Backlit number plates...

[Hughjayteens]

Hi,
The car I am looking at buying is a 97R with the backlit number plate - If I want to put my own reg on do I have to get a special one that is transparent? If so, where from and how much?

Cheers chaps

For sale, 1995 BMW 318is M Tech. www.pistonheads.com/ads/adverts.asp?s=132

TVR needed!

[JonRB]

I am in the same position, and simply phoned my friendly local dealer (Hawthorns in Farnham).

Neither Jamie nor I are totally sure whether my 97R has the backlit plate or not, so I'll be checking tonight and phoning him tomorrow, but basically they can have a set of backlit ones done in 24 hours.

Haven't discussed the price with him yet, mind.

Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 8th January 16:27

[Marshy]

Easy... if your plate is flush with the back of the car, it's backlit. If it's recessed at the top, it's not.

Of course, if yours is flush and the bulbs are blown, or have dropped out into the boot, then it still might not be backlit

[pbrettle]

Chaps,

Just changed the plate on mine to something more relevant to me! Mine is an early 94 Chimaera and yes, you do need special plates - they need to have a thinner back to it to allow the light to come through. Oh, and be warned - they cost a fortune!!!! Around a tenner for the front and around £30 for the back!!! Glad I did though, bought the car from David Gerald and thought it nice to have the name at the bottom of the plate. They kindly got it sorted for me through their usual place - but glad I did cos I didnt know that you need special ones....

You can just imagine the scenario now - "now then sir, are you aware that I cant see your registration number?", "no, why whats wrong?", "it isnt visible sir". "Ah, sorry about that". "That is an offence sir"..... you can imagine the rest....

Cheers,

Paul

[atg]

My car "failed" the MOT as the rear plate was not illuminated. Had to open the boot and show the geezer that the bulbs were indeed on. He signed the chit and off I went.

Must say though that he had a point. Absolutely fa light actually comes through the damn thing. Is this normal or has a previous owner (my "good" mate Tony) fitted a crappy plate?

[M6 CUK]

quote:
Oh, and be warned - they cost a fortune!!!! Around a tenner for the front and around £30 for the back!!!

Seems expensive, i got my rear number plate from kings TVR Dealer in warwick, For £10.99 with a small logo at the bottom, and yes i can see light through it, although not much has to be said!!

Rear number plate changes were from Late 96'(i think june) from backlite to the ones now that are recessed in to the body work for above illumination.

[Marshy]

Mine's a 97 P and it's still backlit not recessed. It is visible at night, but hardly bright. In daylight you'd never realise it was backlit if you had the lights on.

[Graham]

quote:

quote:
Oh, and be warned - they cost a fortune!!!! Around a tenner for the front and around £30 for the back!!!

Seems expensive, i got my rear number plate from kings TVR Dealer in warwick, For £10.99 with a small logo at the bottom, and yes i can see light through it, although not much has to be said!!

Rear number plate changes were from Late 96'(i think june) from backlite to the ones now that are recessed in to the body work for above illumination.

I'd say it was much later than than r98 probably i;ve seen 97 cars with backlit

Edited by Graham on Tuesday 8th January 21:13

[ATG]

mine is P97 and back(not)lit

[JonRB]

I checked my 97R last night, and it is indeed backlit (within the broad meaning of the term, as people have already pointed out )

[squirrelz]

It appears to have come in during 98R - you see some 98R's with the backlight plate and fiesta rear lights and some with the sloping (sp?) plate and round rear lights.

Can only find rear pictures of the more recent version:
www.tvrgear.com/uploadimages/390.jpg

I'll upload pictures of a backlit 98R at some point if you're that desperate for proof ;-)

[rivergirrl]

Greetings all, and Happy New Year !

I have a regular rear plate, and fear of penalty sent me searching for an economic solution to our need for a honeycombe plate. I have found a site called CapitalNumbers.com that will do the honeycombe plates and a personal slogan if you want. They offer them in sets or singles, with or without the Euro flag on them. Great value and deliver to your door.

Madness is assumed

[ianwayne]

Same problem with backlit rear plate on my Chimaera. I changed the plates but have noticed that the problem with not being able to see the number plate is only when the car is stationary and being viewed by a pedestrian.
At night, any car behind you will illuminate the number plate with their own lights so as long as its not one of those 'dazzle' plates, everything should be OK. I've been driving round for 3 months now and haven't been pulled yet (just lucky?)
As atg commented, it may fail the MoT but we'll see about that when the time comes!!

[anonomouse]

I had a similar problem. You could just about see the lights through the number plate.

Then I took it off and cleaned it.

Now you can see it. (well reasonably anyway)

[hughjayteens]

Just ordered mine from Capitalnumbers.com and he reckoned that their honeycombe one works OK at the back...

£27 for a rear honeycombe europlate and a cut down front plate inc p&p - Not bad at all methinks!!

[zertec]

The reflective vinyl that you need for the rear backlit plates is the stuff they use for the traffic island bollards, nothing else lets as much light through.

[IPAddis]

quote:... and a cut down front plate...

Are they still legal?

[funkyboogalooo]

call me dodgey but... aren't you better off if the backlit ones are crap?

[hughjayteens]

quote:

Are they still legal?

strictly speaking I think not - It isn't cut down by much so I think I will be OK.....

[zertec]

From this document:
E/ECE/324 Rev.1/Add.47/Rev.2 E/ECE/TRANS/505A
20 March 2001

Comes the following:


6.8. REAR REGISTRATION PLATE LAMP
6.8.1. Presence
Mandatory.
6.8.2. Number
Such that the device illuminates the site of the registration
plate.
6.8.3. Arrangement
Such that the device illuminates the site of the registration
plate.
6.8.4. Position
6.8.4.1. In width: such that the device illuminates the site of the
registration plate.
6.8.4.2. In height: such that the device illuminates the site of the
registration plate.
6.8.4.3. In length: such that the device illuminates the site of the
registration plate.
6.8.5. Geometric visibility
Such that the device illuminates the site of the registration
plate.
6.8.6. Orientation
Such that the device illuminates the site of the registration
plate.

Repetitive isn't it?