I'm booked in for an MOT on Friday and I have some small driving lights in my smile (grille). They ARE driving lights NOT fog lamps !!. However they are on when my sides lights are on, and stay on when I put headlights / or main beam on. Is this a problem for the mot?? They work this way as I drive a black car in narrow lanes, and some people just don't see me !!, I upgraded the side light bulbs also, but don't like driving round all the time with barn doors open.

QUESTION, Will this sort of set up pass the MOT?, or is it one of those stupid things that I have to disconnect them for the MOT then reconnect them after 'checked'? (11/99)

I think (but am not sure) that your lights are illegal.

I know of somebody who has his lights wired the way yours are, and he has been pulled by the fuzz twice. (He pleaded ignorance and wasn't done.) Mind you, his lights are a lot closer together than most people have them. If your car fails its MOT (or you are worried about them) then pull the fuse, or disconnect the lights until after the MOT. I think (again I am not sure) that the law says they are fog lamps.

However I would love to know what the law actually says on this question. Does anybody know the truth (with chapter and verse)? (11/99)

I might have missed the exact gist of this but...at my last MOT (last month), they didn't bother to check the fog/driving lamps (they are wired into a relay activated by the sidelight circuit; I need to switch them on from the dash, but they can't come on independantly of the lights). But then they did't bother to check the reverse lights, nor did they comment on the fact that the rear bumper reflectors are illuminated. (11/99)
My understanding is that fog/spot lights are not required by law so are not covered by the MOT test, however rear fog lights are. There are specific rules as to the location and use of any extra lights fitted to any vehicle. There you are, clear as mud on a foggy night. (11/99)
I asked my dad about this last weekend as my wife's Civic has front driving lights and he confirmed this. He's been a traffic plod for nearly 15 years and you can bet it is illegal. (11/99)
Just bought a set of front fogs from MX5 parts . Has anyone fitted these onto the "in tranist" mounts , in the "mouth" of the car. (11/99)
I have a pair of driving lights I want to fit into the "mouth" of the 5, after a quick look last night I have a few quires. firstly, the instructions state that the live cable should be connected to the battery, but this will involve trailing a wire from one end of the car to the other, so is there a suitable positive I can tap into within the engine bay? secondly, it states that the relay should be connected to the full beam circuit...where is this and what colour is the wire? (3/00)
There is a black plastic box towards the back of the engine bay near the fender on the drivers side. You can take a +ve feed from there, just use a ring connector under the 10mm nut you'll find there. Not sure that the blanked off blue connector (12V +ve supply for timing lights etc.) towards the front of the engine bay will have a high enough amp rating. Without looking at the workshop manual can't remember the wire colour code for the full beam, but is easier to pop off the connector and look for voltage with a multimeter when dipped is on and full beam is on. This will nail down which wire to tap. You may even be able to tell from looking closely at where the filaments in the bulb get there source from. (3/00)
One of the things that dear Santa stuffed in my stocking was a set of Eagle Eye Projector Lights as supplied by Moss in manchester. While the instructions are straight forward, they are generic and have not been specifically written for the MX5. It therefore provides general instructions such as to route the 'Switch' cable through to the passenger compartment and to take a feed from the headlight switch to power the relay. (1/01)
Where is the best place to take the "12v/10A" feed in the engine compartment and where is the best place to take the "12v Main Beam" feed to energise the relay? What did you use for switch gear and where did you get the switch from? Did you use any of the existing wiring loom? All else seems straight forward.... ?8O) (1/01)

Where is the best place to take the "12v/10A" feed in the engine compartment?
I take my feed from the 80A fused side of the main fuse box. The 10mm bolt (possibly with a blob of red paint on it) on the engine side of the fuse box is where I get my fog lamp power. Remember to disconnect the battery before removing this bolt. A simply loop crimp can then be fed up from below the fuse box (another 2 10mm bolts closest to the wing allows the fuse box to be lifted for easyier access... Then with some fiddling you can the bolt through the crimp and other cable and secure again.

Where is the best place to take the "12v Main Beam" feed to energise the relay?
I was a little crafty here in that I used the +ve side of the rear fog switch as the trigger for the front fogs. After all to be legal the front fogs should only be able to be lit when head lights are on. Use a volt meter to find which of the wires is the +ve, remember that you dont want the switched output side though...oh and also be sure not to use the back light feed to the switch.

What did you use for switch gear and where did you get the switch from?
I have an OEM Mk1 front fog light switch from Finishline Performance in the states. This is probably a little overkill and wasnt the cheapest option but I was also shipping in the front and rear airdams and koni shocks :) I think the best option available now is either the fog switch from Moss (note that I think the icon is the same as the rear fog :( ) or better (my choice if I had to do it again) the front fog switch from a 323 available at most scrappies (guess) which I am told uses the same switch gear.

Did you use any of the existing wiring loom?
I ran new wiring for both the lamps and the switch although I took the trigger and back light for the switch from the rear fog switch.

All else seems straight forward.... ?8O)
It isnt difficult just takes time and a little thought and preparation...give yourself a few hours ;) (1/01)

I think it's time for an update on my Daylight Running Lights.

These are available from Hella - many auto electrics dealers are Hella agents - check in Yellow Pages. Lights designed as DRLs from Hella have 6W halogen bulbs - doesn't sound much but they are very bright, due to a clever reflector - see pics on my page (in members pages at www.mx5cnw.co.uk).

They are e-marked and marked "RL" (as opposed to "F" on fog lights and "D" on driving lights) on the lenses (although indecipherably, but the marks are duplicated on an approval form) (Fog lights and Driving lights mounted in the mouth are not legal, except for fogs in reduced visibility) They are now in the latest blue Demon Tweeks catalogue with a picture (P116) - cost about 30 (01978 664468 if you can't find a local Hella dealer).

They come on with the ignition, and go off when the sidelights are switched on. They are legal as they are EU approved (at least they would be if they were within 400mm of the side of the car, and that's difficult to arrange on a 5). Convenient mounting points in the mouth put them about 500mm from the sides of the car. I've done about 2000 miles now with them fitted - I haven't been stopped by the police, but I keep the fitting instructions in the car (as suggested in the instructions) and this quotes the EU approvals.

Their effect is wonderful - people are much less inclined to pull out of junctions in front of you, to turn right across you and they are much less likely to start an overtaking manoeuvre as you approach from behind (especially on motorways).

Surprisingly, I don't get flashed - well, maybe once. I think they are a significant aid to safety, and I think they will eventually become standard/compulsory. You might think that they will be less effective when everyone has them, but I don't think so. I just think they help the multitudes of blind motorists to see each other! And for the time being at least - they are very effective! (5/02)