoNg". HOW THE FUCK DO THEY KNOW ANY AMOUNTS IF I NEED ME TO PROVIDE THE FUCKING CUSTOMS FORM WHICH DETAILS HOW MUCH EVERYTHING IS WORTH, WHICH I LITERALLY TOOK FROM ALL THE RECEIPTS; WHICH THEY WERE HANDED TOO?????
I swear to god..... why can't I just give them the receipts and pay whatever the fuck they want and get my box???? i'm literally going insane because all of this could have been avoided if PEOPLE JUST DID WHAT THE FUCK THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

This thread is turning in a documentation of me slowly going insane.
I've wanted this car for literally 20 years and now that I have it the universe is doing everything in its power to deny me the enjoyment of owning it.

 

[brasil]

Thanks god until now, I never had a problem with the Tüv. But when I read your story... I feel lucky that I have a Mustang with German registration.
The first time I bought a US car - in 1990 - I didn´t run into these problems. Also the licence plates were in the same size as the US ones. Nowadays ? Nearly Impossible..

 

[DE_Marcus]

Okay so I finally got my new tail lights after customs delayed everything by 2 and a half weeks because some dumbass at the USPS office can't do their job right.....

Loosly wired up the blinker splitter, adaptor connectors, lamp sockets and put in the switchback LEDs.

And everything just worked!

Well apart from some LEDs needed to be wiggled around in the sockets, but that can be fixed.

Didn't even Hyperflash so I don't even need to mess around with resisitors, which I find kind of odd because the box for the LEDs says it'll probably hyperflash and to add 50W Load resisitors..... but hey I'm not complaining, makes the wiring even more simple.
Just gotta decide on wire colors and meassure out how much of what I'll need, after that I can do final wiring.

The LEDs are designed in a way were yellow is always prioritized if both yellow and red are powered, which is perfect because that's what TÜV wants for the Hazards. Downside is it takes like half a second for red to turn on when it gets power because I think it checks if yellow is powered first. No big deal, already found a solution for that.
And the yellow LED makes a perfect amber with the original housings red lenses.

The SJB has 4 empty ("not used" in owners manual) fuse slots, from which two are always powered, one is powered on ACC and one on IGN. Since the splitter barely uses any power itself and the actual power from the LEDs comes from the tail light connector I can just run a power wire from that ACC fuse slot to the splitter. Ground will be in the same pin as the sockets on the tail light connector. Plus even with all LEDs on at the same time they only pull around 0,25A each (so 1,5A total) so in the event of some fuckery happening the SJB can't be overloaded. Probably gonna need only like a 3A Fuse in it anyways.

Rear fog will be powered via one of the always power fuse slots and just a switch and a relay in between so it can only be on when the front fogs are on.
Which leaves the other two for my dashcam..... it's like it was intended that way.

The sequential module should arrive in the next few days and that just has to be wired in between the splitter and amber socket connection.
Front clear turn housings are on their way aswell but that a 5min swap.

Only problem I have is that the hazards only work with the key on ACC..... unless TÜV notices on the initial inspection that's something to figure out later. If I'm really in a emergency I'll just leave it on ACC or switch the fuse slots real quick.

 

[DE_Marcus]

Gotta find some connectors for the fuse slots tho.... yes there are the "add a curcuit" taps, but I just want something without the two fuse slots, one wire coming from it and it looking like an actual connector....

 

[DE_Marcus]

Thanks god until now, I never had a problem with the Tüv. But when I read your story... I feel lucky that I have a Mustang with German registration.
The first time I bought a US car - in 1990 - I didn´t run into these problems. Also the licence plates were in the same size as the US ones. Nowadays ? Nearly Impossible..

In 1990 you could probably get a exemption permit for the red turn signals and there was no law requiring the rear fog light (thats 1991 and up lol) plus the DMV probably wasn't so shitty.

I'm always to late for the cool/easy/good stuff when it comes to cars.....

 

[brasil]

Hi DE_Marcus

why don´t you want to the 2 fuse "add a circuit " taps ? I used them, to feed my rear back up sensors.. the only thing to beware, is the fact, that all " reserve" slots powered with the key in acc position will interfere with the lid of the fusebox. So at the end of the day..my fusebox lid , now "lives " in the glove box.

 

[DE_Marcus]

Hi DE_Marcus

why don´t you want to the 2 fuse "add a circuit " taps ? I used them, to feed my rear back up sensors.. the only thing to beware, is the fact, that all " reserve" slots powered with the key in acc position will interfere with the lid of the fusebox. So at the end of the day..my fusebox lid , now "lives " in the glove box.

Just for the looks. Just feels more professinal, even if nobody is ever gonna see them.

I'll have to see if both pins on the Fuse socket are actually connected to something or if its just the power side. If it's only the power side and the output isn't connected to anything I can get a fuse with a direct tap on it to plug in.

The lid will stay off no matter what, since I have to get the wires out somehow. Maybe my buddy can 3D-Print a Lid with an opening for the wires.

The other thing I could do is pin into the empty spots on the SJB connector (if i'm able to figure out which ones the correct one), but that defeats the purpose of the whole system i'm building being plug and play.

 

[brasil]

... the problem is not the "opening" ..it is the height of the lid.