Dan,
requirements are that they have to be fused. This even applies to classic
cars if you import them. This legaly is probably a bit dodgy as depending on
age they weren't fitted with fuses at time of type approval and thus in
theory don't have to comply with regulations that came into force after that
date. But you will have a hard time to prove that point to the TUV officer.
Indeed most of the LCB's driving around are in a nice condition in Germany,
that is probably a reflection of the much higher value of the cars giving a
higher incent may be to maintain them. AS to other cars being neglected,
well you do have in Germany as well as in Britain the regular checks, in
Britain yearly, in Germany every two years, so they are usually in a
sound-ish condition. Having said that, I know a story (true) of a Golf GTI
MkI being driven over a level crossing at speed and breaking in two parts.
The car just passed its control. Luckily nobody was injured.
Keeping your wiring in pristine condition is indeed very much a problem, as
Dave Massey might confirm, my wiring loom is not really 100% original or
pristine.
Gernot
> ----------
> From: DANMAS@aol.com[SMTP:DANMAS@aol.com]
> > While you may or may not have different opinions on that, I just
> > might add, that it is legal requirement for Germany to have both
> headlamps
> > fused seperately .
>
> Gernot,
>
> Interesting! I wonder if it is a requirement that the lights *BE* fused,
> or
> just a requirement that *IF* they are fused, there be one per side?
>
> Being married to a German, I can understand how that would work better
> there
> than here. If most Germans are like my wife, there is not a chance that
> they
> will fail to check their lights (oil level, tire pressures, or whatever,
> for
> that matter) on a regular basis. I don't believe you'll find as many run
> down,
> neglected cars in Germany as you will here.
>
> For those LBC owners that have fully restored, immaculate, cars, fusing is
> less of a issue than it is for those who are trying to restore a car that
> was
> rescued from a barn or a field, and driving it while they do. We have all
> seen
> or heard the horror stories about the bodges to the wiring made by a DPO!
>
> Even with an immaculate car, though, it can still be a problem, given the
> failure mode of the bullet/sleeve connectors used in British cars. After
> several years, it is not uncommon for the steel inserts in the sleeves to
> crumble, releasing their grip on the bullets. When this happens, it is
> very
> easy for the bullets to slip out. Having a loose bullet, energized,
> bouncing
> around in the car is like, well, having a loose bullet in the car.
>
> Dan Masters,
> Alcoa, TN
>
> '71 TR6---------3000mile/year driver, fully restored
> '71 TR6---------undergoing full restoration and Ford 5.0 V8 insertion -
> see:
> http://www.sky.net/~boballen/mg/Masters/index.html
> '74 MGBGT---3000mile/year driver, original condition - slated for a V8
> soon
> '68 MGBGT---organ donor for the '74
>
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